Hi everyone,
Been pretty quiet up here and I've been away, hence the lack of sightings
from me.
The Cairns Esplanade has a steady stream of waders passing through with good
numbers of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (200+), Bar and Black-tailed Godwits,
only 2 Curlew Sandpipers today, several Grey-tailed Tattlers (one with blue
leg flag, a Japanese flag), Red-necked Stints, Red-capped Plovers,
Greenshanks,an increase in Terek Sandpiper numbers over the last week, Great
Knots and unusually 8 Red Knots (not common here). There is one grey phase
Reef Egret who spends most of its time harassing other egrets. 43 Little
Terns were present on the 28/11. John Crowhurst reported a small flock of
Avocets passing by the esplanade 2 weeks ago. Work continues on the
esplanade with a wall being built to retain the beach area at the southern
end. The gulls and ever increasing numbers of Silver Gulls like the beach.
$9 million has been allocated for further works - the swimming lagoon at the
southern end and a boardwalk to be built in conjunction with the rebuilding
of the existing seawall. Plans are also afoot to design and place signage
referring to the birds along the esplanade, a good move.
Phil & Linda Cross had 8 Pied Herons at the Southern Treatment Works in Kate
Street, Woree, Cairns (16° 57' 23'' 145° 45' 06'') a couple of weeks ago.
Two Bush Hens were showing well beside the Lower Freshwater Road, Cairns
(16° 52' 32'' 145° 41' 36'') and calling, probably liked the 80mm of rain we
had overnight. Beach Stone - curlews are scarce at the moment, probably
because they usually breed at this time of year, there was only one present
at the Cairns Airport this morning at high tide. They have been seen
regularly further north at Yule Point between Cairns and Port Douglas (16°
34' 18'' 145° 30' 31'').
Cheers,
Keith.
Keith & Lindsay Fisher
PO Box 2209, Cairns
Queensland 4870 Australia
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