On the coast north of Coffs Harbour are many small beaches. Friends took me to one for a walk through sheltered tunnels in windswept bush, where pandanus and banksia trees lined the immediate rocky sea edge.
Reaching the bare grassy headland, we sat to watch dolphins leaping and sea birds whirling and nosediving in splashy accuracy, and to wonder at the small islands off the coast, with apt names like Split Solitary.
A small bird ran busily over and through the grass in front of us, barely stopping, so that I had trouble following it with the camera. I have no experience with seaside birds, or much with grassland ones, so is this an Australian Pipit? Or?
The wild storms and high seas of May have cut away the long beaches, scoured the sand from the rock shelves and deposited long tangled tide-rows of driftwood, including very large logs, like this one, sandblasted to an intricate weaving of smooth strands and crevices.
2 thoughts on “Coastwatching”
Comments are closed.
Thanks for confirming that Trevor. My first Pipit!
Apart from the one day at NE NP, everything else was en route between duties, but a wonderfully varied route. Lots of kilometres– some great photo opportunities, and several good posts!
Hi Sharyn, you are having fun aren’t you? I wish i had your skill with camera. As for that speedy bird…it looks awefully similar to that mockingbird we were discussing a few months ago! However, to quote Simpson and Day’s Field Guide, Richardson’s (Australian) Pipit: Habitat, open country, wags tail up and down, RUNS ALONG THE GROUND. Looks like you have one there Sharyn.