About Shore and Water Birds
The region has a rich variety of wetland habitats including large rivers and lakes, perennial and seasonal creeks, mangrove lined estuaries and freshwater impoundments of varying size. The littoral zone includes mud, sand and rock shores. Coral cays and small areas of exposed coral within the mainland littoral zone also provide significant bird habitat. Consequently a wide variety of birds can be observed, including relatively uncommon species such as the Great Billed Heron and Black Bittern. Many shore birds are summer migrants from the Northern hemisphere.
Some shore and water birds are remarkably tolerant of humans, particularly when feeding. Patient stalking often brings subjects into the range of a 400 mm lens. Given many subjects are large birds and active in strong light, photography is an easier prospect compared with forest birds.
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Great Egret |
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Great Egret |
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Eastern Reef Egret (Dark Morph) |
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Eastern Reef Egret (Dark Morph) |
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White-faced Heron |
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Striated Heron (Intermediate morph) |
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Striated Heron (Intermediate morph) |
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Striated Heron (Juv) |
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Black-necked Stork (Jabiru) |
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Black-necked Stork (Jabiru) |
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Australasian Darter (Male) |
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Comb-crested Jacana |
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Comb-crested Jacana |
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Masked Lapwing |
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Purple Swamphen |
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Australasian Grebe |
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Australasian Grebe |
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Dusky Moorhen |
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Dusky Moorhen (Juv & chick) |
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Spotted Whistling Duck |
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Magpie Goose |
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Beach Stone Curlew |
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Beach Stone Curlew |
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Beach Stone Curlew |
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Wandering Tattler |
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Grey-Tailed Tattler (Non-breeding) |
Grey-tailed Tattler (Overwintering) |
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Grey-tailed Tattler (Summer migrant) |
Sanderling |
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Greater Sand Plover (Non breeding) |
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Greater Sand Plover (Non breeding) |
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Greater Sand Plover (Breeding & non breeding plumage) |
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Lesser Sand Plover |
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Red-capped Plover (Female) |
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Red-capped Plover (Male) |
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Black-fronted Dotterel |
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Black-fronted Dotterel |
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Great Knot |
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Marsh Sandpiper |
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Common Sandpiper |
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Common Greenshank |
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Pied Oystercatcher |
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Pied Oystercatcher |
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Glossy Ibis and Swamp Hen |
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White Ibis |
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Silver Gull |
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Crested Tern (Juv) |
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Australian Pelican |
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Australian Pelican |
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Little Pied Cormorant |