I don't know where Tony Dawe saw his 3 Latham's Snipe on Ash Island on
Saturday (it was Tony who reported them on Birdline). I was also out there
on Saturday and there was one Latham's Snipe at Melaleuca Swale which is
near the far end of Cabbage Tree Rd (these locations are shown in HBOC's Ash
Island brochure). There were also 700+ ducks in the paddock alongside the
Swale. The majority of those were Grey Teal but with lots of Chestnut Teal
also present, some Pacific Blacks and a handful of Hardheads. Most of the
100+ Avocets were on the "Ramsar Rd Ponds" aka Teal Waters. The Red Knots
and most of the other waders were on Swan Pond, which is the one closest to
the railway line. By the way, Swan Pond is under threat of "development" as
part of a proposed new coal loader. Swan Pond is the premium location on
Ash Island for all sorts of species and the spot where many vagrant birds
have been recorded over many years.
All the recent sightings of the Banded Stilt have been at Stockton sandspit
(or roosting on the Kooragang Dykes, which are only accessible by boat). It
hasn't been seen on Ash Island for well over a week now.
Sorry for the late reply - I have been in the Gloucester Tops this week
doing a Rufous Scrub-bird survey (we found 19 territories).
Alan Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Mick Roderick
Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2012 3:21 PM
To: Christine Melrose;
Subject: Ash Island, NSW
Hi Christine (and for the benefit of others),
Have a look at HBOC's Birding Routes brochures for Ash Island, as well as
Alan Stuart's paper on the Birds of Ash Island at:
http://www.hboc.org.au/index.cfm?menukey=11
Tides do play a large part in the behaviour or location of birds but not to
the extent as other Hunter Estuary sites such as the Stockton Sandspit.
I was out there a few days ago and didn't see a great deal. There was a
Brown Songlark over the saltmarsh on Swan Pond, which is of interest
locally. I also had a Baillon's Crake at the intersection of Bell Frog Track
and Wagtail Way.
There was a Latham's Snipe reported there on Saturday (see Birdline), though
no location is given. The Banded Stilt that has been present in the estuary
has been seen on Ash Island a couple of times recently (at Teal Waters).
You should be fine in your vee-dub. The area is dry and roads are ok. Only
the extreme tides get close to affecting any of the roads.
Mick
________________________________
From: Christine Melrose <>
To:
Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2012 11:49 AM
Subject: Ash Island, NSW
Dear All
Help needed. Hope to go to Ash Island this Fri or next from Sydney. Need
info on access (have a VW Polo), are tides important (it's high in the
middle of the day)? What are the best places to go? Would love to see
Snipe or Rails or Bitterns. Are there any other areas to visit while we
are there?
Thanks for your help
Chris Melrose
--
*Christine Melrose
ph: +61 2 9438 3635
Mobile +61 407 705 140*
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