Toorbul Report

Toorbul birders [S.Turnbull]

Bar-tailed Godwits were the most populous of the migratory waders at the high tide roost at Toorbul when our club visited on the 4 October, 2014. Our first afternoon outing yielded some 300 of these Godwits and only a couple of the Black-tailed. Sadly the Asian Dowitcher lost its invite somewhere and failed to turn up or conveniently burrowed its way into the Godwit flocks and was never seen. Great Knots, also in hundreds, were present with a few Red Knots as well. Smaller numbers of smaller waderswere also at the roost; Greenshank, Sharp-tailed and Curlew Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler. Whimbrel and Curlews were there briefly as well but must have been elsewhere in numbers.

Bar-tailed Godwits [J. Thompson]

Godwits on the wing and Whimbrels grounded [J. Thompson]

Black-winged Stilts [J. Thompson]

The high tide roost also hosted Black Swan, Pelican, Black-winged Stilt and a lone, loud Goose.

a not completely Black Swan [J. Thompson]

Bush birds were a little light on our lists for as usual waterbirds, and perhaps the birds flying above it, attracted the most attention. In that latter category White-breasted Sea Eagle, Brahmany and Whistling Kites plus a few tern species.

Caspian Tern [J. Thompson]

Bird Call was held as the sun set and the wind got up to the discomfort of some of our group of thirty or so. And there was a distinct lack of cuppers. A few folks took advantage of the BBQs and cooked in the shelters opposite the store; although it failed to shelter some from the wind. And a few other lazier people, myself included, simply bought take away.

Not birds but birders' bums [S. Turnbull]

 Recorded spp;
Domestic goose sp. (Domestic type)  1

Black Swan  72

Australian Brush-Turkey  1

Australian Pelican  37

Great Egret  1

White-faced Heron  1

Cattle Egret  6     across road from high tide roost

Royal Spoonbill  14

Osprey  1

Whistling Kite  4

Brahminy Kite  2

White-bellied Sea-Eagle  1

Black-winged Stilt (Australian)  25

Australian Pied Oystercatcher  6

Masked Lapwing  12

Grey-tailed Tattler  4

Common Greenshank  20

Whimbrel  40

Eastern Curlew  1

Black-tailed Godwit  2

Bar-tailed Godwit  312

Great Knot  125

Red Knot  4

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper  14

Curlew Sandpiper  20

Gull-billed Tern  2

Caspian Tern  6

Crested Tern  1

Crested Pigeon  8

Peaceful Dove  1

Laughing Kookaburra  1

Collared Kingfisher  2

Galah  11

Little Corella  4

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo  1

Australian King-Parrot  1     reported heard

Pale-headed Rosella  2

Rainbow Lorikeet  4

Mangrove Honeyeater  4

Noisy Miner  12

Brown Honeyeater  2

Blue-faced Honeyeater  2

Little Friarbird  1

Noisy Friarbird  2

Striated Pardalote  4

Mangrove Gerygone  4

Grey Butcherbird  1

Pied Butcherbird  3

Australian Magpie  5

Grey Shrike-thrush  1

Australasian Figbird  4

Willie Wagtail  6

Grey Fantail  4

Magpie-lark  6

Torresian Crow  6

Welcome Swallow  2

Common Myna  3

Mistletoebird  1

and being Toorbul there were many Grey Kangaroos!