I'll make a birder yet.....!

This was the view from the Balgay bird hide at Herdsman Lake, it was late morning and the sea breeze had already come in whipping up the water! So here's the thing, I'm pretty sure that to successfully spy the many, more than I ever realized birds that live in this fabulous swampy environment, you would have to be here a heck of a lot earlier than we were...on saying this, and you will have to take my word for it, but I'm pretty sure this body belongs to the Purple Swamphen, there was definitely a flash of brilliant red before it disappeared into the reeds, truly!

 I was slightly more successful (?) at the Baumea hide..what a view across the lake....

I just missed this flotilla of Coots in a fantastic mass take off from the shore, they flew a little way out, landed, turned and I'm not sure if it was my imagination but they seemed to be mocking me with their pristine white beaks!

When P nudged me and pointed to the tree RIGHT outside the hide to this what I'm almost 100% certain is a Western Gerygone , well you can tell by the eye can't you! What do you mean you can't see the eye, it's right there ringed in white, which is a dead give away to it's identity. All jokes aside, one thing that became obvious on this trip, was that a lot of time and patience is required to become a good birder (maybe more than I have of either), but I think it must be incredibly rewarding to capture a good shot of these delightful creatures and it's something I might have to work on...although...haha!. Happy Tuesday, take care....