Having been temporarily out of action with a hip replacement these last few months I am now finding a new lease of life and like phoenix am beginning to enjoy getting out and about.
The Osprey nest with three babies down at Laurieton has been very exciting to observe, they are all now fledged successfully and I have some wonderful digital moments from the event.

Osprey fledgling

March visit to Pelican Island

The waders are colouring up and getting ready to leave, got a few shots along the shore before the hide, just a small gathering of us in the boat and the big lens mounted ready to go, - two fishermen just beat us to the sand bank spit where approximately 180 waders were feeding, by the time we got there they had all lifted as a result of the fishermen, some people are just oblivious as to their impact or just plain don’t care. My heart sank – so we toured the perimeter of various mangrove outcrops and fortune shone with these two Pied oyster-catchers, have been trying to get a decent shot of Oystercatchers all year, - perfect example of never knowing how it’s going to go. Trip to Broome Bird Observatory next week!

This was the last trip to the Newcastle Estuary before the waders migrate.

This was the last time I was able to get out in the boat on the Hunter Estuary with Liz and Chris before the waders took off for their northward migration to Siberia and Alaska via the Yellow Sea, always a wonderful experience with so many waders. The Godwits and Pacific Plovers have started to colour up. I also finally got a decent Eastern Curlew shot, it’s taken all year to get that! The movement of the boat and the battle of ISO and speed in camera are ongoing.

Pelican Island trip

Another trip to Pelican Island on the 15th January for the bird club to count the waders was a top day as usual. The company is always good and the birds totally enchanting, - big mix of shore birds – Eastern Curlews, Whimbrels, Bar-tailed Godwits, to name but a few, - shot of the day was - six Red-necked Stints mucking about next to the sleeping Godwits. I have not put this one on the site yet!

First comment

Last Friday was a visit to the north shore Port Macquarie with Hastings Birdwatchers, always a good day with plenty to look at. For me - what we see and what I am able to photograph are two different realities! But after unsuccessfully chasing some scrub wrens down Lime Burners Creek – I did end up with a great opportunity to photograph a Willie Wagtail nest with her and two babies, just fantastic. The shot is now edited and up on my website www.silvavaughanjones.com

Special thanks to web designer Ryan Kelly

Ryan Kelly my web designer and I have just finished re-designing and editing the website, - so many thanks for his patience and expertise in making this site look as good as it does. Adding the blog is a great new extra for us and I am looking forward to how it develops. I am still finding my way around the buttons and will be totally blown away if anybody actually finds out how to add a comment,- so feel free!