These few pictures from last weekend capture the breadth of bird-watching experiences available at the Nobbies, Phillip Island.
Firstly the headland's viewing platforms provide some good vantage points for observing birds in flight up at their level and at close range .... perhaps a little too close!
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| Immature Pacific gull (Larus pacificus) |
Then if you have some decent optics you might be able to hazard an educated guess as to what some distant seabirds might be. People see albatross and the like I believe (obviously not in this photo).
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| Small dark seabirds 500m from shore (as always - click to enlarge). I really have no idea. The island is however Short-tailed shearwater territory at the right time of year. This photo at 3pm, 25 March 2012 (don't they only come close to shore at dusk?) |
But while I had my eyes & camera focussed on passing gulls and distant specks normal people engage in the most popular form of bird-watcing at the Nobbies:
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Fairy penguin spotting at The Nobbies, 25th March 2012
Little penguin (Eudyptula minor) |
The remaining images are from previous years
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| The Nobbies looking east (C 2004) |
There have been several massive breeding seasons of Silver gull in recent years and there has been Crested tern colonies as well.
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| Silver gull & chicks (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) |
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| "Son, I'm watching you. Put that cigarette down!" (below) ... |
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| Crested tern (Thalasseus bergii), The Nobbies, 3/1/2011 |
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| Crested tern colony, The Nobbies, 3/1/2011 |
Looks fantastic, Pete. I wanna go! Those Little Penguins look like they know what they're doing and love the Pacific Gull shots. No idea what the small seabirds are but it'd be good to know..
ReplyDeletelovely series Pete and I especially liked seeing the Pacific Gull for the very first time; great pics
ReplyDeleteFantastic shots Pete.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff but I love most is your humor about the cigarette!! LOl!
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling about being too close with large birds! Not easy to choose the right lens at the right moment unless you have several cameras like the big guys!!
Well done again, Pete!