G'day all,
Over the last three days I have been watching a wader at Frankston Beach.
It is a single, grey backed bird, about 20cm long (Or about half the length
of a Silver Gull). Its bill is as long as its head or a bit longer and it
is dark. It has a dark eye and a White eye-stripe through a blotchy grey
head and back. Its underparts are quite white, Whiter as you look further
under the body. Its legs are greeny/yellow and as long as its body. It
seems to have long toes that are not webbed. The tail feathers are black
or dark grey at the edges. It does not have any leg-bands. When it is
disturbed by the inevitable unfettered dog on the beach it makes a clicking
sound and flies in a straight line around the dog and back to the beach. If
it is constantly disturbed it flys away for a while but always returns to
the same spot. It is fairly approachable and I have taken a few photo's,
however they are still in the camera.
What is this bird? I thought it might be a Red Knot in non-breeding
plumage, but it does not apear a squat bird nor as big as Simpson and Day
suggest. The other bird (as per S & D) that I keep coming back to is the
Broad-billed Sandpiper, but its bill is curved and this bird's bill is not.
Is it unusual to see a wader on Frankston's Beaches? it is for me. Should
we start lobbying for dogs to be banned from the beach, they certainly kept
upsetting this little fellow/lass.
Any comments are most welcome.
Regards
Stuart & Sam Cooney
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