Yambuk shorebirds

Identifying small shorebirds still takes me a little while. It took me some time to realise that there were three species among the dozen or so birds I was observing at Yambuk recently. The cogs turn slowly …. "Red-capped plovers (easy) .… and I think a single Red-necked stint …. but what is that other slightly larger plover I haven't seen here before?" (context is everything)

Subsequently Double-banded plover was readily confirmed and I will now be more confident when I next come across these guys having spent some time observing on them on this occasion!

Double-banded plover, Yambuk estuary, Vic

DBP with Red-necked stint and Red-capped plover at rear.

1-2 birds only per lump of seaweed please!

Red-capped plovers with stint

Typical Southern Ocean "breeze" - wind-blown sand and sea spray affecting visibility. I often remind myself that the birds live in these conditions 24/7.

The walk back to the car park can be either along the beach or the raised dune has a fenced nature trail. This affords views across Yambuk Lake (Great egret, pelican, cormorant species, Royal spoonbill and Musk duck). The coastal scrub provides habitat for species other than shorebirds...

The call of the Singing honeyeater has a slightly musical note at times but it does not "sing"!

Silvereyes look to be catching the late afternoon sunshine

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday!

Bird on!

Teamwork at Lake Yambuk

This Great egret and Royal spoonbill seemed to be acting as a team feeding together at Lake Yambuk last weekend. I'm not sure what was in it for the egret but it seems very likely that the spoonbill was appreciating the stirred up mud the egret was generating.

Great egret (Arda alba) leading the way

Royal spoonbill almost at his feet at times

They waded together for at least 10 minutes covering about
30 metres of shore together

Royal spoonbill
(Platalea regia)

An enjoyable evening's birding included views of Musk duck amongst others on the lake. I thought at the time that this female was really "steaming" along - a really strong swimmer. I was not surprised to later find that this duck goes by the alternate name "Steamer" in some circles.

Female Musk duck (Biziura lobata)
Pizzey opens up with "A very strange duck"

Musk duck steaming along.
In the background we find the Royal spoonbill has
found a different companion.

At the point where the lake reaches the sea (generally blocked by a sand bar) there is an intertidal rock platform and often many tern, heron, cormorants and small waders.

On this occasion I was struck by the number of the threatened Hooded plover. There were at least 15 counted amongst a larger group of Red-necked stint in an area no greater than 20X20m.

7 Hooded plover (including 1 immature Thinornis rubicollis)
in this one shot among Red-necked stint

Red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis)

Comparative size to the Hoodies and the tail markings
helped confirm that this was a flock of
Red-necked stint (I was hoping for Sanderling!)

Yambuk Lake
Downstream & around the bend (to the left) finds the surf
Upstream  we find the Deen Maar wetlands &
Codrington Wind Farm