Just returned from 7 days on Lady Elliot Island, 2 March to 9 March.
Wonderful bird life. Sorry Malcolm, but a pair of red-tailed tropic birds
arrived on 2 March and are now nesting outside Suite 2. The black-naped
terns are still there, nesting above the beach to the north of the resort.
In addition to your list, I also saw sand plovers, which I am pretty sure
were the greater. The pacific golden plovers were everywhere and appeared to
be developing breeding plumage. The frigate birds were awesome and there
were lesser as well as greater. The turtles are still laying and hatching.
We also went on a snorkel tour and swam with 12 manta rays two days ago!
Fabulous place.
Regards. Gary.
Gary Kane
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2014 21:05:07 +1000
From: "Claire Speedie & Malcolm Turner \(Scribbly Gums\)"
<>
To: <>, <>
Subject: RFI visiting Lady Eliott Is
Message-ID: <@bigpond.net.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I was there on Friday and Saturday (1 March). Most birds had nearly finished
nesting. Red-tailed tropic bird and roseate tern were not present (the most
exciting seabirds). Only one pair of black-naped tern was still present.
Adult and young common noddy, black noddy, bridled tern, crested tern and
Wedge-tailed shearwater were present. black noddy and bridled tern had young
chicks - a second nesting for the summer. Greater Frigate birds visited
overhead each day and roost at night. A Wandering tattler was present.
Tattler are easier to see at high tide. For other birds the tide is not
relevant but the shearwater are nocturnal. The Capricorn white-eye is a bit
scarcer with sparrows now on the island, but the resort managers and marine
parks rangers will address this soon. Banded land-rails are chooks. Turtles
were still nesting and young were hatching at night. Anytime of the year is
great on the island but the peak for seabirds is Oct to Jan. With the cost
of a flight it is worth staying a night or two. The snorkelling is the best
on the reef.
Malcolm Turner
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus On Behalf Of
Sent: Monday, 3 March 2014 3:49 PM
To:
Subject: RFI visiting Lady Eliott Is
I am in Hervey Bay and would like to visit Lady Eliott Is for a day trip to
see all the birds there. However the tide is high most of the time the trip
lasts( 8.40- 3.30) and I am wondering if it is still possible to see the
birds or should I postpone my trip till I am in QLd at another time from Nov
- March when there is a low tide. As I want to keep travelling south I do
not want to wait till next week for a low tide day.
I would appreciate any advice from someone who has experienced Lady Eliott
Is.
Thanks
Joan Wharton
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