A WEEKEND IN THE HUNTER 12-13 MARCH 2005
Twelve people took part in the annual "Farewelling the Migratory Waders of
the Lower Hunter" trip organised by Follow That Bird Tours. There was
perfect weather the whole weekend so that it was possible to view the waders
in ideal conditions.The tour included a Lower Hunter River Cruise to view
the waders on the Kooragang Dykes; visits to the Wetland Centre, Shortland;
an inspection of the Ash Island Ponds; a walk out to the Nobbies Breakwater
to look for seabirds; wader watching at the Stockton sandspit at high tide;
and visits to Pambalong & Leneghans Rd wetlands at Minmi.
The boat trip on the "Lady Joy" was well timed for the high tide and all the
waders were waiting for us on the Kooragang Dykes. We then travel past the
dykes up the Hunter River to Mosquito Creek before returning and making
another slow run past the dykes. While there was nothing of great interest
in the Newcastle Harbour area, we did see 34 species of birds on the dykes
including1520 waders of 15 species. Many Godwits had already attained their
red breeding plumage while many Golden Plovers were showing much gold and
black. Our highlights on the Dykes were c. 800 Bar-tailed & 225 Black-tailed
Godwits, 200 Eastern Curlews, 85 Common Greenshank & 130 Pacific Golden
Plover, 30 Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Black-winged Stilt, 6 Pied Oystercatcher & 8
Caspain Tern and alone Striated Heron. In addition 4 Sea Eagles were seen on
the trip (2A+2 Im) and 6 Whistling Kites. While passing the Dykes on the
return trip there were 5 Whistling Kites and 2 Sea-eagles in the air at the
same time, and some were harassing the waterbirds on the dykes so that there
was much coming and going and a chance to see the underwing patterns of the
Black-tailed Godwits.
Highlights of our visit to the Wetland Centre at Shortland, included 2 more
Sea-Eagles and Whistling Kites, all four Egret species and Brown &
White-cheeked Honeyeaters. It was still high tide on the Ash Island Ponds
when we reached that site so there was plenty of waterbirds to see including
c.800 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 60 Marsh Sandpipers, 800 Red-necked Avocets,
400 Black-winged Stilts, a few Greenshanks & Black-fronted Dotterel, small
numbers of Pipit and White-fronted Chat, Royal Spoonbill, White &
Straw-necked Ibis and many Chestnut & Grey Teal. Once again we had plenty of
raptors, a very dark Wedge-tailed Eagle made a number of passes over the
Ponds, 2 Sea Eagles and 2 Whisting Kites were continually overhead and 2
Swamp Harriers were busy patrolling the wetlands and reedbeds. These raptors
combined to ensure that there was always some movements amongst the
waterbirds! So in the 6 hour period 11am-5 pm we ended up seeing a minimum
of 8 Sea Eagles & 12 Whistling Kites!
Our early morning walk around Fern Bay the next morning revealed 2 late Koel
Cuckoos and a late Dollarbird, another Striated Heron, Sea Eagle, Yellow
Thornbill, Lewin's Honeyeater and Whipbird. The walk out to the Nobbies
Breakwater was disappointing seabird-wise. There were plenty of Wedge-tailed
Shearwaters but no Common or White-winged Black Terns as is usual at this
time of the year!. 3 species of Cormorants, some House Sparrows and
White-fronted Chats were the only other special birds. However high tide at
Stockton Sandspit was special. To witness over 2000 Red-necked Avocet
roosting in the wetland was a great sight, along with 22 Red-capped Plover,
some Red-necked Stints & Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. As the tide changed they
were joined by the Godwits, Eastern Curlews, Golden Plovers etc from the
Dykes, and soon we were watching them and 22 Red Knots and a lone Great Knot
in breeding plumage, all feeding on the exposed sand flats. Other birds here
included 2 Gull-billed Terns, Caspian & Crested Terns, Pied Oystercatchers,
Whimbrels etc. not to mention the 2 Mangrove Gerygones. A brief walk around
to Fern Bay found 22 Terek Sandpipers and some Grey-tailed Tattlers
roosting on the oyster-racks.
On our return to Sydney we visited Leneghans Road Swamp where 8
Chestnut-breasted Mannikins, 4 White-breasted Woodswallows and a Red-kneedd
Dotterel were the highlights, and then crossed to Pambalong Swamp. Here we
added 6 Shoveler and Hardhead to our waterbird count, but of special
interest was a pair of Magpie Geese with 6 large young and a pair of
Wandering Whistling Duck with 2 tiny ducklings. This was a great end to our
day. Over 102 species were seen on the weekend, mostly waterbirds because no
time was spent in any bushland areas. All particpants had great views of
waders, many of which were in or moulting into, breeding plumage.
Alan Morris
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