This small island off the coast of Queensland is situated in the Great Barrier Reef. Many tropical seabirds breed on the island. Most of the birds are common noddies and sooty terns, but mixed in with them are bridled terns, brown boobies, great crested terns, lesser crested terns and silvergulls, among others. I had the fortune to visit this island in 2012 on a snorkelling cruise, and I never forgot it.
The moment I saw the small dot of sand on the horizon, I could see seabirds on the island like huge clouds. Any bit of flotsam in the turquoise blue waves immediately became a perch for seabirds. Soon I could see the birds more clearly and the island was a strip of sand instead of just a little dot. A diving cage was put out, and almost immediately a brown noddy landed on it.
Small boats were sent out to the island and I got in one. Soon I heard the dull thump of the boat hitting the sandy beach. It was like heaven. The terns were everywhere!
SOOTY TERN WITH YOUNG Onychoprion fuscatus
As I watched, a sooty tern landed and started feeding its young. A brown booby bird swooped down from the sky and landed on a sign, then flying down to a rope separating us from the nests. I looked further across the high grassy part of the island and saw a colony of swift terns, with two lesser crested terns in the background. It was amazing!
BROWN BOOBY Sula leucogaster
BROWN BOOBY Sula leucogaster
SWIFT TERNS Thalasseus bergii AND LESSER CRESTED TERNS Thalasseus bengalensis
Soon, people started being sent out for snorkelling with their guides. I got to go in as well. As I slipped into the water I saw beautiful coral swaying in the waves. A lionfish played in the rocks as a parrotfish fed. I even saw a giant clam!
YELLOWFIN PARROTFISH Scarus flavipectoralis
If I had the chance, I would gladly visit Michaelmas Cay again.
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