Australian Pratincoles are shorebirds/waders that can often be found beside remote roads on inland plains where some water is present. They seem to like roadsides where they will flush ahead of an approaching vehicle displaying their slender form, long wings and tern-like flight. They usually do not fly far and often alight close to the flush point once you have pulled up - however more often than not they fly to the sun side of the road leaving a photographer with an unsuitable light angle. Driving south from Lochern National Park towards the small hamlet of Stonehenge we had passed several groups of Pratincoles plus numerous single birds. Finally one bird alighted on a rare rock beside the road with the sun behind us giving an opportunity for reasonably close photos from the car window with good light. Here are two of the shots taken before the bird flew.
Please click on photos to enlarge.
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The black flight feathers extend well beyond the tail which is just visible.
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