SHORE LINE WADERS

These include Plovers,oystercatchers and stilts,all of which

nest on the ground or beach,making them vulnerable to

pedestrians,dogs,foxes and feral cats.

BLACK-FRONTED PLOVER Charadius melanops

Not common in this area but sighted occasionally on local

beaches in small groups resting and bathing.Size;17Cm

RED-CAPPED PLOVER Charadrius ruficapillus

The smallest of the plovers,prefers the water line of beaches

and swamps moving with short bursts of speed.Size;15Cm

MASKED LAPWING Vanellus miles

Also known as Spur-wing plover,prefers open spaces including

parks & ovals,an agressive bird when breeding.Size;35Cm

BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus

Also called Pied stilt and often confused with the Banded stilt,

it is a common wader,feeding on aquatic insects.Size;32Cm

SOOTY OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus fuliginosus

Often seen with Pied oystercatcher,but prefers rocky areas where it

overturns rocks feeding on small crustaceans.Size;50Cm

PIED OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus longirostris

Also named Redbill for obvious reasons,prefers intertidal zone of

beaches and mud flats where it searches for shellfish.Size;50Cm.

RUFOUS NIGHT HERON Nycticorax caledonicus

As the name implies,a night hunter,peering out from a

favourite day time roost in a Aleppo pine tree.Size; 60cm

WHITE FACED HERON Ardea novaehollandiae

Also known as Blue crane,a common shoreline wader.

Size; 60-70cm

GREAT EGRET Ardea alba

The largest wader to visit the area,hunting small

fish at Billy Light's Pt. Size; 1M

RAISING A FAMILY

Sping is a busy time of the year for most of the

birds that frequent My backyard

Young Western silvereyes help each other

with mutual preening

A Willy wagtail sits on eggs in a nest constructed

of cobwebs and fibres

A group of young Dusky wood-swallows enjoying

a preening session in the early morning sunshine

A male Yellow-rumped pardalote checks the vicinity is clear

before entering the nesting burrow to relieve the female

A Grey currawong keeps a beady eye on the camera

from the nest as she sits on the eggs

A Crested tern with a juvenile bird which has

been banded by N.P.W.S on a nearby island

A young Black-faced cuckoo shrike waits patiently

for the parents to arrive with food

COLOURS OF SPRING

Spring brings a variety of colours to the remaining

bushland of My Backyard

TWIGGY GUINEA FLOWER Hibbertia virgata

Ht-50Cm, Flowers-Spring, Photo-Billy Light's Pt