Pectoral Sandpiper, 100+ Latham’s Snipe at Yandina Creek Wetlands

By Birding-Aus, on March 28th, 2015

A Pectoral Sandpiper and an estimated 120-150 Latham’s Snipe were present this morning at Yandina Creek Wetlands on the Sunshine Coast. Also seen were 2 pairs of Black-necked Stork, a pair of Australasian Shovelers, a couple of Australian Spotted Crake calling, and a Red-necked Avocet, among many other waterbirds. I’m not sure if such a large concentration of Latham’s Snipe has been seen in Australia before? These sightings strengthen the case for the protection of the wetlands, which are on private property and are threatened by drainage for cattle pasture. The Sunshine Coast Council has been asked to acquire the wetlands for a reserve, while the Commonwealth and Queensland governments have been urged to ensure the enforcement of wildlife protection laws. Pics of the birds this morning and more on the continuing efforts to protect the wetlands can be found here: http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/pectoral-sandpiper-100-lathams-snipe.html Greg Robertsninderry@westnet.com.au http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/

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markcarey82

April 1, 2015 at 9:01 am

Winton Wetlands in north-east Victoria also claims to have ‘many 100s’ of Latham’s Snipe. http://www.wintonwetlands.org.au/environment/winton_wetland_woodland_ecology/ “The Winton Wetlands have historically been an important site for waterbirds in Victoria. More recently it has been identified as a site of international significance for the conservation of Latham’s Snipe, a migratory bird listed under a bilateral agreement with Japan (JAMBA), where it spends the northern hemisphere summer. Many hundreds of Latham’s Snipe spend their southern summer at the Winton Wetlands, in numbers that are likely to be considered significant under the RAMSAR convention on internationally important wetlands (Conole, 2008). Other notable wetland bird species occurring at Winton are the White-bellied Sea-eagle, which nests in the numerous dead trees occurring around the swamp (having drowned when inundated by the Mokoan irrigation storage), the Australasian Bittern, the endangered Freckled Duck, the Australasian Shoveler and the Hardhead, two species of duck listed as vulnerable in Victoria.”

sdooley

March 31, 2015 at 9:04 pm

Hi Greg, I haven’t heard of such a huge concentration of Latham’s Snipe in Queensland before, but I know that there have been larger ones in Victoria. In the 1970s and early 1980s Latham’s Snipe were regularly seen in big numbers at Seaford Swamp with the maximum being around 400. The Swamp is now part of the Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands recognised as a Ramsar wetland of international significance but I am afraid that conditions changed in the 1980s and large numebrs are no longer seen there. In the past couple of years as the condition of the wetlands has improved the site regularly holds 20+ snipe- still a far cry from the glory days. Around the same period, Belmont Common in Geelong was also known to support hundreds of Latham’s Snipe in the right coniditions. It still exists but I haven’t birded there for many years and have to say it doesn’t look as appealling for snipe as in the 80s. The current record holder for Latham’s Snipe surely has to be Powling Street Wetlands in Port Fairy in south western Victoria. In recent years up to 400 Latham’s Snipe have been recorded in what at first glance seems to be a fairly insignificant suburban wetland. Unfortunately a local developer thought he could trade on its unremarkable looks and sneak in a pretty crumby housing development in the middle of it. Fortunately the locals fought back, with the South Beach Wetlands and Landcare Group and Environmental Justice Australia running a case last year in Victoria’s planning tribunal, VCAT, that reversed much of the ruling in favour of the development. For more information on the issue, we published a story on it in the June 2013 Australian Birdlife (Vol.2 No.2). Cheers, Sean —–Original Message—– Greg Roberts Sent: Saturday, 28 March 2015 3:02 PM Creek Wetlands A Pectoral Sandpiper and an estimated 120-150 Latham’s Snipe were present this morning at Yandina Creek Wetlands on the Sunshine Coast. Also seen were 2 pairs of Black-necked Stork, a pair of Australasian Shovelers, a couple of Australian Spotted Crake calling, and a Red-necked Avocet, among many other waterbirds. I’m not sure if such a large concentration of Latham’s Snipe has been seen in Australia before? These sightings strengthen the case for the protection of the wetlands, which are on private property and are threatened by drainage for cattle pasture. The Sunshine Coast Council has been asked to acquire the wetlands for a reserve, while the Commonwealth and Queensland governments have been urged to ensure the enforcement of wildlife protection laws. Pics of the birds this morning and more on the continuing efforts to protect the wetlands can be found here: http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/pectoral-sandpiper-100-lat hams-snipe.html Greg Robertsninderry@westnet.com.au http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/

sonja.ross7

March 28, 2015 at 3:59 pm

How wonderful to see that many Snipe together. Good luck with getting the area protected. Sonja

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Pectoral Sandpiper, 100+ Latham’s Snipe at Yandina Creek Wetlands

3 comments to Pectoral Sandpiper, 100+ Latham’s Snipe at Yandina Creek Wetlands

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