![]() |
| Broad-billed Ssndpiper |
The Yandina Creek Wetlands continue to surprise, with Broad-billed Sandpiper and Baillon's Crake added to the growing list of interesting species found here today, and Lewin's Rail showing nicely.
![]() |
| Broad-billed Sandpiper |
![]() |
| Broad-billed Sandpiper |
The Sunshine Coast has little freshwater wetland habitat that is suitable for migratory shorebirds, so it was good to see decent numbers of shorebirds at Yandina Creek. About 120 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were feeding among reed stubble on exposed mud along with 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Red-necked Stints, 2 Marsh Sandpipers, 10 Japanese Snipe and best of all, a single Broad-billed Sandpiper - a scarce species in south-east Queensland. The Broad-billed was quite distant unfortunately so the images here were the best I could manage.
![]() |
| Marsh Sandpiper |
Among other waders, about 70 Red-kneed Dotterels were present. An unusually large number (150+) of this inland species turned up early last year at the eastern extremity of Yandina Creek Wetlands (see here). I thought all but a handful were long gone, but not so.
![]() |
| Red-kneed Dotterel |
I staked out a nice-looking piece of mud edge on the fringe of a reed bed. Here I saw 2 Lewin's Rail, with one bird showing well and repeatedly, though typically not allowing itself to be photographed; the image here is from the files.
![]() |
| Lewin's Rail |
I also had stunning views of several Spotless Crakes, and saw a single Baillon's Crake - the first record of this species for the wetlands.
![]() |
| Spotless Crake |
![]() |
| Buff-banded Rail |
Several Buff-banded Rails were patrolling the same stretch of mud.
![]() |
| Little Grassbird |
Little Grassbirds were foraging around the reed bed edges.
![]() |
| White-breasted Woodswallow juvenile |
A pair of White-breasted Woodswallows were attending two well-developed young.
![]() |
| Site for Lewin's Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Spotless Crake, Baillon's Crake |
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has replied to my submission asking that the privately owned wetlands be acquired and managed as a reserve. The council advised that its reserve acquisition program is being reviewed in the wake of the recent separation from the council of Noosa Shire; the submission would be “kept on file and assessed”. I pointed out that the wetlands are much more extensive and productive than I had previously thought, and suggested that the council survey the area. (Last year, the council rejected submissions that it acquire Lot 2,River Road for a reserve, but we now know that Lot 2 constitutes just the eastern extremity of the wetlands.)
![]() |
| Buff-banded Rail |
Full list of bird seen is here.
