Hi all
Shorebirds and waterbirds are particularly active on the eastern side of
Lake Illawarra at the moment (90km s Sydney). The estuary is closed and
as the lake evaporates the seagrass beds between Windang and Warrawong
are being progressively exposed. The best access point is from the
reserve immediately south of Oasis Caravan Park, opposite the twin radio
towers. There are several viewing platforms here, though "the shoreline"
is now 100-200m from these platforms and its best to walk on the exposed
sand bars for the best views. At present the most "action" is off the
southern end of the reserve. There is also a wetland at the corner of
King St and Northcliff Dr. Warrawong (parking in Bunnings carpark) that
is well worth a look for freshwater species (snipe, crakes etc.).
Waterbirds (56 sp) recorded this morning (18/11/02) include;
Black Swan 250
Australian Wood Duck 30
Pacific Black Duck 200
Australasian Shoveler 15
Grey Teal 5000
Chestnut Teal 1500
Pink-eared Duck 10
Hardhead 50
Australasian Grebe 6
Hoary-headed Grebe 30
Darter 4
Little Pied Cormorant 85
Pied Cormorant 20
Little Black Cormorant 200
Great Cormorant 55
Australian Pelican 160
White-faced Heron 9
Little Egret 32
White-necked Heron 1
Great Egret 34
Intermediate Egret 2
Cattle Egret 2
Striated Heron 1
Australian White Ibis 56
Royal Spoonbill 6
Buff-banded Rail 3
Australian Spotted Crake 2
Purple Swamphen 50
Dusky Moorhen 46
Eurasian Coot 60
Latham's Snipe 6
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Bar-tailed Godwit 80
Whimbrel 1
Eastern Curlew 5
Marsh Sandpiper 7
Common Greenshank 32
Ruddy Turnstone 2
Great Knot 3
Red Knot 65
Red-necked Stint 220
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 600+
Curlew Sandpiper 50
Pied Oystercatcher 2
Black-winged Stilt 130
Pacific Golden Plover 25
Black-fronted Dotterel 2
Red-kneed Dotterel 9
Masked Lapwing 10
Kelp Gull 2
Silver Gull 100
Caspian Tern 16
Crested Tern 12
Whiskered Tern 150+
White-winged Tern 2
cheers
Chris
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