Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Mid-north Coast Birding.

Lake Cathie is situated half-way between Port Macquarie and Laurieton on the coast of New South Wales. There is a lake that empties out into the ocean that is surrounded by coastal heath and swampy ti-tree country.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

These Common Terns were fishing in the lake, close to where the entrance went out to the sea. At first I thought they were Little Terns but the black caps were all wrong.

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspiculatus)

Close-up of Australian Pelican eye. Just because I could and it was so close.

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspiculatus)

And again, because I was so close, I could get a shot of the tip of its bill, with a very interesting hook on the end of it. I am not sure what the function of the hook is, possibly to hang on to fish with, doh!

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

There were about nine immature Bar-tailed Godwit on a little lagoon near the beach. They were young ones that had been left behind, too little to fly with the adults to Siberia. Maybe next year.

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)

A couple of Caspian Terns, non-breeding, and a Silver Gull.

Lake Cathie bird list

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Crested Tern
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
Silver Gull
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Triglossus chlorolepidotus)
Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspiculatus)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Australian Wood-duck
Masked Lapwing
Noisy Miner
Pied Butcherbird
Willy Wagtail
Great Egret
Australian White Ibis
White-faced Heron
Pied Cormorant
Welcome Swallow
Rainbow Lorikeet
Magpie-lark
Pied Oystercatcher
Sooty Oystercatcher
Australian Raven
Australian Magpie

Limeburners Creek National Park.

This is the other end of Limeburners Creek National Park. These photos are from Big Hill. You get here from Crescent Head, along the road to Point Plomer. The creek here is very dark with Ti-Tree discolouration. And there are millions of mosquitos, even in daytime.

Lewin’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)

Lewin’s Honeyeater are very common along the east coast of Australia.

Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera)

Little Wattlebirds are also common along the coastal heaths of Eastern Australia.

Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

This is the Australasian Grebe in winter plumage, without the yellow stripe below the eye.

Crescent Head bird list

Lewin’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)
White-cheeked Honeyeater
Spangled Drongo
Pied Butcherbird
Australian Pelican
Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera)
Great Cormorant – breeding
Pied Cormorant
Hardhead (Aythya australis)
Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) – winter plumage
Black Swan
White-necked Heron
White-faced Heron
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Masked Lapwing
Australian Magpie
Magpie-lark
Laughing Kookaburra
Crested Tern
Silver Gull
Australasian Gannet
Australian White Ibis
Straw-necked Ibis
Superb Fairy-wren

Emerald Beach.

Emerald Beach is just north of Coffs Harbour on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. There is a nice beach with a headland walk. Look At Me Now Headland is where they wanted to put in a sewerage outfall in the early nineties, but was stopped because of vigorous protest.

White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)

Coastal heaths are standard habitat for White-cheeked Honeyeaters and you will very often see them at the beach flying around manically, high on nectar from the bottle-brushes, wattles and banksia blooms. This one has got what looks like a dragon-fly in his mouth. They are very similar to the New Holland Honeyeater which has a white ring around the eye and a smaller white cheek patch.

Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinacaem)

This Mistletoebird is either a female or a juvenile. I am leaning towards juvenile mainly because of the possible light gape around the bill and the duller orange butt patch.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

There are lots of Eastern Grey Kangaroos out on the headland, grazing on the grass. This one had a joey in the pouch, who was bouncing along with mum and eating the grass when she stopped for a nibble.

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)

I just had to put this photo in. I love the water and island in the background. Something different. Consider this my arty shot.

Homo sapiens

This is a typical juvenile coastal Homo sapiens in its natural habitat.

Australian Pipit (Anthus australis)

Maybe half a dozen Australian Pipits were feeding on the Emerald Beach headland and hopping around in the rocky areas. I usually see them on grassy patches or roads. They are also fairly common in South-east Asia, where it is difficult to distinguish them from the Paddyfield Pipit.

Emerald Beach Bird List

Australian Pipit (Anthus australis)
Osprey
Australian Raven
Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo
White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
Little Wattlebird
Sooty Oystercatcher
White-faced Heron
Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinacaem) – female or juvenile
Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
Superb Fairy-wren

Iluka Breakwater.

This morning it was raining and miserable at Iluka breakwater. The birds were all sopping wet. You can tell by all their wet feathers.

Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis)

A couple of Blue-faced Honeyeaters were sitting on a dead tree on the beach. Sopping wet. I have been seeing quite a few of them up the north coast. I never noticed them so much the last time I was up here.

Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)

This Grey Butcherbird was wet and miserable as well.

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

I took some photos of the surfers at the breakwater and then this Brahminy Kite came cruising by really close to me. Lucky I got this one because I had my camera packed away and had to rush to get it out and just shoot away. Good luck or good management. ha ha. 🙂