Wader Count

Though most of the waders have left for the Northern Hemisphere, there are some that stay behind. What was a surprise for us was to see a Bar-tailed Godwit, (on the left in the photo below), that looks to have a white flag on its right leg.  

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Silver Gull

  Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae)

As we waited for the time to start counting the waders, this Striated Heron flew into a mangrove not too far away, and started fishing in front of us. Somebody walked out near to were it was, and the heron flew away. Just as we started counting, the heron flew back and landed in a big mangrove tree, so I went and tried to get some photos of it.

 Striated Heron (Butorides striatus)
 Before it flew away it was in this small mangrove.

After it came back it landed in a big mangrove.

Some people getting ready to kite surf from the sandbar where the waders normally rest.

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

Striated Heron and Other Life.

Wader Count time again at Tin Can Bay. One of the first birds we saw was this Striated Heron with a Soldier Crab in it beak, along with Silver Gulls. Then came the Pied Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed Godwits. (Click photos to enlarge)

Striated Heron (Butorides striatus)

Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)

Found this Cicada in the mangroves as we walked back from our last count site.

As we have not been back to this site since the King Tide when we kayaked there, the effect on the Cooloola Cypres was very noticeable.

We always see these washed up on the beach every time we walk up to the count site, if anybody

knows what they are please let me know.

Large-leafed Orange Mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza)
Some of the Mangroves were in flower like this one.

Mangrove and its root system

Knee roots of the Large-leafed Orange Mangrove