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.
White-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.
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Eastern Rosella
Brown Goshawk
White-plumed Honeyeater
Australasian Grebe
Below is a list of all the birds identified:
Point Impossible and Point Impossible Road
- Red-capped Plover
- Hooded Plover
- Silver Gull
- Australian Pelican
- Australian Magpie
- Welcome Swallow
Rice Nature Reserve
- Pacific Black Duck
- Chestnut Teal
- Australasian Grebe
- Crested Pigeon
- Fan-tailed Cuckoo
- Australasian Swamphen
- Little Pied Cormorant
- Australian White Ibis
- Straw-necked Ibis
- Brown Goshawk
- Galah
- Long-billed Corella
- Crimson Rosella
- Eastern Rosella
- Red-rumped Parrot
- Rainbow Lorikeet
- Superb Fairywren
- Eastern Spinebill
- Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
- Red Wattlebird
- White-plumed Honeyeater
- New Holland Honeyeater
- Striated Pardalote
- Brown Thornbill
- Yellow-rumped Thornbill
- Grey Shrikethrush
- Australian Magpie
- Pied Currawong
- Willie Wagtail
- Grey Fantail
- Magpie-lark
- Crow/Raven sp.
- Flame Robin
- Little Grassbird
- Welcome Swallow
Margaret Lacey
Photos by Margaret Lacey and Rob Shepherd