A Wader Survey of South Gippsland Beaches by WILLIAM A

48 DAVIS, A Wader Survey [ Bird Watcher A Wader Survey of South Gippsland Beaches By WILLIAM A. DAVIS, Melbourne. On February 23, 24 and 25, 1963, a trip was undertaken by four members of the Bird Observers Club in an endeavour to ascertain the wader potentiality of some of the remote South Gippsland beaches. Habitats and bird populations at each locality were noted, and all the birds S€~ on the trip were recorded. Lack of time allowed only a brief survey to be made but, in spite of this, 117 species were positively identified. The members participating in the survey were F. T. H . Smith, F. Fehrer, H . Beste and the writer. At the present time wader haunts within close proximity to Melbourne are regularly visited each season. However, there remain vast areas of suitable habitat more distant from the metro polis which, due to their remoteness, have received little or no attention from observers. The territory covered by our trip extended from Shallow Inlet on the western side of Wilson's Promontory to Jack Smith's Lake, approximately 20 miles west of Seaspray on the Ninety Mile Beach. The localities visited were as follows: Shallow Inlet: A large tidal inlet comprising extensive sand and mud-flats, ocean beach, and typical coastal bushland consisting essentially of banksias, messmate, manna gums, heathlands and open paddocks. This was possibly the best area that we encountered for general bird observation, that also had good wader potentiality although, at the time of our visit, there was a noticeable absence of the small waders. Both the east and west sides of the inlet were examined and 69 species were recorded in six hours. Foster and Toora Beaches: Typical mud-flat areas on Corner Inlet on the western side of Wilson's Promontory. A vast area of samphire exists east of Foster beach which should have good wader potentiality, however, at the time of our survey few birds were present. Robertson Beach: Situated east of Port Albert, similar in character to Foster and Toora beaches and poor in bird life during our visit. Manns Beach: At this beach there is a small fishing community on the mainland opposite the western end of St. Margaret Island, and an area of extensive mud-flats extending at low tide to the island. It is con sidered a good area and many interesting records were obtained. McLaughlin Beach: Another fishing centre still further east, opposite the beginning of the Ninety Mile_Beach. Without doubt the best wader area encountered, comprising vast tidal mud-flats, mangrove lined creeks and extensive samphire flats, interspersed with small areas of open water. Excellent scope for crakes and rails, however, due to lack of time none was recorded. In three hours observing 34 species were noted. - o~ '0<> J f\(1<: St1\1H ~g. ~ .._ . '---' .J , ,_,<> "'. · SOUTH GIPPSLAND <->' l,ol OOOSIDE / < ~EPtl\1 ~~ ', -~ ~~.~~ VH_A~AI1 0 · , ~· ro~1.:.R 6;~ :~':~~ :> , > < ~- :A. fiSH CREE~ ~ ::::,_~ ~ I N L £T Vl ..,:;::: -:: ~ T l-\ ~1"\RN SC A WFIRF\IF\H 'i'l Fl'{ I"ROt'\ ONTOkY lii\R\1'( I.J.A.O . ~ \0 Fig. 1. Map of portion of East Gippsland, showing the areas mentioned in the text. 50 DAVIS, A Wader Survey [ Bird Watcher Woodside Beach: An ocean beach on the Ninety Mile Beach. Jack Smith's Lake: A large salt lake situated behind the Ninety Mile Beach towards Seaspray. This lake is controlled by the Victorian Fisheries and Wildlife Department and is a State Game Reserve. Unfortunately at the time of our visit there was little water in the lake, and there was a corresponding reduction in the number or birds. With more water this ai'ea should have good potentiality. Kangaroo Swamp: Situated midst dense forest 11 miles inland from Jack Smith's Lake, on Kangaroo Swamp Road. A natural depression containing water, heavily fringed with melaleuca, more open towards the centre with thick reed-beds. No wader potentiality, but considered excellent for crakes, rails and bitterns although once again, due to insufficient time, none was recorded. Darby Saddle, Wilson's Promontory: A brief visit of two hours duration yielded 20 bushland species. It is interesting to note that in direct contrast to the mud-flats of Western Port Bay those of South Gippsland beaches are quite - negotiable at low tide on foot, allowing reasonable approach to the birds. FIELD NOTES Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus): Two birds were noted at Robertson Beach, 5 at Manns Beach and 32 at McLaughlin Beach. Sooty Oystercatcher (H. unicolor): At Shallow Inlet 40 birds were counted, 18 being in one compact group on the flats. The only other record was two birds at Robertson Beach. Observations on the Haernatopus were extremely interesting. At Shallow Inlet unicolor predominated to the exclusion of ostralegus. Eastward to Robertson Beach there is a buffer zone where both species were recorded. Still further eastward to Manns and McLaughlin Beaches ostralegus predominated to the exclusion of unicolor. Spur-winged Plover (Lobibyx novae-hollandiae): A widely distri buted bird throughout South Gippsland and recorded at all suitable habitats visited. There were numerous flocks, the largest being 32 birds at McLaughlin Beach, and 30 birds at Jack Smith's Lake. Banded Plover (Zonifer tricolor): A single record of four birds seen in a paddock adjacent to Robertson Beach Road. Eastern Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominicus): A compact flock of 60 birds, many in breeding plumage, at Shallow Inlet. A further 30 birds, two in bre~ding plumage, at McLaughlin Beach. Hooded Dotterel (Charadrius cucullatus): Four birds were recorded on the ocean beach at Shallow Inlet. Double-banded Dotterel (C. bicinctus): Eight birds in eclipse plumage at Shallow Inlet, and a single bird, also in eclipse plumage, at McLaughlin Beach. HYETT and GOTTSCH, Quail Island 51 Red-capped Dotterel (C. alexandrinus): Scarce at Shallow Inlet where only two birds were seen, nine birds at Foster Beach, four birds at McLaughlin Beach, and 40 birds (including many juven iles) at Jack Smith's Lake, 25 being in one compact flock. Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis): The most common Charadriiforme noted. Sixty birds at Shallow Inlet, 20 birds at Foster Beach, 12 birds at Toora Beach, 10 birds at Robertson Beach, 30 birds at Manns Beach and 70 birds at McLaughlin Beach, the latter in one flock. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa): Four birds were observed in company with the Curlew flock at McLaughlin Beach. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia): Absent from Shallow Inlet but noted elsewhere. Three birds at Robertson Beach, three birds at Manns Beach and a flock of 30 birds at McLaughlin Beach. Curlew Sandpiper (Erolia ferruginea): Recorded only at Shallow Inlet; a single bird, and a flock of 30 birds. Red-necked (Little) Stint (E. ruficollis): Ten birds at Shallow Inlet, six birds at Manns Beach, and at least I 00 birds on the sam phire flats at McLaughlin Beach. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (E. acuminata): Surprisingly the only record was 20 birds at McLaughlin Beach seen about the pools amongst the samphire. The comparative few numbers of small waders that were recorded at the areas visited was one of the surprises of the trip, as certain habitats appeared excellent feeding areas for them. The Birds of Quail Island, Victoria. by JACK HYETT* and M.D. GOTTSCH*, Melbourne. On October 27 and 28, 1962, members of the Victorian Ornithological Research Group made a survey of Quail Island to determine the fauna and flora of this wildlife reserve. The area is under the control of the Fisheries and Wildlife Department, and an officer of the Game Management Section of the Department accompanied the survey group. A report of the full survey has been submitted to the Department, and the following items of ornithological interest have been ex tracted from this report. Quail Island, at the head of Westernport, Victoria, is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel, so shallow that it is easily crossed at low tide by foxes and other mammals. The island is approximately three miles long by two miles wide. The soil is sandy, and in the swamps, which lie between ridges of sand, peaty soil has been formed. The island is almost surrounded by a flat area covered with halophytic vegetation and fringed externally _wi-th mangroves. This area is subjected to tidal inundation and varies inwidth from a few yards to more than a quarter of a mile, being widest at the southern end. *President and Secretary respectively of the Victorian Ornithological Research Group. .

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