Wader survey

Saturday morning I participated in my first HBOC wader survey. These surveys are conducted monthly at various locations to record what waders are hiding in the area. My area for Saturday was around Tomago (Opposite Ash Island).

I met up with Nick and with camera, binoculars, pen and notepad we drove off into the wilderness. Several Raptors were seen, lots of Pipits, Cisticolas, Lapwings, ducks, and day to day birds, but the highlight for me was several great views (although not long enough to photograph) of an Azure Kingfisher.

One of my jobs on the day was to act as the beater and tromp through an area called the 'Rice Paddy' to flush out birds, in particular Little Bittern. Nick walked the perimetre to see what took flight. No bitterns, but an interesting trip for me as I walked through shallow water and thick grass that ranged between 5 and 7 feet tall. Some stages I had no idea where I was walking, but I would love to go back to try and photograph Cisticolas in there.

All in all it was a good few hours of birding with many species found, albeit no waders. After that I went out to test drive a few cars and stopped by the Newcastle Baths to see the Noddy again...no Noddy seen. :(

Some of the birds recorded for the survey included...

Swamp Harrier

Black-shouldered Kite

Nankeen Kestrel

Golden-headed Cisticola

Southern Emu-wren

Superb Fairy-wren

Striped Honeyeater

Azure Kingfisher

Brown Honeyeater

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

White-faced Heron

Tawny Grassbird

Little Grassbird

Brown Thornbill

Yellow Thornbill