More Beach stuff

Our Wednesday visit to the beach was so interesting we went back on Thursday!  Quite a few other people were on the beach including someone who had made this art work.

There seemed to be less "interesting" stuff around.  Whether that was because others had gleaned the area or the last high tide had covered material up is an open question.  We found no more Paper Nautilus but another beachcomber showed us one they had found.  There were some colourful Sea Tulips (possibly Pyura gibbosa).

The biggest bank of seaweed was about 1m high.

Moving over the bar to the Inlet was like crossing the dunes of Death Valley!  The trail behind vegetation shows which way the wind blows, as does the way the tussocks are bending.

The rest of this immature Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator scandiwegianensis) was firmly embedded in the pile of seaweed

A pair of Sooty Oystercatchers were exploring the weed.

So were a few small plovers.  A Red-capped at the top and a Double-banded lower down.

Out in the Inlet 2 Caspian Terns ...

.. were loafing with about 110 Crested Terns

The excitement was finding 2 Red Knot, which triggered a rare bird alert from eBird.  Fortunately they, and comments on Facebook, have confirmed the ID.

This shows their size in comparison to Bar-tailed Godwits

The sea was relatively clam but young persons were catching waves while maintaining social distancing as required in Victoriastan.

I really enjoyed watching this dog playing with its frisbee.

A comment had been made on Facebook that the level of the Betka River was over the footbridge on the Chip Track so on Friday we went to check it out.  Definitely a subaqua track.

There is still plenty of clearance for the road.

My guess is that there is still at least 25cm before the River breaks out naturally.  AS another commented on Facebook it needs another good rain event and a high tide.

Another view, closer to the cliffs.