Birding heats up at Mallacoota

In birding circles, as with pro-bream fishing, Mallacoota is known as a prime destination.  We always enjoy our time down here, seeing species that for some reason (eg they like salt water; don't like cold weather) don't often make it to the Monaro.  Things had been a little quiet this trip but warmed up today.

Another thing that has been quiet has been the invertebrate life.  That also warmed up, with lotsa mosquitoes (or things that looked like mosquitoes and bit) and two bastard ticks on me!   Having got that off my chest (and neck) back to the good stuff.

The sun rose across the Inlet!  It wasn't as spectacular as the last two mornings but I thought this golden pathway was worth reporting.

After our dog-stroll and breakfast we headed off to Quarry beach where kelp was evident.
As was a Great Cormorant which seemed to be doing its bit to create a guano mining industry in the area.
This is some form of Dillwynia sp.  One of the few beans seen flowering today.
As we walked along a track towards Pebbly Beach there were a lot of violet leaves and eventually one flower.  There may have been others, but by this time the mozzie issue was becoming apparent.
We thought that the problem was due to being in forest and the beach would be free of blood suckinbg Diptera.  So I left Frances there and went for a snuffle in the woods (part of the National Park and thus canophobic unlike the Council Reserves),  No orchids were found but this mature specimen of Boletellus emodensis was showing the red 'ground' rather better than other specimens I have found. 
 This little parasol fungus (possibly Mycena sp.) was positioned well for my mirror to come into play.
We then headed to a paddock near the airport (between the fence and the Gun Club) where several Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters were spotted.  As I haven't seen them for some time they get two images.

 They were definite contenders for Bird of the Day.

This Eastern Yellow Robin was merely cooperative in posing for a photo  ...
 .. as was this Great Efgret.
On the way back 'home' I noticed a bunch of pigeons on a power line.  This gives a nice comparison between the Crested Pigeon and the Common Bronzewings.
The house beneath the lines must have been dealing out good bird food as there were also a good lot of Australian King-parrots on the shade house attached to the dwelling.  Male left, female right.
 This array of Little Black Cormorants were on a jetty just below the house.
On returning Frances reported that she had had a great time with birds coming on to the deck so I went and sat out there for a while.  To my astonishment a White-headed pigeon flew across the deck and into a Grevillea tree.  Woo, and also hoo.  Bird of the Day and the trip!

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