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Saturday, 5 December 2009

Mixed Shorebirds

It was a beautiful day on Friday for a wader count, calm water a higher tide and light winds made for a great day. With the higher tide most of the birds were roosting on the far side of the flats, though they were very flighty. Just as well we were in a kayak, not too much dry land today.
10 species were recorded with a total count of 2833 birds.

Click on photos to enlarge



Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)


Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) & Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)



I just like the way the Red-capped Plover is looking at me as much to say
"what do you think you are doing?"





All Red-capped to the right please.



Red-necked Stint, Red-capped Plover & Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)



Just to show how high the water was, these Bar-tailed Godwit were trying to land.



Looking towards where we would normally walk in to the site.



The water was too nice to stay in the kayak all the time.



Kel counting the birds out there.
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16 comments:

  1. mick5 December 2009 at 18:07

    You have some really super photos there. A nice way to keep cool while counting, Kel!

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  2. Neil5 December 2009 at 18:15

    Thanks Mick the only way to stay cool when it is so hot.

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  3. Snail5 December 2009 at 21:34

    I'm trying to work out whether the red-cap is perplexed or miffed at being photographed.

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  4. Neil6 December 2009 at 07:17

    Thanks Snail I'm not sure either.

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  5. Johnny Nutcase6 December 2009 at 18:41

    nice shorebird shots. That's some serious scope action happening in that last picture! Tides have been really high here all week...has made for great kayaking! Looks like you had fun !

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  6. Müge6 December 2009 at 21:06

    Gorgeous photos! Red-neckeds and red-cappeds are my favourites! :-)

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  7. Redzlan6 December 2009 at 23:13

    Wow!..2833 birds.
    That pretty impressive.

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  8. Anonymous6 December 2009 at 23:39

    Nearly 3000 birds? Wow! Kel with scope in water is the scene-stealer in this batch of photos. What mere bird could compete with that? :)

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  9. ramblingwoods7 December 2009 at 12:19

    Wow that is a lot of shore birds. It makes me think that I should get out (when it isn't winter) to see what birds I can find along the lake.. Not sure I want to stand in the water though.... Michelle

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  10. Neil7 December 2009 at 15:22

    Thanks everyone for your comments

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  11. Bob Kaufman8 December 2009 at 04:24

    Wow that's a lot of birds! Very nice shots of the red-cap.

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  12. Neil8 December 2009 at 07:29

    Thanks Bob & Cynthia yes it is a lot of birds.

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  13. Mosura8 December 2009 at 11:05

    Interesting post!

    As someone who knows nothing about kayaks, how easy is it to keep your camera equipment secure and dry?

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  14. Neil8 December 2009 at 14:01

    Thanks Mosura,have just posted an explanation on how this is done.

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  15. Larry Jordan10 December 2009 at 15:13

    Great photos Neil! My favorite bird photo (other than Kel in the water) are the Bar-tailed Godwits in flight. Marvelous!

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  16. Neil11 December 2009 at 07:07

    Thanks Larry I like that one as well.

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