Hello all,
It's still there so don't despair!!
The South Island Pied Oystercatcher (SIPO) was once again on the rock-wall near
the boat-ramp at Pelican Park, Clontarf, Queensland, today 21/4/2001.
I observed it from about 8:30 am to about 9:15 am, just after high-tide.
The SIPO was with a mixed flock of terns, gulls and oystercatchers resting out
the high-tide.
This does seen to be a favoured spot for the SIPO and Pied Oystercatchers (OZPO)
so anyone planning a 'twitching' trip to the area should start there.
Of course, there is no guarantee it will be there; I spent a few days previously
looking without luck at all!
Directions to the 'regular' SIPO locations in the area:
First choice:
The boat-ramp in Pelican Park is shown on Map 91 at F18 in the Brisbane UBD
Refidex.
For those people coming from Brisbane over the Houghton Highway, take the
Esplanade that follows the water-front; turn right at the first entrance to
Pelican Park (opposite the Shell service station on the corner of Thomas
St).
Please be careful if you are tempted to walk out on this rock wall as the
boulders can be slippery at times.
Second choice:
Street directory reference: UBD Refidex Map 91, D19.
At the southern end of Clontarf Beach.
This rock groyne is at the start of the rock wall and is adjacent to the traffic
lights at the Redcliffe end of the Houghton Highway Bridge.
An obvious marker is the advertising sign: :Subway, Subway, Subway'.
This sign will be across the road and behind you as you view the groyne.
This is probably an alternative high tide roost for when things get a bit hectic
at the boat-ramp.
Take care with the traffic at this location as the road system is a little
complex and the traffic can be constant and some people like to travel quickly
along here.
Third choice:
(Crockatt Park, Woody Point)
To get to Crockatt Park, Woody Point, from Pelican Park, continue along the
Esplanade and take the right hand turn before the 'main' road sweeps to the
left.
Continue carefully into the 'business' area (where the round-about and
centre-parking bays are).
Immediately to your right is Crockatt Park.
The area to the east of the jetty is also a good place to check out before and
after high tide.
This area can be busy at weekends.
Fourth Choice:
Brisbane UBD Refidex road directory, Map 91 C19, the western end of Haysmouth
Parade.
This road is almost due west of the groyne at the southern end of Clontarf Beach
(see below for directions to this location).
Coming from Brisbane (from the south) it is necessary to be in the left lane
when exiting the Houghton Highway Bridge.
Take the left lane off the bridge (do not go along the Esplanade that follows
the waterfront).
Turn left immediately after going through the traffic lights (immediately means
a couple of metres).
If coming from the north the road can be accessed from the right-hand lane of
Elizabeth Ave by turning right at the traffic lights at the northern end of the
Houghton Highway Bridge. This can be confusing the first time. If you find
yourself heading onto the bridge it is possibly to circle back through the maze
before entering onto the bridge and then turn left into Haysmouth Pde as
described above for when coming from Brisbane.
The road appears to have no name sign at the moment but you will be in the
correct road if you are going up a fairly steep incline immediately after
turning the corner.
Continue to the end of the road.
Look for the bird along the shore line in this area.
If tempted to walk on the intertidal area be careful of soft patches.
If all of these fail, try anywhere accessible along the shore line of the
Redcliffe Peninsula.
See also Andrew Stafford's posting for Fri 20Apr 2001.
To see some images of the Woody Point South Island Pied Oystercatcher click on:
http://www.powerup.com.au/~inglisrc/sipowp_page_1.htm
If all the usual factors fall into place positively, I will endeavour to spend
some time at the Pelican Park Boat-ramp around High-tide (approx 8:30 am) on the
morning of 22/4/2001.
Good Luck
Bob Inglis
Woody Point
Queensland
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
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