Weekend Reflections: Nudgee Beach

I'm a night owl, always have been. I'm not a morning person at all!

Consequently, I never shoot sunrises. But, last Sunday, a couple of photographer friends and I decided that we would shoot a sunrise at low tide at Nudgee beach. The reflections were wonderful. I absolutely love the light at this time of the day!!

Sharing with James' reflection meme:

Weekly Top Shot: Nudgee Beach Sunrise

I'm not a morning person AT ALL, but when a couple of fellow Instagram buddies asked if I wanted to join them for a sunrise shoot, I jumped at the chance. I've never photographed a sunrise...

Well, after agreeing and organising to be picked up by one of these friends, who lived close by, I proceeded to have a night of absolutely NO sleep. I hope this doesn't become the norm for sunrise shoots!!

Here are a couple of favourites from that morning:

I think I like Golden Hour in the morning, even more than before sunset!!

Linking with Madge's meme:

Wild Bird Wednesday: Australasian Darter

The Australasian Darter is a large, slim water bird with a long snake-like neck, sharp pointed bill, and long, rounded tail.

"Because of its long and slender neck, the Australasian Darter is sometimes called the snakebird. Usually inhabiting freshwater wetlands, darters swim with their bodies submerged beneath the water’s surface, with only the sinuous neck protruding above the water, enhancing its serpentine qualities. Darters forage by diving to depths of about 60 centimetres, and impaling fish with its sharp, spear-like beak. Small fish are swallowed underwater, but larger ones are brought to the surface, where they are flicked off the bill (sometimes into the air) and then swallowed head-first." (www.birdlife.org.au)

I captured the above shots late afternoon... happened so fast with no time to check settings!! It was so interesting to watch.

Linking with Stewart's meme and thank you for hosting this each week!!

Our World Tuesday: QLD Summer before the storm season

As many of you know, Queensland has had a very wet and stormy Summer this year. The weather was great (hot and humid) until mid January when the state was hit by tornadoes, cyclones, too much rain and an awful lot of flooding.

The last 2 days have seen the return of blue skies and fluffy clouds with a few occasional showers. I haven't had a chance to get my camera out as I am now a Uni student again, after 26 years.  My first degree was teaching, and I retired from teaching in mid 2006 to work in University Administration from 2007 until mid 2010. My new degree is a Bachelor of Health Information Management - a totally different field! Exciting, but oh so much reading!!

Anyway, here is what the first 7-8 weeks of the Brisbane, QLD Summer looked like...

       

Weekend Reflections: Manly Harbour, QLD, Australia

Sharing with James' meme. Click the button below to see more reflections!!

Wild Bird Wednesday: Migratory Shore Birds

In late Spring, the migratory shore birds arrive in huge numbers. As the weather is heading towards Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, these birds come to our shores to spend the Summer roosting.
I had planned to take a drive up to the Sunshine Coast to a known roosting area where these birds can be seen in the thousands. I discovered, via a birding friend who lives in Brisbane, that Brisbane's Moreton Bay was also home to very large numbers of these migratory birds. For me, that meant a drive of 15 minutes from home rather than 1.5+ hours. It was also in the coastal area where I had lived and raised my children for 20 years!

This group was just a small portion (all that would fit in my camera's view). The taller birds at the back are Eastern Curlews, the black & white birds are Black-winged Stilts, the medium sized brown & white birds are Bar-tailed Godwits and the smallest birds are Great Knots.

Exit the Eastern Curlews and most of the Bar-tailed Godwits. And we are left with the Great Knots, Black-winged Stilts & a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits.

Over in another area of the roost, there are a few Pied Oystercatchers and a group of Gull-billed Terns taking flight.

I love the profiles of the Eastern Curlews in flight!

The Eastern Curlews and Gull-billed Terns are off

Joining with Stewart's meme: