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!






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53 comments:

  1. TexWisGirl27 February 2013 at 02:05

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

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  2. EG CameraGirl27 February 2013 at 02:16

    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.

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  3. Marcia27 February 2013 at 02:18

    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.

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  4. Jannibele27 February 2013 at 02:20

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

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  5. Modesto Viegas27 February 2013 at 02:23

    Great series!!

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  6. Vores have27 February 2013 at 02:27

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

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  7. Indrani27 February 2013 at 02:35

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

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  8. Andrea @ From The Sol27 February 2013 at 02:40

    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

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  9. Sallie (FullTime-Life)27 February 2013 at 02:44

    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!)

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  10. Carletta27 February 2013 at 02:48

    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!

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  11. John @ Beans and I on the Loose27 February 2013 at 02:59

    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.

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  12. Karen27 February 2013 at 03:22

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

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  13. Findlay Wilde27 February 2013 at 05:08

    I really like those Hooded Plovers. From Findlay

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  14. Richard Pegler27 February 2013 at 05:33

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

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  15. Carole M.27 February 2013 at 06:26

    a smorgasbord of wonderful waterbirds; great photos Stewart!

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  16. Kenneth Cole Schneider27 February 2013 at 06:59

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

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  17. Anonymous27 February 2013 at 07:05

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

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  18. eileeninmd27 February 2013 at 07:18

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

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  19. Amanda27 February 2013 at 07:32

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

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  20. HansHB27 February 2013 at 07:47

    Lovely photo and interesting reading too!

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  21. i stora drag27 February 2013 at 08:52

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

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  22. mick27 February 2013 at 09:04

    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.

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  23. Esther Joy27 February 2013 at 09:09

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

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  24. Brian King27 February 2013 at 10:33

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

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  25. Anonymous27 February 2013 at 10:33

    Lovely shorebirds, Stewart!

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  26. Becky27 February 2013 at 12:50

    Loved the walk. Some birds I never see.

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  27. Arti27 February 2013 at 13:29

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

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  28. Neil27 February 2013 at 15:41

    Great series.

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  29. Anonymous27 February 2013 at 17:24

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

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  30. DeniseinVA27 February 2013 at 18:36

    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!

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  31. Anni 27 February 2013 at 21:21

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

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  32. Coloring Outside the Lines27 February 2013 at 22:16

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

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  33. Kerri Farley27 February 2013 at 22:21

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

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  34. Anonymous28 February 2013 at 00:33

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

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  35. Maude Lynn28 February 2013 at 02:30

    Beautiful selection of shots!

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  36. Optimistic Existentialist28 February 2013 at 02:48

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

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  37. Unknown28 February 2013 at 02:51

    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...

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  38. Phil Slade28 February 2013 at 03:15

    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.

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  39. Gail Dixon28 February 2013 at 04:13

    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!

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  40. Anonymous28 February 2013 at 04:36

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

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  41. DIMI28 February 2013 at 08:49

    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..

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  42. NatureFootstep28 February 2013 at 09:13

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

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  43. tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.com28 February 2013 at 11:21

    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

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  44. grammie g28 February 2013 at 12:28

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

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  45. Anonymous28 February 2013 at 14:41

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

    ~Lindy

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  46. Vineeta Yashsavi28 February 2013 at 19:34

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

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  47. Anonymous1 March 2013 at 00:17

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

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  48. Mary Howell Cromer1 March 2013 at 01:00

    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.

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  49. Pat Tillett1 March 2013 at 06:05

    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.

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  50. Adam Jones1 March 2013 at 06:57

    I love the red capped plover. lovely bird.

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  51. Adam Jones1 March 2013 at 06:59

    I love the red capped plover. lovely bird.

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  52. Arija1 March 2013 at 13:12

    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.

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  53. Müge Tekil1 March 2013 at 15:32

    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

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