|
G'day all from the Broome Bird
Observatory
Many of you will no doubt be aware that I am
about to move on from my position as Warden at the Observatory (September 26).
What a fantastic year it has been amid the splendour of Roebuck Bay and its
immense multitudes of migratory waders. Not to be forgotten is the amazing bird,
animal, plant and insect life of the region which has enthralled me since I
arrived last September.
As I plan to depart, I have noted that a number
of people are mentioning on Birding-Aus that they are running weblogs on birds
and birding. I thought therefore, that some of you might like to drop into my
blog which has been running since last December online. "Words, Birds n Buldust"
can be found at www.ricki.bigpondhosting.com.
Because words can never really convey what an incredible place Roebuck Bay is,
the blog is liberally scattered with many images for you to enjoy.
I'll shortly be travelling back to the east coast
across the top of the Kimberley, Northern Territory, Gulf Country and down
through outback Qld and NSW: destination Sydney. There are, therefore, many
more birdie adventures ahead. I don't
know how I'll handle Sydney, but I know that you'll enjoy my blog and my
continuing adventures across the top in coming weeks.
Before I sign off, a quick report on the
returning wader situation in these parts:
Numbers of all species are increasing every day
and it is now not at all unusual to find roosting flocks of 8,000 or more waders
at several sites along the bay. Although many have returned, there are still
substantial amounts yet to show up.
We are currently seeing plenty of Grey Plovers
returning in up to 90% breeding plumage and the odd Pacific Golden Plover in 90%
plus breeding plumage as well.
The large, and growing, numbers of Bar-tailed
Godwits, Black-tailed Godwits, Great Knots, Red Knots, Grey-tailed Tattlers,
Eastern Curlews, Whimbrels, Terek Sandpipers, Curlew Sandpipers (numbers
definitely up on last year), Red-necked Stints, Common Greenshank, Ruddy
Turnstones and Greater Sand Plovers have been joined by excellent numbers
of Broad-billed Sandpipers, a scattering of Asian Dowitchers and Lesser Sand
Plovers and at least one Common Redshank which is regularly sighted consorting
with a flock of Common Greenshank.
Out on the fresh water, there are many Wood
Sandpipers, Marsh Sandpipers and a scattering of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (many
in very nice breeding plumage). We are also seeing a number of Long-toed Stints
at a couple of locations.
Hope to catch you in cyberspace soon. Meanwhile .
. .
Happy birding
Ricki Coughlan
Broome WA . . . for a
little bit longer
"In my hand I held the most remarkable of all
living things, a creature of astounding abilities that elude our understanding,
of extraordinary, even bizarre senses, of stamina and endurance far supassing
anything else in the animal world. I held that truly awesome enigma, a bird." -
Fisher
|
