On Friday, despite the dreadful weather (rain and more rain although only
heavy in patches) two of us went birding in Northern NSW.
On our way home (very early because of the weather) we stopped at Hastings
Point when the weather cleared suddenly. At Hastings Point, we sighted a
sandpiper that caused us to investigate. It had greenish legs, no visible
eyebrow, was solitary standing on top of a rock and not seeming to be easily
put to flight. While we were attempting to get closer, a fisherman passed
reasonably close to the bird and although the terns put to flight, the
sandpiper stayed put.
We were deciding it had to be a Wood Sandpiper, even without the eyebrow and
the salt water habitat, when it decided to fly away. At this point it
showed its underwings. These were uniformly dark.
A check of field guides and "Shorebirds in Australia" have us confused as
the only bird which seems to fit would be a Green Sandpiper.
I need to ask some questions. What is the possibility of it being a Green
Sandpiper? Have Green Sandpipers been seen in recent times anywhere in
Australia? What other possibilities fit the description and behaviour?
TIA
Terry Pacey
Terry Pacey
27°57'02"S 153°24'12"E
Gold Coast
SE Qld
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