From: Martin on 12/08/2002 09:17 AM
To:
cc: Martin
Subject: French Island (Vict.) trip - Rams Island 10 Aug '02
The Friends of French Island had another successful outing on Saturday 10
August. This time for our annual checking of the shell-grit situation and
weeding of the little Rams Island for tern breeding.
The tide was coming in and we arrived on the southern shores of French Island
(with parks Victoria support) to the site of a few hundred waders busily
foraging on the beach between hide tide mark and Rams Island a few hundred
metres out. To many people's surprise, including a regular Western Port wader
survey participant (Betty Mitchell), we observed some Red and Great Knots with a
few Red Knot in superb breeding plumage with rusty-red fronts. In addition,
some of the knots had yellow leg-flags and we saw a number of orange-flagged
waders as well.
Species observed were:
Double-banded Plover ~100
Great Knot 2
Red Knot 52 (at least two in breeding plumage)
Curlew-Sandpiper ~150
Red-necked Stint ~200
Turnstone 7 (most in breeding plumage)
Eastern Curlew 1
Red-capped plover 2
Pied Oystercatcher 2
I understand knots are infrequently recorded in Western Port Bay so these
observations are interesting. Great to come across a mixed flock of
overwintering waders so close to Melbourne.
Can anyone advise me of the status of yellow-flagged birds in Victoria. Are
they birds flagged in Western Australia?
cheers, Martin
Martin O'Brien
Executive Scientific Officer, Scientific Advisory Committee
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde., East Melbourne 3002
Tel: 9412 4567 Fax: 9412 4586
(prefixes: Interstate 03 International 613)
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