Bar-tailed Godwit | aussiebirder

What Spring Brings – The Wader’s Return.

Posted by aussiebirder on October 4, 2018

Posted in: Australia, Australian Birds, Birding, Birds, Birdwatching, Fauna, Holidays, migratory waders, National Parks, Nature, Nature reserve, Outings, shorebirds, Sydney, Uncategorized, waders, water birds, wetlands, wildlife. Tagged: Bar-tailed Godwit.

Bar-tailed Godwit

With the return of Spring comes the return of our wonderful migratory waders, in particular my favourite, the Bar-tailed Godwit, featured in my book as the most endurant bird. This bird has been tracked travelling 16,000 km (9,942 miles) non-stop for 6 to 8 days directly across the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Australia and New Zealand. At the end of Summer it will journey all the way back, via the Asian coast to breed, that’s an amazing 32,000 km in one year. In a bird’s lifetime, it is estimated, they travel to the moon and back 2.5 times. You can see the orange breeding plumage they gained before they left in Autumn still blotchy as it disappears for their non-breeding Summer in Australia. Click on photo to enlarge it.

Breeding plumage disappearing on rump of Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

To get an idea of size and how small they are, see how tall they are beside this Silver Gull. Again you can note remnants of breeding plumage on the male.

Comparison of size with Silver Gull

The female is slightly larger in size with a longer beak than the non-breeding male, as seen below.

Non-breeding male next to a female Godwit

The beach where we see these birds is protected (apparently) for these birds, however, I had to remind one family to leash their dog as they encouraged it harass these birds as they fed on the tidal mud flats. The dogs are actually banned from this beach, which makes one quite angry at the selfish disregard and arrogance that many people display for our wildlife safety.

Flying to safety

Nearby in a creek flowing onto the beach we found this lone Royal Spoonbill decked out in full breeding plumage attempting to sleep in the wind. As you will see in the footage below his afro hairdo as a humorous dimension to the bird. Spring brings with it the breeding plumage in many resident waterbirds.

These birds breed well away from humans, often with other non-migratory waterbirds, in fact they are known to permanently desert their nest should a human approach or disturb them off it. It was strange to find this bird sleeping as the tide was going out, so I think it was quite happy to stay by the fresh running water of the creek.

Also grazing the mud flats were a small flock of Australian White Ibis (nesting mates to the above Spoonbill).

Australian White Ibis flock

Another sign of Spring was this pair of Australian Pied Oystercatcher. These birds pair for life and are often seen in breeding pairs, especially now as this is the season. These birds are now listed as Endangered in NSW due to their nests being disturbed and destroyed on beaches by humans being permitted to drive 4×4 WD vehicles on NSW National Park beaches without a concern for the delicate habitat of these very shy birds. It amazes me that they be allowed to do this, particularly on a beach protecting wildlife. The fencing off of breeding areas has worked for other bird species.

Aust. Pied Oystercatcher

It was an enjoyable walk along the beach just before sunset, as my wife and I look forward to exploring more of the wader feeding areas in future weeks.

On closing, I share these photos of a nesting pair of Sulfur-crested Cockatoo we saw in the Royal National Park recently, protecting their nest from impending intruders. The action of sacrificial, unconditional love seen in bird parents is an inspiration to us of true parenting which when carried on as the family develops, in a love shown between spouses, is modelled for the fledgelings. As parents we always need to be aware it is our actions that speak loudest to our children, not our words. Words are given validity by the quality of the love we live and demonstrate firstly to our spouse and then to our children. Children learn most about what love is from watching how mum and dad love each other.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18

Have a wonderful week!

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I was greatly blessed today to receive a very extensive review of my new book “What Birds Teach Us” in a post by Jen an American blogger who purchased my book here online recently: “Birds, Blooms and all things Beautiful”

You might like read it (click on link above) and also read more reviews and information and purchase your copy through the security of PayPal on my BirdBook page.

The book is also sold in One of these Places.

NOTE: All photos, videos and music used on this website are photographed, composed, performed by the site owner and remains his copyrighted property, unless otherwise stated. The use of any material that is not original material of the site owner is duly acknowledged as such. © W. A. Hewson 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

It is that unusual time of year again where the seasons are changing, and so are some of our bird species. In Australia most of our birds are permanent territorial birds, but there is a certain amount of migration that takes place, especially with our migratory waders which are leaving for the upper reaches of the northern hemisphere during the next few weeks to breed. As we can see above, this male is already donning his breeding plumage is almost fully colored for breeding before taking his 16,000 km flight to Alaska with his family. We won’t see him again till next Spring, when he with his kind, will return on a 16,000 km direct flight non-stop for 8 days across the pacific Ocean, from Alaska to Australia. The world’s most endurant bird. I love seeing these little guys before they leave with their orange appearance. You can see them with the family which do not show breeding plumage. Yes, this is the little flock I features some weeks ago on my favorite wader beach. I was thankful for half a day to get out and about from my very busy life.

Bar-tailed Godwit in breeding and non breeding plumage

breeding plumage

Non-breeding plumage

The passerine migrants will be on their way up the top of Australia and into New Guinea and south east Asia, these include the Dollarbird, the Bulbuls, the cuckoos and the Bee-eaters. I drove around to my other viewing place which is more secluded behind the mangroves and was delighted to find one Eastern Curlew and a Whimbrel, quite uncommon in our parts. These birds will take flight also for the north in the coming weeks. A couple of Australian Pelicans rested on the shore with a Masked lapwing, these birds will be staying through winter.

Eastern Curlew

Whimbrel

Eastern Curlew

Masked Lapwing

Pelicans

The Silver Gull is a permanent beach resident here, and an immature gull (note the brown dappled plumage) watched the strange Godwit creatures walk past, while its parent flew past.

Immature Gull with Godwits

Silver Gull in flight

As I walked around the waterfront toward Botany Bay hoping for a double bonus afternoon, I saw this beautiful pair of Pied Oystercatcher walking the shoreline. These birds are now classified as endangered in NSW due to their drop in numbers because their breeding places on human occupied beaches are interfering with their breeding patterns. The problem with 4×4 cars is that men like to drive them on beaches, which makes the shore and sea bird breeding areas more access able than ever before. Even when signs warn to take care or not enter sensitive areas, they continue to do so.

Pied Oystercatchers

With this changing season comes a special treat which occurs each year in Cook Park, Botany Bay. So I walked around to the large grove of unusual pine trees, where last year I blogged the feast of the Cockatoos and Corella as they fed on the pine cones, extracting the seed. Yes! they were there as predicted, which gave me great delight photographing their wild behaviour as Sulphur-crested and Yellow-tail Black Cockatoo along with Little Corella competed for cones. Bird everywhere flying and calling. Cones and pieces of them falling like rain from the trees. One cone landed on my camera, and thankfully it did not damage it.

Yellow-tail Black Cockatoo (male)

Little Corella

Silphur-crested Cockatoo eating a cone

Yellow-tail Black Cockatoo (female)

Yellow-tail Black Cockatoo (male)

Yellow-tail Black Cockatoo (male)

Little Corella

Yellow-tail Black Cockatoo (female)

If you look to the Yellow-tails above you can tell the males apart from the female by the red eye-ring. Notice how the Cockatoo, as with others in the parrot family, can hold, grasp and manipulate the food in one claw and bring it to its mouth while standing on the other leg. This is a unique feature of these birds. The above birds are all flockbirds and were present in their groups. When an alarm went up up from the corellas, the whole place was overcome by the sound of squawking and wing movement for several minutes.

Little Corella

It was a perfect birding afternoon, so I topped it off with an icecream and made my way home, knowing that each season brings its own, and like the cycle of the earth around the sun, so the birds cycle and move around in predictable habitat changes. In most cases they follow their food, and seek breeding places that provide warmth, safety from predators and close nearby fresh water and food suitable for their young. It is important for us humans to see that our life has seasons also, maybe not quite as predictable and cyclic as the birds, but nevertheless, we need to appreciate this fact of life, or fall foul to depression and disappointment. Many of you will have seen this clip I made some time ago but I feel it is appropriate to finish this post with it.

Have an extraordinary wonderful weekend!

NOTE: All photos, videos and music used on this website are photographed, composed, performed by the site owner and remains his copyright property, unless otherwise stated. The use of any material that is not original material of the site owner is duly acknowledged as such. © W. A. Hewson 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Seven Bar-tailed Godwit, the perfect number flock

Happy Australia Day! all you Aussies out there enjoying the holiday weekend. It was hot and humid, though the cloud cover and sea breeze kept the morning more pleasant, so my wife and I decided to go looking for waders, as the tides finally lined up with our free time. I have not blogged waders this summer so far so I thought it time to visit the river mud flats of the Georges River, which flows into Botany Bay, the place where Captain James Cook landed at Kurnell to take on water in 1770. Eight years later on the 26th January the First Fleet of 1,420 people, mostly convicts, made the first British settlement in Sydney Cove in Sydney Harbour at the mouth of the Parramatta River, just a little up the coast from here. The small reef next to where Cook rowed to shore from the Endeavour, is now part of the Botany Bay National Park, with monuments and explanatory narrative signs .

This humble reef today is the scavenging ground of the endangered Pied Oystercatcher, endangered because it lays its eggs on beaches where people unwittingly inhabit.

Pied Oystercatcher on first landing reef.

Pied Oystercatcher.

This year has seen much protest and debate over the authenticity of this day as a true Australia Day, as many, original inhabitants and non indigenous fellow citizens call it ‘invasion day’, as many terrible atrocities followed in the pursuing years in a land wrongly reported originally to be terra nullius or no bodies land (uninhabited). Though the original inhabitants, unlike the greedy possessive British, never made ownership of their land an issue of power or wealth. They respected the land, preserved it and shared it. Some are advocating a compromise of a separate day for indigenous Australians. You may have wondered why my opening photo was seven Bar-tailed Godwits. Many of you know from my previous posts how much I love this – the world’s most endurant bird, which flies about 32,000 km a year migrating from Alaska to Australia and back again in one year. It travels around the moon, two and a half times in a lifetime. It is always where summer is, and currently is here after 16,000 km non-stop, 8 day direct flight across the Pacific Ocean. Yes, this same seven Godwits are back on the same beach mud flats again this year. Most people swimming and fishing on the beach have no idea how amazing these little birds are.

Bar-tailed Godwit family flock

with remains of breeding plumage

Godwits in conference

Bar-tailed Godwit family flock preparing to fly

Godwit with crab in beak

If you look carefully you will notice two of the males having bloches of orange breeding plumage. This will intensify in March, covering their whole neck and upper body before their exit flight to Alaska, where the females will give birth. You may see it better in these flight shots. It is interesting how they fly in a line, slip-streaming along. Click on photo to enlarge.

Bar-tailed Godwit in flight

Bar-tailed Godwit flock in flight

I apologise for the poor light and focus, as I had my prescription polarising sunglasses on at the time, which made photographing a real challenge not to mention the clouds. The photos further up the river were with my normal gasses. Also on my favourite wader beach was a pair of Pied Oystercatchers, not unlike the ones seen on the reef in Botany Bay. It is always encouraging to see these birds on beaches in NSW. Unfortunately they were grazing the beach apart from one another so there is no pair shot.

Australian Pied Oystercatcher

A golden moment was captured as this juvenile Silver Gull was pestering its mum for food, a common scene this time of year in many bird families. Notice how the mum tries to escape the persistent pestering. I apologise for the jerky video clip, again monopod was in car. See how they bob their heads lowering it to below the head of their parent as they beg. This custom is seen in many different species of juvenile birds begging.

Silver Gull family with juvenile

After drinking our take-away coffees and complete our time there with a walk along the shoreline to get our feet wet, we headed off to one of my secret wader viewing areas near Taren Point Shorebird Reserve. The many waders that we see during the day on the beaches at low tide roost at night across the bay in the Towra Point Nature Reserve which is a locked up (restricted access) park cared for by Botany Bay National Park. Many shorebird species breed here and it is a significant bird conservation area for Australia.

from Towra with Sydney CBD in distance

Towra sign

Shorebird sign

One of the amazing features of the city of Sydney is that it is surrounded by many National Parks and nature reserves, and I mean surrounded all around it, coastal, bush land and mountain. Why secret spot behind the mangroves? Because this bird, the beautiful Eastern Curlew, our largest threatened wader is extremely timid and takes flight at the approach of humans. We were so thankful that our Lord gave us the gift of one on the day. Of course the bird finally saw us and took flight with his standard alarm call ‘cor-eek, cor-eek’. The Eastern Curlew is also a summer migrant to our shores.

A common resident wader nearby was the White-faced Heron, fishing the shores.

Then unexpectedly the appearance of another resident shorebird, the timid Striated Heron or Mangrove Heron as was its past name. In this case he was living among the mangroves. I have seen him here in past years, but not for a while, this could be one of the offspring, fishing the shallows of the shoreline, with his very classic crouching method, similar to the White-faced Heron.

It was quite spooky to note the coastal trees and mangroves were silent of birds. I have been saying it has been a ‘birdless summer’ here, and many species, especially waterbirds are not breeding here this year. maybe they know beforehand by divine instinct to be elsewhere through this extremely hot dry summer. However, the classic Australian Eastern Magpie has produced young this year, as we found this youngster walking on the grass at Taren Point Reserve. Note the brown immature colouring, not yet fully black and the dirty white neck, which resembles the female. This will change to pure white if it matures to a male.

Immature magpie

Driving further up the Georges River beaches we found more Godwit and also some Australian White Ibis actually grazing where they should be, on the mud flats and not in city garbage bins, as they are known to do.

White Ibis

These Godwits did not mind us getting close to them at all. All of these waders showcased here today, with the exception of the Herons, are hunting for tiny mud crabs which burrow beneath the sand. At low tide these crabs often come to the surface or just below and are easily accessed in wet sand by long beaks both curved and straightish, as the Godwit beak is slightly curved upwards at the end.

With thankful hearts my wife and I returned home having had a small feast of waders ( viewing feast that is) on Australia Day morning. We did hear and see some Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo fly past in the distance but were not able to track down their landing spot. This last shot of a Silver Gull resting with one eye open reminds us of the need to be alert at all times due to the dangers of life that may surround us. Jesus warns us to be wise about the evils of this age we live in, but not to be afraid or alarmed: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:12

Many are wondering why the churches have lost their effectiveness, why integrity, respect, good will and justice have deteriorated in our society. Many are unaware as they disown Christian concepts and laws, which have given them many of the freedoms they currently enjoy in our western Post Christian society, that they stand to loose these freedoms, by their rejection of the One True God. These freedoms came from Godly caring people making a difference in a selfish society. The enemy of human souls, Satan, seeks to deceive the masses using fear through popular opinion, the media and so called political correctness to draw one’s life values from:^“Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth.” -Revelation 20:7,8

So the message to us all is…

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8

“Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Mark 13:33

The Good News is that Jesus has defeated Satan and disarmed Satan by his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, as a free gift for all who put their life’s trust in him, as their representative before God. He has broken Satan’s power and hold over death and won for us a victory which is free to all who put our trust and life in his hands, and receive the help and power of his Holy Spirit to live a life free of the fear and condemnation. Keep in mind that Satan might have a very threatening roar, which may evoke fear, but he is toothless, because Jesus has disarmed him. Through faith in Jesus we can overcome Satan like he did. We only give Satan power in our life when we believe his lies and allow fear rather than faith to rule our life. The only tool that Satan has to influence us in life is our fear, especially our fear of death. Jesus paid the price for all our wrong doing by taking all our punishment due to us, on himself when he died on the cross. For a child of God, Satan no longer has any power over them, unless they give it to him.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18

“…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. – Romans 8:37

Have a enjoyable, peaceful and restful weekend!

NOTE: All photos, videos and music used on this website are photographed, composed, performed by the site owner and remains his copyright property, unless otherwise stated. The use of any material that is not original material of the site owner is duly acknowledged as such. © W. A. Hewson 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

As the past year fades away, my wife and I set goals for the new year and look at ways to improve our life together. We ask what can we do better? What do we need to change? What do we need to start doing to achieve our goals for 2018? When we go birding in our local Oatley Park Reserve we find this male Superb Fairy-wren pictured above, eclipsing (this means it is changing its plumage from non breeding to breeding plumage). The male Superb Fairy-wren when not breeding looks very similar to the female, but for its blue tail. You can see the blotchy changes, as it starts to gradually change to its blue coat.

Superb Fairy-wren male in eclipse

Superb Fairy-wren female

It is quite amusing to watch the eclipse process taking place, as the blotchy appearance forms into the beautiful male in breeding plumage. This is how it is for us during seasons of change, where there is uncertainty and fear of the unknown ahead. As with the Fairy-wren, we courageously move forward, trusting God to bring us through our blotchiness to the blessing of eventually being transformed into the person we are becoming, with a beauty we display in being wiser, more thankful, gracious and loving.

Superb Fairy-wren (morphing male)

As many Australian birders know, the male fully eclipses to breeding plumage, he dons his beautiful blue suite, attracting the female to breed with him and have his family. When the breeding season is over he reverts back to his brown and white plumage, retaining only his blue tail to signify his maleness. Click on images to enlarge them.

Male Superb Fairy-wren

Superb Fairy-wren male

We all have to adapt to the season of our life, and the changes it brings to us, and we need to do this gracefully, to meet the challenges that may lie ahead. Some birds like the Red-browed Finch do not undergo any change at all during their breeding season, and stay the same throughout their life.

We may not change our appearance but our circumstances may change and call for a change in the way we live our lives. This White-faced Heron shows the difference in breeding plumage to non breeding but it does not change what he does each day. How we accept these changes is part of our character development which is so important in our growth as a person.

White-faced Heron breeding

Change and new experiences should not be seen as problems to be solved but as challenges to encounter. It is a positive approach to what life throws at us that gives us the ability, enlisting God’s help, to meet the challenge and win the day. This Royal Spoonbill undergoes this head dress development during breeding season which offers a challenge to its normal life for a time.

Royal Spoonbill in breeding plumage

As I have shown in previous posts, colour change is a common breeding appearance in waders during breeding season, as with this Bar-tailed Godwit, the worlds most endurant bird, develops an orange appearance in our Autumn, before flying 16,000 km to have their young in the Arctic region of the Northern Hemisphere, returning in Spring.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Male Godwit in breeding plumage

Let the changes that come into your life be used for growth and positive change in the new year. Look for the treasure in the trials of life and remember that everything that happens to us is for a reason, for growth and development into the person we are being formed to be. So make the changes work for good in your life, as my wife and I are seeking to do in ours. Have a truly happy and prosperous new year, and may you prosper and grow in each aspect of life: not just physically but also, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually as Jesus did when he lived with us here on earth, thus developing our whole person.

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” – Luke 2:52

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” – James 1:5

Check out the various pages of my website for more birding information and life skills.

NOTE: All photos, videos and music used on this website are photographed, composed, performed by the site owner and remains his copyrighted property, unless otherwise stated. The use of any material that is not original material of the site owner is duly acknowledged as such. © W. A. Hewson 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Lord Howe Island from Malabar

It has been a busy week working full time back in my scientist role in Immuno-Haematology, so my wife and I have not been out birding as much, which is unusual for us. Lord Howe Island is one of our favorite birding places so I thought to highlight some of the birds from there, and highly recommend you visit there one day.

Lord Howe Island from the plane

One unique bird only found on this island is the Lord Howe Island Woodhen, which almost became extinct because European settlers found it so easy to kill for food, as it was flightless. Notice these birds are banded on their legs. Click on photos to enlarge them.

Unbanded birds, such as the one below, are young ones born in the last two years which have eluded the banding program, but will eventually be banded to mark their progress. The woodhen is classified in the rail family.

They are generally very quiet birds, making their own unique sound, foraging in the undergrowth for insects and small figs which have fallen to the ground.

Lord Howe Island is famous for its huge banyan trees (Ficus macrophylla columnaris) which send out roots from its branches which grow into trunks of the trees. A single tree may spread itself over acres of land. These provide fruit for many birds. It is related to our Moreton Bay fig, the largest Australian fig tree.

Another common bird seen foraging here is the Buff-banded Rail, here was a magic moment seeing this young rail learning to forage with its mother. This species was sighted by us in Sydney Park in my last post.

The rails are quite tame and can be seen all over the island grazing.

One of the feature birds that many come to the island to see are found in the Norfolk Pines along the coast of Lagoon Beach, the beautiful White Tern. This bird lays its egg on the branch of the pine tree, without a nest being constructed. Amazingly the eggs balances there until hatched, but is an open target for marauding Currawongs, which these birds continually are on the lookout for.

My wife had the delight of actually feeding a young White Tern chick from her hand, which was being cared for by an islander, as it had lost its parent. Here you can see the parents caring for their single chick, as well as this special photo I caught of a parent with three small fish in its beak to feed to it baby, carrying them in a similar way to the Puffins.

However, the most sought after bird that birders like myself and my wife, come here to see is aussiebirder’s logo (avatar) bird, the Red-tailed Tropicbird. As many of you know this is the bird that drew me into birding, away from nature photography, with its amazing flight gymnastics and the ability to fly backwards when courting its mate. They can be seen flying effortlessly and endlessly over the cliffs on the northern side of the island on Malabar hill, where you can here the chicks squeaking below.

Their red tail plumes assist their flight acrobatics, and their black feet contrast to their pure white feathers. This is one of the few places you will see these birds, Lady Elliot Island is another. They inhabit the rugged sea cliffs of the islands off the north east coast of NSW and Queensland.

The beautiful Emerald Dove is also common here.

As is the very vocal and cheerful Lord Howe Island race of the Golden Whistler (race contempta), recently reclassified and differentiated from pectoris found on NSW east coast. This bird can be heard all over the island during Spring and Summer.

Another bird only seen here is the Lord Howe Island White-Eye, which is a cousin to our Silvereye. Note how tiny they are compared to the leaves. One can be seen eating a ripe fig.

Lord Howe Island is blessed as a breeding ground for many seabirds and waders, and this is another plus for visiting this beautiful island. One such bird which breeds on the island is the Masked Booby. Here on Mutton Bird Point they have their many nests. If you look carefully you may see one or two of their young chicks.

The Black Noddy and Common (Brown) Noddy, have a large nesting area on the north side of the island in the pine trees. They become quite agitated if you get too close. We had a guided tour by one of the islands most celebrated ornithologists Ian Hutton. Similar to the White Tern, they must guard their eggs and young from marauding Currawong and raptors, such as Masked Owls which are now thriving there.

One of my favorite birds which we saw nesting there on the beach near the airstrip was the Sooty Tern. I love the way this bird hovers close by out of curiosity. here are some of the parents witheir spotted juveniles on the beach among the blue grass.

You will see many signs around the island similar to these. Though there are not many cars and trucks. Most tourists use bicycles or walk.

Yes Lord Howe Island is a major nesting area for several species of Shearwater or Muttonbirds as some call them, they say they taste like mutton. The Flesh-footed Shearwater is the most common, and can be seen landing at dusk and waddling into its underground nests. If you are in their nesting area say near Ned’s Beach you need to be careful they do not land on you at night.

This Sacred Kingfisher is seen near the airstrip.

Many species of wader and shorebirds can be seen here two of which we saw many were the Ruddy Turnstone, Pacific Golden Plover and the Bar-tailed Godwit.

Lastly, this fungi is a classic inhabitant of the moist Banyan forests of Lord Howe Island . Fungi spores thrive with moisture and lack of direct sunlight. It was thought that these fungal spores were spread by gusts of wind, but more recent research shows that the mushrooms and fungi actually produce their own wind source to disperse their spores and reproduce elsewhere. How amazing is that!

“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” – Job 12:13

Enjoy your week ahead!

Check out my page on Info Tips for birding in Australia, it also has links to useful resources and links.

If you think you need some spiritual encouragement for a more peaceful and enjoyable life, check out my Birder Sanctuary page.

If you are looking for help in improving life skills and want simple answers for counselling yourself in making good life decisions, or want to encourage your child to do the same, check out my book “What Birds Teach Us” . It is selling well in many book and gift shops because it is so unique, using our birds to teach important life skills in a non confronting manner. You will love the photos and what you will learn. Purchase your copy here online securely through PayPal, at a much cheaper rate as many have done already.

If you are going through a tough time in life at present and suffering from it, check out my Suffering page which was recently dedicated to a blogging birder friend in Florida.

It was a beautiful warm Autumn afternoon and my wife and I went for a walk by Georges River along the waterfront at Dolls Point. We were quite surprised to find a small flock of about eleven Bar-tailed Godwit. These birds would normally by now have migrated to the Alaska and Siberia where they are breeding and feeding in the food-rich polar seas. However, a number of birds, particularly young ones, having recently fledged, may miss a migration or two and remain in Australia throughout the winter.

The journey to the Northern Hemisphere is quite grueling and requires maximum ability to make the 16,000 km journey. You may notice the bird on the far right having darker plumage and more distinct under body markings. This is possibly a young bird transitioning to adult plumage or a young female who is showing some early signs of breeding plumage, though she will not be breeding this year. I displayed in a previous post the full on breeding plumage of this bird which starts appearing just before they leave Australia. Click on the photos to enlarge them.

The bird is surprisingly small when compared with a Silver Gull (Seagull). These gulls were quite amused at this highly active little group. The interesting thing is, the gulls can eat the same food as the Godwits, but because of their small beaks, can only pounce on the tiny sand crabs when they are on the surface, but the Godwits walk around them injecting their long beaks deep into the wet mud.

This Godwit was being chased by a Silver Gull, who tried to steal his deep sand extraction.

In the next few days I took a visit to Olympic Park, a place I like to visit a few times a year, especially at this time of year, to see what water birds, shore birds and waders have stayed for the winter. It was great to see the Darter and Pied Cormorant nesting. Interesting enough the latest field guide shows a reclassification of the Darter to the Australasian Darter which was Anhinga melanogaster but is now Anhinga novahollandiae.

It is always interesting to watch the long necked snake like nestlings actively seeking food in the nest. In the pic below you will see them placing their head inside the mouth of the other, thinking it is the mother with food.

In the movie clip below the parent feeds the nestlings as she allows them to push their whole head and neck down into her gullet. The Darter lives primarily on small fish, similar to the Cormorants, diving for its food. It swims very low in the water, with often only the neck showing.

In the native Casuarina trees near the lake several pairs of Pied Cormorant were also nesting alongside the Australasian Darters. This is how it is here each year, these similar birds tend to nest together here. Ibis and Spoonbill often find security in different species nesting together in community. This Pied Cormorant below continues to bring sticks for the nest while the female sits on the nest. He lovingly checks her frequently to see she is OK, as he will feed her. He is a quite devoted expectant father.

This Pied Cormorant and Little Black Cormorant share this branch together in the Autumn sun, displaying the unity the Cormorant species share with each other.

An immature Pied Cormorant was catching some Autumn sun. Notice the brown plumage which is changing to black as it matures.

It was lovely to see an immature Black Swan resting on the lawn near the lake, is only a few months old, and will eventually gain its black plumage in about a year.

This Royal Spoonbill and Red-necked Avocet were taking a nap, as were other birds including Black-winged Stilts. Notice how they classically press their beaks into and under their back plumes, and stand on one leg.

On my walk to the large lake, I caught a look from a distance of this beautiful White-faced Heron decked out in full breeding plumage.

From the bird hide I was able to get a good idea of the present waders, including many ducks and Teals. Red-necked Avocet and Black-winged Stilts were sweeping the shallows, while Masked Lapwings and tiny Black-fronted Dotterels were dottering about on the shoreline. These birds remain throughout winter, though the Avocets may move as a flock around various local ponds and lakes. The Stilts tend to breed and remain here all year. These birds have a mutually friendly relationship with each other, and are often found living and feeding together, as was the case here. I have seen in the past, a Stilt defend a placid Avocet, which was under attack from a large White Ibis, in an attempt to take over the feeding area. The persistent Stilt succeeded in driving the Ibis away, allowing the Avocet and itself to continue feeding quietly together.

You may wonder how these unusually shaped beaks actually work for these Red-necked Avocets. In a similar way to the Spoonbills, they sweep the water back and forth catching small marine organisms as they go.

This immature Black-winged Stilt demonstrates the foraging action of its beak design.

However, it is the classic foraging walk of the Dotterel that amuses me, being very similar to that of Plovers and Pipits, where they run a short distance stop, feed, stand still, run again, feed, stop and look, hoping not to draw attention to themselves.

This Great Egret was an amazing poser for me, and is usually found near the water inlet for the lake, ready to catch small incoming fish. When they feel threatened they stretch their neck up to make themselves appear larger and more threatening themselves.

Though there were many Chestnut Teal and Pacific Black Duck present, this pair of Grey Teal caught my eye, as I do not get to showcase them often. All of these water birds, shorebirds and waders are winter residents which are seen locally throughout the year.

But the day was rounded off with the gift of this beautiful non-breeding male Superb Fairy-wren, who posed for me quite curiously in front of the bird hide. These birds morph (eclipse) to the bright blue and black plumage when breeding, and retain only the blue tail when not breeding, otherwise looking similar to the female, but more grey in colour.

It was lovely to see this pair of male and female Australian Wood Duck posing graciously for me. Wood Ducks are one of the most devoted parents in the bird world, with both male and female being totally committed to caring for and raising their young, as I have showcased in previous posts.

One of the greatest contributing factors to a stable childhood is a present and loving father in the family. This is so important for the confident and balanced development of children, especially the daughters, who gain much of their modelling and self esteem from the father. It has been said in counselling to parents, that if you want to see your children grow up loving and caring, then model this in your relationship with each other. Children learn how to live and love by watching not by being told. The bright green speculum on this male ‘shines’ and draws attention, and so will a good dad when he is a loving hubby, he will shine for his wife and children, by being the families hero – nurturer, protector and encourager.

When the father models love to his wife, their mother, he is giving life instruction to his children. If you want to be a good father, be a loving husband, and a good mother, be a loving wife. Paul puts it simply “Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ”. If a couple truly love each other that will not be very difficult most of the time.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” – Ephesians 5:25

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect..” – Peter 3:7

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” – Colossians 3:19

Have a great week, and enjoy birding. Check out the rest of the pages on my website for birding information and inspiration for living a enjoyable life.

Bar-tailed Godwits (male in breeding plumage with female)

The extremely hot Summer weather has been replaced by the cooler now extremely wet weather to announce the change of seasons here in Sydney, Australia. With this change we see our migratory waders once again preparing for their 16,000 km journey back to Alaska and Siberia to feed and have their young. Many will return next Spring, but many will not make it, dying at sea for lack of food, due to human interference and reclamation of their feeding areas for industry. Notice the male Bar-tailed Godwit’s plumage becoming increasing orange as the Godwit’s feed with fury to prepare for their journey in the next week or two. Notice also the female is slightly larger than the male, and may already be pregnant. Click on photos to enlarge.

Male Godwit in breeding plumage

Godwit couples

Godwit family in flight

Godwits in flight

Godwits feeding, with immature from last season

Bar-tails landing

Bar-tailed Godwit wing pattern

Realizing I may not see these guys till next Summer, I took a trip down south to Lake Woollumboola, a significant wader and shorebird conservation spot, a birders paradise. I like to visit here at least once a year, but to my surprise after the heavy rains…

Lake Woollumboola open to the sea

Pelicans gathered by the lake

Terns on sand island

Terns crowded onto a sand island on lake

The migratory waders had left for dryer places to graze. The beach areas and breeding sands were overtaken by swishing waves of ocean water rushing into the lake by the high seas. Only small groups of Terns, Silver Gulls and Pelicans remained. I visited Shoalhaven Heads nearby, another wader paradise, and there I found many Bar-tailed Godwits filling up ready for their flight out. There were many family flocks, mostly some distance away, so they are not shown here.

Also along the Shoalhaven Heads shoreline were signs warning of breeding areas for the Enndangered Pied Oystercatcher. I managed to see one grazing near the Godwits.

Australian Pied Oystercatcher

I was not disappointed at Lake Woollumboola as the bushland near the lake gave me the following lovely passerines.

Back home on my favourite local wader beaches I enjoyed watching this Eastern Curlew feeding alone at low tide. These birds are listed as Critically Endangered and are extremely shy of humans, but this guy allowed me more grace than usual to observe him. Many are killed by Asian fowlers and sold in markets for food.

Eastern Curlew

Eastern Curlew with eyes closed

They are netted and clubbed to death as they graze on their journey back and forth to Australia along the mudlats of the Asian coastline. Birdlife International is trying to create Safe Flyways for migratory birds. One strategy is to assist and encourage the Asian fowlers to breeding their own birds for sale with information on farming birds and with monetary incentives.

Eastern Curlew

To my surprise, on returning home from the beach I discovered an interesting addition I did not realise at the time I was madly photographing the beach birds…

My Bird of the Week – The Whimbrel

Whimbrel

The Whimbrel is a wader not commonly seen in our region, and not in any numbers, such as this lone specimen. The Whimbrel is found all around the coastline of mainland Australia and the east coast of Tasmania during the Summer months, and like the Curlew and Godwits, breeds in Alaska, Canada and Siberia during our Winter. This bird is found on the coastlines of many countries of the world during the Arctic Winter. Note the comparison with the Eastern Curlew: shorter bill, shorter legs, smaller body, otherwise very similar and may be mistaken for a young Eastern Curlew or Little Curlew, which have a shorter bills also. See the comparison in size with the Silver Gull below, much smaller than a Curlew. They feed on the tidal mudflats and mangrove areas along the coast, mainly on crustaceans.

Whimbrel

Whimbrel and Silver Gull

Whimbrel

Other shorebirds seen on the day are below.

Crested Tern

Australian White Ibis in flight

So I will not be in search of waders for several months now, as it is like loosing good friends when you visit deserted mudflats at low tide, and the waders are gone. Though, some young ones from last season do not make the flight back and will be found as winter birds here in Australia. These I may see on beaches next month. I finish this post with a an insight from viewing the two photos below.

Headless Australian Pelican

Looking at the above photo of a headless Pelican could make you think I had Photo-shopped the picture, but it is what it is. An Important Observation: During our life journey we have each of us, made judgments on what we see, often without understanding the facts. As a result we may be mistaken, and gain, and possibly pass on to others a false representation of a person, event or observation. It is important to avoid making judgments without knowing the facts. True Science becomes only personal philosophy and hypothesis when one has only an idea about something, and it is espoused as if it were truth, for the sake of giving an answer to something they do not understand, and for something there is no clear evidence of. The Evolution hypothesis is currently being termed fact by secular humanists, and now is even suggested to be science. This is completely false, as much as it is to say, science proves the Bible true. Science can only observe experiment and examine observable facts and systems in the here and now. What we do with these facts, and how they measure up to our belief system or philosophy for life is our own doing. You see, when we can not go back and observe what actually happened, we postulate possibilities and opinions, or, we believe the Bible, or the accounts of other cultures. As a scientist, and like many other scientists in recent years, I see the evidence leaning more in favour of the Bible account than the hypothesis of an Evolution without Intelligent Design. The hard truth is that many would rather believe a lie and continue to live a Godless life than come into loving relationship with the Gracious Loving One who created them. My wife and I know the joy and peace of living each day with Jesus, knowing God as Father. We owe our many birding discoveries to his loving kindness towards us.

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Matthew 7:2

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” – Romans 1:25

Have a Wonderful Week! Thank you if you have read this far, for what I shared above is important for each of us to consider. Please check out my website menu for the various information pages.

I am delighted how well my book is selling in the National Parks Centres in NSW, below is a picture of a display in Minnamurra Rainforest Centre in Jambaroo, where I visited last weekend. A great place to visit. They sold two of my books while I was there, I will be sharing more on next weeks post on when I visit the rainforest in the rain.

All photographic material on this website remains the copyright property of the website author as part of aussiebirder.com. This material may only be used elsewhere with permission, which can be obtained via email on my About Us page.

Bar-tailed Godwit family

The long hot summer series of heat waves may have made the passerines (tree birds) scarce, but shore birds did not seem to mind the heat at all, and are quite predictably present each low tide . It was wonderful when I visited one of my best viewing beaches near the mouth of the Georges River, for seeing my favourite wader, the Bar-tailed Godwit. Above we see a mature male starting to develop breeding plumage, a mature female and second year juvenile.

Male Bar-tailed Godwit in breeding plumage

Along with the male gaining the chestnut breeding plumage in preparation for having its young in Alaska later in March, it is also getting fatter, as it and its comrades eat as much as they can to fuel their long journey home via the Asian coastlines. It will be sad not to see them here next month, but this is also predictable, as they are migrant waders. Eventually the male will be bright orange, this will recede as they return to Australia in September.

2 pairs of Godwits and one younger bird.

These birds are usually found on river and coastal tidal mud flats where they use their slightly upturned bill to extract small mud crabs from the wet sand. Notice the many Light-Blue Soldier Crabs all over the beach, escaping from the Godwits. Thousands of soldier crabs scuttle away from me as I walk the beach.

Funny enough, these birds are quite unconcerned with these crabs, as they are large and shelled, the Godwits enjoy eating the much smaller and softer sand/mud crabs which they extract from below the sand. Notice the size difference between the mature and young crabs.

Two different sizes of crabs

Light-blue Soldier Crab

Godwits unconcerned about Soldier Crabs

Light-blue Soldier Crab

The Bar-tailed Godwit gets its name from the Bar pattern on its tail. This is not normally visible while the bird is at rest walking about, but becomes a beautiful picture when the bird takes flight. Click on photo to enlarge it.

Bar-tailed Godwits in flight

It was interesting watching the faithful five fly off, as one of the males led the flight, and the others followed.

Leading the Way

It always gets me excited and tops off a mornings birding when I find the lone Eastern Curlew walking the beach, but always well away from people. This is the largest migratory wader that we see on our beaches and numbers are declining. They are very people shy.

Eastern Curlew

They always give their warning call when they take flight, even when they are the only bird on the beach. Sadly in several of our local shorebird reserves, despite signs forbidding dogs, dog owners not only bring their dogs, but let them chase the protected, endangered birds, being allowed off the leash. Laws are toothless tigers if there is no one there to enforce them. However, on one such beach It was most pleasing to find a flock of Eastern Curlew, more than I have ever seen here, quite some distance away where the dogs and humans can not reach them.

Eastern Curlew long way off

Flock of Eastern Curlew safely a long way off

Eastern Curlew flock took flight as I approach a long way off

After a while the beach came alive with aerial movement as a small flock of Crested Tern (non breeding) started arriving to rest on the beach surrounded by the soldier crabs, which also scurried away.

Crested Tern

The Crested Tern are the most common Tern to be found on our coastline. When breeding their crest is entirely black on the forehead also. These are non breeding. However, it was delightful to find a parent with a juvenile bird. Note the beautiful grey plumage, and the lowering of the head by the junior, a classic action seen in most shore bird young, as it seeks feeding. The speckled plumage will eventually give way to the uniform grey plumage of the adult.

immature Crested Tern

Immature Crested Tern

Immature Crested Tern watches Godwits passing

Crested Tern with immature

My Bird of the Week – The Little Tern

Little Tern

The Little Tern is not as common as the Crested Tern, and suffers from destruction of its nesting sights by humans, dogs and foxes as it nests on the sand on beaches, where people often walk. It is our smallest Tern, only slightly smaller than the Fairy Tern. It is rapidly becoming endangered. I was delighted to spot this one bird. They fly so fast it is often difficult to catch them on the wing. They breed in Australia and also in North America. They are classically migratory, though they nest here also. They feed on small fish, insects and crustaceans. Look at the size comparison with this bird next to a Silver Gull. These birds are found along the coast of mainland Australia but not the coastline of South Western Australia.

Compare the size

It is always pleasing to see our White Ibis foraging on the beach in a similar way to the Godwits, rather than foraging in garbage bins in parks. Sydney has been inundated over the last ten years with White Ibis, they breed and live here now, which has been the subject of research studies in recent years. This country bird has become city bird.

Australian White Ibis

One rock platform I visited at low tide recently had no waders at all, and was quite disappointing, but faithfully the first bird I saw each time I visit is always a pair of Australian Pipit, which jump around the fringe of the platform.

Australian Pipit

What made up for my disappointment on my return from the reef, was the sighting of the Pipit pair’s one juvenile bird for the season. It jumped out in front of me and led me up the path.

Australian Pipit immature

This is not a bird commonly seen in our area, but faithfully is predictable, like the Eastern Yellow Robin, Grey Butcherbird, Magpie, Kookaburra, Pied Currawong, Superb Fairy-wren and the Eastern Whipbird, to name a few. because each of these birds like many other Australian birds are territorial, and move continuously about a given region, careful to keep within their own perimeter. It is this predictability which adds a delight to birding. Unlike most birds, you never know if you will see them again, but these territorial perennial birds, you get to know them and they you, and a trust is built up.

White-bellied Sea-Eagle family

White-bellied Sea-Eagle who knew me

White-bellied Sea-Eagle checking me out

Which brings me to a wonderful experience I had over six years ago when I lived near the ocean on the mid-north coast. Here I was developing a predictable relationship with a White-bellied Sea-Eagle. This bird was actually getting to know me, as it saw me often spend hours watching and stalking it. It sometimes would circle or simply hover above my head and just watch me, as soon as I pointed my camera at it, without the slightest movement it would glide away, returning to observe me on another day. I hid in the bush on a cliff one day waiting for it to do its rounds and it flew right up to me and hovered in front of me, looking curiously into the bush at me for several minutes.

Grey Butcherbird

Now it is a Grey Butcherbird who visits me several times every day and sings with excitement as he splashes and washes in the dog’s drinking water bowl. I always smile and get a kick out of hearing its happy call each time. He is usually the first bird I hear in the morning, and his arrival is predicable, and delightful on every occasion. Faithful returning friends, how we treasure them. How we love to be known and loved, for each of us are created for relationship. Life is relationship. The quality of our life depends on the quality of our relationships and how we love, care and share with others sharing our journey. God calls us to be faithful in the same way as He is faithful, for He says:

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

“For I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.” – Psalm 26:3

Trusting God more and more with my life and future, I discover he is predictably faithful, as only a true friend can be. He comes and faithfully meets my needs, often surprising and delighting me beyond my expectations. That is why King David could honestly and experientially say of his God:

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful” – Psalm 18:25

Faith believes and then receives, because it is God’s delight to shower his love on us as we allow him to do so.

Have a great week, and check out my website, especially the new recently added pages. I also have a new promo video below.

You can check out my book, and purchase it in the sidebar on this page. I am delighted that sales have greatly increased, NSW National Parks shops have recently become the new sales success places, for which I am very thankful.

To get an idea of size and how small they are, see how tall they are beside this Silver Gull. Again you can note remnants of breeding plumage on the male.

The female is slightly larger in size with a longer beak than the non-breeding male, as seen below.

Also grazing the mud flats were a small flock of Australian White Ibis (nesting mates to the above Spoonbill).

It was an enjoyable walk along the beach just before sunset, as my wife and I look forward to exploring more of the wader feeding areas in future weeks.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18

Have a wonderful week!

If this is your first visit to my blog please check out the rest of my website through my Homepage and menu.

I was greatly blessed today to receive a very extensive review of my new book “What Birds Teach Us” in a post by Jen an American blogger who purchased my book here online recently: “Birds, Blooms and all things Beautiful”

You might like read it (click on link above) and also read more reviews and information and purchase your copy through the security of PayPal on my BirdBook page.

The book is also sold in One of these Places.

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The Silver Gull is a permanent beach resident here, and an immature gull (note the brown dappled plumage) watched the strange Godwit creatures walk past, while its parent flew past.

Have an extraordinary wonderful weekend!

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This humble reef today is the scavenging ground of the endangered Pied Oystercatcher, endangered because it lays its eggs on beaches where people unwittingly inhabit.

A common resident wader nearby was the White-faced Heron, fishing the shores.

Driving further up the Georges River beaches we found more Godwit and also some Australian White Ibis actually grazing where they should be, on the mud flats and not in city garbage bins, as they are known to do.

So the message to us all is…

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8

“Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Mark 13:33

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18

“…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. – Romans 8:37

Have a enjoyable, peaceful and restful weekend!

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We all have to adapt to the season of our life, and the changes it brings to us, and we need to do this gracefully, to meet the challenges that may lie ahead. Some birds like the Red-browed Finch do not undergo any change at all during their breeding season, and stay the same throughout their life.

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” – Luke 2:52

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” – James 1:5

Check out the various pages of my website for more birding information and life skills.

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One unique bird only found on this island is the Lord Howe Island Woodhen, which almost became extinct because European settlers found it so easy to kill for food, as it was flightless. Notice these birds are banded on their legs. Click on photos to enlarge them.

Unbanded birds, such as the one below, are young ones born in the last two years which have eluded the banding program, but will eventually be banded to mark their progress. The woodhen is classified in the rail family.

They are generally very quiet birds, making their own unique sound, foraging in the undergrowth for insects and small figs which have fallen to the ground.

Another common bird seen foraging here is the Buff-banded Rail, here was a magic moment seeing this young rail learning to forage with its mother. This species was sighted by us in Sydney Park in my last post.

The rails are quite tame and can be seen all over the island grazing.

Their red tail plumes assist their flight acrobatics, and their black feet contrast to their pure white feathers. This is one of the few places you will see these birds, Lady Elliot Island is another. They inhabit the rugged sea cliffs of the islands off the north east coast of NSW and Queensland.

The beautiful Emerald Dove is also common here.

As is the very vocal and cheerful Lord Howe Island race of the Golden Whistler (race contempta), recently reclassified and differentiated from pectoris found on NSW east coast. This bird can be heard all over the island during Spring and Summer.

Another bird only seen here is the Lord Howe Island White-Eye, which is a cousin to our Silvereye. Note how tiny they are compared to the leaves. One can be seen eating a ripe fig.

One of my favorite birds which we saw nesting there on the beach near the airstrip was the Sooty Tern. I love the way this bird hovers close by out of curiosity. here are some of the parents witheir spotted juveniles on the beach among the blue grass.

You will see many signs around the island similar to these. Though there are not many cars and trucks. Most tourists use bicycles or walk.

This Sacred Kingfisher is seen near the airstrip.

Many species of wader and shorebirds can be seen here two of which we saw many were the Ruddy Turnstone, Pacific Golden Plover and the Bar-tailed Godwit.

“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” – Job 12:13

Enjoy your week ahead!

Check out my page on Info Tips for birding in Australia, it also has links to useful resources and links.

If you think you need some spiritual encouragement for a more peaceful and enjoyable life, check out my Birder Sanctuary page.

If you are going through a tough time in life at present and suffering from it, check out my Suffering page which was recently dedicated to a blogging birder friend in Florida.

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This Godwit was being chased by a Silver Gull, who tried to steal his deep sand extraction.

It is always interesting to watch the long necked snake like nestlings actively seeking food in the nest. In the pic below you will see them placing their head inside the mouth of the other, thinking it is the mother with food.

In the movie clip below the parent feeds the nestlings as she allows them to push their whole head and neck down into her gullet. The Darter lives primarily on small fish, similar to the Cormorants, diving for its food. It swims very low in the water, with often only the neck showing.

This Pied Cormorant and Little Black Cormorant share this branch together in the Autumn sun, displaying the unity the Cormorant species share with each other.

An immature Pied Cormorant was catching some Autumn sun. Notice the brown plumage which is changing to black as it matures.

It was lovely to see an immature Black Swan resting on the lawn near the lake, is only a few months old, and will eventually gain its black plumage in about a year.

This Royal Spoonbill and Red-necked Avocet were taking a nap, as were other birds including Black-winged Stilts. Notice how they classically press their beaks into and under their back plumes, and stand on one leg.

On my walk to the large lake, I caught a look from a distance of this beautiful White-faced Heron decked out in full breeding plumage.

You may wonder how these unusually shaped beaks actually work for these Red-necked Avocets. In a similar way to the Spoonbills, they sweep the water back and forth catching small marine organisms as they go.

This immature Black-winged Stilt demonstrates the foraging action of its beak design.

However, it is the classic foraging walk of the Dotterel that amuses me, being very similar to that of Plovers and Pipits, where they run a short distance stop, feed, stand still, run again, feed, stop and look, hoping not to draw attention to themselves.

This Great Egret was an amazing poser for me, and is usually found near the water inlet for the lake, ready to catch small incoming fish. When they feel threatened they stretch their neck up to make themselves appear larger and more threatening themselves.

Though there were many Chestnut Teal and Pacific Black Duck present, this pair of Grey Teal caught my eye, as I do not get to showcase them often. All of these water birds, shorebirds and waders are winter residents which are seen locally throughout the year.

It was lovely to see this pair of male and female Australian Wood Duck posing graciously for me. Wood Ducks are one of the most devoted parents in the bird world, with both male and female being totally committed to caring for and raising their young, as I have showcased in previous posts.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” – Ephesians 5:25

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect..” – Peter 3:7

“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” – Colossians 3:19

Have a great week, and enjoy birding. Check out the rest of the pages on my website for birding information and inspiration for living a enjoyable life.

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Realizing I may not see these guys till next Summer, I took a trip down south to Lake Woollumboola, a significant wader and shorebird conservation spot, a birders paradise. I like to visit here at least once a year, but to my surprise after the heavy rains…

Also along the Shoalhaven Heads shoreline were signs warning of breeding areas for the Enndangered Pied Oystercatcher. I managed to see one grazing near the Godwits.