Saturday 15 November 2008

Watch Out for Plovers

Plovers are common around Darwin, especially on open grass areas, including ovals and parklands.

They can be very territorial and often object to the presence of people. The usual trick is to dive bomb you, pulling aside at the last moment, often brushing your clothing or arm, or to come close to the head. Not as openly aggresive as magpies, but they can be confronting.

Today the tide is OUT..........BIG TIME!
We have an 8 metre tidal range around spring tides close to the time when the sun is directly overhead, here around the end of October. We were taking a few photos of the empty tidal flats, on grassland near the cliff top when there was a whoooooosh......as a plover flew past very close, then another and another........and then it was noticed. Another plover on the ground.....sitting eggs.
Her mate was not impressed. The sequence of photos tells the story!
He went whoosh.....while
Mother to be sat quietly for a while....
Then got upset
and there were 3 eggs!


Now she has become very stroppy!

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