Keith & Lindsay Fisher 24/6/01 1:39 PM
Hi Everyone,
A wader count along the Cairns Esplanade, (Far North Queensland), this
morning produced few species but higher numbers of G-T Tattlers & G. Knots
than was expected for this time of year. Species and numbers are listed at
the end.
Hi Lindsay,
I found this interesting. I presume you were doing the national winter survey, as I was doing in the Pumicestone Passage, just north of Brisbane in SEQ. In Caloundra I have been getting the odd tattler over recent weeks, and no knots. However, deep into the passage on Saturday we came across a roost of waders (Mission Point), which included 171 Grey-tailed Tattler, and 181 Great Knot.
The Tattler didn't surprise me especially, as I have noticed in past years that there will be such a gathering of tattler at this time, and when I have concluded that they must be staying, off they go.........to where? Surely they don't migrate to breed in the northern hemisphere at this late stage. Rather I'd be inclined to think they move somewhere north but not the whole hog.
As for the Great Knot, they did surprise me. Furthermore, most, if not all, of them were in breeding plumage.
I also had 54 Bar-tailed Godwit, of which just one was in heavy breeding plumage. Just practising?
Cheers,
Jill
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