It is always interesting to hear
that the Yellow Wagtails are still making their annual returns to Ash Island (but not always on Wagtail Way, and some probably miss being seen by birdos
because of suitable habitat elsewhere). I believe Yellow Wagtails (and other
Wagtail species) could also be fairly regular to other parts of
Newcastle/Sydney!
I have reported a Yellow Wagtail as late
as the 1st of April a few years back. Has there
been any later reports than this, of Yellow Wagtails in NSW?
Jack, did you manage to check out the Newcastle breakwater for Terns (and possible Franklin’s Gull)?
Edwin
-----Original Message-----
From:
[ On Behalf Of Jack Shapiro
Sent: Thursday, 31 March 2005 6:35
AM
To: Birding-aus
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Yellow
Wagtail at Ash Island
Yesterday, 30/3/05,
Adrian O’Neill & I visited the Newcastle area.
First, we looked around at Ash Island, where a large flock of White Ibis (over
200) and many Straw-necked Ibis were feeding along side the road.
Along Wagtail Way we saw and had good views of a magnificent Yellow Wagtail in
full breeding plumage. It preferred to stay at a distance of about 20-30 meters
from us, feeding around the pebbled road along with Welcome Swallows,
Australian Pipits and White-fronted Chats. From the roadside we also saw some
Avocets and Black-winged Stilts, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers & Greenshanks. A
Nankeen Kestrel flew overhead.
At Stockton Bridge/Fern Bay, which we reached at high tide, we saw a flock of
several thousand Avocets, Red Knots, a small flock of Eastern Curlews, and
another mixed flock of Black-tailed Godwits/ Bar-tailed Godwits, Pied
Oystercatchers, Wimbrels, and some Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Newcomers, which
later joined the Godwits were mostly in rufous-red rich breeding plumage
At the banks of the Hunter River next to the Stockton Bridge we saw many Superb
Fairy-wrens, juveniles, females or males in eclipsed plumage.
In all it was good birding for a rainy day.
Adrian O’Neill
Jack Shapiro
