Twelve enthusiastic bird watchers, including four visitors new to Angair, descended on Pt Impossible on a cold and windy morning. The car park was full as the surf was up and the wind was off-shore. We enjoyed a pleasant walk along the western side of Thompson Creek spotting many of the local waders and shore birds of the area. As it was low tide many of the shore birds were observed from a distance, making identification often quite difficult. After walking along the shoreline we spent some time walking in the sand dunes along “The Esplanade” west of the creek.
Walk highlights included the Double-banded Plover that over-winters here and returns to New Zealand to breed in Spring, Australasian Gannet diving for food, and a pair of Nankeen Kestrels play fighting on the wing.
Double-banded Plover
Nankeen Kestrel
After a pleasant morning tea out of the wind at the Breamlea Reserve we set up the scope at Bancoora Beach to observe more Gannets feeding off-shore.
In total we observed 20 species including Australian Shelduck, Hoary-headed Grebe, Masked Lapwing, Red-capped Plover, Double-banded Plover, Silver Gull, Pacific Gull, Australasian Gannet, Little Pied Cormorant, White-faced Heron, Nankeen Kestrel, Superb Fairywren, White-fronted Chat, New Holland Honeyeater, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Little Raven,Welcome Swallow and Common Blackbird.
An enjoyable morning of bird watching with an inquisitive group that ranged in age from 10 to 75 years!
Rob Shepherd