A pair of Sooty oystercatchers caught my eye at Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, Tasmania. My presence, in part, roused one of the birds from its slumber. It commenced an impressive stretching routine in preparation for a quick departure should it be required (it wasn't).
Sooty oystercatcher, (Adventure Bay, Tas.), April 2014
Sooty oystercatchers resting, Bruny Island
Generally I think one is more likely to find Sooty oystercatchers on the rocks rather than the sandy beach. The converse applies with the other Oystercatcher we get in Australia - the Pied oystercatcher which prefers mudflats and sandy spits.
The bird shown below was feeding between waves demonstrating the versatility of that amazing bill. This bird is known to be able to split bivalve seashells to extract a morsel. Here it is simply plunging its bill for sand worms.
Pied oystercatcher - Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania
This 20 second video (screen grabs above) show how this bird hangs out at the beach!
It's not often you see the terms "family holiday" and "pellagic cruise" together unless you are saying something like:
"Pete and Kath's relationship never really recovered from the infamous pellagic-cruise family-holiday incident"
White-capped albatross (or Shy albatross depending on which guide you are using), 15 April 2014
There are cruises run from Adventure Bay on Tasmania's Bruny Island by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys marketing spectacular scenery and the exhilaration of moving in powerful boats close to blow holes and sea tunnels. The opportunity to see wildlife such as seals, dolphins, whales and, yes, birds is also advertised.
On our stay at Bruny with our double-family group of nine (a few proclaiming definite sea sickness tendencies) I knew that the possibility of orchestrating a boat trip in the open sea were not great. This was April this year.
Well the pictures tell the story of a calm, mostly sunny day and an exhilarating and memorable trip! Entertaining guides (perhaps a little crazy!), no sea-sickness and an exciting boat ride had everyone happy.
Buller's albatross
One of each of the albatross species with a Silver gull for good measure
Crested tern
One of the roosting Black-faced cormorants shown above
Sooty oystercatcher
Great cormorant
Seal colony at The Friars
What are the chances of another moment in my life that I may photograph a dolphin and albatross in the same shot?
If you're curious to know more here's a 2 minute home movie with our experience of the cruise (you'll find many more on youtube including some professionally shot films commissioned by the company -this and more at the Pennicott Wilderness Journeys website)
Along with Maria Island further north, Bruny Island is one of the remaining strongholds for Forty-spotted pardalote. Nearly all of the Tasmanian endemics can be seen on Bruny and when I read that the owner of a property on South Bruny was a naturalist and ran birding tours of her property ..... Well thankfully Bruny is one of those places where there is no shortage of other things to do when a birder departs from the family itinerary for a few hours!
Forty-spotted pardalote, Inala, South Bruny (15 April 2014)
During the tour the focus was not on photography so much as identifying and learning about local birds and animals. The property is called Inala (website: http://www.inalabruny.com.au) and my guide was Dr Tonia Cochran - she knew the local species intimately. At one stage she identified a short chirp as evidence that a Pink robin was close by and wanted to try to call it in. A few "psshh" noises later and the robin duly appeared and checked us out!
And just what is going on here? Pink robin, Inala
Apart from a trio of local Wedge-tailed eagles it was the smaller birds that were the feature at Inala - robins in particular. The endemic Dusky robin was pointed out and I came across some very obliging Flame robin. Several Scarlet robin were also seen, often perching on barbed wire fences.
Flame robin, Inala, Bruny Island, Tasmania
Scarlet robin
Distant view of Dusky robin, a Tasmanian endemic species
Partially cleared land, Inala
Inala, the gums at left are an example of the favoured by endangered Forty-spotted pardalote
This was an enjoyable & memorable outing which included views of Tasmanian thornbill and scrubwren, Black-headed, Strong-billed, Yellow-throated and Crescent honeyeaters, Yellow wattlebird and those mentioned above amongst many others. I would certainly commend a visit to others!
