Sunday, April 3, 2011

Ready to Migrate?

When I was out at Mullens roost site the other day there were very few migratory waders left. Once the northern migration starts they seem to go very fast. However, down at the southern end of the roost there was a group of Red-capped Plovers (Charadrius ruficapillus). These little shorebirds are resident in Australia so can be found any time of the year. Even though they are quite common I enjoy photographing them because they always seem just as curious about me as I am about them. If I stand still they will usually come closer - and this makes for excellent photo opportunities. They were at the edge of the water and resting in among small salt marsh plants.
While I was photographing the whole group I saw that there was one that looked a little different color. Its head was tucked away under a wing so it was not easy to get a good photo. However, I waited and kept photographing and eventually it lifted its head and it was obvious it was a Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) in partial breeding plumage. So where was the rest of the flock? They may have been somewhere else on the roost where I could not see them but this was the only Stint I could see. Had it missed its mates and missed its opportunity to migrate? I wish I could find this bird again but the roost site is huge and these birds are tiny. Today there have been intermittent but heavy showers of rain. I really need some fine weather again!
Red-necked Stint on the left of the photo.
For more bird photos go to the Bird Photography Weekly.

19 comments:

  1. I'm with you about needing fine weather. Today the sun came out for an hour or two and everyone talked about how nice of a day it was. Pathetic.

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  2. Hi Mike, but you have summer ahead of you. Ours is officially gone but it was so wet that I didn't get out around the bay and on the water nearly enough.

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  3. We have what we call "April weather" we never know what it will be. Today it is 11 deg C and rainy. :( But hopefully it will melt the ice so the swans can feed. Otherwise, they feed on fields.

    Love your waders. Maybe I´ll meet them. I will go to Malta in the Mediterrainan sea for a week, two weeks from now. :)

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  4. Hi NatureFootstep, I hope you have a great time in the Mediterranean area. I will be interested to hear if you see some waders.

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  5. I love these tiny fellows.
    Maybe the red-necked thinks he's a Plover?
    :)

    Different weather is your wish? How about some dusty 34Celsius in Kuwait?
    ;)

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  6. Hi Nicole, those two species are often found together. re your 34 degree weather - No thanks! Surely there must be a happy medium somewhere?

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  7. It's supposed to be a sunshiny 29C in the Rhine river valley near Bonn in Germany today. Perfect Beergarden weather. Scotty, beam me up ;)

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  8. Good catch - easy to see the red neck that gives the bird its name.

    Love your header photo, too. Those little guys are so cute among the grasses.h

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  9. Nice find Mick. Certainly not easy to locate these little chaps amongst large flocks.

    Excellent job on the Saltmarsh page.

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  10. Hi Nicole, instant access to somewhere else would be fun! But I wonder if perfection would become boring?

    Hi Wren, I wondered if someone would notice that the header is a photo of the same species.

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  11. Thanks Frank. I must do the second part about the salt marsh asap!

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  12. Not for us. Think of all the birding ops we would have :D

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  13. Hi Nicole, I guess you're right!

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  14. Great to find the RN stint Mick. Only ever seen one over here where they are a mega rarity. Hope it stops raining soon.

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  15. One thing I love about this site is that what is a common site for you is something I've never seen! Thanks for sharing these photos and info!

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  16. I find it sad when the migrating birds leave. Don't you?

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  17. Hi Rebecca, I find the same about the sites I visit in the northern hemisphere.
    Hi Amila, yes it gets very quiet at the roost sites around the bay during the winter.

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  18. What lovely species -- two that I've never had the pleasure to see!

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