BEACH, BIRDS & BEAUTY

WE’RE taking a short stroll around Palm Beach today — but not as you know it.

Unless you are an avid birdfancier or have explored much of the Coast, Tarrabora and Beree Badalla Reserves go under the radar.

The small but spectacular area hides an abundance of wildlife — mostly birds, fish and reptiles.

And I’m not talking just one or two species. I’m talking 156 species of birds for starters.

Here you have the opportunity to spot fairy wrens, lorikeets, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, honey eaters, striated herons, ospreys, whitebellied sea eagles, different species of kites, darters, pelicans, terns, gulls, curlews and even kingfishers.

I could go on. But instead, there’s a bunch of other animals you could see.

Possums, the graceful tree frog, blue-tongue lizards, bearded dragons, sand crabs and bandicoots, to name but a few.

In the clear water close to the boardwalk, juvenile fish can be seen among the seaweed beds, along with many species like bream, mangrove jack and garfish.

The main reason why I love these reserves though is because it’s a relaxing place with few people about, despite its proximity to the beach and Currumbin Creek.

The wooden boardwalk winds itself gently through the saltmarsh.

The view is picturesque, stretching across the creek capturing the essence of a lazy Sunday afternoon — even if it’s not.

Don’t forget to snap a couple of stunning pictures of the azure water, white sands and olive green mangroves.

So where is this hidden wonderland I hear you ask?

The reserves sit on the northern side of Currumbin Creek and either side of the Gold Coast Highway.

Picture: PETER VALENTINE Bird species such as this kingfisher are seen in Tarrabora and Beree Badalla Reserves.