Day: August 22, 2023

As it Happened: Gannets Galore Take #2

Posted in "Australasian Gannet", Point CookTagged , 9 Comments

I didn’t expect to be showing another Gannet trip so soon, but the other day, the strong northerly winds and a very low tide exposed the sand and mudflats over the end of the basalt flow into the bay, and the conditions somehow suit the shoals of fish that work along the edge of the flats.

And of course the Gannets come up the bay to feast.

There is something quite magical about watching these creatures slice through the 40kmph+ winds, a flick of the tail, an adjustment of wing angle, a feather tip control and picking the right body angle into the everchanging winds is wonderful entertainment.

Here are a few from your wind-blown scribe standing in the mudflat at the water’s edge.

One photo does not do justice to the fine control they seem to have in the strong winds
Roll over for a dive
Locked on and down it goes
In that strong wind, it was just one wingflap and a jump and it was easily airborne again
Timing, timing, oh well, Just missed the best angle on the obligatory body shake to get rid of the excess water
Pretty excited today to see several young. They seemed to not come into close to the beach preferring to work in the deeper water
Pleasing to see that rich young colour set
Because of the shallow water they don’t do straight vertical dives.
Point of entry

Enjoy