Manly wader roost, Moreton bay, Brisbane, Qld
Today ? 23.3.05, 7.00 ? 8.30, High tide 8.10.
Just the usual waders, but a great opportunity to see them colouring up.
Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew Sandpipers, Lesser Sand Plovers, Golden
Plovers, Turnstones, Great Knots all showing signs, some almost
completely, of breeding plumage. Some interesting contrasts between
non-breeding and breeding birds.
I wonder - does the early change give an advantage? ie do the birds that
achieve full breeding plumage on return migration, get the better deal
at the breeding site? Is it an advantage to moult early or does this
help spread the breeding season over a longer period and therefore make
it more sustainable? and why do dome birds change early and some later ?
is it genetics? relative to the time they were born? or just
coincidence?
Terek and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Grey-tailed Tattlers, Red-necked
Stints, Greenshanks, Whimbrels and E Curlews also present, but showing
less plumage changes or, at least less radical, plumage changes. The
Tattlers looked very plump and stomach heavy!
Little, Crested, Gull-billed and Caspian Terns all present and an Osprey
back at the nest site on the channel marker just offshore. Red-capped
Dotterels scurried around looking forward, no doubt, to reclaiming the
roost for themselves once all these noisy visitors depart.
A lovely morning on Moreton Bay, ~15 kms SE of Brisbane.
--
Colin Reid
So many birds, so little time......
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