BIRDS OF BLACK POINT
We have recently returned from an enjoyable week at Black Point, on Yorke Peninsula, & even though the weather was cold were able to find some interesting birds there. I have been keeping records of the birds seen there since 1999, & have managed to identify 114 species over that time, some commonly seen and others only on a few occasions. The beach itself is north facing, & sheltered by a spit to the south, all of which moderates the area from the strong SE winds. Many shorebirds are to be found along the beach & at the ‘Point’ itself, particularly at high tide, when they congregate on the sand. (Unfortunately for us this is also a favourite spot for those people wanting to fish at the turn of the tide!)
 
On the other side of the road into Black Point there is a path through the mallee scrub, which also has been planted with eucalypts, some being introduced species, which are watered by the treated effluent from the houses lining the beach. These provide food for honeyeaters and other species,  and  together with the presence of some sand hills which have been preserved there is a good variety of birds in the area.
 
We were very interested this time to see 3 species of long-legged wading birds, together with some of the usual small waders, which migrate to the Northern hemisphere to breed. Most of these adult Red-necked Stints have departed by April, leaving the younger and weaker birds here. The Red-capped Plovers breed in Australia, so are commonly seen on the beach. The Red-necked Stints start to colour up just before they leave, which distinguishes them from those who stay behind. I must admit that when I first became interested in birds I couldn’t understand why these were named ‘red-necked’, as the plumage on the stay-behinds has no trace of red. The photograph taken on 15-04-18 is of some of these waders, 12 of them showing some red on their necks.
 
On this recent visit we were very pleased to also see 3 of the larger species of birds which commonly wade in the sea, namely White-faced Heron, Little Egret in breeding plumage, and the grey morph of an Eastern Reef Egret, the latter being not often found here. The following day the Reef Egret had gone, as well as the Little Egret, but we did see on the following day a  Little Egret at Sheoak Flat which is not far south of  Black Point. We are assuming that it was the same one.