LONG NECKS & LONG LEGS

A variety of long necked, long legged birds seen and photographed recently around the Sunshine Coast.

A morning outing at the Park Lakes Wetlands in Bli Bli allowed me to observe a large flock of Magpie Geese, quite a few of which were roosting high up in some nearby trees.

Magpie Goose

Magpie Geese

At the same location a solitary Great Egret shone brightly in the morning light.

Great Egret

As too a small contingent of Cattle Egrets resting safely in the middle of a pond.

Cattle Egrets

At Ewan Maddock Dam a Black-necked Stork treated me to a spectacular fly over. With it's 2.3 metre wingspan it is up there with the Brolga and Australian Pelican as our largest birds. 

Black-necked Stork

Low tide on the Mooloolah River at Parrearra allowed for some close views of these two feeding in their own particular manner.

Royal Spoonbill & White-faced Heron

Cheers & Happy Birding

BEACH BIRDS

When visiting my Mum recently we went for a cuppa at one of our local beaches.

We watched this heron stalking through some still water, unperturbed by the passing beach-goers.

White-faced Heron

Then an ibis came wandering by hoping for a scrap of  food.

They have become quite fearless around people and are considered a pest in 

some areas of the Sunshine Coast.

Australian White Ibis

Meanwhile a lone mickey-bird was checking out the action from the shadows of a she-oak nearby. 

Noisy Miner

Back at home we had a visitor to our shed out back, that made itself 

at home on the fishing rods that we wanted to use. We were able to 

move him along with a bit of gentle persuasion. 

Carpet Python

Across the road from home these egrets were feeding in the morning sun.

They drop in most days when the cattle are active and their numbers seem to be 

increasing in the local area.   

Cattle Egrets

I had to take a shot of this lovely flower in the garden even though I have

no idea what it is. Any suggestions would be welcome!

And earlier from the back verandah, I snapped a photo of the sun rising over the coast,

with Mt Coolum on the left.

Sunrise on the Sunshine Coast.