Birds in the Fog

We have had almost a week of heavy fog in the mornings, sometimes lasting till near midday before clearing.

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Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)

The Cuckoo-shrike and Magpie both seemed to be waiting for it to lift.

Little Corella (Cacatua gymnopis)

Unlike this flock of Corella's that were heard long before they were seen.

Pale-headed Rosella

I just love to sit on our verandah to watch and listen to the birds that visit our garden. On this occasion we had a visit from a group of Pale-headed Rosella's, one of our many colourful parrot species.

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Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus palliceps)

One of the hazards of bird photography, a quick fly-past by a Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)

Black-fronted Dotterel

Now a regular visitor to the edges of our local "Duck Pond", (Lake Alford), this Black-fronted Dotterel is a colourful bird that due to its' small size (16-18cm) perhaps goes unnoticed by many who use this recreational area.

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Black-fronted Dotterel (Charadrius (Elseyornis) melanops)

Coastal Outing

A very busy June long weekend saw us traveling from Beach to Bush in search of birds. (For Saturday, see Cotton Tree Post.)

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Sunday Norman Point Tin Can Bay
9 Pied Oystercatchers along with 17 Eastern Curlew.

Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)

Then to the local Sewage Works, one of our wader counting sites.
Their redevelopment will see the creation of a series of ponds specifically for wader and wetland birds. Many bush bird species may also be found here.

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii)

Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)

Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

After finishing at the Sewage Works, Mick joined us for a visit to Seary's Creek where the Melaleucas were in full flower with plenty of Scarlet Honeyeaters and others feeding on these.

Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta)

Then onto Bullock Point for a quick look around where this Silvereye was part of a large flock passing through. Also at this site were White-eared Monarch, Varied Triller, Eastern Yellow Robin, and Shining Bronze Cuckoo among others.

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)

Seary's Creek.

(For Monday, see Mixed Birds Post.) Thanks Mick for sharing the afternoon with us.

Mixed Birds

A friend suggested we take a trip out to a little place called Oakview North West of Gympie to do some birding with him. This is some of the variety we came across during the afternoon outing. Thanks GP for a great spot of birding.

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Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)

Australian (Richard's) Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae)

Red-backed Fairy-Wren (Malurus melanocephalus)

Old and the New.
Windmill with its own solar power.

Cotton Tree

A beautiful Winters Day at Cotton Tree, Maroochydore, one of our popular Queensland Holiday Destinations.

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Even with all the high rise accommodation, there are still plenty of outdoor pursuits.

And Natural Wonders to admire.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae)

Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

Mixed Terns

Rising Moon to Sunset.

What a way to finish the day. After starting out with a very heavy fog that did not clear until nearly 11am we were having an afternoon cuppa on the verandah when a great variety of birds started flying in and out of the trees across the road from us. We had Figbirds, Noisy Miners, Blue-faced Honeyeaters, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Spangled Drongos, Little Friarbirds, Magpie-larks, and the odd Scaly-breasted Lorikeets and Rainbow Lorikeets flying past as well.

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The Moon was rising in a clear sky.

Figbird (Sphecotheres viridis) (Females)

Figbirds, Noisy Miners and most of the other birds were hawking for insects.

Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)

This fiery Sunset marked the end of the day.

After the Big Swell.

As we walked along the pathway at Mooloolaba we could hear Little Wattlebirds everywhere. They did not seem to care how close you came to them as they went about their own business. In the last photo this Wattlebird flew down and stayed there as people walked past.

Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera)

It is hard to imagine the power of the surf, when on this day it was very calm.

The following two photos show just some of the erosion caused by the huge swells our coastline has been subjected to over the last month.

Some of the shells and small rocks left behind after the swell.

Magpie Geese

Magpie Geese have returned to our area after a short absence. These took to flight showing just how long and graceful their wings are.

Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)

Found this Magpie Goose while looking for a Jacana known to always be at this lagoon. The Jacana was there but unfortunately too far away for a photo.