The Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is a small / medium-sized wader with a characteristic black down-curved bill.
It migrates to Australia from its breeding grounds in Siberia. In the past the Curlew Sandpiper was a common visitor during the Australian summer, congregating in large flocks, sometimes numbering thousands of birds, however, population numbers have declined significantly in recent years, almost certainly due to loss of habitat on its migration / flyway routes.
The Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper, Red-Necked Stint this species make up the vast majority of the small and medium sized waders present in Victoria during our summer. I'd really like to see any of these species in their northern habitats in their breeding plumage. One day.
This bird was feeding in some rather viscous looking water in a muddy section of the Werribee Sewage works. What I find interesting is that I was never able to see (or photograph) it with an item of food in its beak.
There were considerably more birds feeding in this patch of mud than just this single bird - but this one was the most obliging in terms of proximity!
As ever, to join in with WBW click on the blue button below. SM
Thank you Stewart. I brought a kolea bird That flies in the Autumn all the way from Alaska to Winter with us here in Hawaii. We watch it grow fat until the spring when it makes the amazing flight return to Alaska to the Arctic regions! Thank you for this fun party. I hope you have a good week. Aloha!
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