Wader Roost - Last Hurrah

Tuesday October 25

Well, why not? Awake very early, we might as well go. We left at 5.20 a.m. and arrived in Toorbul at 6.45. High tide was due at 8.10, we thought we had plenty of time. Consternation when we arrived at the Esplanade and found no mud in sight, it looked like high tide already. Hastening to the far end, passing some small groups of Curlew and Godwit, we joined a small group of oldies, parking in the shade under the mangroves and walking to THE high tide roost.

The oldies were very friendly, members of U3A - the group Tina leads in Bundy. It stands for University of the 3rd Age - i.e. oldies! They surrounded us,  trying to identify the hundreds of tightly roosting waders. Most were Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel, close scanning - hindered by constant arrivals and position shifting - found a few Grey-tailed Tattlers, several Great Knot, a few Red Knot, one or two Curlew Sandpipers, a sprinkling of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers all fringed by scurrying Red-necked Stints. A very few birds showed a tinge of breeding colour, the general impression was a sea of grey. The spots of the Great Knot were diagnostic, as was the chocolate cap of the Sharpies. A few Caspian Terns and rather more Gull-billed spread about too.
Do I dare show these appalling photos.....distance and poor depth of field....here goes.

Caspian Tern, several Gull-billed Terns, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Red-necked Stints

Grey-tailed Tattler (yellow legs, on stone L back) Great Knot amongst the throng

Could be Cley or Titchwell, Bar-tailed Godwits

We were hoping for assistance from the group, instead, we found ourselves in the position of being deferred to for ID help! Flattering but unnerving. But, they did point out a Yellow-cheeked Honeyeater, perched on a wire for a short time, a trip tick, and a passing Osprey.  

Yellow-cheeked Honeyeater

There was also talk of the number of Buff-banded Rails being seen, a result of the wet weather last year it's thought = good breeding season. We've certainly seen more than ever before, a couple of glimpses only in previous Aus visits.

It was so hot by 8.30 that we got back in the car and drove to Banksia Beach and the Kakadu roost, the other side of the Pumicestone Channel and on Bribie Island. Here we found two more oldies, even older than us, who didn't really know their waders either. We were able to show them Lesser Sand Plovers through our scope, the only other wader addition was a pair of Red-capped Plovers and their diminutive chick.

A couple of workers drove up in their pick-up, left the door open and the music on, whilst they ate their breakfast under an awning. We drove away.........

To Buckley's Hole. Such a lovely view on a beautiful morning. Freshwater pool in front and below us, the sea beyond.

We breakfasted here, loving one of our favourite views anywhere, moving shade trees as the sun got higher. Yes...a Buff-banded Rail came out of the undergrowth and fed on grass seeds outside the car. Amazing.

Buff-banded Rail - my best so far - room for improvement

A leisurely tour of the Waterworks road, the usual Rainbow Bee-eaters, Red-backed Fairy-Wrens and unseen but calling birds (frustrating), including Brolga. Still haven't seen any this trip. Woorim for a drink, iced chocolate, then Avenue 5 for the loos .

Where better......back to the pool. Three people were hacking out and weed-killing unwanted and invasive plants around the pool verge. A lawnmower man turned up mowed a couple of large lawns using an incredibly noisy ride-on. Our peace had gone.
After photographing a Magpie Lark and a Masked Lapwing, we left for the bridge back to the mainland.

Magpie Lark

Wattled Lapwing

There are 13 lamp posts along the bridge and ten of them had sleeping Pelicans this morning overlapping the stanchions like downy pillows.
Beefy's for a very late lunch - 3 o'clock. I'd texted Mike earlier and he'd requested a Family Angus and Mushroom takeaway pie for their tea.
The journey back was enhanced by a group of 5 then a single, Yellow-tailed Cockatoo flying over the Bruce Highway at Burpengary. Less traffic at first than this morning. The queue on the way in to Brisbane was tailed back at 6.15, we were fine going our way.
In later than usual, Sara even more so, it was gone 6.30 for her. Apparently having to do the job of one and a half people at the moment, staffing problem. She should get some extra money.
I booked in online with Singapore Air, the seat numbers don't mean anything to me, I trust that they are what I asked for ! Just the delivery of my penknife to arrange now.
Our last day to-morrow, Pam has chosen Samsonvale and I concurred.