g'Day all
On this magic day of warm temperatures and light winds Pat and I decided
to make an early visit to the white sandy beaches south of Cape
Elizabeth located at 34.09'S 134.26'E, on the eastern shores of Spencer
Gulf, South Australia. We found the area most impressive so we decided
to spend most of the day there. The long sheltered beaches are fringed
in many places with extensive limestone reefs that expose at low tide
providing good wader habitat.
Highlights were 8 Hooded Dotterel including two recently fledged
juveniles. This is probably the northern limit of their regular
distribution in Spencer Gulf. Also seen were 14 Sanderling in two small
groups of 6 and 8 birds. It may be a regular site for both of these
species as the habitat seems ideal for them
Dispersed along the 20 kilometres of beach that we traversed were
several thousand Red-necked Stints, hundreds of Curlew Sandpipers, a few
Greenshank, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Grey Plover. Also hundreds of
Red-capped Dotterel were present and one nest was seen with two eggs.
Other birds of interest were two White-backed Swallow and
several Singing Bushlarks observed along the southern access road into
the Cape Elizabeth Reserve.
Although the area is not well known as a regular wader observation site,
it is well worth a visit during good weather being easy to access using
a 4WD vehicle.
Regards
Ian May
Price SA
(08) 88376212
0409 474 575
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