Gray-tailed Tattlers return to Cable Seaside – 10,000 Birds
This week we’ve had very massive tides and the migratory shorebirds which have returned to Broome from the Northern hemisphere have struggled to seek out any seashore left to roost on at excessive tide. The roost websites in Roebuck Bay turn out to be inundated with the ocean and the shorebirds will transfer additional afield to discover a appropriate roost. Gantheaume Level, the Port of Broome and Cable Seaside turn out to be an alternate roost web site throughout the very massive tides, however for among the shorebirds it could imply flying round till the tide drops once more.
On Thursday October twenty seventh the tide was racing in to peak at 9.55 metres at 11.34am to then drop again to 1.33 metres at 5.55pm adopted by a night-time excessive of 10.11 metres at 11.41pm. I cycled to the seashore for 10am and there was already a big flock of shorebirds to the south of the Surf Membership in direction of Gantheaume Level. Two Gray-tailed Tattlers landed with the Silver Gulls close to the rocks the place there may be usually four-wheel drive entry. You possibly can see from the header photograph that the Gray-tailed Tattler had realised the tide was racing in and shortly moved onto a rock to flee the tide.
Gray-tailed Tattlers and Silver Gulls
Many alternative species of shorebirds journey the East-Asian Australasian Flyway to spend the non-breeding cycle of their lives right here in Broome. Solely this week the extraordinary journey of a Bar-tailed Godwit travelling from Alaska to Tasmania in simply eleven days has proven us all simply how unimaginable these shorebirds are. We’re extremely fortunate to stay in an space the place the shorebirds can feed on the mudflats of Roebuck Bay with minimal disturbance.
Usually there may be four-wheel drive entry alongside a piece of Cable Seaside, however the Shire lately acknowledged that the flatback turtles wanted assist to outlive. Initially the seashore entry was closed for a number of hours both sides of the largest tides after which four-wheel drives would hopefully not drive or park on nest websites. The ruts left by tyres has additionally been a problem and the Shire have lastly determined to present the flatback turtles an excellent higher probability of survival by closing the seashore entry to automobiles for the months of December and January. That is welcome information, as a result of it additionally minimises shorebird disturbance too on this part of the seashore. When there’s a very massive tide you possibly can solely entry the northern part of the seashore by climbing up over the dunes, but it surely does supply nice views of the shoreline. Now we have not seen clouds for months now, however now we’ve a number of so as to add some selection to our panorama.
Seaside entry at Cable Seaside-closed on massive tides
Clouds over the Indian Ocean at Cable Seaside
I walked north for a number of kilometres after which returned to my bike on the ramp to watch the six Gray-tailed Tattlers decided to roost on one of many rocks. It was thirty minutes earlier than excessive tide they usually had been attempting their greatest to not get swamped as every wave rolled in.
Gray-tailed Tattlers
One of many Gray-tailed Tattlers determined to depart the tall rock and transfer to the decrease rock to the precise. One wave later and it quickly realised its mistake and flew again to the taller rock and had a very good shake to get dry. All six of the Gray-tailed Tattlers watched and waited because the tide saved pushing in and finally they admitted defeat and flew north.
Gray-tailed Tattlers ready for prime tide
By heading north alongside Cable Seaside the Gray-tailed Tattler would quickly discover lengthy stretches of sand the place they may roost. Though Cable Seaside shouldn’t be essentially famend for its shorebirds there are some first rate sized flocks presently of yr and visiting the seashore round excessive tide provides one of the best probability of probably the most shorebird species. Gray-tailed Tattlers desire rocks on the seashore, to allow them to be noticed simply from the entry ramp space on these massive tides.