Michaelmas Cay, 20 October 2019
The last day of the trip with Group 2 was to Michaelmas Cay
on the Great Barrier Reef, off Cairns. The weather was sunny and hot with light
winds, making for comfortable cruising aboard Seastar. Not many birds seen on
the way out, but soon we could see flocks of birds flying over the Cay. A close
inspection of some anchored craft nearby revealed a couple of Bridled Tern. The
crew arranged transport for us by glass bottom boat to the Cay roped area. Some
2000 Brown Noddy and Sooty Tern dominated the nesting grounds with eggs and
young. Some Brown Booby had young at various stages of development. The heat
was being felt by everyone including the birds, looking for the slightest bit
of shade. Circling overhead were Great Frigatebirds, looking for pirating opportunities.
Some Silver Gulls were skulking, searching for abandoned eggs. A couple of
Black-naped Tern also seen. After a brief swim to cool off, the Skipper took us
on a private circumnavigation of the Cay. This gave us nice opportunities to
see the beautiful Lesser Crested Tern (100+), Greater Crested Tern (10+) and
Ruddy Turnstone (20+). After some snorkelling with Sea Turtles and fish we
headed out to Hastings reef for some lunch and further birding opportunities.
Black Noddy was seen along with some Bridled Tern. After a fabulous day on the
Reef, we headed back to Cairns for dinner and farewell drinks.
Watching an Island in the making.
I first visited Michaelmas Cay 32 years ago. No vegetation
existed at that time. It’s humbling and fascinating to watch an Island develop.
Michaelmas Cay is a large sand cay that is slowly turning into an Island. Sand
builds up trapping floating logs, debris and seed pods. The nesting and resting
birds provide guano an important ingredient, placing nutrients in the sand.
Some seeds germinate and the beginnings of a Tropical Island commence. Many of
the Great Barrier Reef Islands we visit today were created in this way, like
Green Island and Low Isles. Without the birds, these Islands would not exist.
Steve Grainger
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