Wednesday 13 January 2016

Wild Bird Wednesday 181 - Black Noddy

These pictures were taken during one of my favourite parts of my birding trip to Lord Howe Island.  As a group, we had walked along a picture perfect beach and visited a breeding colony of Black Noddys.  After ten or 15 minutes all of the rest of the group left to go and watch some Sooty Terns.  That left me and the Noddys all to ourselves.

If wildlife photography needs one thing (apart from a bit of luck), it's stillness.  I set the camera on a tripod and just stood and waited.  After a while the birds starting feeding their chicks.  Small faces would appear from under the sitting adult, and small silver fish would be hacked up by the adult in response to the demands on the young.  In a few cases, a strand of clear but slimy stuff would linger between the adult and the chick.  Connected indeed.

The formal name of this bird - Anous minutus - refers to the fact that it smaller than the Brown (or Common) Noddy.   One of the other differences between this species and the Brown Noddy is that this species actually builds a nest, where as Brown Noddys just (at best) place a few bits and pieces on a bush and lay eggs there.















I'm up to my ears in work and other such stuff so I may be a little slow in responding over the next couple of weeks.  But I will get there in the end!

Now click on the blue button and off you go into the world of WBW!

38 comments:

  1. What a treat to see! So glad you had them to yourself, and thanks for the explaining the clear, slimy stuff. Carry on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh Stewart, these are just amazing. Those "baby pictures" made me gasp ! So glad you stayed behind the group. Thanks for hosting and sharing these wonders especially when you're so busy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such a lovely bird, and how wonderful to see it on the nest!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Stewart, what a great sighting of these pretty birds on the nest. The baby is adorable. Wonderful series of photos.

    Happy Tuesday, enjoy the week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your patience and stillness were indeed rewarded. What a lovely bird and great series of photos!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow! What a striking bird! Love the plumage and the light colored "helmet"!

    ReplyDelete
  7. A beautiful bird and awesome captures, Stewart!! WOW!!! Indeed!! I hope you have a great weekend!! Enjoy, camera in hand, of course!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Brilliant photos Stewart and what a lovely bird indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  9. They are certainly handsome birds. It is interesting how the small chicks already resemble adult plumage. Would love to see one in the wild!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hari Om
    Special and intimate moments in the wild!!! YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your pictures are quite special Stewart. I can't imagine that Lord Howe island is on many "must see" lists, but birders always have a special reason to visit such places. Great pictures - wish I could visit the same place.

    Thanks for hosting once again.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello Stewart!:) Wow!! What a great looking bird, and how fantastic to see it in the nest feeding the chick. Another superb series!:)

    Uncertain about the ID of the bird in my post,could be a Nightingale.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great shots of a bird that I have never seen. Diane

    ReplyDelete
  14. Patience paid off! You got some fantastic photos of the mom and chick. And I love the name of this bird.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What an amazing series. You have the patience of a saint, Stewart and it sure paid off for you this time. Watching the parents feed their young, I bet that doesn't happen often. And, what's a little mucousy string between family members :0! The bird has a rather severe look, but very handsome at the same time. You do get the best pictures and 99% of the time it is of birds I have never heard of. Well, as you are busy, I won't keep you tied up with my babble. Have a great week and thanks for all you do.

    Andrea @ From The Sol

    ReplyDelete
  16. Fantastic photos Stewart. These have just featured on David Attenborough's latest series here in the UK.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a striking looking bird, Stewart! It's very sleek and sharp looking!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh what amazing photos! Absolutely gorgeous birds! I love all the inter-action with the chick! Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Gorgeous, dramatic looking bird. That is very lucky to see the baby!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wonderful bird! The light "cap" adds to its elegant appearance. Those little ones are adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great images of a very handsome bird.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks Stewart! After reading your post and looking at your photos I went back and checked the ones I took on Lady Elliot Island.I am sure those Noddies were sitting on nests - although many of them looked pretty basic. It certainly seems a great way to help ID the birds. Great info!

    ReplyDelete
  23. These shots are amazing. You are so fortunate to see them on their nest and with young. Thanks for hossting.

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a wonderful payment for your patience.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Stewart, great captures, especially the young. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Nice captures. Now I feel like an expert of Noddies

    ReplyDelete
  27. Amazing pictures Stewart..What an experience..Thanks for sharing..Such fun..Always great to find active nests and photograph them..

    ReplyDelete
  28. Nice capture of the baby bird!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a beautiful bird...elegant, in fact!...:)JP

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wonderful pictures! Love the baby bird!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Lovely pictures of a beautiful bird!

    ReplyDelete
  32. wow, that is a beautiful bird and so great to be able to see the chick. Stunning images to :) Congratulations to this one :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. hahahah... love the look on its face in the second picture....

    I don't know if it's patience or persistence that pays off for us in trying for photos either..... some days a bit of luck helps too.... but, you definitely have to wait them out don't you?

    ReplyDelete
  34. WOW!! What a fantastic series! What beautiful moments you have captured here with adults and chicks. That must have been such a treat!

    ReplyDelete