The signs of Spring are appearing, wattles and garden shrubs are coming into flower, and bird activity is ramping up. In the garden competition for nectar between the New Hollands and Little Wattlebirds is intense. Up until a few months ago Little Wattlebirds were only a rare visitor, but now at least one pair seems to be well established. It is interesting to note that of all the grevilleas in the garden, the one where the most competition occurs is one with the smallest flowers, a G. rosmarinifolia hybrid.

A check on the Sea Eagle’s nest site showed one of the pair perched above the nest, photos and video were taken with the bird taking little notice of the human below.

A trip to Marlay Point was also made to check the breakwater for terns, a small number of Cresteds were there, with sixty one small terns, the majority showing the black outer primaries denoting Little Terns. Fairy Terns have also been recorded here recently and may also have been present.

A trip to a local wetland on a day one would not think suitable for photography, fully overcast with light rain, and eleven degrees with the apparent temperature only four degrees, turned out to be well worth while. The current pelican population was to a bird completely immobile, with their heads tucked under their wings, and remained so for the duration of the visit. Click all images to enlarge.

A number of Lapwings were standing guard.

And on the island White ibis were sheltering.