Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Mid-winter at Inskip

 This post is for World Bird Wednesday

Last week I went out to Inskip Point on a high tide very early in the morning.  I wanted to see what shorebirds were still here in mid-winter.  It was early enough that there were very few people around and it didn't look as if the birds had been disturbed.
There was a small group of Crested Terns, with a couple of Caspian Terns and a Gull-billed Tern.  Standing with them were a few Silver Gulls and a Pied Oystercatcher.  These are all birds that are commonly seen here at the Point.

It was not the highest tide in the cycle so shorebirds might well have been roosting on other exposed sand banks.  I only saw two Bar-tailed Godwits.  At this time of the year these are most likely juveniles that stay here for the winter instead of migrating to the northern hemisphere to breed.

The surprise of the morning was quite a large group of Grey-tailed Tattlers.  I estimated about 200 birds.  This is a much larger group than I have seen here at this time of the year.  They were roosting right at the end of the point but disturbed each time a car came out to get on the barge over to Fraser Island.  When they finally flew off they went out to the sand island in the middle of the strait.

There are always Red-capped Plovers somewhere out here.  (These are shorebirds that stay in Australia all year.)  I saw a small flock roosting in the dry sand in wheel tracks.   The early morning light made shadows out of the indentations in the sand and it was easy to see how these tiny birds are so hard to see until they move.

There were also a few birds running along the edge of the water and with the sun behind me it made much better photos.

I also saw a few Double-banded Plovers at the edge of the water.  These little shorebirds breed on the braided river channels in south New Zealand but come here to Australia to spend the winter.  


30 comments:

  1. Mick, Really nice captures and you saw quite a few shorebirds I must say...at this time of the year our beaches hardly have any birds...we are almost at 47degrees celcius..so I guess they are elsewhere where others can photograph them..lol.Have a great day!

    Shantana

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  2. Dang! Really appreciate seeing those beautiful plover pictures! What a great day of photography!

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  3. Such a great post, - lovely to see your post.

    Would you please help me to classify the australian bird pesented in my post tonight?

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  4. Beautiful series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  5. Thank you so much! I am thrilled to get an answer to my question!

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  6. I've posted a link to your blog. Hope it is ok?

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  7. oh you sure got some great closeups of the water-birds; fabulous!

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  8. Wonderful birds and photos, Mick! I love the Plovers, they are one of my favorites. Happy Birding!

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  9. Gorgeous scenery, Mick! The shorebirds are beautiful!

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  10. Lovely families of plovers! You have done a great job capturing them!

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  11. Inskip Point sounds real interesting with so many birds.

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  12. I enjoy seeing your captures of shorebirds. Lovely shots...the plovers are so cute!!

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  13. Great pictures you show of some beautiful birds. Wishing you a good day :)

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  14. Those little Red-capped Plovers look so attractive in the sunlight Mick.

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  15. Hi there - my ducks seemed to be pretty much car proof as well!

    Like the mix of birds you see - plovers are always such busy little birds - not like those loafing godwits!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  16. Beautiful birds. I really like the red-capped plover.

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  17. Awesome shots Mick!! I love those Plover shots (both kinds) - birds I have never seen but thats not surprising as my birding journey only began last September.

    Inskip Point looks like a great place. Maybe I will get up there one day. We are planning a trip to Bribie & surrounds in the next week (including the Toorbul area).

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  18. Those red capped plovers look like little toys -- very sweet!

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  19. Wonderful captures of these shorebirds!

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  20. Great pictures, I really like the redcaps.

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  21. A fabulous day of shore-birding! I love the little redcaps -- new (even virtually) to me

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  22. Fantastic waders. I saw soem Bar tailed Godwits myself last week. lovely birds.

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  23. Terrific captures! Those Plovers are cute.

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  24. Hi Mick

    I relish days by the sea, alsa they are very rare for me so I most enjoy seeing the results other peoples fortune.

    The plovers are brilliant mate.

    Dave

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  25. A great assortment of shorebirds. I really like those plovers, Mick!

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  26. It must have been wonderful out there with just you and all those birds. Thanks for sharing them with us.

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  27. What a beautiful place is your Inskip Point! I love all of your photos Mick but that close up of the Red-capped Plover is incredible!

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