Wednesday 27 February 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday - 33: Swanwick Beach

Little bit of a change for this week - I normally only post one species - but these are the result of a walk on Swanwick beach in Tasmania.  The parts of the beach I walked is where an estuary becomes the sea.  There were always a few birds loafing about.

The most obvious birds on the beach were pied oystercatchers - splendid birds that I have posted about recently.

Pied Oystercatcher
Further down the beach I found a pair (well 2) of Bar Tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)feeding at the edge of the waves - these birds were very timid and it took a long time to get within range.  Some of these birds fly from their breeding grounds in Alaska to South Eastern Australia and New Zealand in a single flight! Thats the longest know non-stop flight of any bird in the world.

Bar-tailed Godwit
Bar-Tailed Godwit
There were also some plovers dashing about on the sand.  In the end I just sat down on the beach and waited for the birds to come close to me.  The few other people - dog walkers mainly - on the beach were rather useful in this regard as they often pushed the birds towards me.  Although what they thought of the crazy person sat on the beach is another issue!

Hooded Plover 
Juvenile Hooded Plovers
The Hooded Plover (Thinornis rubicollis) is an Australian endemic.  Due to the often heavy use of beaches this bird is declining in some of its range due to the high rate of nest failure on busy beaches.  There were 2 (and possibly 3) pairs of this bird on the beach and they all had young.  This was a splendid site.

Hooded Plovers
Higher up the beach, where the sand was very dry there were a number of Red-Capped Plovers (Charadrius ruficapillus) - these were the smallest of the beach birds, only 14-16 cm long.  They were very busy - but one did pose for me in patch of sunlight!

Red-Capped Plover

Red-Capped Plover

On the way back along the beach I found this Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus).  I would not be surprised if its beak weighs more the that Red-Capped Plover!

Pacific Gull
I hope you enjoyed the walk.

Now its your turn.

Click on the link below to join in with WBW.  Visit as many sites as possible, invite your friends and relatives and just enjoy!






53 comments:

  1. love the oystercatchers - they always look so formally dressed. but those plovers are just darn cute. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I Love that bird's red, RED bill! I am so looking forward to seeing the shore birds return to Ontario but that won't be for a while yet.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great photos. That Tasmania vacation has produced lots of photos! No bird photos here. I'm sick with a terrible cold and birds are mad at me for not filling the feeders.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the red-capped one! First time I see it. Don't know if we have this in Norway...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great image series showing. The hooded plover, I really like :) Hanne Bente

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow! You got so many shots!
    I struggle to get one good one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh how I enjoyed this walk ... the exercise wasn't great, but the birds are wonderful. Your pictures took me right to this beautiful place which, in my dreams, I wish I could visit. The picture of the Red-Capped Plover in the sun is stunning. A printable, publishable piece. Thank you once again Stewart.

    Andrea @ From The Sol

    ReplyDelete
  8. Loved the beach walk and the great variety of birds. Last time we were on the beach I lay down in the sand to get pictures of turnstones. I expect people may still be talking about the crazy lady!)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your walk along the beach would certainly please any bird watcher.
    Quite a few species you captured very well Stewart!
    I do like that Oystercatcher - certainly stands out in the crowd!

    ReplyDelete
  10. A wonderful assortment of shore birds Stewart. I am still thinking of that long non-stop flight. I couldn't even manage that long in an airplane.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am lucky to see a gull on beach walks. Great shots Stewart. Love that red bill!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I really like those Hooded Plovers. From Findlay

    ReplyDelete
  13. Some great shore bird images here Stewart. I particularly like the Plovers

    ReplyDelete
  14. a smorgasbord of wonderful waterbirds; great photos Stewart!

    ReplyDelete
  15. There is such beautiful variety among the plovers. Loved all your photos, and glad you didn't just stick to one species this time!

    ReplyDelete
  16. love the shorebirds with their long beaks and legs ... we were thrilled to spot a black oystercatcher when visiting in British Columbia last year.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello Stewart, great shorebird collection. I love Oystercatchers and the Hooded and Redcap Plovers are so cute. Beautiful photos. Thanks for hosting WBW!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lovely to hear the hoodies there got a baby to that stage : )

    ReplyDelete
  19. Lovely photo and interesting reading too!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Very nice bird photos - and now I long for Summer and beachlife!
    Greetings Pia

    ReplyDelete
  21. A great series of birds on the beach. I wish I could see a Hooded Plover! btw I think your Godwits are both females. Males are slightly smaller and have a slightly smaller bill.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Loved the oystercatcher with that bright red bill. I've never seen one!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I've never seen those Plovers before. Beautiful little birds! The gull is very majestic with that heavy bill!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lovely shorebirds, Stewart!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Loved the walk. Some birds I never see.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Especially loved the beaks of the Godwits!! They seem pretty sharp. Lovely captures, wide variety of birds.
    Have a nice day Stewart :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great birds, Stewart. The red-capped plover is a fine-looking bird.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love to watch shorebirds and because I don't live near the beach, don't get to see them very often. Your photos of them are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love the red capped plover. I've not seen one!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a wonderful walk! Love to see the colors on some of these birds- so brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh what a lovely walk!! Thanks for that!! and I'm always impressed by your variety!! LOVE 'em!

    ReplyDelete
  32. That is totally amazing about that long migration flight! WOW...how interesting. Loved your walk along the beach!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I've never heard of a Pied Oystercatcher. They're beautiful!!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks so much for hosting! In addition to blogging, I am an amateur photog: I really appreciate your work, especially since I live right by the beach and LOVE to birdwatch there!

    Best,
    Cory
    Quirky town. Life: with a twist...

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm a fan of plovers so nice to see the Red-capped and Hooded there - the first one I'd heard of but not the latter. Your Bar-tails are timid too? - just like they are here, and I got two shots today but further away than yours Stewart. Thanks for the opportunity to post here linking us birders together in ths way.

    ReplyDelete
  36. What I love about this meme is all the different birds from around the globe. I've never heard of the plovers or godwits. You photographed these beautifully! Thanks so much for hosting the meme!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love those little Plovers. Maybe I will see one IRL one day.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Ηallo Stewart!A great series of birds on the beach!!Tasmania is a lovely place!!So many beautiful animals and birds!!Wonderful pictures!Thanks you for sharing!Hope you have a lovely day!
    Dimi..

    ReplyDelete
  39. the hooded plower is new to me. Looks great. :) Thanks for hosting this meme.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love your photos,They all look awesome,such long beaks & the bright orange/red colors,thanks for sharing,it`s always interesting to see what kinds of birds that I`ll never get to see,thanks for hosting,phyllis

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi Stewart...Your feathered friends of Swanwick Beach shot's are great, love those plovers!!
    I got the link thing figured
    out ; )!! Thanks !!
    Grace

    ReplyDelete
  42. So many beauties. The Red-Capped Plovers are sure cute.

    ~Lindy

    ReplyDelete
  43. All pictures are awesome but i like first picture of Hooded plover very much...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Great series of shore birds here Stewart. There are several I've not seen before. Thanks for hosting WBW.

    ReplyDelete
  45. They are all such delightful looking birds and sitting down to allow the birds to come to you, is often the best way...otherwise, you just might get not so much.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Great photos! It seems that I know less about birds than almost anyone. I'm learning, but we don't have many brightly colored birds here, so it's a little harder to learn and remember.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love the red capped plover. lovely bird.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love the red capped plover. lovely bird.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Lovely, lovely collection of shore birds.When flying in commercial aircraft is out, it is pretty difficult to get even to Tassie from here and I really love the place.
    Glad you could spend some time there.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Taking a walk on the beach, watching and photographing shorebirds is a great way to start the day. Oystercatchers are lovely. I saw European Oystercatchers in my country and American Oystercatchers in Peru. And now the Pied Oystercatcher. The appearance of these 3 species is almost identical, or am I wrong? OTOH, the juvenile plover is very pretty, its short feathers form an interesting texture on the photo.

    Have a nice weekend,

    http://dogadansevgiyle2013.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete