Ash Island felt like a quiet secret hiding in plain sight. The wetlands were extraordinary — wide, breathing spaces of water, reeds, mangroves and mudflats alive with birds at every turn. Egrets, herons, ducks and smaller waders moved with unhurried confidence, as if the island belonged entirely to them. What struck me most was the stillness: despite being so close to the city, I saw almost no one. It had that rare quality of true refuge — a place where nature carries on undisturbed, and you feel less like a visitor and more like a respectful witness.
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| White-faced Heron |
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| Black-winged Stilt |
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| Masked Lapwing |
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| Great Egret |
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| Royal Spoonbill |
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| Chestnut Teal |
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| Red-kneed Dotterel |
Scenery
