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During the last week I have been monitoring the 23 kilometre stretch of beach that runs along the west coast of Broome. The tides have been suitable for me to cover most of the beach by bicycle and this enables me to cover most of the area in a day. This is the time of [...]

It’s a plover, and it lives on the shore. What more do you need to know? Actually, there is a great deal more that could be said about the small Shore Plover. One of only two species in the plover genus Thinornis, the other being Australia’s Hooded Plover, this species is another New Zealand endemic. [...]

We monitor the Pied Oystercatchers breeding along a 23km stretch of beach each year and it can all be covered on foot or by bicycle-tide dependant! They usually have their first eggs in place by the first week in July each year and they sit on them for 28 days. The first egg is laid [...]

Willets are a very bland shorebird until they open their wings and take flight. Then the flashing black-and-white is extremely eye-catching and makes you wonder how you overlooked them when you scanned the marsh.  And if you somehow miss them in flight they will definitely make you aware of their presence with the loud, repetitive [...]

Hey guys, how would you like to be chased by up to ten females, all seeking to mate with you? If this sounds good to you, you may wish you were a Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) or any of the three species of Phalarope. As strange as it may seem, sexual dimorphism and breeding behavior [...]

I usually spot Ruddy Turnstones in winter, hunkered down on windswept jetties being blasted by salt spray in the company of Purple Sandpipers.  Either that, or I see them in spring with hordes of other shorebirds feeding on the eggs of Horseshoe Crabs.  Until last weekend I can’t recall ever spotting a Ruddy Turnstone actually [...]

The Beach Stone-curlew Esacus magnirostris is the largest shorebird that we find along the coast around Broome. It is not common and despite their rather bold plumage they are heavily disguised amongst the rocks and even on the mud. We have heard strange banging noises in the distance sometimes and then come across a bird [...]

The Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus is a very cute shorebird that is often seen scurrying along the shoreline around Australia. The estimated population is 95 000. They can be found in significant flocks along the coast, but also may be encountered at inland wetlands. The male bird has the “red cap” more than the female [...]

As you all get ready for the onset of spring in the northern hemisphere we are heading into autumn. In the north of Australia we also have changing colours, but it is not the foliage that changes. Those of you that are familiar with leaves turning different shades of red  can imagine the same happening to shorebirds! [...]

For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by shorebirds. Growing up within an hour of one of the world’s premier shorebird destinations – West Coast National Park in South Africa – helped for sure. For me, there’s a few things that drive this fascination. Firstly, shorebirds present a significant ID challenge. Getting [...]

After admiring the gannets of Cape Kidnappers and the wine of Hawke’s Bay Nicole and I took a few days to reach the next destination of interest, the Coromandel Peninsula. This chuck of land lies between New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, and the Bay of Plenty, and is a popular tourism destination due to its [...]

Other than sharing my encounter with an amazing Rock Wren I have failed to blog about my 28 December visit to Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve at all.  As always, Bolsa Chica, a restored wetland complex in Huntington Beach, California, was amazing, both for the number and variety of birds, to say nothing of the number [...]

Just occasionally, seemingly ordinary conditions or events can combine to create a blissfully perfect moment during which the weight of all our stresses and worries is lifted from us. Warm, moving moments such as these, comfort and inspire us, reminding us of how rich life can be. It would require no great leap of faith to [...]

Lema Ranch is one of Northern California’s birding hotspots. It is located in Shasta County, in the northern most part of the Sacramento Valley, in the city of Redding (pdf map here), about 160 miles north of Sacramento. The property is the headquarters for the McConnell Foundation, a philanthropic organization working for the betterment of [...]

Broome is known worldwide for its amazing birdlife, and Roebuck Bay is regarded as the most significant site in Australia for shorebirds. Roebuck Bay has the greatest diversity of shorebird species of any site on the planet and around 150,000 of these birds visit annually. All of this is as a result of the incredibly [...]

In this guest post Clare and Grant Morton update us on the shorebird work they’re doing in and around the world-famous shorebird site of Broome in Western Australia. Clare’s particular interest is monitoring and protecting the nests of the birds nesting along the beaches, and she also keeps a close look-out for flagged/banded shorebirds which [...]

At Jamaica Bay a couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be with birders who carefully scan through each and every bird in a flock hoping to find a rarity.  Not that I don’t do that, but I tend to get distracted by whatever bird happens to be closest and in good light [...]

The White-rumped Sandpiper is an entertaining shorebird, aggressive and ornery, willing to chase other birds from the area it is feeding in no matter how abundant the food source is.  Their long wings extend past their tail and give them a sleek look even when they are in the midst of fattening up for their [...]

Shortly after posting this gallery of juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers I was back on the East Pond of Jamaica Bay and had perhaps the most cooperative dowitcher ever decide to forage to within five meters.  I like these pictures even more than I like the stuff from the gallery.  So, rather than beat around the bush, [...]

Juvenile Least Sandpipers are among the most beautiful of shorebirds.  Their gorgeous white-fringed feathers and propensity for allowing close approach combine to make them a treat every single summer during shorebird season.  Sure, young Short-billed Dowitchers are also attractive creatures, American Avocets and Wilson’s Phalaropes are just plain neat to see, and everyone likes to [...]