Hi All,
I spent yesterday afternoon at Point Cook and the Cheetham Wetlands
(Victoria) with some interesting results.
* I did a circuit of the Cheetham Wetlands with Bernie McCarrick (Point
Cook's ranger): dozens Red-necked Avocet, Banded and Pied Stilt,
Red-necked Stint, Great Egret and a group of about 50 Double-banded
Plover nestled in a central pond. Also a pair of Flame Robins and
Singing Honeyeater.
* The water level at Spectacle Lake is extremely low. The birds here
included a Red-necked Stint, Red-capped Dotterel and a couple of Pied
Stilt. The salt lake opposite had dozens of Red-capped Dotterel and
Red-necked Stint, as well as zooming Peregrine, who harassed a flock of
Starling.
* The big surprise of the day was Point Cook?s foreshow. On a rocky
outcrop to the right of front beach (towards the airfield) there was at
mid-tide a flock of 300+ Double-banded Dotterel. Also Pacific Golden
Plover (1), Fairy Tern (3), Curlew Sandpiper (50+), Red-capped Dotterel
(100+) and Red-necked Stint (100+). Passerines included Golden-Headed
Cisticola, Yellow Rumped Thornbill, and New-holland and Singing
Honeyeater in the carepark.
Note - Useless Bird Fact Number 1: Most of the Double-banded Plover that
migrate to Australia come from the ?highland? population of New
Zealand?s South Island (i.e. from Lake Takepo); while the ?lowland?
South Island population ?internally? migrates to the mudflats in the
North Island (such as Miranda). Number 2. Furthermore Double-banded
Plover have been known to live for up to 20 years!
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
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