Just north in Currie Harbour is Gull Rock, well known to our local fishermen.
Recently I did some observations from Devil’s Gap, noting the weather and ocean conditions, as well as the time I was there. As an observer of the coastline, I’m not usually in one spot for any length of time. It might just be for a few minutes and often determined by the amount of time available and the number of birds in the area to watch.
My observations are just a snapshot of that brief period, and if I go back to the same place later, the observations are always different. Occasionally the results are very different – as the birds are moving all the time.
A brilliant observation point is on the top of the cliff at Devil’s Gap, looking westward towards the horizon. I saw several fishing boats and one of them was motoring back towards the harbour followed by several Australasian Gannets.
They were soaring above the waves with no sign that they were feeding. Closer inshore, Silver Gulls were randomly flying about, while several Black-faced Cormorant were flying low over the water from the north in a direct line for Gull Rock.
Along the waterfront, fresh kelp gets dumped on top of older kelp.
I could see little kelp flies in the sunlight, a perfect place for the Pied Oystercatchers to be gorging themselves in preparation for their breeding season.
Hooded Plovers were on a nearby patch of sand enjoying a meal of flies and hoppers near the edge of the water. Rotting kelp is an important source of food for our shore birds as it breaks down like compost and provides an ideal environment for hoppers to breed and a place where kelp flies lay their eggs.
Hoppers will bury themselves under the kelp or dig into the sand while kelp fly larvae provide excellent protein for foraging birds.
Dense wind-pruned and stunted coastal scrub surrounded me.
These bushes were loaded with small bush birds darting in and out, chasing small insects and whatever else they wanted to eat.
The White-fronted Chat is often seen feeding on the kelp and is common around the coastline, although they can be found further inland along with many other small bush birds.
I could see birds on Gull Rock, and I walked closer to investigate. Gull Rock is a safe haven for breeding birds as it is surrounded by water at all times of the year.
This makes it more difficult for feral cats to hunt and eat incubating birds and chicks. Although I only viewed the rock from one angle, I could see a large colony of nesting Black-faced Cormorants.
Some were sitting on eggs, while others were still building their nests, flying in with beaks full of soft kelp. Some of the substantial nests were on quite steep rocks and as the kelp dries the nests stay in place, so the eggs and chicks don’t tumble out.
A few Gulls were perched up near the top of the rock as well as several Crested Tern.
Gull Rock is generally used by other breeding birds each spring and summer. Once the Black-faced Cormorants have raised their chicks to fledglings, the Silver Gulls move onto the rock and make it their home while they raise their family of chicks.
And when this is complete, a colony of Crested Tern take over to raise their own families. Gull Rock is a prized place for the breeding birds of Currie Harbour.
It was a most enjoyable and relaxing experience recording these observations for the Tasmanian Bird database. I encourage you to be observant when visiting the beach as you never know which birds you will see.