An Eagle has landed

A semanticist might say that when a bird is about 10m above the ground sitting on a branch it has branched rather than landed,  Peronsally I say that this immature Wedge-tailed Eagle looks very impressive in its chosen position,  It was certainly comfortable as it stayed there from 0830 ...

 .. until at least 1215

I have used the title "An Eagle ..."as this afternoon at least 2 White-breasted Sea-Eagles flew over the house.  They didn't land (or branch).  However they were calling loudly and flying side by each, but didn't do one of the spectacular display flights.

That would have been a breeding record,  What also is not a breeding record as such, but draws a line under a breeding record is the appearance of a juvenile White-headed Pigeon - notice the grey breast and grey crown.  I observed the birds displaying and carrying nesting material some months ago.

Here are three members of the Heron family in a nice group!  Royal Spoonbill, Great Egret and Australian White Ibis.

Ibis again, with a gentleman doing something mysterious - possibly collecting bait - in the background.

The gent probably wondered what we were doing, as there were very few birds around on Bastion Point.  This might be due to

1. the new Breakwater (unlikely - what has resulted makes us wonder what the fuss was about; why it cost so much and where all the money ended up);
2. the dry season plus what appears to have been some very high tides (Martin's tip); or 
3. all the mud flats in the Yellow Sea being reclaimed as an Economic Miracle (always good to blame another country, especially if important people get to go and look at the problem, but I don't think Red-capped Plovers migrate).

There were some photogenic Chestnut Teal around.  Note the dark cheeks of the females, proving they aren't Grey Teal putting themselves about a bit.

Finishing off the bird section here are some pelicans proving the Inlet isn't very deep!

There were a few flowers out on the saltings.  None of these are identifiable by me.

This Soldier Crab was very cooperative in not moving.

I think that was because it was definitely qualified to being a Ghost Crab (or as the label in the National Museum of Tanzania cited "Ghost Crap).

This moth on a road marker was still with us, but having a long rest.

The bat flypast tonight was very spectacular.  I didn't count, but they were coming past in waves of 30-50 every 10 seconds or so for at least 20 minutes.  Given that they might well be flying off in other directions makes the estimate of 20,000 in the colony quite feasible.  The Possums are also active - hopefully they'll calm down later.

Here we have a residual wake and, to the right, some very odd patterns where old wakes have disturbed the wave pattern

I conclude with a sign that appeared at the end of the road.  I have amended the image in a few places!

A naturalist friend has commented that "the problem with bush fire brigades is they see everything as either people, property or fuel."