The regular monthly bird counts of waders and terns in the estuary of the Noosa River commenced in January. This month is usually somewhat disrupted by heavy boat, kayak, wind surfer and other holiday makers being present in large numbers. This disrupts the resting of the terns who feed out to sea often 20 or 30 miles away. They rest in between trips on the exposed sand banks. The migrating common and little Terns are present in small numbers but the White winged black Terns have not been seen yet.
Whimbrels, Bar-tailed Godwits. Pacific Golden plovers make up the biggest groups of migrating waders. Occasionally other species can be spotted as well.
The biggest event by far is the Beach Stone Curlew chick which survived, see here in Pic 2 with a group of Whimbrels. It’s parents were never too far away as in Pic 3. Pic 1 shows a grey phase of the Eastern Reef Egret which has taken to feeding around the camp ground and the sand island opposite. The are mostly seen on the rocky shores of the Noosa National Park around Laguna Bay.
By Allen Briggs
