Hi Tom, Greg,
Agreed, a good and interesting report.
I've been to Harrington about six times or so for holidays over the
years. Have never seen avocets there and it certainly struck me as
unusual when I read of them in your report.
Re Sanderlings, I have seen a single bird on one occasion only (about 18
months ago I think - would need to check at home). First seen on the
ocean beach about 1 km NE of the ocean end of the rock wall; later
(following day?) seen on the sand bars in the estuary and assumed to be
the same bird.
cheers,
Harvey
Canberra
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:32:58 +1100
From: "Greg & Val Clancy" <>
To: "Tom and Mandy Wilson" <>,
"birding-aus" <>
Subject: Trip Report - NSW Mid-North Coast 7 - 14
January 2012 (Longish)
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
Hi Tom,
An interesting trip report. The raven was almost certainly a Forest
Raven
as they are found all along the coast from Myall Lakes to just north of
Coffs Harbour. They are usually within 1 km of the coastline and often
interact with the more abundant Torresian Crows, which seem to harass
them
often. The short tail is interesting because although the southern
populations (Tas & Vic) have a relatively short tail North Coast NSW
birds'
tails appear quite long to me, certainly relatively longer than the
Torresian Crow's. Fairy Terns are not usually found on the NSW North
Coast
so your birds at Port Macquarie were probably Little Terns. Sanderlings
are
uncommon on the north coast with small numbers (1-2) at Station Creek, N
of
Red Rock with larger numbers in the Richmond Estuary (Ballina). I am
not
sure of their status in the Harrington area but I have never seen them
there. I would also think that the Avocets would be extremely rare at
that
site. I am not aware of any previous records at that site (?Alan
Morris) so
this is a good sighting.
Regards
Greg
Dr Greg. P. Clancy
Ecologist and Wildlife Guide
Coutts Crossing
NSW
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