Outer Harbour - Black-faced Cormorant colony

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to join a boat trip out to the Black-faced Cormorant colony on the Outer Harbour breakwater.

As we made our way to the boat, there was a lovely Rufous Night-heron, who was quite happy to pose for us.

As we rounded the breakwater, we saw  a few Cormorants on the water, and one flew in nicely to land in our wake.

There were quite a few cormorants still at the colony, some were tolerant of the Silver Gulls, others less so.

The chicks were  all very well grown, and some looked bigger then the parents!

There was always a procession of birds flying around the boat, including Black-faced and Pied Cormorants, Silver Gulls, Crested Terns and Australian Pelicans.

As usual, the Caspian Terns were lazing on the sand bar in the middle of the river!, but this time we could get a little closer.

On the Port River, we saw HMAS Hobart, the first of the new Air Warfare Destroyers, which is nearing completion.

On the way back, we stopped at the end of the breakwater, where the usual Sort-nosed Fur Seal (formerly New Zealand Fur Seal) was lounging.

We finished as we started, with the Rufous Night-heron still happy to pose for portraits.

Thanks to Skipper Tom, and fellow birders Alan, John and Leoni for a very convivial trip!