Waders at Inskip Point

After all the wet weather we have been having recently, it was good to have clearer skies. This gave us an opportunity to get out and catch up with Mick again at Inskip Point to see the waders before they leave us on their Northern migration. We were not to be disappointed. Many were well into the early stages of their breeding plumage.  

 Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

 Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)

 

 Bar-tailed Godwit  - Great Knot 

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

The Bar-tailed Godwit above and Beach Stone-curlew below were taken the following weekend during an outing to Inskip with some Birds Queensland members. One member really wanted to see  a Beach Stone-curlew. 

 Beach Stone-curlew (Esacus neglectus)

 Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)

Bar-tailed Godwit

 It is amazing just how long the bill is on the Eastern Curlew.

Part of the mixed flock.

Two of the four Dolphins we saw.

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday

Boonooroo

We recently visited Boonooroo which is located on the shores of the Great Sandy Strait, with views to Fraser Island.  Boonooroo is a great place to see waders, one of the few places where you can drive down the road to the waters edge, hop out of the car, and see all the waders up close.

Click on photos.

 Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus)

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

 Australian Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)

and other waders.

 Red-kneed Dotterel

 Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)

 Black-winged Stilt

 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Black-winged Stilt

Eastern Curlew

Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

 

 Red-kneed Dotterel

Brumbies seen on the way to Boonooroo.

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

Wader Count

During our last Wader Count in September we counted 13 species with a total of 248 birds.

We were hoping the numbers would be a lot bigger than what they were as the waders tend to come back in early September, but not this year.We have had reports that the waders are now back, so the count this month should be interesting.

Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)

It was interesting to see this Jellyfish at the wader roost site, as they don't often enter the estuary, staying more out in the bay.

Blue Blubber Jellyfish (Castostylus mosaicus)

The photos below show the other side of the Wader Roost Site that we can only access on a very low high tide or by kayak on a very high tide. This particular day the high tide was low enough for us to walk across and check out the birds that were hiding on that side of the roost. Not long ago a fire in the area burnt down to the edge of the site. Better to have it burnt before the Waders returned than when they first come back I guess.

Waders at Inskip

After receiving a phone call from Mick to tell us about all the waders at Inskip Point on Wednesday afternoon, it was decided that Thursday's high tide at 6 in the morning would be a good time to meet up and check what was out there. Most were in various stages of breeding plumage.

Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)

Bar-tailed Godwit

Great Knot

Bar-tailed Godwit

Great Knot

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

The deciding factor for our early morning start, leaving in the dark, was Mick's report of a Curlew Sandpiper in breeding plumage. But trying to find such a small bird in a flock of over 4000 mixed waders was easier said than done. After much waiting and patience it finally paid off, and we managed to get quite a few Curlew Sandpiper in different stages of breeding plumage. We even managed to see the red starting to show on the front of the Red-necked Stint.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Great Knot

Curlew Sandpiper (Front)

Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

Thanks Mick for the great morning out, without you we would not have been able to have a chance of seeing a Curlew Sandpiper with breeding plumage.