Well the hysteria was all mine!

You may recall from a few days back my post about finding the Latham's Snipe in a little local wetland. I did a count for them as part of the Latham's Snipe project where they monitor numbers across their range in Victoria on specific days. I thought there may have been at least 2 birds.

We counted close to 30!

It was a very exciting find. Sites that have around 20 are considered Significant Sites under our Federal Legislation (Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) which lends its weight to the conversation of this area if was ever threatened by development.

These birds are so hard to photograph. They can be 10 m in front of you and you can't see them until they flush out of the ground and fly away very fast.

The above image was taken after the count and is of two birds that I put into the one image so you can get a reasonable look at them.

Only one snake that the Sherpa almost stood on.

Ridiculous how such an encounter can bring so much excitement to a bird nerd. But still in lockdown (though I can smell freedom in the air-well done Melbournians) I will take all the excitement I can get.

Tags:   Lathams Snipe bird threatened Bird wetland Nikon D500 flight shorebird migratory Gallinago hardwickii on the wing

© All Rights Reserved

I first found the Lathams Snipe, a threatened species of shorebird in March 2018 in this small local wetland. It was the first record for this suburb though no doubt they have been here for a long time but are very difficult to see and photograph. They hide amongst the reeds and you usually don’t see them unless you flush them out. Most people would walk right past this little spot. Lots of reeds and weeds around the edges nothing too special but it I have recorded three threatened species there.

This wetland is currently within a green corridor although there has been a lot of development of the surrounding area and some damming of the waterway further north.

It just blows me away that these migratory shorebirds breed in Japan and south-east Siberia and then head back to spend the non-breeding season in eastern Australia (August to February). They often return to the same location, in this case, an innocuous wetland around 70 x 50 m. Recent tracking of several birds have found that they can travel at least 19,000 km on their journey.

It was a very special bird to welcome me on my first foray out with the camera (we still are required to stay within 5 km of home with a 2 hour limit on recreation activities so I am very limited (but thankful nonetheless).

Thanks to David www.flickr.com/photos/birdsaspoetry/ spotting a Snipe near his home, which reminded me to check for this bird.

I have been asked to do a Snipe count there on Saturday as it is Snipe survey day! A teeny, tiny bit scared of walking through the reeds ;-)

Tags:   Cascade Terrace Craigieburn Lake Lathams Snipe September 2020 bird Gallinago hardwickii

© All Rights Reserved

You may recall my previous posts over the past few years about discovering this migratory shore-bird- The Lathams Snipe in a very small wetland close to home. As part of an Australia wide research program into this species, they are monitored on specific days of the year on arrival to Australia. Last year on our first count in this area, we counted 34 birds which meant the site met the criteria (over 18 birds) for ‘Nationally Important” under our Federal Legislation (EPBC Act) for this species. Today was the first count for the season and it was a gorgeous morning. We counted around 23 birds. You can see how well they camouflage and the size of their eyes which help them on their journey.

Latham’s Snipe breeds in northern Japan and parts of eastern Russia during May-July and spends its non-breeding season (September to March) along Australia’s eastern coast. “They are the ultimate sunseekers- breeds in the northern hemisphere when the snows have melted and the weather is warm, then returns to the southern hemisphere to take advantage of spring rains, warmer weather and food-rich wetlands”

Because these birds use these smaller wetlands, they are very much in danger from Urban Development.

The team involved in these counts recently published some amazing data about the stamina of these birds-see below.

“The team uncovered an amazing migration from a female snipe captured in Port Fairy. She left her breeding grounds in northern Japan and flew directly to south-east Queensland in three days, a non-stop flight of around 7,000km. A trip that might normally take around five days, this incredible individual did in three.
This is one of the fastest bird migrations on record and highlights how demanding these over-ocean migrations are. It also shines the spotlight on the critical importance of good quality wetland habitat when the snipe return to Australia”.

theconversation.com/this-birds-stamina-is-remarkable-it-f...

Tags:   Craigieburn Lathams Snipe Bird Count migratory bird shore bird Gallinago hardwickii Japanese Snipe bird Australian Bird

© All Rights Reserved

You may recall from a few posts back my excitement at finding a large colony of this migratory bird (Lathams Snipe) close to home. The numbers encountered make this a significant site under our Federal Conservation Act.

My timing couldn't have been better.

I am pleased to say that after notifying the Biodiversity team at our local Council, they were as excited as I was. This area is partially protected due to the presence of a threatened grass species, otherwise it would already have been developed. However, some major developments of the site are about to occur. Literally!

Within a few days of me notifying them, emergency meetings have been called with all the relevant partners and they are all very supportive of promoting and protected this bird and its habitat.

From one little observation by an overexcited birdie nerd who was at the right place at the right time, hopefully the next time this colony of migratory birds make the exhausting journey to fly 20,000 km from Siberia through Japan and back to this tiny little wetland, it will still be here for them.

I don't know about you but I was in need of a good news story. Hope this one makes you feel good too.

Tags:   Lathams Snipe bird Snipe Nikon D500 Wetland Gallinago hardwicki Migratory Bird threatened Bird

© All Rights Reserved

I have missed you all during my absence from Flickr and thanks to all those lovelies who asked after my well being. I have had a series of illnesses but am so grateful, despite a scare, that they have not been serious. The last was surgery for kidney stones and then a painful recovery period which I am just about over. However, it all seems to have left me with a feeling of loss of confidence or sparkle or something and every image I have looked at to put up, I have found wanting.

I have chosen this one to try to make a return to Flickr, even though it is not a good image, but rather the subject matter-the Lathams Snipe, that is special. This is the same bird (presumably) that I recorded in March in a small wetland in my local area and was the first recording for this species here. Since that time, it has flown to Japan to breed and arrived back to Australia, a few weeks ago to exactly the same tiny wetland. Migratory birds are indeed extraordinary.
I hope to catch up with you all over time. xxxx

Tags:   Craigieburn Lathams Snipe bird snipe wader Australian Bird threatened bird

© All Rights Reserved