Start the week...

....with a cyclone warning for Tropical Cyclone Zane, luckily the current forecast track is for it to miss us too the north but the scuttlebutt around the water cooler (well outside Cameron's Prep class) is that at this time f year they often pass to the south of the forecast track which would mean over us!
That said at this time of year it is unlikely to be serious but there has been a definite increase in rain and a strengthening of the wind

The winds have forced the local Welcome Swallows and Australian Swiftlets down as well although getting any decent photos is a complete nightmare
Welcome Swallow

Aus Swiftlet

On Monday Tish had to attend a training course at work so I used the time and went to try and get a better picture of the Mangrove Robins that (unsurprisingly) live in the mangroves at the north end of the esplanade.
Whilst none of the pictures were great they were an improvement on my earlier attempts

As we are moving into winter here most of the waders have headed north to breed so there are far fewer around on the mudflats at the moment.
This does give you the opportunity to concentrate on some of the local breeders such as these Red-capped Plovers

and Masked Lapwing (for the Dr Who fans among you don't they remind you of the Ood?!)

There are a few migrants around including this group of three Grey-tailed Tattler and one Terek Sandpiper

On closer inspection the second bird from the right (a summer plumaged Tattler) was wearing a very fetching blue flag on its left leg..

which it apparently was given in Hokkaido sometime since 1997!