The final morning at the Station arrived a some what rather hazy affair due to the Beers and Tequilas the previous evening. I slowly and sorrily made my way to the shower block where I was just getting ready when John A arrived telling me that there was an Australian Hobby flying over the base area, I replied "oh thats gone by now" when John said it had been showing for near on 10 minutes and so he felt he had to tell me. I returned to the base where, there above me was a cracking juvenile Australian Hobby flying just above tree height. This much wanted cracker put on an impressive show as it hawked over the close vicinity coming straight above our heads at times chasing Butcher Birds over the swimming pool for over 15 minutes! " Back of the Net" on the last morning at Anna Plains base station.
As soon as we arrived we were packing up and leaving the base of the station to return back to the observatory at Broome. Seeing as some members of the expedition team are departing tomorrow it was decided to have a group photo taken today. Above photo shows you the NWA wader ringing expedition team of 2012. (Note manager and captain front and rear centre)
After all the equipment and kit was packed away we got on to the road for the journey north back to Broome bird observatory. Vimeo-clip above shows you the road back with a good tune in the background.
Whilst on the way back we discovered a large flock of around 2000 Whiskered Terns present of which some were roosting on the road itself.
Could it have been any more fitting ? a car load of us had to return to the area where the Whiskered Terns were to recce it for a possible catch. As I was scanning throgh the flock of Terns they all spooked and bunched up tight. I scanned up to see what species of raptor had caused this and there in front of me was another Australian Hobby this time an adult bird flying through the flock of Terns. The Aussie Hobby proceeded to fly to the tree line on the edge of the field and perched up. Even though backlit from the setting sun I like this photo. So just like waiting for a westbound District Line tube-train you wait for what feels like an eternity and then 2 come along....
