In Broome we have six seasons and April is Marrul season. This season is a scorching time of 12 months the place we’re transitioning from the moist climate to the dry climate. The season is brief, however it may be extremely popular with little wind, large tides and the migratory shorebirds are all setting off on their migration. The shorebirds will go to the northern hemisphere to breed and return to Broome later within the 12 months.
Over latest months the rains have allowed the vegetation to develop very tall and we might get some “knock-em down” rains earlier than April is out. The tall grass within the header photograph has grown quick not too long ago and is all all through the bush.
The seashores have modified so much over latest months and the large tides have moved loads of sand about. Sandstone cliffs have eroded and pure particles has been dumped onto the seaside. The photograph under you may see that Oystercatchers and crabs have walked across the particles.
Pure particles
The migratory shorebirds are busy feeding alongside the coast preparing for migration and plenty of have began to get their breeding plumage. With the big tides in Broome they’ve loads of reef and mudflats uncovered every day the place they’ll feed.
Great Knot feeding
Sanderling and Red-necked Stint
Lesser Sand Plovers with breeding plumage
The Pied Oystercatchers stay of their breeding territories all year long at many areas round Broome, however there are typically disputes. A few of the Pied Oystercatchers are actively displaying “piping” presently of 12 months alongside our coast.
Pied Oystercatchers “piping”
Different Pied Oystercatcher pairs are simply casually having fun with the coast. They wander alongside the tide line quite than fly and in a couple of months time they are going to be nesting as soon as once more.
Pied Oystercatchers
With quite much less wind I used to be capable of seize a number of Lesser Frigatebirds in flight as they soared alongside the coast final weekend. Regardless of being “lesser” they’re nonetheless a considerable dimension with a wing-span of between 155cm and 193cm. A Great Frigatebird is far bigger.
Lesser Frigatebirds
We are actually experiencing days which can be virtually cloud-free after which impulsively there are wisps of clouds within the late afternoon. It provides to an attractive sundown over the Indian Ocean. Different days we’re nonetheless experiencing late afternoon storms.
Sundown over the Indian Ocean
The Marrul season will stay unsettled for a couple of month after which we can have cooler nights, foggy mornings and dry days.
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