HI Peter,
I'm not sure where you looked on the HBOC website, but we have plenty of info
on a number of sites in the Newcastle area (though admittedly, some are in need
of an update). You'll find them at the link below.
http://www.hboc.org.au/resources/birding-routes/
The "Newcastle Wetlands" one has the access directions for Hexham Swamp.
For Stockton Sandspit (assuming that is where you mean by the 'wader roost')
see the "Newcastle City and Lower Hunter Estuary" birding route (which is one
that needs updating, however the directions are still current). The best time
to visit here isn't necessarily high tide, though you will see plenty of birds
then. The best time is between 2 to 3 hours after (or to a slightly lesser
extent, before) high tide. This is because many birds that roost on the largely
inaccessible Kooragang Dykes fly over to the sandspit beach as a 'staging
point' after the tide has dropped sufficiently that the beach is exposed. After
a while, the vast majority end up flying north to (most definitely
inaccessible) Fullerton Cove.
Ash Island is still accessible but you don't hear much about it because it has
largely been 'superseded' by Hexham Swamp and Tomago Wetlands, both which have
been the subject of incredibly successful rehabilitation work. Wagtail Way
hasn't lived up to its name for many years (but you will still see 'some' birds
if you visit).
Bird-wise, Hexham Swamp has recently hosted an Aussie Pratincole, but people
that were there today failed to see it. The conditions are pretty poor really,
with so much water around, so there aren't the droves of Sharpies etc that were
here a few years ago. It just won't stop raining here. You'll almost certainly
get onto White-fronted Chats there. Stockton Sandspit is a great spectacle and
isn't affected by high rainfall, so I'd definitely be going there.
Personally I'd be doing most of my birding around Paynes Crossing! ;-)
Mick
From: Peter Ewin <>
To: Birding Aus <>
Sent: Wednesday, 28 September 2016, 18:31
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Hunter River Sites and access
Evening all,
My planned camping trip over the next week on the Lachlan has been foiled (I
too was hoping to get to Round Hill but roads are still closed) so we are
heading instead to the Hunter Valley to my in-laws place at Paynes Crossing. On
one of the aya where the weather is a bit more friendly (probably Tuesday based
on forecast) I am hoping to sneak down Newcastle way and try and add a few
coastal birds to my annual list.
I have had a look on the HBOC site but there isn't much info on specific sites.
The locations I was probably going to try for were:
* Hunter Wetlands Centre (easy enough - I have been there before)
* Stockton Wader Roost - Assume best time is at high tide and does anyone
know a link to the best tide info for the site?
* Heham Swamp - there were details about access to a site in the archives -
happy to have a look but easier if someone knows if they are still valid (was
to do with track/road work?)
I don't see many reports lately about Ash Island - is it still accessible and
is it worth the visit (I have been there a few times and a drive up Wagtail Way
was always productive).
Any tips or hints appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Peter
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