Birdwatching areas around Resident shorebirds the Samphire ... · boat ramp. The shorebird trails...
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1. Thompson Beach: Samphire, sabkhas and seashore Arguably the best natural shorebird site in the gulf, residents at this small beachside town have been living with and working to conserve shorebirds for decades. Best viewing areas are on the intertidal mudflats between the intersection of Ruskin Rd and the southern boat ramp. The shorebird trails to the north and south take in the amazingly alien sabkhas and claypans before reaching tidal creeks where intertidal species can be seen roosting. Shorebirds to look out for: Bar- tailed Godwit, Great Knot, Red Knot, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover. Other highlights: Elegant Parrot, Samphire Thornbill, Bead Samphire (plant). 2. St Kilda Wetlands: the town with a pinch of salt on the side It is not unusual to see over 3,000 Banded Stilts foraging on the St Kilda foreshore in the hours around high tide. Flocks of over 10,000 birds still occur in the neighbouring saltfields. These leggy ballerinas breed in vast colonies in Central Australia’s Arid lakes where researchers from Deakin University have banded several hundred. Look out for coloured jewellery (leg flags) and report it to BirdLife Australia to help unlock their nomadic journeys. Beyond the tide line, vast flocks of Black Swans feed on the algae. On the way in and out of St Kilda you’ll travel between two of the old Dry Creek salt ponds. Although now decommissioned, the ponds on the northern side of the road still are still used at high tide by roosting shorebirds. Shorebirds to look out for: Banded Stilt, Red-capped Plover, Common Greenshank. 3. Magazine Road Wetlands: a freshwater paradise Part of the larger Greenfields Wetland complex, Magazine Rd provides a variety of freshwater habitats that teem with birds. Following the walking track through the wetlands will take you past deep water, muddy islands and large ephemeral ponds which, depending on time of year and local weather, could turn up anything. Many rare and threatened shorebirds have been observed at the site including: Australian Painted Snipe, Long-toed Stint and Ruff. It is also one of the only places in the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary that you can regularly see Latham’s Snipe. Watch for them as they explode from the vegetation squawking, diving and weaving through the air. Red-kneed Dotterel Pied Oystercatcher Black-winged Stilt Masked Lapwing Sooty Oystercatcher Banded Stilt Black-fronted Dotterel Red-necked Avocet Resident shorebirds Red-capped Plover Australian Painted Snipe (Please report) * Proposed Birdwatching areas around the Samphire Coast
Transcript of Birdwatching areas around Resident shorebirds the Samphire ... · boat ramp. The shorebird trails...
1. Thompson Beach: Samphire, sabkhas and seashoreArguably the best natural shorebird site in the gulf, residents at this small beachside town have been living with and working to conserve shorebirds for decades. Best viewing areas are on the intertidal mudflats between the intersection of Ruskin Rd and the southern boat ramp. The shorebird trails to the north and south take in the amazingly alien sabkhas and claypans before reaching tidal creeks where intertidal species can be seen roosting. Shorebirds to look out for: Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Knot, Red Knot, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover. Other highlights: Elegant Parrot, Samphire Thornbill, Bead Samphire (plant).
2. St Kilda Wetlands: the town with a pinch of salt on the sideIt is not unusual to see over 3,000 Banded Stilts foraging on the St Kilda foreshore in the hours around high tide. Flocks of over 10,000 birds still occur in the neighbouring saltfields. These leggy ballerinas breed in vast colonies in Central Australia’s Arid lakes where researchers from Deakin University have banded several hundred. Look out for coloured jewellery (leg flags) and report it to BirdLife Australia to help unlock their nomadic journeys. Beyond the tide line, vast flocks of Black Swans feed on the algae.
On the way in and out of St Kilda you’ll travel between two of the old Dry Creek salt ponds. Although now decommissioned, the ponds on the northern side of the road still are still used at high tide by roosting shorebirds. Shorebirds to look out for: Banded Stilt, Red-capped Plover, Common Greenshank.
3. Magazine Road Wetlands: a freshwater paradisePart of the larger Greenfields Wetland complex, Magazine Rd provides a variety of freshwater habitats that teem with birds. Following the walking track through the wetlands will take you past deep water, muddy islands and large ephemeral ponds which, depending on time of year and local weather, could turn up anything. Many rare and threatened shorebirds have been observed at the site including: Australian Painted Snipe, Long-toed Stint and Ruff. It is also one of the only places in the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary that you can regularly see Latham’s Snipe. Watch for them as they explode from the vegetation squawking, diving and weaving through the air.
Red-kneed Dotterel
Pied Oystercatcher
Black-winged Stilt
Masked Lapwing
Sooty Oystercatcher
Banded Stilt
Black-fronted Dotterel
Red-necked Avocet
Resident shorebirds
Red-capped Plover Australian PaintedSnipe (Please report)
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* Boundaries depicted represent Stage 1 of the Bird Sanctuary
Proposed
Birdwatching areas around the Samphire Coast
AUSTRALIAbirds are in our nature
Where to see shorebirds in the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary
BirdLife Australia Suite 2–05, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053 T 03 9347 0757 | [email protected] ABN 75 149 124 774
Images: Andrew Silcocks, Glenn Ehmke, Dan Weller, Dean Ingwersen, Chris Tzaros & Chris Purnell
Migratory shorebirds
Grey Plover
Marsh Sandpiper
Great KnotRed Knot
Ruddy TurnstoneCurlew Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Latham’s Snipe
Red-necked Stint
Pacific Golden PloverEastern Curlew
birdlife.org.au
Australia’s voice for birds since 1901BirdLife Australia is dedicated to achieving outstanding conservation results for our native birds and their habitats. With our specialised knowledge and the commitment of an Australia-wide network of volunteers and supporters, we are creating a bright future for Australia’s birds.
Helping to protect our shorebirdsThe eastern Gulf St Vincent (known as the Samphire Coast) has long been recognised as a highly significant region for shorebirds. Each summer tens of thousands of migratory birds leave their arctic breeding grounds and fly almost the length of the globe to spend their summers fattening up on our mudflats and wetlands. Here they join resident species who rely on the region for their entire life cycle or, in the case of some nomadic species, as a refuge from the drought.
With continued support from the Adelaide Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Board and assistance from an army of volunteers, BirdLife Australia has been working to monitor the shorebird populations in the gulf and identify priority habitats and management needs.
The Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary will help protect these shorebirds and their habitats.
For more information visit: www.birdlife.org.au/projects/samphire-coast-icon-project
www.birdlife.org.au/projects/shorebirds-2020
www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges/plants-and-animals/adelaide-bird-sanctuary
Bar-tailed Godwit
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