Over the top!

 For some reason - probably the Long Walk Project - we hadn't visited Bastion Point recently.  As its within 5km of home we took an exercise walk there yesterday (16 July). 

The beach was well covered with seaweed - or more correctly waterweed, as much of it was eelgrass from the Inlet.

There was also a colourful collection of sponges of various odd shapes close to the foot of the stairs.

When we got level with the end of the dune vegetation it was evident the tide was quite high and a good swell was running leading to wash going over into the Inlet.  We did wonder if we were going to get wet feet coming back.

It was evident that further along the beach a significant amound of the sandy flats had been covered a little earlier.

The mouth was as wide as I have ever seen it with a strong current flowing in.

Many small waders were running up and down the slope to the sea, keeping out of the water.  Most (~50) were Red-capped Plovers

 About 10 Red-necked Stints had over-Wintered.

And about 10 Double-banded Plovers were around, with most having moved in to breeding plumage.

Only a single Egret was visible.  The short neck and dark bill making it a Little Egret.

Galahs were finding some some seed on one dune.

I noticed an interesting flower which I had not previously registered.  iNaturalist suggested, and Flora of Victoria confirmed this to be an exotic (from South America) now naturalised, Hydocotyle bonariensis