Pelican pouch yoga, Phillip Island

A few interesting observations were made on a gloomy morning at Fishers Wetland, Phillip Island recently. First was the overall impression of a whole heap of pretty happy birds all feeding. We (Richard and I) did enjoy spotting a single Pink-eared duck amongst a mass of Eurasian coot.

Methinks not unlike a Freo supporter amongst the Collingwood coots!

Eurasian coot, Fishers Wetland, 29 December 2012

You know how the bird standing on one leg always brings out the other one just when you conclude it is lame? This one never seemed to and the leg on view seemed huge! 

Cape Barren Goose drinking the brackish Fishers Wetland water

Now on to some pelican behaviour ...

I've not seen this before!

 A little "quality" Internet research brought me to this National Geographic article by David A O'Connor which states:

Pelicans perform strange-looking exercises to stretch and maintain their pouch in a brand of pelican yoga. They will gape, holding their mouths wide open. In another pose, they point the bill straight up to the sky, stretching the pouch. Or most evocatively, a bird will turn its pouch completely inside out by forcing it over its breast.

Teal, dotterels and stilts all happily feeding at Fishers

I've not seen this many Red-kneed dotterel at Phillip Island before

An Australasian shoveler amongst the teal

I leave you with some of the comings and goings. In flight we see Australian pelican, Swamp harrier, Australian shelduck and Cape Barren geese.

Fishers Wetland, Phillip Island, 29 December 2012

Bird on!

Flat out birding!

I recently saw some shared pictures showing birders in extreme positions not unlike these borrowed ones shown below (they are links to their own webpages if you wish to pursue).

I can't recall getting that low very often (and I'm sure any fair dinkum birding photographer is now saying "well you haven't been serious then!"). Last weekend while I was walking from Silverleaves Beach to Observation Point, it occurred to me to give it a try.

On the way out (pretty much standing up if i recall correctly). These guys were in an area where I usually see Red-capped plovers but I'm wondering if they are Double-banded plovers.

Red-capped plover

Hooded plovers - I'm now lying down. I wasn't very patient 'cos it was windy and freezing!

Red-capped plover. I was struck by how much easier it was to have the subject focussed when lying down.

Again, I wasn't patient but I imagine that by commando wriggling it would be possible to get closer than you might think was possible standing up!

It even makes a visiting silver gull look good!

I haven't seen Australian shelduck around this beach before (these two just passing through really)

I always enjoy Pacific gulls flying effortlessly into the stiff (read "bitterly cold") breeze.

Silverleaves Beach at dawn, tide well on the way in.

 Typical beach scenes as the tide breaches some of the mini sand bars.