Birds (so far) according to Birgit

Ok we all know Bryce is the official team photographer and is the most prolific one at that. Jim is team geologist, and without him, I would get less earthcache answers correct. Oh and he is the driver (we get to say “James, please take us home”)

But I can take a pretty good pic myself, if I do say so. And so here we go:

This Australasian swamp hen has a wicked beak, and during nesting season will chase and take a chunk out of your leg

This was out Barn owl as well below

These are black swans, in a lake of algae which is surreal

This is a Pied Stilt, doing a ballet move

The gannets were amazing. The wind on this cliff was really strong, they all face the same way, into the wind. And are aggressive with each other but also smashed together on this cliff. When they land they click beaks to acknowledge their mate, as they mate for life. Though how they know who is who, I cannot fathom. They take off for the Great Barrier Reef at the end of the season, and the young birds have to make it that whole way. They sleep while flying, how wild is that?

These Wekas are strangely evocative of the Guinea Hens, which we called Little French Ladies when we were in Namibia. These we are still arguing about what to name…nosey and inquisitive they are. And are up at night too….