Mutton birds (wedgetailed shearwaters)land on Heron Island after dark and wail all night long. About 20 000 - 30 000 breed on the island.
Mutton birds live in burrows
Buff-banded rails stroll around the resort (and drink cocktails and steal chips)
lesser golden plover
Sacred kingfisher
Silvereye
Juvenile silver gull
Well done Birdgirl,what a top variety of birds.
The Buff Banded Rail amazes me, the ones we have here are so shy its unreal and then I hear stories like yours about them.
Hi Tassie, good to talk to you again. We were in the bar having cocktails one afternoon when I let out an almighty scream, totally a reflex and loud enough to make everyone turn around. A rail had leapt up and grabbed the chips out of my hand. I'm not scared of them of course, I just hadn't seen it coming, and screamed before I saw what it was. A seagull leapt onto my daughter's shoulder and stole her chip out of her hand (she screamed too!) We also saw the seagulls trying to steal ice-creams while people were eating them. The rails are very clever - they jump up beside a tall cocktail glass (all made of plastic - I can see why!) and pull on the straws until the glass falls over. Then they drink the cocktail out of the glass or from between the cracks in the pavers.
Very nice set of shots, Birdgirl. Like Tassie, I can't believe how tame the B-b R is. Ours run for cover when you get closer than 50m.
Cheers,
George
Melbourne, VIC