Waders at Jones Bay

 Waders at Jones Bay

 Since mid September this year, I have been paying regular visits to "The Cut" at Jones Bay. Jones Bay is a large bay in the Gippsland Lakes, not far from Bairnsdale. The Mitchell River flows into the Bay, via "The Silt Jetties." The Silt Jetties is a large narrow peninsula extending into the Gippsland lakes. Near the start of The Silt Jetties, the Mitchel River has broken through the peninsula creating a number of small islands. These islands are very much affected by the tide, and can triple in size when the tide is out.

Shorebirds, or waders, find this sort of habitat ideal for feeding grounds.  Since September I have recorded Red Capped Plovers, Bar Tailed Gotwits, Red Necked Stints, Pied Oystercatchers, Red Necked Avocet and Pacific Golden Plover. Considering that this is "early days" for wader migration, I would expect to see a few more species in the coming months.

Here are some of the photos I have taken of the Jones Bay waders.

Pacific Golden Plover, right of the debris.

Red Necked Stint

Two Red Capped Plovers, a residential shorebird, (non migratory).