Appendix D_Shorebird_survey_report_Final_Jul20_jans edits

                              Table 6: Migratory species patterns of the Noosa River estuary

 Common name                         Seasonal      Last               Species presence in Noosa River
                                     frequency   observed
 Resident Tern                                               J   F   M   A    M   J    J     A     S       O   N    D
 Caspian Tern                        15          Sept-19
 Greater Crested Tern                15          Sept-19
 Australian Tern                     14          Sept-19
 Migratory Tern
 Common Tern                         15          May-19
 Little Tern (Indo Pacific)          14          May-19
 White-wing Tern                     14          May-19
 Resident Shorebirds
 Beach-Stone Curlew                  14          Sep-19
 Pied Stilt                          11          Sep-19
 Masked Lapwing                      14          May-19
 Pied Oystercatcher                  15          Sep-19
 Red-capped Plover                   15          Sep-19
 Migratory Shorebirds
 Bar-tailed Godwit                   15          Sep-19
 Broad-billed Sandpiper              1           Dec-18
 Common Greenshank                   14          Dec-18
 Curlew Sandpiper                    13          Nov-17
 Double-Banded Plover                13          Aug-19
 Far Eastern Curlew                  13          Oct-17
 Great Knot                          7           Oct-17
 Greater Sand Plover                 15          Sep-19
 Grey-tailed Tattler                 15          Sep-19
 Lesser Sand Plover                  8           May-19
 Pacific Golden Plover               15          Sep-19
 Red-necked Stint                    15          Feb-19
 Red Knot                            5           Dec-18
 Ruddy Turnstone                     12          Dec-18
 Sanderling                          1           Dec-18
 Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper              14          Mar-19
 Terek Sandpiper                     4           Dec-18
 Whimbrel (Eurasian)                 15          Sep-19

 Peak species presence
 Some species presence

As Table 6 indicates, the majority of the 18 trans-hemisphere (EAAF) migrants arrive in early spring
(September) and depart after the summer (April) for their Northern summer breeding cycle. Nevertheless,
small numbers of these migrants including the Whimbrel, Pacific Golden Plover and previously the Bar-
Tailed Godwit have been observed to periodically “over winter” in the estuary though numbers exhibiting
this behavior have declined.

Amongst tern species, the Indo-Pacific Little Tern and White-winged Tern have been observed to follow
trans-hemisphere patterns whilst it was noted the abundant Greater Crested Tern, typically departed the
estuary in November each year, returning in late January from its breeding habitat off northern NSW. The
Australian Tern occasionally departed in the summer and bred inland when conditions permitted.
                                                                                      A     Whimbrel       (Numenius
                                                                                      phaeopus) captured “on the
                                                                                      wing” over the Noosa River
                                                                                      estuary. Another of the
                                                                                      migratory species of curlew
                                                                                      (Numenius) common to the
                                                                                      Noosa River, its long de-
                                                                                      curved bill is used to probe
                                                                                      mud flats by day and night for
                                                                                      invertebrates, crustaceans and
                                                                                      worms.

                                                                                      The Whimbrel (Eurasian) is
                                                                                      considered     “secure”    in
                                                                                      Australia and amongst the
                                                                                      most abundant and frequently
                                                                                      sited migratory shorebirds in
                                                                                      the Noosa River.

                                                                                      Credit Bob Inglis.




Noosa River – Shorebird Survey Report 2019                                                                     Page 16