We enjoyed almost a week at Middle Lagoon on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome. Now, I'm absolutely out of my depth when it comes to waders so be ready for a few clangers!
Firstly though I had heard calls and had initial glimpses through mangroves of what I thought was going to be Striated heron. Wasn't I pleased when this bird finally made an obvious appearance and raised it's eyebrow back at me?
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| Striated heron, 21 August 2012 |
I feel a little nervous asserting that we see above (clockwise from top-left) Gull-billed tern, Greater sand-plover, Red-capped plover and Common sandpiper enjoying the tidal flats.
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| Pied oystercatcher, Middle Lagoon |
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| Eastern reef egret (grey morph) |
Having perched myself among the rocks to watch this egret I was treated to very close views as it hunted (quite productively!) in the shallows. In the fading Indian Ocean sunset the bird came closer and closer to where I was sitting before moving on to another hunting ground.
Speaking of putting on a show these Brown booby were not to be outdone:
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| Going ..... |
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| Going ..... |
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| Gone! |
Loved this place!
Bird on!
some lovely waders and I enjoyed the raised plumage on the head of the striated heron especially
ReplyDeleteAwesome shot of the Striated Heron Pete, and the Egret close-up, were you watching the beak or those talons as it approached?
ReplyDeleteI too love the pic of the Striated Heron. It's great. I'd love to see one of those. The other pics are great too such as the Booby diving.
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