Hi All
I visited Long Reef this afternoon on the low tide, partly wondering what I
might see offshore. However, while it was still and calm at home in
Turramurra, it was blustery at Long Reef, with a north-easterly blowing and
some reasonable chop on the water. I spent about 60 minutes watching
offshore and saw lots of brown shearwaters, mostly Wedge-tailed, one
definite Flesh-footed (it was close enough to the reef that I could see the
feet as it turned) and several Jaeger - at least one each of Pomarine and
Arctic. These two, and other Jaegers that I couldn't positively ID, looked
to be in quite clean plumage - would they be coming into breeding plumage
now before heading northwards? There were one or two paler birds further
out but the wind made working the scope at anything above its lowest
magnification pretty hard, so no idea what they were.
On the reef itself, most of the shorebirds were on the south side out of the
worst of the wind. There were lots of Golden Plover (at least 20), about the
same number of Ruddy Turnstone, at least 8 Sooty Oystercatchers and a small
(and very mobile) flock of about 30 Red Necked Stints. No other smaller
waders were seen, including no Double banded Dotterels, although they could
have been keeping themselves out of the wind as they have been showing up
elsewhere along the coast.
In the jumbled rocks on the south side were at least 3 Grey-tailed Tattlers.
Keeping closer to the water and looking much greyer and plainer was a 4th
bird - it was right in amongst the rocks and I lost it after a couple of
minutes and couldn't find it again. I did not hear the bird call, so this
diagnostic did not present itself. However, its colouration, slightly
chunkier looking bill, and shorter white eyebrows than the other 3 birds,
together with its more solitary habits and preference for being closer to
the water reminded me of the Wandering Tattlers that were present at the
site this time last year, so it would be worth keeping an eye out if you are
visiting the reef.
Cheers
Tom Wilson
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