Watching for Shorebirds' Return, Phillip Island

We have had a cold and pretty wet winter in southern Victoria and it certainly doesn't feel like Spring yet. However I did manage to enjoy a beach walk to see Phillip Island's Rhyll Inlet at the weekend. This was in the late afternoon light during an hour or two of sunny and still conditions. I made my way to Observation Point and made these .... well .... observations!

In the breeding season, a pair of Pied oystercatchers generally hang around east of Silverleaves. I tried hard to get some  background in this shot. It shows French Island on the other side of a very calm Westernport Bay. The hills behind Grantville form the distant horizon.

Clicking for the enlarged view reveals Pied oystercatcher Red Flag 5E

Two endangered Hooded plover have paired off once again at the eastern end of Silverleaves beach. Meet current local "Orange Flag PW above Silver band"

Among the fascinations for me is the anticipation of what shorebirds will be present at the sandy spit that is Observation Point. Here are a few Curlew sandpiper among the Red-necked stint. In the foreground is an out of focus Red-capped plover 

Red-necked stint

A Double-banded plover in full bleeding plumage always stands out in the crowd! "Shouldn't you be in New Zealand?"

I am always on the lookout for Godwits, Whimbrel and Eastern curlew. Three Eastern curlew arrived while I was watching but I saw no Godwits which I found unusual. There was more than the usual number of ducks and I had some difficulty sorting the species as they kept their distance. I was impressed with the number of Australian shoveler, a species I generally don't see a lot of.

Eastern curlew, the hills between San Remo and Anderson in the background.

Several Australasian shoveler amongst the Grey and Chestnut teal. It might be worth a click for the enlarged view as the male shovelers have an amazing colour scheme. 

Great cormorant are generally outnumbered by Pied cormorant at Observation Point

This Australian pelican flew low across the surface of the water for at least 100m! I love watching that. It seems to be heading towards San Remo where the pelicans get fed each morning

My happy shadow - Observation Point at high tide (iPhone panorama). Westernport Bay to the left, Rhyll Inlet to the right

The return trek - I'm about to get wet and painfully cold feet!!
All worth it!

Bird on!

Eastern curlew in flight

I spent an hour on the rising tide at Observation Point, Phillip Island last weekend. I always enjoy seeing that peculiar looking and exotic traveller, the Eastern curlew. On this occasion there were about 10 birds.

Another Eastern curlew joins the line-up along the shallows on the rising tide, 19 Jan 2013.

This bird joined its mates on the other side of the spit by foot (Eastern curlew with Caspian and Crested tern as well as Red-necked stint)

I had moved on from the curlew but without warning most were up and off! They offered excellent views as they circled closely.

Eastern curlew, Phillip Island, 19 Jan 2013

It is also nice to catch up with the local Hooded plover population. No birds were seen when walking past the fenced off nesting area near Silverleaves but these first two birds were seen 400m further east. I am wondering if this first photo featuring an unflagged bird represents successful nesting?

Another few hundred metres along the beach was a trio of banded and flagged birds.

Red-capped plover (centre) and Red-necked stint

Bar-tailed godwit were present in reasonable numbers

As the tide rose this group of birds (includes terns, godwits and a curlew) left the distant spit and repositioned much closer to my vantage point! At rear is the Silverwater Resort near San Remo on the mainland. 

Bar-tailed godwits over the Rhyll Inlet

Bar-tailed godwits, Black swan and a single Pied oystercatcher at rear

iPhone shot of the spit from my vantage point (you can just make out the birds as white specks)

Bird on!

Whimbrels in flight ...... Afternoon delight!!??

Sung to the tune of that very lame song "Skyrockets in flight ..." and no I wasn't that excited. We are at Observation Point, Phillip Island on a beautiful autumn evening. We start with flying Whimbrels - a poor photo but I was pleased to have the record because at the time I assumed these were godwits circling. I was surprised on checking my images later.

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) Observation Point, 14 April 2012

Above & below - a whimbrel landing alongside fellow birds and some godwits

All shots from considerable distance - a good 40 metres. This one happens to be a little sharper.

The walk starts from the end of Bruce Rd, Silverleaves, heading along the north-facing beach for about 2km. It is common to get good views of Hooded and Red-capped plover as well as gulls, lapwings and terns on the way.

This Hooded plover has leg bands. As you can see the beach is subject to a fair amount of washed up rubbish. Dogs are prohibited as this section of the beach is part of the Rhyll Inlet Reserve (a Phillip Island Nature Park).

Swamp wallaby tracks (evidently put its front paws down briefly)

Red-capped plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

The beach ends at a spit adjacent to the Rhyll Inlet mud flats. On this occasion the incoming tide is well on its way in and we perch above the high tide line among the small grassy sand dunes and just watch!

There were large numbers (about 50) of Pied oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris). Only a few of the group are seen here behind this Caspian tern in flight.

Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) outnumbered the generally more common Crested tern

Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) and Black swan

Eastern curlew (above & below)

Red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis) You'll have to take my word for it - a pleasant enough scene to be included in the series I thought!

Below are a few twilight views of Rhyll Inlet looking east back towards the spit.

Pacific gull silhouetted against the sun setting on Westernport Bay.

Eastern curlew

Is that not the longest bill you have seen on a bird?

Eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)
"Eastern" to differentiate it from the European variety I guess

These Eastern curlew are not common in southern Australia but a few hang around the "world quality" bird sanctuary at Observation Point, Phillip Island. These migratory birds are more commonly seen here during the summer months (Dec - Feb). The protected area is really quite small and vulnerable so we are not keen to get close to these birds but I was treated to clear views from a distance on a warm, sunny Sunday last weekend.

This fellow conveniently arrives next to a
Pied oystercatcher giving an idea of size
(which helps distinguish from the Whimbrel).

It was followed by another ....

and another.

Observation Point (the sandy bit in foreground)
looking towards the cliffs of Rhyll

Sage advice regarding preservation
(a recently erected sign)