Dramatic sky - and a stealth dotterel

A lovely morning with Blipper flying going out at sunrise - which was rather early - had to get up at 4 30am! We were so lucky as there was very heavy cloud cover and the sun just showed through a small space on the horizon, and we didn't see it actually rise through the cloud. But the colour was amazing. 

After the sunrise we walked along the beach - by then the wind was quite strong, so not a lot of birds. And the whitebaiters had been driving on the inner river beach, which they aren't allowed to do, as there are ground nesting birds in the area. Quite unnecessary, and very sad to think people think that's OK.

The wind dropped by the time we got nearer to the carpark, and there were a few more birds. And the shags (cormorants) were very busy at their nests.

Extras - spoonbills, shags at the nesting colony - and stealth banded dotterel, seeing off an intruder - attitude in spades!

A great morning!