Wild Bird Wednesday: Migratory Shore Birds

Bar-tailed Godwits are quite large waders, with females being bigger than males. The Bar-tailed Godwit is mainly mottled brown above and lighter and more uniform buff below. It has dull white underwings, and a long, slightly upturned bill. As the name suggests, the white tail is barred with brown. This is the non-breeding plumage of the Bar-tailed Godwit and is the main phase seen in Australia. The breeding plumage is darker and more rufous, with females duller than males. Young birds resemble non-breeding birds.
**Info from Birdlife Australia

The Bar-tailed Godwit undertakes one of the avian world’s most extraordinary migratory journeys. Recent research reveals that some individuals from the East Asia/Australasia Flyway population made a nonstop flight of over 11,000 km, the longest continuous journey that has ever been recorded for a landbird.

A group of Bar-tailed Godwits with a smaller shorebird (4th from right). I'm not 100% sure of the ID of that one.

The Great Knot is a medium-sized shorebird with a straight, slender bill of medium length and a heavily streaked head and neck. In Australia, they are usually seen in non-breeding plumage, with grey upper parts with pale scalloping, and white underparts with heavy streaking on the neck, grading to spots on the breast. In breeding plumage, Great Knots have a black band across the chest, and black, white and reddish speckles on the upper parts.
**Info from Birdlife Australia

The difference in size between the Great Knots and larger Bar-tailed Godwits can be seen here.

The Curlew Sandpiper is a small to medium-sized wader (migratory shorebird). It has a long, black bill with a down-curved end and black legs and feet. In its non-breeding plumage, it is grey-brown above, white below, with a white wing bar visible in flight. In breeding plumage, it is bright reddish brown below and the wings are barred black.
**Info from Birdlife Australia.

And finally, amongst this group of Bar-tailed Godwits (below), are 2 "ring-ins" -- The small bird, front-middle, is a Great Knot and, dwarfed by the 2 Godwits on the left is a Grey-tailed Tattler.

The Grey-tailed Tattler is a medium-sized wader, with long wings and tail. The bill is rather long and straight. In non-breeding plumage it is grey above and almost white below. There is a white eyebrow. The eyes are dark brown, bill black, short legs and feet bright yellow. In breeding plumage, the entire underparts are conspicuously barred dark brown. Immature birds are similar to adults in non-breeding plumage.
**Info from Birdlife Australia.

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Fingal Head

One afternoon we headed south, over the border into the northern New South Wales area called Fingal Head.

Sunset meets with good friends, enthralled with the beauty of nature

Focused...

We clamber along the rocky headland

As the sun sets out west

Then I see this!

Ah... The serenity... And I am thankful for another wonderful day.

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Reflecting

There is nothing more serene than sitting by the lake, watching the sunset behind the mountains.

The sky takes on graduated shades of yellows, oranges, purples and blues,

And the lake mirrors those colours.

As the yellow fades, the orange, purple and blue deepens.

Gradually darkness falls, and I am grateful for the opportunity to witness the wonder of another sunset.

I am blessed indeed.

"Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Noosa Beauty

While on a short holiday in Noosa Heads with my husband last year, we took a short walk along the first section of the boardwalk along the headland. Come and join me if you like...

First Point, looking north-east...

First Point, looking west...

The clear blue-green water was inviting, to say the least...

Little Cove Beach is a 100m long pocket of north-west facing sand lying just 100m east of  Noosa Main Beach, around Johnson Point.

The perfect day for reflections in the sand when the tide was out...

Back on Noosa Main Beach

Noosa Main Beach reflections in the glass fence of Fairshore Noosa Beachfront Apartments (we didn't stay there but it does look very inviting!!)

What a fantastic day!!

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Beauty & the "Beast"

"The earth laughs in flowers." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

A quiet stroll in the gardens, in the warm afternoon sun.

Camera in hand, capturing the beauty of nature around me.

Colour abounds around every corner...

The intricate details, an incredible sight.

I step back a little for a different perspective.

And then I see it:
Something entirely different, among the beauty; lazing in the warm afternoon sun, almost prehistoric looking. He too, is enjoying the beauty of nature.

His elaborate details and patterns, proof that creation isn't just an accident but the handiwork of God, the Master Creator.

PS. I don't really think he's a beast! I find Eastern Water Dragons fascinating!


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