Little Grassbird, Red-kneed Dotterel in large numbers on Sunshine Coast

Little Grassbird

Impressive numbers of Little Grassbird and Red-kneed Dotterel were recorded during a kayaking survey around the southern shore of Ewen Maddock Dam on the Sunshine Coast yesterday.

Little Grassbird

Little Grassbird is regarded as a scarce inhabitat of freshwater swamp reed-beds in south-east Queensland. I've found them regularly at Ewen Maddock Dam in the past, at all times of the year, but was surprised to see or hear no fewer than 30 birds during the kayaking survey.

Little Grassbird

Little Grassbird is also notoriously difficult to photograph, so it was nice to get the odd opportunity as birds uncharacteristically perched in the open a little in the early morning.

Red-kneed Dotterel

Red-kneed Dotterel is a rare visitor to the Sunshine Coast and several birds have been around the dam in recent weeks. At least 80 birds were counted around the southern shore yesterday, an unusually large number for this inland species in south-east Queensland.

Red-kneed Dotterel

White-necked Heron

White-necked Heron is another species that is normally rare on the Sunshine Coast but four were seen at Ewen Maddock yesterday. Another primarily inland species, these birds are presumably dispersing following good breeding seasons in the inland over the past couple of years. There was no sign yesterday of another inland species, Black-tailed Native-hen, which I found here two weeks ago.

Some of the regulars:

White-faced Heron

Australasian Grebe