Inskip Point

All set to go kayaking. Good tide early morning, only one problem, the wind was blowing a gale. Plan B, go for a drive instead to Inskip Point to see what birds were around.

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)

 Not very often you get a clear photo showing different species nicely lined up, in this case four terns.

 Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) 

Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)

Great Knot

Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)

 A large flock of Pelicans and Godwits were on the little sand island out from the point.

Australian Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longiristris)

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

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Kayak Mullens

What a great day to be on the water, with a friend to share the time with. And the birds were pretty good too, at least 1800.

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)

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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

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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.

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Birds and Bees

Wader Count time again. As this one was in the middle of the day with the weather very hot and humid, we were not looking forward to doing it this time round, and did not know what to expect bird wise. 

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

 Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Some starting to show colour

1294 birds of 10 species were recorded - Pied Oystercatcher,

Lesser & Greater Sand Plover, Red-capped Plover, Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Knot, Red-necked Stint, Curlew Sandpiper,Gull-billed Tern.

Part of the flock of small waders.

Samphire showing beautiful colour

Bees

Just as we were leaving the wader flats we found this swarm of bees.

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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.