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A group of 14 birders visited two sites near Torquay on a splendid sunny morning. The first was Point Impossible near the carpark at the mouth of the Thompson River, to see the Double-banded Plovers in breeding plumage before they migrate to New Zealand at the end of August to nest.

There was a group of 16 there and despite dogs and fishermen we had good views.

Double-banded Plovers

A pair of Hoodies (Hooded Plovers) and a pair of Red-capped Plovers provided contrast. Our youngest participant, 5 year old Oliver, particular enjoyed seeing a Pelican flying past.

Australian Pelican

The road into the carpark is good for birds too and we saw White-fronted Chats and a Striated Fieldwren from the car.

whitefrontedchatWhite-fronted Chat

Next we drove to Rice Nature Reserve five minutes away. This was the first time many in the group had been to this location. We saw 35 species here including Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Flame Robin, Eastern Rosella, Brown Goshawk, White-plumed Honeyeater, and Australasian Grebes in breeding plumage.

spinycheekedhoneyeaterSpiny-cheeked Honeyeater

easternrosellaEastern Rosella

Brown Goshawk

White-plumed Honeyeater

australasiangrebeAustralasian Grebe

Below is a list of all the birds identified:

Point Impossible and Point Impossible Road

  1. Red-capped Plover
  2. Hooded Plover
  3. Silver Gull
  4. Australian Pelican
  5. Australian Magpie
  6. Welcome Swallow

Rice Nature Reserve

  1. Pacific Black Duck
  2. Chestnut Teal
  3. Australasian Grebe
  4. Crested Pigeon
  5. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
  6. Australasian Swamphen
  7. Little Pied Cormorant
  8. Australian White Ibis
  9. Straw-necked Ibis
  10. Brown Goshawk
  11. Galah
  12. Long-billed Corella
  13. Crimson Rosella
  14. Eastern Rosella
  15. Red-rumped Parrot
  16. Rainbow Lorikeet
  17. Superb Fairywren
  18. Eastern Spinebill
  19. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
  20. Red Wattlebird
  21. White-plumed Honeyeater
  22. New Holland Honeyeater
  23. Striated Pardalote
  24. Brown Thornbill
  25. Yellow-rumped Thornbill
  26. Grey Shrikethrush
  27. Australian Magpie
  28. Pied Currawong
  29. Willie Wagtail
  30. Grey Fantail
  31. Magpie-lark
  32. Crow/Raven sp.
  33. Flame Robin
  34. Little Grassbird
  35. Welcome Swallow

Margaret Lacey
Photos by Margaret Lacey and Rob Shepherd