Wild Bird Wednesday 535 - Sooty Oystercatcher

These Sooty Oystercatchers (Haematopus fuliginosus) landed on the beach at Walkerville, wandered about for a brief while and then took off again.  They were never in great light - but I kind of like what I was able to do with them in the breaking waves.

Anyway, I normally see this species in more rocky coastlines, so maybe that's where they were going when they left.

Oystercatchers of any kind are some of my favourite birds, I could watch them for ages.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 534 - Eastern Curlew

The Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) is an endangered species that breeds in Russia and north-eastern China, and spends its non-breeding period in the southern hemisphere, being  widespread in coastal regions in the north-east and south of Australia, including Tasmania.  These pictures were taken on an incoming tide at Toora Bird hide in East Gipsland, about 2 1/2 hours from Melbourne.

These are a very large wading bird, with a characteristic huge beak!  However, they still manage to use it to organise and clean their feathers.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 533 - Crimson Rosella

Of all the colourful birds that I see near my house, the Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) really is one of the most remarkable.

The first time I ever saw one - which is almost 30 year ago - I simply could not believe the depth, or extent , of the red colouration on these birds.  It's a shock that has not really warn off!

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Wild Bird Wednesday 532 - Grey Fantail

It would seem that being (sort of) retired is no less busy than being in full time work - but I am sure I will get things sorted in my favour soon!

These are pictures of Grey Fantails (Rhipidura albiscapa).  This is bird that never seem to keep still.  As a kid I would see 'Wagtails' that constantly moved their tails up and down - this is a species that constantly moves their tail side to side.  They also jump in the air, dash after flies and generally never stay in one place more than a few seconds.

I took these pictures (long with those for the last couple of week) on the beach at Walkerville, a small settlement east of Melbourne.

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