Great egret feeding from top shelf

This Great egret passed right in front of the northern bird hide at Swan Lake, Phillip Island yesterday. This made for some challenging snaps due to its proximity with mixed results at some interesting angles!

Great egret Ardea alba, Swan Lake, Phillip Island

I know a good chiropractor .... 

It had clearly decided it was finished with the "seafood" course because it left the shallow, weedy water of the diminishing lake ...

 ... and started showing an interest in whatever was hiding in these grasses. I never caught a glimpse of it catching anything substantial. Over a few minutes it surveyed the whole bank looking high and low.

It prompted me to delve into a field guide (Pizzey) which didn't mention this behaviour. The book did mention something that I would love to see:

Occasionally seizes fish from surface in hovering flight

Now that would be something!

 They really are an extraordinarily shaped bird!

Bird on!

Phillip Island honeyeaters

Well two of them - Eastern spinebill and New Holland honeyeater.

A wide range of habitats on this reasonably large island means that you can end up with local specialities. At Silverleaves, the predominant honeyeater species are wattlebirds, Eastern spinebill and New Holland Honeyeaters.

Eastern spinebill "family" share an old clothesline at Silverleaves, Phillip Island

The Eremaea cumulative list for the whole of Phillip Island includes no less than 16 honeyeater species. It pleases me no end to see that Noisy miner feature in <1% of lists (hope it stays that way!):

Honeyeaters
Eastern Spinebill	5%	Noisy Miner	<1%	New Holland Honeyeater	32%
Yellow-faced Honeyeater	8%	Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater	4%	White-naped Honeyeater	11%
Singing Honeyeater	2%	Red Wattlebird	47%	Brown-headed Honeyeater	<1%
White-eared Honeyeater	13%	Little Wattlebird	27%	Noisy Friarbird	<1%
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater	<1%	White-fronted Chat	23%
White-plumed Honeyeater	24%	Crescent Honeyeater	<1%

I am interested in those species with sighting rates less than say 4%. I have not seen Singing honeyeater this far east. Nor have I ever seen Spiny-cheeked honeyeater on the island (nor anywhere in Victoria I think for that matter). On the other hand I can claim to be one of only three people who have made an Eremaea recording on Phillip Island of Noisy friarbird (thereby contributing to it's <1% status)!

A few shots of immature Eastern spinebill

Eastern spinebill (adult male) with a bit of tongue poking action

Anything you can do..... New Holland honeyeater & the tongue thing

& gone

Got a problem?

Bird on!

Red-necked stints pay a visit, Phillip Island

Well these small migratory waders fly from the Southern Hemisphere to north-eastern Siberia to breed so I was thrilled when a small group of about 15 birds chose a local beach for a high tide feed recently (more about migration path and some breeding plumage images at Wikipedia's RNS page). The Easter weekend is known for its king tides in Westernport Bay, Victoria and assisted by a stiff breeze there was lots of sea grass thrown up at the high tide mark.

This was a great set of conditions to observe the stints who were so intent on feeding on creatures in the sand and grass that they gradually approached where I was perched. When seen in flight the group flew low over the water flashing white or dark as they changed direction in unison.

Red-necked stint (non-breeding) Silverleaves, Phillip Island 

'Enjoyed photographing this bird whose feeding was interrupted by a "freak wave"

The wave recedes, feeding resumes.

Nice plumage shot! Red-necked stint.

As usual some individuals more wary than others!

A couple of group shots (well half the group). At times the impression was of feathery mice scampering.

A pair of somewhat "toey" Masked lapwing provide size comparison.

Welcome visitors indeed!

Bird on!