Re: Hunter Estuary and Leneghan - 21st February 2004

Edwin Vella asked ""where are all the waders?" in respect to his visit to the Hunter estuary.

The answer to that may require more information.  What height was the high tide? Was this affected by wind or air pressure?  Time of year can also play a part.

I did regular shorebird counts in the Hunter estuary through the mid 90's.  My experience was that the waders do not always go to the Stockton sandspit.  Occasionally birds roosting on the Koragang dykes would fly directly to the Fullerton Cove feeding areas.  Also, as the birds are fattening up prior to migration the favoured roosting sites for some species changes.  The most notable example of this were Black-tailed Godwit which roost with the Bar-tails for most of the summer but during February and March would give up that long flight from the feeding ground to roost on a sandy beach (along with a lot of Marshies, Greenshank, Avocet and Stilts) within Fullerton Cove itself.

I've no doubt the birds are still there, just not where land-based observers can easily locate them.

Cheers

David Geering
Regent Honeyeater Recovery Coordinator
Department of Environment & Conservation
P.O. Box 2111
Dubbo  NSW  2830
Ph: 02 6883 5335 or Freecall 1800 621 056
Fax: 02 6884 9382



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