Hello All,
It would appear that a good place to start looking for the South Island Pied
Oystercatcher is the rock-wall near the boat-ramp in Pelican Park, Clontarf.
On Good Friday, 13/4/01, it was observed on the rock-wall from 1:30 pm to about
3:00 pm when it decided to fly off in the general direction of the Houghton
Highway.
This rock-wall is a favoured spot for a variety of birds during high tide.
High tide on the 13th was approximately 12:45 pm.
The best time to check this area would be a couple of hours either side of high
tide.
The birds seem to be able to tolerate the noise and activity associated with
launching and un-launching boats and jet-skis in spite of how idiotic the
behaviour of the humans involved. (It is obvious I am not so tolerant of such
behaviour!)
High tides for the next few days (approx times):
14th April: 1:30 pm
15th April: 2:30 pm
16th April: 4:00 pm
17th April: 5:30 pm
Over the Easter Weekend, the other possible location, Crockatt Park at Woody
Point, is likely to be busy with people picnic-ing and exercising their dogs.
However, as the high tides move to the early morning, an early morning visit to
this area could be productive.
Directions:
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.
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.
To see some images of the Woody Point South Island Pied Oystercatcher click on:
http://www.powerup.com.au/~inglisrc/sipowp_page_1.htm
I suspect that this SIPO is a female due to the extreme length of the bill.
Going by the colour of the bill and eye, I suspect it is an immature bird close
to
adult plumage (if that is possible).
I would welcome comments on that proposition.
Good luck,
Bob Inglis
Woody Point
SE Queensland
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