Birding in Bundaberg this month was rather quiet, however most birding that I did involved waders... I haven't really had the motivation this summer to do some bush birding but I'm looking forward to doing so soon when the weather cools down. Earlier in the month we port surveyors were allowed to hold a shorebird identification day at the port's survey site. This was following a short outing to Gorman's Park for anyone that was interested. For many of the people who attended their best interest was seeing the Pectoral and Broad-billed Sandpipers that have been present lately. And while we all tried to find them, it wasn't until we were doing the survey and most people had left did we find the birds.
Earlier in the month a young British birder, Ros Green, visited Bundaberg as she was travelling up eastern Australia. It was organised that I show her around the area, and it was the least I could do as I helped her gain 50+ new birds! A Common Noddy on the coast was presumably a result of the miserable weather that day. But despite the weather it was a good day, and it's always great to show new people around this area.
It was very sad news on February 11 that we inevitably lost one of birding's greats, Trevor Quested, who fell victim to MND. He had been a mentor to me and many others, he was revered and will be remembered for his kind heart and incredible knowledge. RIP Trevor.
Since starting TAFE this month I have been seeing a resident pair of Square-tailed Kites, which are generally uncommon locally except for this regular pair that frequent this part of Bundaberg. Also while scouting the region, two Wood Sandpipers appeared at the wetland on Hermans Rd as well as Latham's Snipe as usual.
Later this month Cyclone Marcia threatened the region but missed, however Yeppoon and Rockhampton copped the direct hit. Although, we still had plenty of storm activity to blow in some unusual birds with Great Frigatebirds, shearwaters and offshore terns being reported along the coasts. And at Burnett Heads we also had two Asian Dowitchers appear after the storms, which were a surprise! That's all for February and I hope March is more productive.
Brandon
Monday, 2 March 2015
Sunday, 1 March 2015
January 2015 in Bundaberg
January has been quite an exciting month around Bundaberg and the Wide Bay, with lifers a plenty to keep one satisfied and numerous interesting sightings being reported around the region. My new years was spent at Tinnanbar, one of many significant wader roosting sites along our coast, which got the year going with some cracking birds.
Sunday the following weekend was spent at the Bundaberg Port where I and a few of the other local birders conduct monthly fauna surveys of the port's spoil ponds. The surveys are conducted according to the high tide as, in particular, monitoring the numbers of waders utilising the ponds are our best interest. The Broad-billed Sandpipers that had been present for the last couple of months were still here, and in addition a Pectoral Sandpiper was identified from a group of more common and very similar Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Also of interest at the port were two Black-tailed Godwits, which were seen earlier in the morning. I usually check a lagoon on Rubyanna Rd on the way to the surveys every month, and this time in particular - the Black-necked Storks and Glossy Ibis were still present as they have for the past month or two.
Also, this week saw a fellow young birder from Sydney, Ashwin Rudder, visit Bundy. It was a pleasure meeting him and, although briefly, showing him around. On the afternoon of his arrival, we were joined by Jack Moorhead to stake out some target birds at Burnett Heads, and while there Brown Noddy was seen as well as a Common Sandpiper. This relatively uncommon Sandpiper seems to be making a regular route to Bundaberg. Also, Burnett Heads has also had Beach Stone-Curlews quite regularly reported earlier in the year, a target bird for Ashwin, but didn't find any that afternoon...
A boat trip organised by the club provided a great opportunity for many to see some seabirds and other birds of the region otherwise restricted to the sand islands and cays in the Barrier Reef. This was a few peoples' first oceanic birding trip and Birdlife Bundaberg's first official boat trip, and it was enjoyed by all who came aboard. Some of the birds that were lifers to me and many others on the boat were Black Noddy, Great Frigatebird, Wandering Tattler, Sooty Tern, Roseate Tern and Streaked Shearwater. And among these were other great birds certainly of interest and noteworthy for the Bundaberg region, such as Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Bridled Tern, Black-naped Tern and Beach Stone-Curlew.
One particular evening I did some spotlighting at dusk at the marsh at the bottom of the hill at Kirby's Rd, and just before dusk a Black Bittern flew over the road, also an uncommon sight in the area. This month proved to be a fantastic start to the year...
Brandon
Sunday the following weekend was spent at the Bundaberg Port where I and a few of the other local birders conduct monthly fauna surveys of the port's spoil ponds. The surveys are conducted according to the high tide as, in particular, monitoring the numbers of waders utilising the ponds are our best interest. The Broad-billed Sandpipers that had been present for the last couple of months were still here, and in addition a Pectoral Sandpiper was identified from a group of more common and very similar Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Also of interest at the port were two Black-tailed Godwits, which were seen earlier in the morning. I usually check a lagoon on Rubyanna Rd on the way to the surveys every month, and this time in particular - the Black-necked Storks and Glossy Ibis were still present as they have for the past month or two.
Also, this week saw a fellow young birder from Sydney, Ashwin Rudder, visit Bundy. It was a pleasure meeting him and, although briefly, showing him around. On the afternoon of his arrival, we were joined by Jack Moorhead to stake out some target birds at Burnett Heads, and while there Brown Noddy was seen as well as a Common Sandpiper. This relatively uncommon Sandpiper seems to be making a regular route to Bundaberg. Also, Burnett Heads has also had Beach Stone-Curlews quite regularly reported earlier in the year, a target bird for Ashwin, but didn't find any that afternoon...
A boat trip organised by the club provided a great opportunity for many to see some seabirds and other birds of the region otherwise restricted to the sand islands and cays in the Barrier Reef. This was a few peoples' first oceanic birding trip and Birdlife Bundaberg's first official boat trip, and it was enjoyed by all who came aboard. Some of the birds that were lifers to me and many others on the boat were Black Noddy, Great Frigatebird, Wandering Tattler, Sooty Tern, Roseate Tern and Streaked Shearwater. And among these were other great birds certainly of interest and noteworthy for the Bundaberg region, such as Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Bridled Tern, Black-naped Tern and Beach Stone-Curlew.
One particular evening I did some spotlighting at dusk at the marsh at the bottom of the hill at Kirby's Rd, and just before dusk a Black Bittern flew over the road, also an uncommon sight in the area. This month proved to be a fantastic start to the year...
Brandon
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