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Hi Birders,
The Australian Special Interest Tours (ASIT) coach
trip to the Wattagan Mountains, south west of Newcastle NSW was diverted to the
lower Hunter Region instead yesterday because of the threat of bushfires in the
Wattagan NP and adjoining State Forests, however a good day was had by the 20
participants!
Our first stop was Pambalong Swamp NR
where the commonest bird was the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper! At least 400 were
present, but the only other waders seen were a few Red-kneed Dotterels,
Red-necked Stints and Masked Lapwings. c 20 Yellow-billed Spoonbill were
scattered around the wetland while Grey Teal were the most abundant waterfowl
and there were a few each of the other common ducks including a Black Duck with
3 ducklings. Summer migrants were noticeable and calling loudly including Sacred
Kingfisher, Rufous Whistler, Dollarbird, Pallid & Channel-billed Cuckoo and
White-breasted Woodswallows. A nest with 3 juvenile Magpielarks was seen, a pair
of Black-shouldered Kites fed around the area, and Tree Martins and Welcome
Swallows were common. (In the distance we observed a tall wader with a white
cap, white upperparts and grey underparts wading around the waters edge, and we
tentatively indentified it as Michaelus newmanii!).
Our next stop was the recently
upgraded Stockton Sandspit. With the mangroves all removed and the sandspit
cleared of vegetation, good numbers of waders have been re-using the spit as a
high tide roost. We were not disappointed this day with about 450 Eastern
Curlews, 200 Avocets, 30 Pacific Golden Plover, 12 Pied Oystercatchers, 1
Caspian & Gull-billed Tern and a few Red-capped Plovers &
Red-necked Stints being present. However our enjoyment was short-lived when 2
sedans drove onto the sandspit and did a few wheelies on the sand! All the
Curlews departed back to the dykes but fortunately one of the vehicles became
bogged in the sand and was still in that predicament when we left. It would be
good if the managemnt authority for the Spit could gate the reserve off when
work is not being carried out there!
We continued onto Stockton, obtaining
good views of a Common Sandpiper and 6 Grey-tailed Tattlers on the wreck en
route. We lunched near Stockton Ferry wharf where we had good views of Common
Terns, about 10+ Whiskered terns (some in breeding plumage) and at least one
White-winged Black Tern feeding just inside Newcastle Harbour! The sea breeze
made the lunch time spot a pleasant location
On our return we called at Ash
Island, but here, away from the sea, it was very hot in the early afternoon.
More Sharpies (c.100), 60 Black-winged Stilts, all the egrets and more Grey Teal
were present, as well as 20+ Common Grenshanks and 20+ Marsh Sandpipers, and a
few Black-fronted Plovers. The birds were swooped at by a Brown Falcon and then
a Marsh Harrier.
Our final stop was at the Gravel Pit
Swamp, Minmi where amongst the many ducks of all persuasions were 40 Pinkears
and 12 Shovelers, c 12 Hoary-headed Grebes, 3 Royal Spoonbills, a Horsfield
Bronze-Cuckoo, Cisticolas, Reedwarblers, a Marsh Harrier and atleast another
400+ Sharpies. Altogether a good day, plenty of birds to see, 90 species in
total and despite the hazy conditions and the hot afternoon, everyone had
a good time.
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