Today’s post is about some of the sights I’ve almost missed because I’ve been so busy looking at Hooded Plovers through the lens.
Australasian Gannet
Canon 7D, 100-400mm L IS USM
Early one morning, very early, in the far distance an Australasian Gannet was travelling back and forth, parallel to the shore. Occasionally it would spot a fish and dive straight into the water and swallow the fish before resurfacing, then ride the waves for a while before taking flight. It’s remarkable that gannets can spot fish so well with comparatively small eyes.
Silver Gull Canon 7D, 100-400mm, L IS USM
It was fascinating to glance up and watch this Silver Gull dabbling in the water to stir up prey. The gull’s bill and legs are so red that I checked to make sure I hadn’t accidentally tweaked the saturation. Eight images of gulls in flight can be seen at Gale force gulls.
Pacific Gull
Canon 7D, 100-400mm L IS USM
Pacific Gulls are large birds, measuring about 63cm and weighing 1kg. They are a threat to Hooded Plover eggs and hatchlings. The bird in the image above is a sub-adult that has not yet developed the striking black and white plumage of the adult birds.
Australasian Seal
Canon 7D, 100-400mm L IS USM
And sometimes the near misses aren’t even birds! I wouldn’t have seen this seal pup if the hoodie volunteers hadn’t called my name. It was a lovely surprise to turn around and see it resting on the beach.
Australasian Seal
Canon 7D, 100-400mm L IS USM
The pup looks as though it has stopped to smell the ‘roses’. It didn’t linger long before turning tail and diving back into the water. Sometimes I think we get so focussed on what we are doing that we forget to stop and look around, we could be missing all kinds of wonderful moments and opportunities.
Happy birding, Kim
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Fabulous images and comments as always Kim.
Have you ever thought of publishing in print? Your writing and and your photos all present such sparkling personality of a writer in sync with her subject.
Cheers!
Aw Lyn that is such a lovely thought! It would be an awesome project, I wonder …
great shots all round
Thanks Julie 🙂
Kim,
Excellent images once again! Love your posts.
regards
dale
Hi Dale, thank you!
Hello Kim,
A lovely collection of photos, I particularly like the sparkly bokeh behind the Pacific Gull.
I remember you saying one time that you like sparkly bokeh, it always makes me think of you.
Lovely these near misses! The Gannet is awesome. And the gulls are pretty. The seal is cute, adorable poses! Wonderful post, have a happy weekend!
Hi Eileen, so glad you enjoyed the near misses – I wonder how much more we miss! A happy weekend to you too.
South Australia
Sounds like a great place to visit!
Great seal pix & have you, as yet, been to Seal Island or the Nobbies in Western Port?
It was lovely to see the seal on the beach and watch it dive back into the surf and disappear. I’ve been out to the seals at the Nobbies a couple of times, to Seal Rocks. Where is Seal Island?
Hi Kim. Very nice images here! I also enjoyed looking at the gulls in flight series. That shot with the granite outcrop for the background is really unusual.
Hi Julie, it was a neat opportunity to look down on the gulls as they flew over the outcrop, now I’m wondering if you’re a geologist. Thank you for commenting.