DBPs with colour, Phillip Island

Double-banded plover Charadrius bicinctus, Phillip Island, 9 Aug 2014

I was interested to see photos of Double-banded plovers taken recently in Werribee, Victoria. The photos showed breeding plumage so I was inspired to pay a visit to Observation Point yesterday as I knew that these birds had frequented the sandy spit in our autumn earlier this year.

I have never seen them in colour before until yesterday. What handsome little birds!

They have intrigued me as they have a unique migration pattern - breeding in New Zealand and wintering in Australia. Pizzey states that part of the South Island (NZ) population migrates annually and spends February - September in Southern Australia.

I think we have a male (left) and female (right) in this shot. Rather than black, the female is said to have a brown upper band and less black and white markings on the forehead.

Female DBP feeding

While enjoying these birds' breeding colours for the first time there was an unexpected visitor ...

I have not seen a Ruddy turnstone at Observation Point before. It wandered around and fed in characteristic fashion.

Something about the angle of shot and posture of the turnstone implies that the two species are a similar size although the turnstone is generally slightly larger than the DBP

Ruddy turnstone vigorously flicking seaweed and other debris out of the way in characteristic fashion 

RT: "Yeah, I couldn't be fagged flying all the way to Siberia this year. "
DBP: "Choice Bro"

Another migrant dropped in for a real meeting of ways. Now we have (L-R) DBP, Red-necked stint and Ruddy turnstone

Red-necked stint

Caspian tern

Caspian terns, Observation Point, Phillip Island, Vic

Crested terns

Jeff lacked subtlety at times

The "usual plovers" being Hooded plovers (a nice gathering of four birds) and Red-capped plovers (just a single bird identified) were far outnumbered by the Double-banded visitors.

Having already had an interesting and enjoyable outing I was treated on the walk back to a White-breasted sea eagle fly-by.

Something up ahead!!!

White-bellied sea eagle, Observation Point beach, Phillip Island

When kids get hold of your phone .... I hadn't noticed till too late that my iphone camera was applying filters to today's shots. Thanks Hannah!

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Bird on!

On the move! Birds of Phillip Island

It's one of those times of year when movement of migratory birds is imminent. Some of our non-breeding visitors are starting to get colour such as some of these Bar-tailed Godwits below. Numbers of Double-banded plover are increasing as they arrive from New Zealand and I have seen my first sightings of Cattle egret for the year.

Bar-tailed godwits, Observation Point, Phillip Island, 22 March 2014. We can play Spot-the-whimbrel!

Landing gear down! More godwits on the move.

Three of the small group of five whimbrel seen at the weekend.

Caspian terns and Pied oysterctachers

"Godwits at front, Pied oystercatchers at the back please and … Smile!"

Now what do we have here - brown, big and fat among the stints & Double-banded plover?

Why it's one of three Curlew sandpiper getting a little breeding colour

Curlew sandpiper, Observation Point, Phillip Island

Arrived at high tide to a different shaped spit than what I was used to - many Black Swan awaited

iPhone view of the main spit attracting the swans, godwits, oystercatchers and terns

Stints, Double-banded plover and the three Curlew sandpiper found a home on a second "mini spit"  (above and below)

I'm not a cat person - greeted by a neighbour's cat on the loose on return from my walk.

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Bird on!

Red-capped plovers nesting, Observation Point, Phillip Island

These teensy little fellows are found throughout Australia. Measuring in at 14-16cm the Red-capped plover is the smallest shore bird I see. It is my understanding that they are at the end of their breeding season for Victoria. I have certainly noticed many distraction displays over recent months. On this day I walked right into a nesting site on my walk towards Phillip Island's Observation Point.

Red-capped plover Caharadrius ruficapillus

Pizzey describes the nest as a scrape in the "sand, shingle or bare ground; scantily lined with shells, stones, plants". This nest then, must be some sort of mansion!

With the bright sunlight affecting the screen, I didn't check this iPhone photo which is bizarrely totally out of focus. I have still included it as it shows the clever location of this nest.

Red-capped plover eggs - hopefully not hard-boiled after Victoria's recent heat wave.

The usual summer collection of birds at the end of the spit.

Bar-tailed godwit 

Crested tern and Pacific gull

Crested tern

The "red-billed" birds seem to be sticking together - Pied oystercatchers and Caspian Tern

It was Race 6 at Rhyll Inlet when this group ran along the mudflats to join a bird that was calling loudly

I missed out on Hooded plover, Eastern curlew, Whimbrel and recently seen Fairy Tern but I'll be back!

 Bird on!