Early morning waders at Kirk Point and a day at the WTP

I was due to meet the Melbourne Birdlife Photography group for the monthly outing (this month at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee). The night before, I checked the sunrise and tide times and weather predictions and all looked perfect for an early morning shoot at Kirk Point (just outside the treatment plant).

Check my YouTube channel for a video of today's shoot.

The rocks at Kirk Point are overnight roosting sites for many species of birds, including several species of migratory wading birds. As the tide rises, the rocks further from shore get inundated and the birds come closer and closer to shore. If you get there early enough (in this case I was there 30 minutes before sunrise) the birds will encroach much closer than you could approach them.

I was not disappointed. Hundreds of Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, along with gulls, terns and cormorants, settled on the rocks just metres in front of my chosen perch on a rock on the beach and caught the orange glow of first light.

Red-necked Stint, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 100mm, ISO 800, 1/1250 @ f/6.3

The small migratory waders are due to take off on their long migration back to the arctic in the next few weeks so my attention was drawn to them.

Red-necked Stint, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 800, 1/1000 @ f/6.3

Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 800, 1/1000 @ f/6.3

Red-necked Stint, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 280mm, ISO 400, 1/1000 @ f/6.3 

Several of the Curlew Sandpiper had started develop breeding plumage indicating an imminent departure north.

Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 318mm, ISO 400, 1/1000 @ f/6.3

As the tide continued to rise, only cormorants (Pied Cormorant and Little Black Cormorant) remained on the outer rocks (and one gull lurking in the background)

Pied Cormorant and Little Black Cormorant, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 280mm, ISO 400, 1/800 @ f/6.3

while the waders took flight for alternative feeding and roosting locations.

Red-necked Stint and Curlew Sandpiper, Kirk Point, Point Wilson, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 280mm, ISO 400, 1/1250 @ f/6.3

The rest of the day was spent at the treatment plant in great company. It's always a thrill to take first time visitors to this spectacular birding location.

Lake Borrie, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 124mm, ISO 200, 1/500 @ f/6.3

I have never seen so many Pink-eared Duck at this location but they are always difficult to photograph on the wide-open waterways of the treatment plant. I did manage to 'sneak up' a little and shoot through the reeds.

Pink-eared Duck, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 280mm, ISO 400, 1/1250 @ f/6.3

Hundreds of Welcome Swallow and Fairy Martin were hunting insects around the bird hide and I managed to get a few good shots of the martins - normally a challenge as they are rarely still for more than a few seconds.

Fairy Martin, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 400, 1/640 @ f/6.3

However, the main highlight of the day came late in the afternoon with this capture of a juvenile Lewin's Rail - my first photograph of this elusive species and first sighting in Victoria - two ticks with one bird :-)

Lewin's Rail (juvenile), Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Victoria
Panasonic Lumix G9 with Panasonic Leica 100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 400, 1/640 @ f/6.3

Happy days :-)