Thursday 10 March 2011

Godwits at Barwon River Mouth

Driving across the bridge from Barwon Heads to Ocean Grove early this evening and noticed large flocks of shore birds roosting on the spit at the mouth of the Barwon River (View Map) so I pulled over for a closer look.

There were hundreds of Red-necked Stint sheltering from the wind among the seaweed and along with them several Double-banded Plover and Red-capped Plover. Further along the beach was a large flock of Silver Gull with a few Crested Tern and Pacific Gull along with 200+ Bar-tailed Godwits, some developing breeding plumage. Most were resting with heads turned away from the wind so I was able to crawl up relatively close without disturbing them.



Bar-tailed Godwit, mouth of the Barwon River

1 comment:

  1. Great photos, Ian and a nice record. I've seen quite a few Godwits whenever I've looked from the boat ramp (near the golf club), but nowhere near this number, and I can't recall seeing stints there - just a few Sharpies and Greenshanks usually.

    Have you been to Freshwater Lake (north of Shell Rd) lately? There are a few birds back now that it is full of water again.

    Russell Woodford
    http://birding-aus.org

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