Little Bittern Back at Parklakes; Asian Dowitcher Still at Toorbull

Australian Little Bittern

A male Australian Little Bittern has returned to the Parklakes wetlands at Bli Bli on the Sunshine Coast. A pair were in residence here last summer (see here) when they successfully raised a single chick.

Australian Little Bittern

There is some debate about whether the species is generally a summer migrant in south-east Queensland as winter records are few; none have been seen at Parklakes since April. I've had one also recently at the nearby Yandina Creek Wetlands (see here).

Buff-banded Rail

Baillon's Crake

With dry conditions continuing in the region, extensive areas of mud are exposed are Parklakes. I saw 1 Spotless Crake, 1 Baillon's Crake and 1 Buff-banded Rail, while Latham's Snipe showed nicely with about 10 seen.

Latham's Snipe

Little Egret and Intermediate Egret were looking good in breeding plumage.

Little Egret

Intermediate Egret

At Bli Bli, a Rufous Fantail was difficult to resist.

Rufous Fantail

I visited the wader roost at Toorbul at high tide late last week and found a single Asian Dowitcher among the hundreds of Bar-tailed Godwits and smaller numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and Great Knots. I saw a dowitcher here last January and it has been seen by quite a few observers since at various times of the year; presumably it has overwintered here.

Asian Dowitcher

Bar-tailed Godwits

After Toorbul I moved on to Dowse Lagoon at Sandgate where I saw a Wood Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper which have been present there for several days.

Wood Sandpiper