Later on 29 January we went for a walk to Bastion Point with the intention of going along the beach to try to relocate a cephalopod which Frances fond a few days earlier.
A first finding was that although dredging was happening this had been organised so that it was possible to access the beach. Very good to see the Shire showing some flexibility. A second observation was that the fire had burnt a fair way out on the sand bank. The red line gives a better idea of the edge.
A large cephalopod was found lurking in the edge of the water inside the Inlet. It was not well. It was quite large - my guess is 50 cm across the tentacles. I am fairly sure it was an octopus but have sought an ID through inaturalist.org.
A second 'pus was even less well!
We then encountered a lot of whelk-type shells all of which were occupied by hyperactive hermit crabs.
The first shorebird seen was a Red-capped Plover, which gave a fairly good distraction display. (I looked in the direction it had come from but couldn't see any eggs or chicks, so perhaps it had just got into the habit of behaving this way.)
As we got across the former opening there were a lot of waders doing that thing, It was slightly unusual to find a flock of about 40 red-necked Stints in some pebbly sand well away from the water. Other Stints were still feeding in the water: they were very confiding and didn't seem too fussed by us at all.
A Stint and 2 Red-caps
A Curlew Sandpiper
The Terns and Godwits and Knots were across a channel but still possible to photograph. Tis image has (1) Little Tern; (2) Bar-tailed Godwit and (3) Red Knots.
A better image of some of the Knots
My full checklist is at
https://ebird.org/checklist/S63895660
Although it is now 4 weeks since the main fire soot is still being washed up
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are welcome but if I decide they are spam or otherwise inappropriate they will not be approved.