Beach Stone-Curlew, Huge Tern Flock at Maroochydore

Beach Stone-Curlew

Yesterday I took the kayak out for a spin around Goat Island at the mouth of the Maroochy River.

Beach Stone-Curlew

A pair of Beach Stone-Curlews was present on the eastern shore of the island. This has been a reliable spot for the species for the past couple of years.

Also on Goat Island were good numbers of Swamp Tiger butterflies - a mangrove edge specialty.

White-winged Terns

Sandflats near the Maroochy River mouth attract large flocks of terns as the high tide recedes. Hundreds of Common and White-winged Terns return from the sea to rest on the sandflats. Many of the White-winged Terns seen yesterday were attaining breeding plumage prior to their migration north. White-winged Tern is generally a fairly scarce bird in south-east Queensland but they are present in large numbers about the Sunshine Coast in summer.

White-winged Terns & Common Terns

Common Terns are also numerous, and the two species tend to feed and roost together. A very rough estimate yesterday was about 1200 Common Terns and 500 White-winged Terns.

Common Tern

This Common Tern appears to coming into breeding plumage.

Common Tern & Crested Tern

Ten or so Crested Terns were among the flock.

Little Tern

Along with about 30 Little Terns, mainly in breeding plumage.

Gull-billed Terns

And a few Gull-billed Terns.

Double-banded Plover

A handful of Double-banded Plovers were on the sandbanks - the first I've seen this season of this autumn-winter visitor from New Zealand.

Pacific Golden Plover

Along with quite a few Pacific Golden Plovers, some in breeding plumage.

Whimbrels

And a few Whimbrels.