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Visited: Autumn
Recommendation: This is a wonderful free campsite right on the beach. Bush birds, shorebirds and raptors can all be seen here. Visit any time of year.
You never quite know what you are going to get when you roll up to a free campsite. There have been places that I drove straight back out again but sometimes you find a corker. Balgal Beach campsite was such. I will never forget this place and I hope to be able to revisit at some point. It is situated very close to the beach where the river meets the sea separated only by a grassy park and some picnic amenities. All around are trees (always a good start) and it has a lovely feel about it.
And so it was that I excitedly ducked through the trees on to the beach and I think I didn't return for hours. It was a long weekend so there were lots of people around but the beach was long and wide and so there was plenty of space. As the tide receded the beach grew hugely and lots of rock pools were exposed. My first catch was some Red-capped Plover. Don't you always love seeing a bird that is so easy to identify? I am always grateful to this bird for that as often waders are difficult.
Red-capped plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)
Beach Thick-knee (Esacus magnirostris)
I could see something larger fly in across the water and so I headed off north to find a Beach Thick-knee. What an odd bird (another one easy to identify). I always mean to research the thick-knee family as they are so peculiar in appearance. One day. I was curious to see it picking up and putting down what looked like a stone. Not sure about that, cleaning it's teeth maybe!
The Beach Thick-knee is also known locally as Stone Curlew (Burhinidae family). It's a common alternative name for this bird. Species within this family share physical characteristics like a large head, strong bill, thick legs, and a hunched posture – resembling a bird with "thick knees" (although it's actually their ankles).
Beach Stone Curlew is a more specific name used in Australia and surrounding areas, while Thick-knee is a broader term encompassing several species in the Burhinidae family.
So, both names are accurate! You might encounter the bird referred to by either term depending on the source and location.
Black-necked Stork/Jabiru (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)
Always attuned to notice movement, I saw something large in my peripheral vision and was delighted to see a male (dark eye) Black-necked Stork landing in a large rock pool. Now there is a bird you can get from a long way away with a telephoto lens.
Easily identified by its striking plumage. Adults have a glossy black head, neck, wings, and tail, contrasting beautifully with their bright white body. Their long, red legs and massive black bill complete the picture.
These are big birds! Standing around 130 cm (51 inches) tall with a wingspan of over 2 meters (almost 7 feet), they are a formidable sight.
Black-necked Storks form long-term pairs, potentially staying together for life. The male builds a large nest of sticks high in a tree near water to attract a mate.
I continued walking north to the river entrance and was thrilled to come across an Eastern Osprey hunting in the shallow water. I watch it diving into and emerging from the water several times but with no luck. Still a stunning sight.
Eastern Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
As the tide turned and began to come back in, I walked along the river entrance and watched with some schadenfreude at some boaties stuck on sand just waiting for the tide to lift them off. At the landing dock (wharf, pier - I don't know sorry) terns and swallows were wheeling and darting about. I managed to catch this Welcome Swallow taking a rest on the railings.
As I headed (rather tiredly by this point) back to my van I heard a familiar moaning call. I had to find them, cockatoos are my favourite birds and any chance to see Red-tailed ones cannot be passed up. Unperturbed by all the humans, they were feeding in the trees above the park and on the ground close by. Adults and juveniles were there and although it was a bit gloomy amongst the trees I managed to get some shots. The female has the yellow sparkles.
Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii)
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