March visit to Flat Rock Ballina
Flat Rock is a small headland shaped patch of horizontal rocks north of Ballina in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. It has a constant population of terns and cormorants and acts as a gathering place for shore birds.
This adult Red-necked Stint has started to gain the red coloration of its breeding plumage. By June-July the red coloration will have extended across its neck and face and upper parts of its back.
A group of Little Terns are dwarfed by the larger birds of the colony.
There were a dozen Little Terns on the rocks at Flat Rock, mingling with a large number of Crested Terns and a few Common Terns. This bird sports its adult breeding plumage.
The chase was on and this Crested Tern with fish in mouth takes evasive action to avoid a further group of five terns wanting to share in the catch.
About twenty Ruddy Turnstones were seen.