Montague Island

Yesterday I had the chance to get a tour of Montague Island and its surrounds.

Many thanks to my mate Grahame from Bermagui Eco Tours for the trip.

( you can contact him on grahame@headhuntercharters.com.au)

Montague Island is an interesting spot consisting of natural and historical heritage areas.

Below is a colony of Arctic Turns.

There are also many Fairy Penguins on the Island.

This one is returning to its nest in the evening.

These Seagulls are announcing the return of the Penguins and swarm the area above the water.

The Island has a large Seal colony, with much of the area surrounding the Island being part of  a marine Park.

The Island also has very interesting Basalt and Granite outcropping, with the distribution of the Basalt on the Northern side and Granite to the South, with the Granite used to build a lighthouse in the late 1880's.

The following view is to the North from the lighthouse, with the Southern view unpublished due to the presence of significant Aboriginal heritage sites.

It is possible to stay on the Island - contact Narooma Tourism Association for further details.

Thanks to my mates from National Parks and Wildlife for making the stay so enjoyable.

Big Bird Dogfights

The intermittent rain took a break this afternoon and a walk along a local beach to look for sponges sounded like just the thing.
On the way our exploration party took a break for some light refreshments when two Sea Eagles were spotted some distance off.



A fight for prey was going on, the mid air acrobatics a sight to see.


The victor headed to the forest with its prize.



The battle left the partially devoured prey in a bit of a state, so much so that a portion fell to earth as the Eagle flew off.
I was interested to see what had been caught, so approached to where the portion was dropped and discovered this....




...remains of what seem to be a Fairy Penguin.
I was not aware that the Sea Eagle, although a big bird, would take on such large prey.
Perhaps it was scavenged, already dead.
Either way a good meal for a large an majestic hunter.

I was glad to see that the kids were not fazed by the grizzly find, rather accepting the roles played out by hunter and hunted, fascinated by the unusual sight they had witnessed.