Waders Are Back

The Waders have returned; Pacific Golden Plover, Lesser-Sand Plover, Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, Common Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red Knot, Great Knot, Red-necked Stint, and Curlew Sandpiper were all recorded on this count. 

Our resident Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Red-capped Plover, White-faced Heron, Little Egret, Eastern Osprey, Brahminy Kite, and Gull-billed Tern were also present.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica)

Mangrove Honeyeater (Lichenostomus fasciogularis)

Some of the mixed flock

Just before we left home for the wader count, we heard on the radio that a sink hole had developed at one of the Inskip Point camping grounds. A 4wd, camper trailer, tent and caravan all ended up in the water. Over three hundred people were evacuated from the area.It happened about midnight on the 27/9/15.Everyone was safe and accounted for.

This photo was taken on the 27/9/15

This was taken on the 28/9/15 from the same position

after more sand went overnight.

 The Caravan 28/9/15

 The Caravan 27/9/15

Hard to say if this is the 4wd or the camper trailer. 27/9/15

 For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

Osprey & Waders

In the right place at the right time to see this Osprey catch a fish and then take off with it, while we were with a group of birdwatchers showing them the waders before they head off to the Northern Hemisphere to breed.

Click on photos to enlarge.

 

Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus)

Some of the waders we saw were Great Knot & Bar-tailed Godwit, all showing beautiful colour.

 Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris) 

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica)

Also showing lots of colour were the Lesser Sand Plover & the Red-necked Stint.

Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)

 For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

Wader Count Time Again

After having a month of not counting waders it was hard to get back into the swing of things. Because it is Winter, we were not expecting many birds, but were surprised to see so many at Norman Point with 10 species for a total of 330 birds. We have only ever recorded Great Knot at Norman Point once before in June 1998. When we went to our second site at Mullen's we only got 11 species for a total of 131 birds.

Some of the 280 Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia) 

Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica) Bar-tailed Godwit & Great Knot

Can you find the Great Knot among the Bar-tailed Godwit ?   

It was interesting to see just how many Bar-tailed Godwit and Great Knot still have breeding colour on them.

Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris) & Bar-tailed Godwit.

Wader Count Time Again

July Winter Wader Count time again. Count numbers were well down even for this time of the year. Where are the usual overwintering birds hiding? 8 species for the total of 36 birds. In May we had 15 species with a total of 369 birds. July 2010 10 species 137 birds. May 2010 10 species 133 birds.

Mullen's Wader Roost July 2011

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)

As we entered the wader flats, this Mistletoebird sat still long enough for a couple of photos.

Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) (Male)

Midden

The remains of an aboriginal midden made up of discarded mollusc shells.

The water has now cleared after all the rain, though a bit cold while standing in it counting the birds.