Shorebird Habitat Excursion, 8 February, 2014 
Deirdre and Mick Brown 
Is Wakefield led 12 others on Saturday's excursion to 
shorebird habitats, mostly around Orielton Lagoon 
which is part of Pittwater Nature reserve. The day was 
hot (29 degrees) and sunny. At the time of the 
excursion the tide was fully out and on the turn, so the 
birds were mostly in the distance. However Els's main 
purpose was to show us some good sites for observation 
of shore birds, including some less common species. 
Our first stop was at Sewage Point on the western shore 
of Orielton Lagoon. Little Black Cormorants and Black¬ 
faced Cormorants were observed fishing, and a Musk 
Duck was splashing about in the typical behavior 
adopted to attract a mate. 
Field Nats at Midway Point. Photo: Beth Heap 
Birds observed on the lagoon at this point were: 
5 Chestnut Teal 
9 Silver Gull 
2 Little Black Cormorant 
1 Black-faced Cormorant 
1 Little Wattlebird 
1 Green Rosella 
2 Pied Oystercatcher 
Kelp Gulls 
1 Hoary-headed Grebe 
1 Pelican 
1 Great-crested Grebe 
2 Starling 
Musk Lorikeets 
5 Swan (1 adult and 4 young) 
2 Musk Duck (one male calling 
We then drove on through suburban Midway Point to 
Greenshank Point where it is possible to walk down 
through a row of vacant building blocks to the lagoon 
edge. A pair of Eastern Rosellas and Musk Lorikeets 
were seen in the eucalypts. Four magpies were sighted, 
and their distinctive mellifluous song joined the quick 
high pitched whistles of the Musk Lorikeets. We were 
delighted to see a pair of Greenshanks on the shore, and 
were able to count seven in all when they flew off. 
Birds observed at Greenshank Point 
c. 4 Magpie 
15 Silver Gull 
6 Raven 
6 Common Greenshank 
1 Little Egret 
1 Noisy Miner 
2 Eastern Rosella 
Musk Lorikeets 
1 Caspian Tern 
24 Masked Lapwing 
Musk Duck 
6 Pied Oystercatchers 
3 Wood Duck 
Native Hens 
Little Wattle Bird 
Cormorant, Great 
Cormorant, Little black 
Cormorant, Black-faced 
Kelp gulls 
78 Teal (mixed Chestnut and Grey Teal) 
Greenshanks. Photo: Mick Brown 
We drove on along a track and parked on a grassy space 
overlooking Pittwater Golf Course to the saltmarsh. 
This site provides a good overview of the lagoon, 
however it is not possible to approach the shore owing 
to the presence of the golf course and dangers posed by 
flying balls (not to mention the 'members only' warning 
sign). Indeed, a man in a party of golfers stopped to 
assure himself that we would not wander further. 
Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club 
Page 3 
BULLETIN 354 April 2014 
