ML256247461

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Absolutely amazing views of a group of birds along the edge of the water along Hills Beach, approaching the causeway. One adult with bright red bill, yellow eyes with red orbital ring, black head, and mottled brownish mantle, and two juvs with more grayish mantles with silvery edging to feathers, duller head, gray/black at tip of bill and extending farthest up culmen, and gray eyes and dull orbital ring. Both ages had pale pink legs and feet. Occasionally one would rise up from the ground, flapping its wings, and drop back down. One juvenile was observed nuzzling its parent's feathers with its bill. In flight showed the characteristic white wing stripe of this species, which covered most of the secondaries and tapered off to a point on the primaries. Tail white at base and black at tip. The other parent and a third juv later flew from the island and down the causeway where they fed near the rocks. Very vocal, frequently giving high, whistled “we-eeuu“ calls when foraging and before takeoff.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P900

ISO

400

Focal length

357 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.5

Shutter speed

1/1250 sec

Dimensions

4608 pixels x 3014 pixels

Original file size

2.66 MB