Stockton Breakwater

I arrived in Newcastle, NSW, this afternoon in readiness for a 'long weekend' of bird photography and workshops with Birdlife Photography. With a range of outings scheduled at a variety of locations and habitats over the next five days, I tried to find a different location for a quick trip this afternoon. One place I had not been to in the Newcastle area was Stockton Breakwater so it seemed as good a place as any. The breakwater forms the northern side of the entrance to the Hunter River and extends about 800 metres into the ocean providing good views of the beach, harbour and ocean.

A handful of juvenile Australian Ravens were foraging amongst the seaweed on the beach...not your typical beach birds but a good start to the afternoon...

Australian Raven (juvenile), Stockton Breakwater
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 x2 adaptor, ISO 400, f/8 1/250

Several storms passed by to the south-west so the light varied from bright sunshine (as above) to quite dull. The dull light made it a challenge to try and identify and photograph the terns flying past and plunging into the water. Subsequent examination of the photographs indicates they were Common Terns.

Common Tern, Stockton Breakwater
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 x2 adaptor, ISO 400, f/8 1/3200

They were fishing more than 100 metres away which made it tough trying to catch the action but I was pleased with this one...

Common Tern, Stockton Breakwater
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 x2 adaptor, ISO 400, f/11 1/500

As I was watching the terns, an Australasian Darter surfaced right in front of me.

Australasian Darter, Stockton Breakwater
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 x2 adaptor, ISO 400, f/8 1/800

and climbed out onto the breakwater

Australasian Darter, Stockton Breakwater
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 x2 adaptor, ISO 400, f/10 1/500

to 'hang out the washing'.

Australasian Darter, Stockton Breakwater
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 x2 adaptor, ISO 400, f/10 1/1600

I reached the end of the breakwater and watched a steady stream of shearwaters fly past, too far away to identify, until the weather finally caught up with me when a storm declined to pass by to the south and headed directly towards Stockton. I retreated back to the beach and managed to photograph some of the terns sheltering amongst the seaweed

Little Tern, Stockton Breakwater
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 x2 adaptor, ISO 400, f/8 1/160

Common Tern + Little Tern, Stockton Breakwater
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 x2 adaptor, ISO 400, f/5.6 1/500

and this Australian Pelican posing on a power pole,

Australian Pelican, Stockton Breakwater
Pentax K-3, Sigma 300mm f/2.8 x2 adaptor, ISO 400, f/8 1/500

and managed to get back to the car just as the deluge hit.

Newport, Altona and 13th Beach

I had the pleasure of attending a bird photography workshop run by Paul Randall (check his website wingsonwire.com) this morning at the delightful Newport Lakes Reserve (see map). This is the first time I've been here and it's a fantastic place. It's an old bluestone quarry that has been revegetated, mostly with indigenous flora, and there have now been 100+ bird species seen in the small reserve. Paul's workshop was great and I did manage to get one shot before the session as a pair of Grey Teals followed me around the South Lake.

Grey Teal, Newport Lakes Reserve

I am pleased with this shot, not because it's the best shot of a duck I have but it was early in the morning and overcast so was very dark and the bird was swimming fairly fast and close to me (this is almost full frame). This was shot at 1/30th of a second on 600mm worth of lens (300mm with 2x converter) and it's pretty sharp. I also like the subtle pastel tints in the otherwise grey water.

However, the weather turned for the worse at the end of the session so I opted to head off home via Williamstown and Altona beaches. Driving along The Esplanade at Altona Beach, I noticed a large mixed flock of birds roosting on the rocks just offshore between Cresser and Frazer Reserves (see map) so stopped for a closer look and found Little Pied Cormorant, Silver Gull, Pacific Gull, Crested Tern, Common Tern and Sooty Oystercatcher. I waded out into the shallow water to get closer to the roosting birds and they allowed me to get very close.

Sooty Oystercatcher, Altona Beach

I had to wait more than 10 minutes focussed on this bird, waiting for it to do something moderately interesting. A black bird shot in grey light from behind was not going to make a great photograph but eventually the bird turned its head side on and yawned. A throw away record shot turned into a keeper with a little patience and a tripod (there's no way I could maintain the concentration on the bird with finger on the shutter if hand-holding for 10 minutes and this yawn lasted less than a second).

Several Common Terns allowed me to get as close as the lens I was using would allow and still fit the birds sensibly in the frame.

Common Tern, Altona Beach

On the way home, I stopped at 13th Beach and Black Rocks to see if I could find the Pacific Golden Plovers. No luck with the PGPs but there was no shortage of wading birds with Red-capped Plover, Hooded Plover, Double-banded Plover, Ruddy Turnstone and Red-necked Stint as well as the usual Silver Gull, Pacific Gull and Crested Tern.

The Ruddy Turnstones were feeding on the edge of the sand dunes (something I have not seen before) but were easily spooked by people and dogs walking along the beach, giving a good opportunity for some flight shots

Ruddy Turnstone, 13th Beach

The Red-necked Stints were less easily spooked and remained feeding low on the shore, some with plumage starting to live up to their name.

Red-necked Stint, 13th Beach

Western Treatment Plant

I took a short trip to the WTP on the way home from Melbourne this afternoon and I was immediately rewarded with a great viewing of several Common Terns feeding in the ponds just inside the Beach Road gate.

Common Tern, Western Treatment Plant

I was really after the Gull-billed Tern that had been reported earlier in the week. There were several tern species roosting on the rocks near the Beach Road boat ramp but no Gull-billed Tern and too far away for good photography. I drove the entire beach section from Beach Road to Little River back around Lake Borrie but dipped on the Gull-billed Tern...maybe next time.

Went back to Austin Road to see if I could find the Stilt Sandpiper that was still being reported as present last week on the rocks on the northern side of T-Section lagoon. Several Common Greenshank but no Stilt Sandpiper. However, did see a flock of 20+ Plumed Whistling-Duck.

Plumed Whistling Duck, Western Treatment Plant

Couldn't get any closer before they flew away so continued on around T-Section Lagoons and found more Common Greenshank

Common Greenshank, Western Treatment Plant

but still no Stilt Sandpiper. Was just about to give up and head home when the sun peeped out from under the clouds giving a lovely soft evening glow to the Royal Spoonbills feeding and preening close by

Royal Spoonbill, Western Treatment Plant

and stayed long enough for some close-ups of a singing Golden-headed Cisticola.

Golden-headed Cisticola, Western Treatment Plant