“Western Treatment Plant” – Page 2 – Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER

Loitering with INTENT

July 13, 2016July 13, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", 29 Mile Road, Uncategorized, White-bellied Sea-eagleTagged Western Treatment Plant, White-bellied Sea-eagle, WTP2 Comments

We’ve been housebound because of the weather, and in the early afternoon, the sun shone, blue sky, and we decided to head to Twenty Nine Mile Road. Just for a look, and then a coffee on the way home. The Plant is Locked Out to mere mortals at the moment as the roads are a quagmire from the rains, the constant 4WD traffic, and that one of the number of bird watchers managed to put their ‘fourbee’ off the road and into a bog, requiring work by the management to get it out. So.

The weather forecast was loaded with gloom and doom, but we thought it was worth the risk just for the time out.

And we managed some good sunshine for about 30 minutes. And then a great big black cloud with a distinct grey sheet falling from it, headed in our direction. It was, as they say. All over.

And in the same direction a large raptor, which as it came closer was definitely a White-bellied Sea-eagle. It swung in on the wind, which even optimistically could be measured somewhere between 50-60kph. The rain was ripping in behind it. The bird landed, without a care on a roadway bund between two ponds. And with the rain pelting down it just sat and watched. A lone Samp Harrier had clued on that something was going to happen and was making various treks back and forth behind the eagle. We were stuck sitting in the car with the window open, and rain pouring in. Close window at least.

And it waited. It seemed to me the wind and the rain were increasing, but still it sat. And looked.

Then at what can only be described as ‘The height of the storm”. — or as poor old much maligned Edward Bulwer-Lytton “It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.” might have said.

The bird casually turned its body into the wind, raised the wings and lifted off. And to my real surprise, headed “into” the wind. Long deliberate beats that took it just over the water out along the pond.
Then it became clear through the rain.
A lone Eurasian Coot had taken that moment to make its run across the lake. Wrong move!

With the rain hammering at me as I swung open the door, and raced back along the road to get a clear look at the event, the eagle made several passes at the hapless coot, and then I lost it behind a clump of grass in between, and to be honest, the sting of the rain, the lack of wet protection for body and camera, and it was time to go back to the ‘safety’ of the car. EE had managed to get a better look of the eagle as it brought the coot to land.

But. Let’s face it. A long way away, drenching rain, no light, and buckets of contrast and colour and sharpening and noise reduction, and this a about as good as it gets.

I guess I make no apology for the images. At least we were there.

The power of the eagle is still haunting my thoughts. I was having trouble walking in that wind.

Thanks to EE for supplying the last moments of the action.

Locked on Target. That the D810 and the 300mm Locked on at all is much a tribute to the gear.

Locked on Target

Photo Courtesy EE

Photo courtesy EE

Photo Courtesy EE

What a Difference some Sunshine Makes

July 6, 2016July 6, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Australian Hobby, Birdsaspoetry, Brown Falcon, Golden-headed Cisticola, Little Pied Cormorant, Photographic Seeing, Western Treatment PlantTagged Brown Falcon, Golden-headed Cisticola, Little PIed Cormorant, Western Treatment Plant7 Comments

Been beavering away here at the Website trying to find ways to improve the overall look and experience of visiting, and trying to give expression visually to the site’s dedicated title. “Birds as Poetry”.

Sometimes its easy to find clever words to describe a moment in time with the birds, or to cover over the fact it was just another day on the job making images of very fine birds. But that is not the visual feel. And above all I guess my main goal for the web pages.

Been doing as you’ve probably gathered a bit of introspection on what the bird stories should show, how relevant that is to those who have graciously signed up to follow along here and at the same time not making it so esoteric that even I find it hard to reach those heights of expression.

And at another level, the pure old photographic know how and application needs to still satisfy both viewer and creator. And of course in this day and age wrestling with the ever-advancing technology that so readily leads us onward with banners waving from one vantage point to the next, without even taking the time to notice the journey across the plain.

Along with photography, poor writing and a love of Russel Coight’s All Australian Adventure tv shows (skits please), I also offer Tai Chi as another of my dizzying weaknessess. What I like most about this ancient (art) is the definiteness of purpose and deliberateness of movement. And in that is the edge of my photography with the birds, and hence the constant need to find expression of Birds as Poetry.

Continue reading “What a Difference some Sunshine Makes” →

Meeting Up with Friends Take #2

May 14, 2016May 14, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", 29 Mile Road, Black Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Brolga, Brown Falcon, Melbourne Bird Photographers (Meetup), Western Treatment Plant, Whistling Kite, White-winged TernTagged Brolga, Brown Falcon, Western Treatment Plant, Whistling Kite, White-winged Tern, WTP6 Comments

Graham Harkom, as self-confessed birder and mad photographer, also among his other accomplishments runs an online bird photography group, Melbourne Bird Photographers, under the Meetup banner.

See Here

So most months there is an event to turn up to. It’s such an intriguing way to organise an event, and great kudos for Graham and his organising group for keeping up the great places to visit. Always good for birds, photography and chatting, and of course food!

So, when I discovered the next one was to be at the Western Treatment Plant, it wasn’t too hard to tick the Yes we will attend box.

So, as the Banjo was wont to say, we went.

Also my long term mate and fellow conspirator and Flickr mate Mark S came over to make an excellent day of it. Graham, herein named, “He who always has brilliant sunshine for his events”, met us at the Caltex Servo at Werribee and had turned on the sunshine as requested.

28 keen folk sipped Gerry’s best coffee, ate raisin toast, and talked about the day’s opportunities. We took off toward Avalon, stopping long enough to get some good views, if only average photos of some Banded Plovers, then it was on to the T Section, and the inevitable wait by the Crake Pool, and out came the Australian Crake, right on time. No Brolga here, so off to the Paradise Road ponds for our little convoy.

Met a carful of helpful folk who said, “Down there somewhere we saw Brolga”, which unscrambled meant. On to the 145W outflow. A very co-operative Brown Falcon stopping us in our quest, and gave some great poses, and a fine fly off shot for those of us not too busy checking the camera settings. —Will I never never learn!!!! 😦

Then, we spotted the Brolga, (Singular in this case), and the usual dilemma, stay where we are for distant, safe views , or drive on a small distance and see if we can get closer. We drove. And the kind bird tolerated us, for a while, then gave a super fly by quite close. Too much fun.

We had a quiet photography time at 145W, and lunch, then it was on to Lake Borrie. My mates Neil and David turned up in the Prado,they were both out playing with new toys, A Canon 1D X and a Nikon D4. Ah, the joys of learning new equipment.

As we drove back the Brown Falcon had perched on the ‘Specimen Tree’ in Little River and we managed several great shots in the sunshine.

On toward the Bird-hide for some good views of Musk Duck, Great Crested Grebe and an obliging Swamp Harrier made the journey well worthwhile.

Then we took a quick detour toward the top end of Lake Borrie, and to my surprise and great delight—Picture if you will, a small child in a sweet-shop—I spotted some White-winged Terns hunting in the next pond. (They used to be called White-winged Black Terns, but like many things name changes are important.)
Not that I cared as a most remarkable all Black flanked bird tacked into view. It was in full breeding plumage, and has to be seen flashing over the water to be genuinely appreciated. By now the memory cards were filling up. And they were just Mine!!!!!

These birds are only at WTP a few weeks during the year, and mostly never in breeding black plumage. Also every other time I’ve seen them it’s been raining. See some other blogs on here.

A really top find, and a great way to end the day. A quick run up the highway. A refreshing cup of coffee and some good discussion on the finds of the day,- including a top shot of a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Missed that one! ), and everybody back in their transportation and time for home.

Thanks again to Graham “He who always has brilliant sunshine for his events”, and the pleasure of his visitor from Thailand, for such a good relaxing day, and so much to see, and to all those intrepid Meetup-erers who ventured down, and enjoyed the day with us. Hope to see you all again down the track.

Enjoy.

A fine start to the day with a Black-shouldered Kite warming in the morning sunshine

At Crake HQ, an Australian Crake on good display.

A hunting we wiil go Whistling Kite over paddock — A hunting we will go. Whistling Kite over paddock

A Black Kite on a tight turn hunting small insects.

One of the finds of the day. Brolga in flight

A Swamp Harrier on a tight turn. Another one for my "How to Sneak up on a Swamp Harier", book. :-) — A Swamp Harrier on a tight turn. Another one for my “How to Sneak up on a Swamp Harrier”, book. 🙂

White-winged Tern. What a great find, and this one in full breeding plumage.

White-winged Tern (formerly White-winged Black Tern for obvious reasons), this one is moulting in.

A Band of Banded Brothers

May 10, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Banded Stilt, Black Falcon, Black Kite, Harris Gate, Red-necked Avocet, Western Treatment Plant, Whistling KiteTagged Banded Stilt, Black Falcon, Black Kites, Red-necked Avocet, Whistling Kite, WTP5 Comments

Came upon a small band of Banded Stilts and Red-necked Avocets the other morning.

We had been looking for some locations for subjects for my book on “How to Sneak Up on a Swamp Harrier”. Needless to say the next chapter or two will for the short term be blank pages.

On one pond we happened in the best of traditions on a flock of Banded Stilts, and some companions.

So we settle down for about an hour or so. While we were enjoying the birds, the sunshine and a cuppa, we were joined for a short while by a hunting party of Black Kite and a Black Falcon. We counted around 25 Black Kites and there were plenty spiralling down from a great height that we didn’t count any more.
Sort of added that sparkle to the day.

Enjoy

Tight formation to fool the Black Falcon

Spot the odd one out. Red-necked Avocet looking for a landing space.

Settling in to land

The arrival of the Black Falcon kept everyone on their toes—or wings

Doesn’t seem to have a lot of friends, the Black Falcon.

Awesome noise

Ready Set Go. I’ll race you to the end of the pool.

Red-necked Avocet at departure

A raven moving on two scavenging Whistling Kites

One kite, two kites many.

Liked the play of light over the face only.

A Band of Banded Stilts. Evening in the sunshine

May 4, 2016May 8, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Banded StiltTagged Banded Stilt, Western Treatment Plant, WTP1 Comment

They walked and fed quite rapidly and passed back and forth by my position

More coming in

With Black-tailded Godwits.

Time for a bit of a preen

They lined up and took a 15 minute powernap from the busy work

A great time to tidy up the feathers

I wonder what the collective noun for Stilts is? Decided that it might be, in this case with Banded Stilts, well, Band of.

So we spent an evening with a Band of Brothers. On one of the ponds at the T Section at the Treatment Plant we found the Band working very quickly through the water. I settled down in the grass on the water’s edge and was able to have them feed up quite close, and without being distressed at my presence.

(more…)

Orion: The Kite of many poses

April 11, 2016April 11, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Black-shouldered Kite, Western Treatment PlantTagged Black-shouldered Kite, Western Treatment Plant, WTP4 Comments

And just before you think I’ve run out of stuff to write about and am uploading a few older images.
These are from a visit this afternoon. I’ve been laid up at home in bed with the flu for most of the week. And EE decided that it was such a nice sunny afternoon, that I’d be allowed out for a bit of ‘fresh air’.

So down to 29 Mile we went. And there was mr casual, Orion, sitting on the usual post eating a usual mouse. Well obviously not the same mouse as before, but you get the idea.
Interestingly enough there was quite a track made through the long grass and marsh weed, by photographers tracking in and out over the weekend. EE says, if she’d have known it might have been a good place to sell hot scones and tea!

Orion seemed all the more oblivious to it all, and went through an entire preening and resting program with two photographers at arms length —so to speak. Well not quite, but in its relaxed way we enjoyed vicariously its company.

Here is a small sample of the afternoon. And yes, I do feel better from the fresh air.

Enjoy.

A quick extraction and discard of the bits that don't taste too nice. — A quick extraction and discard of the bits that don’t taste too nice.

Did you ever wonder what was under those wings?

The delicate rezipping of the tail feathers is always a delight to see from a raptor

A wing stretch and its time to go a hunting.

With Orion, the mighty hunter

April 6, 2016April 7, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Orion, Western Treatment PlantTagged Black-shouldered Kite, Orion, WTP7 Comments

Not sure how you’re Greek mythology is, but Orion was a hunter who was going to kill all the wildlife. A bit miffed with his hubris, the gods took umbrage— they seeemed to do that a lot, over the least, and perhaps even looked for opportunities to be offended, but I digress.

In the end of the myth, well he gets bitten by a clever snake, and is consigned to turn for ever in the heavens, he at one end, and the snake at the other. When one lot of star pattern is visible at night, the other is below the horizon. One sets as the other rises. All very mystical.

There is a lot of the life/death, rebirth and restitution in the entire story, but that is probably enough for most average bird photographers to take in at one sitting.

After several sessions with the Black-shouldered Kite down on the 29 Mile Road, it dawned on me that Orion, the mighty hunter, would be a good, well, unisex name for our hero(ine).

So we went down to see Orion, discuss the matter with him/her, and see what he/she thought.

Seemed to go pretty well, and just to confirm it all the bird dropped off the post, flew a few wingflaps, hovered, dived and returned with a mouse. One can almost here Mt Olympus turning.

Enjoy

Addendum: Just to be very clear. These birds are not baited, called in, or in anyway interfered with. We are simply recording the activities of a very relaxed and completely confident bird. We strive for connection and if a bird exhibits any ‘stress’, we leave it in peace. No photo is worth stressing the bird.
Now you know!

DWJ_0740 — Warming up the wings for the next sortie

I take that gesture to be an acceptance of Orion as a good name.

Hand me a camera and I’ll make a shot for the Fluker Post

A Morning Flying a Kite (Black-shouldered) or Learning the Fine Points of Mousestalking

April 1, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Black-shouldered Kite, Western Treatment PlantTagged Black-shouldered Kite, Western Treatment Plant5 Comments

No. I haven’t fallen off the planet. But my photo database had developed a slight case of computer measels and its taken me the best part of the last couple of weeks to manage it back to life.
It all started…. but, let’s not go there.

Still been making photos but.
Here is a sequence from a morning with a Black-shouldered Kite hunting alongside the roadway. For those who can navigate around the Western Treatment Plant this one is working along 29 Mile Road.

Interesting time at the WTP, the waders are all feeding and colouring up for their journey north to Siberia. And all the nesting birds are now in winter preparation.
Which means the Black-shouldered Kites among others have come down to keep the mouse population from exploding to epic proportions. And if this bird is anything to go by, then the mice are well and truly under control.

I’ve heard it said that on average the success rate for a hunting bird is one strike in about 10-15 attempts. This bird (I haven’t named it yet), obviously never read the fine print, and in the hour or so we shared, it hunted 4 times and took 3 mice.

It also seems quite content around us mere humans and has allowed both close approaches, and has made its own close approaches. Add to that some fine sunshine, a small breeze to give it some lift and what better way to while away a few hours in the morning.

Enjoy

Wagtails visit Western Treatment Plant

March 2, 2016March 2, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Werribee Wagtails, Western Treatment PlantTagged Birdlife Werribee, Werribee BirdLife, Werribee Wagtails, Western Treatment Plant4 Comments

Ahhh, a tour update and trip report.

The Werribee BirdLife group had their monthly outing yesterday and visited the Western Treatment Plant.
The weather has been predicted to be sunny and hot, so it was with a touch of bemusement that we headed off down the highway in the fog!

But it did give us a lovely cool morning, so the sulking photographer in me just had to make do for awhile.

Travelling with the Wagtails (Werribee Birdlife in a former name), is a fun experience. There is a great deal of knowledge of the birds, and the area, and the social activity makes for a fun filled and well fed day.

We went down to the T Section, an area that is fast taking on hero status as a Red Phalarope has come down to visit over. Perhaps to the uninitiated a bit hard to spot, but once seen the frenetic activity of the bird makes it reasonably easy to locate. And especially if the tour leader. (D Torr esq.) lines it up in the spotting scope at the start of the activity.

Here is a quick take from some of the events.

Black-shouldered Kite, in pursuit of a really annoying Raven

A Welcome Swallow decided to join in the chase.

Down at the beach, the Red-necked Stints are really putting on the weight now.

The amazing T Section ponds. Spot the Red Phalarope for extra points!

Sharp-trailed Sandpiper. Trialling the travelling equipment.

Little Journeys

January 31, 2016January 31, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Western Treatment PlantTagged Western Treatment Plant1 Comment

When I was a mere broth of a lad, we had in our ‘vast’ library of books a volume entitled “Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great”, by some dude named Elbert Hubbard. It was filled with wide-eyed stories of visits to great historical people. Some with really funny names to a young lad. Aristotle, Copernicus, Jane Austen, Eras-someoneorother ….

I acquired much later in life a copy of his “Day Book”, which was a collection of his ‘thoughts’ on various subjects. Nowadays a google search will find lots of them in disconnected ways.

He perished in 1915 with the sinking of the “Lusitania” which bought the United States in the First World War.
Intriguing really as one of his quotes was.

As long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.

But back to Little Journeys.
A friendship that goes back a long way and includes all sorts of family connection is with Mark from over on Flickr at mdsmedai9. So when he suggested he would swing by for a visit in the Winnebago, we decided a “Little Journey” to the Western Treatment Plant was in order.
Bet you were, dear reader beginning to think I’d never find a link for the title. Sad.

Of course on such short notice, the weather was in no mood at all to be co-operative. And it wasn’t.

Still we had a grand old chat, drank some earl of grey, and found at least a few birds for him to photograph.

At about the same time, my friend, (Whoa!! how many have I got??) Nina, (Nina and I used to work together a long time ago, in what can only be described as “another life”) had also been down for a “Little Journey” to the other end of the WTP, to visit the amazing Red-necked Phalarope and found some great looking young Black-shouldered Kites for her time. One of which she is graciously letting me publish in this blog.

Enjoy, we did.

Black Kites waiting for the tractor to make the next pass.

Black-tailed Native Hen, going about its "Chooky business". — Black-tailed Native Hen, going about its “Chooky business”.

Mr Inquisitive. White-faced Heron watching the goings on below as several Willie Wagtails try to move a Little Raven out of their territory

Australian Shelducks have moutled out and now have nice new flight feathers to put to good use.

Nina's lovely shot of a Juvenile Black-shouldered Kite. And Sunshine. So jealous. Thanks Nina for sharing — Nina’s lovely shot of a Juvenile Black-shouldered Kite. And Sunshine. So jealous. Thanks Nina for sharing

The balance of life: Western Treatment Plant

January 29, 2016January 29, 2016Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Peregrine Falcon, Western Treatment PlantTagged Peregrine Falcon, Western Treatment Plant1 Comment

I wrote of the Banjo’s Romance, last blog.
Then we were out to the Treatment Plant, EE, Mr An Onymous and I.

To see that poem played out.

On a day that started with a lighting strike about 100m away and “CRACK” of thunder that would indeed wake the dead, the overcast and wet weather offered us little reprise in our quest for Sea-eagle.

So we turned the way for home.

And just as the light was fading, a sparkling wingflash streaked across the river just to our left. A falcon. No, not any flacon. A Peregrine Falcon. My first for the Treatment Plant.

It had downed a duck.

The Pink-eared Ducks spend most of the day lolling about in Lake Borrie, but then on evening, make the several hundred metre flight over the Little River and into one of the Walsh Lagoons just over the river. A few minutes flight for a nimble duck.

For the Falcon, it was pretty easy pickings if you think about it. Ducks- several hundred- in a straight line, – tricky little dudes, fly over the reeds on the far side take a detour either left or right for a few hundred metres along the rivers edge, then pop over the far bank and plop in to the Lagoon. The slow moving Whistling Kites and Swamp Harriers can’t match that speed.

But.

Dropping from above at speed over 100kph, the Peregrine probably doesn’t even raise a sweat.

But

The duck is a heavy creature and the Falcon can’t get it airborne and must work it on the ground. Now, ordinarily, good luck would have put the prey down in a secluded spot. However in this case it was on the middle of the track we were travelling out along.

So the Falcon took to the air. And circled. So much so that in the end, I decided to reverse the car back down the road, and see what would happen. Too far back for photos, but what would the bird do?

And sure enough, after several scattered flights back and forth, and cleaning up an inquisitive Swamp Harrier along the way, the Falcon landed about 50m from the duck and decided what to do. After several minutes, it flew down landed a few metres away, re-evaluated our presence, the chance of a meal, and hopped up to the duck and began to take off the feathers.

We left it in peace to finish its well earned meal. On the far side of the river we spotted another set of sharp wings. A second Peregrine! And the light was gone.

Enjoy. Huge crops, but I wasn’t going to disturb the bird any more than I had already.

Swinging in to claim its kill. The unfortunate Pink-eared Duck is in the foreground.

Time to sit and contemplate the next move. A Swamp Harrier along the river in the top left.

It's mine! And feathers begin to fly — It’s mine!
And feathers begin to fly

Sneaking up on a Swamp Harrier: Chapter 2

December 25, 2015December 25, 2015Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Swamp Harrier, Western Treatment PlantTagged Swamp Harrier, Western Treatment Plant2 Comments

Given that chapter one was a runaway success, I decided to continue in the theme of “Sneaking up on a Swamp Harrier- The Completely Gullible Edition”

First of all find your Swamp Harrier. Seems logical enough and those big pools of water with the reedbeds seem the most obvious place to start. And from a Russell Coight perspective “Endless reedbeds that stretch as far as the eye can see… And with binoculars, even further”

And of course this classic on Emus, modified for Swamp Harriers

“Swamp Harriers tend to travel in pairs, or alone, or in groups and tend to eat at night or day.”

We were it turned on the look out for the elusive Sea-eagle. So suitably stationed on what we considered to be one of its flight paths we waited. And.
Waited.
and Waited.
And had a cuppa, and waited.
In between, the only Brown Falcon for miles sat on a boxthorn bush and waited.

Then along the shore line scrub a Swamp Harrier appeared. Deep in concentration it was simply following its road map. Anything that was out of the ordinary was checked out. I am convinced, that they are not looking for things so much as comparing the current data with previously collected data. A bit like google mapping without the old out-of-date photos. You know the ones that show the empty paddock down the road that is now a supermarket and carpark. Or the open land by a creekline that is now 6 laned freeway.

In the same way that astronomers used to look for comets in photos by comparing night sky shots, I reckon Swampie has a visual shot of the bushes and is really looking for anything that is different on this pass. Such as a new hatched Purple Swamphen, or a sleeping Eurasian Coot. (which according to Russell Coight, “Most Coots generally sleep with their eyes shut…….unless they’re open……or they’re awake.”)

Down the scrub it came. Head down. No need to look up, it knew where it was going. And no other bird is going to stop in its way, and make it turn to the left or the right. It rules the skyway.

And unless this is your first post, esteemed reader, you’ll know what happens next. The map is compared, “What are those humans doing there!!!!!”, and it turns away 180 degrees and is gone.

Everthing is checked and filed away for future reference

Anyone who has seen or photographed these birds, knows this LOOK> It might seem to be checking me out, but in reality it's readjusting the online database and making a note to avoid that area in the future. — Anyone who has seen or photographed these birds, knows this LOOK>
It might seem to be checking me out, but in reality it’s readjusting the online database and making a note to avoid that area in the future.

This bird then cut out to sea, and glided past our position before coming back in to continue its journey along the beach scrub

Gliding in to take up station for its next run.

Russell Coight Quotes: All Aussie Adventures.  (Website address a bit dubious)

Wandering WTP with Lindsay

December 24, 2015December 24, 2015Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed SandpiperTagged Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Western Treatment Plant2 Comments

My Flickr Mate Lindsay, Lynz Wee was down for his annual pilgrimage to the Western Treatment Plant.

He came in for a Friday jaunt, but, the weather had other ideas and we had 3 DAYS of Total Fire Ban. And WTP is closed on such days. So, he had to ‘cool his heels’, (can’t believe I wrote that about 40+ C days.)

We managed an afternoon on Monday. Started out good weather and promised a low tide around dusk, so all was set for an interesting day. One thing about driving about with Lindsay, there is never a dull moment and the conversation crackled back and forth at at right royal pace. Even managed a few stops for photography.

After a late afternoon tea-break at The Borrow Pits we headed back to a spot on 145W Outflow. The tide runs out well here and the sand-mud flats expose quickly and it can be a good place for the odd wader or so.

We settled in, and at first there was only a handful of the usual suspects and a squadron or two of Silver Gull.

“Must have my wader repellant on,” quoth he. “Give it time, once the tide goes out a bit they’ll come by”, reassured I, and wondering where else we might travel to find something.
More time passed and the gulls were now in flotilla formation and numbers. “Must be Gull attractor I’m wearing”, quips he.

We also had a sneaking suspicion that a White-bellied Sea-eagle would put in an appearance, but I guess the bird didn’t know of our appointment.

Then from down the coast a dark swirling cloud began to mass up. And we are talking dark, swirling.

The closer it came the more birds joined in, until, like one of those video clips you see of England or Naples, a veritable murmuration began to take shape. And still they kept coming. The speed of the turns, and the flashing dark/white shapes and the beauty of the sweeping masses was a sight to behold.

It’s impossible to describe and impossible to show visually with only a long lens that picks out just a small part of the hoard that made its way to the sandbar. Things were looking up in the wader department.

Thousand of Stints and Sandpipers and a host of other waders all swept across the sky. Literally from horizon to horizon.

“How’s that”, I cried. But he was too busy running the Canon at 10 frames per second, not missing any of the action. Then they settled on the exposed mudflats and began their meal. Within minutes the area only metres from our tripod legs were hundreds of busy little feeders. Not caring about the human presence, they simply tucked in.
And it was all going so well, until. “My battery is flat, have to go back and get another”.
And so we trekked back to the car. Only to find EE waving frantically at us, and pointing, so we good naturedly waved back. And chatted about what we’d just witnessed, and how EE has probably been photographing all sorts of good things while we were otherwise engaged, including of course the Elusive Sea-eagle.

When we got there, it was, “Did you see the Sea-eagle???? I was waving out to you, it nearly went right over your heads!!!”.
NO!!! Well it didn’t matter anyway as the Canon battery was flat. But….

Here is a few frames to try and capture the way the gathering gathered in.

I only had the long lens on board, so this really just an small section, think 20 or more times to get the real feel.

Just a tiny portion of the huge numbers of birds that came down to feed.

Settling in, there is hardly space between birds.

Can only begin to imagine what it looks like when they are migrating to and from Siberia.

My New Book: “Sneaking up on a Swamp Harrier”

December 20, 2015December 20, 2015Posted in "Western Treatment Plant", Swamp HarrierTagged Swamp Harrier, WTPLeave a comment

Oxymoron: (def). is a figure of speech that juxtaposes elements that appear to be contradictory.
Hence “Sneaking up on a Swamp Harrier”.

And just to be sure that I am clearly not misunderstood; there is no Book.
Just my bemused attempt of dealing with a bird that seems to be lightyears ahead of my feeble attempts to get a good shot. If there was such a book it would be very short on in pages. A real theoretical experience. And the first chapter would be the last. Sneaking and Swamp Harrier are not compatible.

They are the masters of the bunds along the Treatment Plant. Wafting in the breeze, dropping on unsuspecting prey, harriering the water birds until exhausted they fall easy pickings. And, I believe, they have the area ‘mapped’, so that anything out of place is either open to inspection or senses danger and the bird shys away. Do I then have some respect for these birds. Absolutely.

wouldn't you know it that was the moment the autofocus in the camera decided to recalculate and settle on the reed beds

So take your average evening light, hope its sunny, sit among the reeds and wait. Trying to chase them down only results in a flurry of white tail feathers disappearing over the next bund, and they don’t return.

The spot we’d chosen was on a short bund, with plenty of reed cover. The car was about 150m back buried in some more reeds. We set up the cameras and waited. There are some rules about this- not mine, just the birds. First: Don’t move. Second: Don’t Move Third Don’t MOVE.
Riders to said rule. Don’t get all excited and exclaim to no one in particular. “Look, its coming toward us”.
And don’t make that the moment that you move the tripod/camera for a better shot, or swing said camera toward the bird.

A head down searching Swamp Harrier is a committed bird. It knows what was down there last pass, and knows if anything looks out of place. And will react accordingly.

After about 15 minutes, (no fidgeting please), along the far bank a lone Swamp Harrier began its run. And about the same time, the sun slipped for the last time behind some cloud and the light went to porridge. Enough to make me prepare to go home.

However, back to said bird on said bund. By now it had worked its way along about half of the 300m or so of reedbed. I’d begun to take the occasional shot. Too far away for much detail, and not enough light now for much interest.

Mark Knofler (Dire Straights) wrote lines for such occasions. “Too far away from me. ” and “It’s just that the light was wrong, Juliet” (apologies for word change)

Because of the moderate breeze blowing, the most amazing thing was in the over 300m of its flight path, it didn’t flap a wing once. Just turned its body on an angle and simply sailed along like a kite in the breeze, or canoe crossing a fast running water.
Not sure what I was most impressed by, but the almost energy-less movement was certainly something to behold. With unconscious awareness it came on.

When it reached the end of the bund line, it changed direction, and wing tactics and began to pull up the reed bed in our direction. Lower now, because of the need for wing flapping, and also because the reeds were blowing over.

We waited. (see above)

And sure enough on it came. Head down, completely absorbed; in eloquent silence.

Then, the moment I had anticipated. It pulled up, saw a change that was unexpected. And turned in an instant. And wouldn’t you know it that was the moment the autofocus in the camera decided to recalculate and settle on the reed beds 250m away. I dream of the days of manual focus.

A bitter sweet result.

Yet I still have the memory of its almost effortless track across the bund. We shall go again.

Enjoy.