Lower Hunter Estuary Outing Report for Birding NSW. Saturday 15
February 2003
Leader: Alan Morris.
16 members met at the Shortlands Wetland Centre, the new
addition to the Kooragang RAMSAR Site, for a day of seeing the waders and
waterbirds of the lower Hunter Estuary. We departed immediately for the newly
upgraded Stockton Sandspit High Tide roost as it was high tide and there we were
rewarded with a great sight. There were 3000+ Red-necked Avocets roosting at the
spit, along with c. 800 Bar-tailed Godwits, 150 Black-tailed Godwits, c.300
Black-winged Stilts, 450 Eastern Curlews and smaller numbers of Great Knots, Red
Knots, Curlew and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Red-necked Stints and Red-capped
Plovers, plus other waterbirds! Great viewing and great work by HBOC & NPWS
in upgrading the Spit for the waders! We checked out the Stockton wreck and saw
6 Grey-tailed Tattlers and other gulls and terns. We returned to Shortland WC
for morning tea and spent the next two hours checking out the birds there. Due
to the drought most of the ponds were dry, but we were still able to see
Shovelers, a lone Marsh Sandpiper, Latham’s Snipe, the obligatory
Magpie-Geese, plenty of Black-fronted Plovers, some Cattle Egrets were still
nesting, although most nesting of egrets was completed. Amongst the bushbirds
were Olive-backed Orioles, Dollarbirds, Scarlet Honeyeaters and a Rufous
Whistler. White-beilled Sea-eagles and Swamp Harriers were seen over the
ponds.
It was a very hot day so we all partook of the culinary
delights of the Café Jacana (and its air-conditioning) at the Centre for lunch
before heading off to Ash Island ponds where we finished the day. We were all
hoping for the sight of Yellow Wagtails on Wagtail Way and we were not
disappointed although only one could be found (although 4 were seen by Edwin
Vella earlier that morning)! A new bird for many people there! Birding was great
with c. 1500 Sharp-tails, 100+ Marsh Sandpipers, 30+ Greenshanks, and large
numbers of Black-winged Stilts, Avocets, Grey & Chestnut Teal, herons,
egrets and Ibis, all close by and easy to see! Again there were Sea-eagles and
Marsh Harriers and a Black-shouldered Kite. 63 species seen for the
day.
Alan Morris,
Records Officer, Birding NSW
