The latest Shorebirds Bulletin was recently delivered around Thompson Beach. If you missed out, you can view a copy here.
Download the Shorebirds Bulletin here (PDF).
The following is the Shorebirds Bulletin message from the TBPA Chair, Ian Telfer:
Even though the migratory birds have headed north, there are still plenty of local birds enjoying perfect winter conditions just off the beach.
Someone must have told them we have a bird sanctuary here.
In the middle of the town we have had the company of about 140 black swans whose relaxed presence seems to have attracted many others – a hundred or so native ducks, pied cormorants, pied oystercatchers, white faced herons, plovers, stilts and the occasional great egret. Pecking around in the mud are hundreds of little grey shorebirds that all look the same to me.
The most intriguing thing about the Black Swan, is the noise it makes. Not a honk or a tweet but a bugle type of call, I think of it like the “peel” of a bell, that makes you wonder about the conversation going on around the group.
On Friday nights, meals at the shed have become more interesting with challenges happening between various cooks.
The first battle was over meat balls and the next is scheduled for pasties. The various cooks believe their family recipe is superior to others, so the lines are drawn. It’s all in good fun and the diners are the beneficiaries.
Members of the Association have been taking time to clean up the beach walkways.
Starting at the north end of town, we are clearing the dead seagrass and cutting back the foliage to take pressure off the fences. It’s going to take time but should be done in time for the return of warm weather.
There is much work required in repairing fences damaged or removed by weather events. For the major areas, we will approach various authorities to see if we can arrange to have repairs carried out, to prevent further degradation of the coastal zone.
It is also worth a visit to the north end of town to check out the barrier installed by the DEW authorities to stop vehicle traffic from going up to the “cut away” and destroying the foreshore shrub-land on the way. While Jan and I were walking our dogs up there a couple of weeks ago, we were pleased to see a kangaroo enjoying the area, quietly watching our progress as we went past. It is a pleasant walk and it’s interesting to see the amount of water now stored inland by the action of the tide.
Even in winter, we are lucky to live in such a wonderful place.
Ian Telfer, Chairperson