Oct. 30, 2022 - Australia - Great Barrier Reef - Part 1

On the second day I was in Australia, we went out to the Great Barrier Reef. This is the boat that took us there. It’s a large boat, but there was enough wave action to make for a fairly rough trip out the Reef. The wind picked up in the afternoon, so the ride back was even rougher.

BoatMichaelmasCayGreatBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914

Our destination was Michaelmas Cay, a sand island 43 km (about 26 miles) from Cairns. There are a few areas with vegetation, but it’s mostly all sand.

CayoverviewMichaelmasGreatBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914

One of the bird species found at the Cay is the Great Frigatebird. It’s such a master of flight that it barely has to flap its wings at all. It’s able to glide effortlessly for long periods on the prevailing wind. Male Frigatebirds are all black, so all of my Frigatebird photos were of females with their white chests. Frigatebirds are large; 33 to 41 inches (85 to 105 cm) long with a wingspan of 81 to 91 inches (205 to 230 cm).

FrigatebirdGreatfemaleMichaelmasCayBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914

Frigatebirds get some of their food by stealing it from other seabirds. They are so maneuverable that they can chase and harass the other bird until it drops the food it is carrying. The Frigatebird is then able to catch the food item before it hits the water.

FrigatebirdGreatfemaleMichaelmasCayBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914

Brown Boobies are one of the most abundant species on the Cay. They measure 25 to 33 inches (64 to 85 cm) long with a wingspan of 52 to 61 inches (132 to 155 cm). Breeding season is approaching, so males are sporting their blue facial skin.

BoobyBrownmaleMichaelmasCayGreatBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914

Other than the blue facial skin, males and females look alike. So, this is probably a female.

BoobyBrownfemaleMichaelmasCayGreatBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914

Here’s a Brown Booby in flight.

BoobyBrownflightMichaelmasCayGreatBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914

This male Brown Booby (blue facial skin) just came back to the nest, and the birds are greeting each other with a series of bill contacts. Notice the egg in their nest.

BoobyBrownpairnestMichaelmasCayGreatBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914

This handsome gull with it’s red beak and feet is a Silver Gull.

GullSilverMichaelmasCayGreatBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914

Silver gulls are about the same size as our Ring-billed Gulls; 17.5 inches (44 cm) long

GullSilverMichaelmasCayGreatBarrierReefCairnsAU20220914