Gray-tailed Tattlers return to Cable Seaside – 10,000 Birds

This week we have now had very huge tides and the migratory shorebirds which have returned to Broome from the Northern hemisphere have struggled to seek out any seaside left to roost on at excessive tide. The roost websites in Roebuck Bay develop into inundated with the ocean and the shorebirds will transfer additional afield to discover a appropriate roost. Gantheaume Point, the Port of Broome and Cable Beach develop into an alternate roost website through the very huge tides, however for a few of 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 seaside 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’ll be able to 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 various 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 unbelievable 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 bit of Cable Seaside, however the Shire in recent times acknowledged that the flatback turtles wanted assist to outlive. Initially the seaside entry was closed for just a few hours either side of the most important tides after which four-wheel drives would hopefully not drive or park on nest websites. The ruts left by tyres has additionally been a difficulty and the Shire have lastly determined to offer the flatback turtles an excellent higher probability of survival by closing the beach access to vehicles 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 seaside. When there’s a very huge tide you may solely entry the northern part of the seaside by climbing up over the dunes, but it surely does supply nice views of the shoreline. We have now not seen clouds for months now, however now we have now just a few so as to add some selection to our panorama.

Seaside entry at Cable Seaside-closed on huge tides

Clouds over the Indian Ocean at Cable Seaside

I walked north for just a few kilometres after which returned to my bike on the ramp to look at the six Gray-tailed Tattlers decided to roost on one of many rocks. It was thirty minutes earlier than excessive tide and so they have been attempting their greatest to not get swamped as every wave rolled in.

Gray-tailed Tattlers

One of many Gray-tailed Tattlers determined to go away the tall rock and transfer to the decrease rock to the suitable. One wave later and it quickly realised its mistake and flew again to the taller rock and had a superb shake to get dry. All six of the Gray-tailed Tattlers watched and waited because the tide stored pushing in and finally they admitted defeat and flew north.

Gray-tailed Tattlers ready for top tide

By heading north along Cable Beach the Gray-tailed Tattler would quickly discover lengthy stretches of sand the place they may roost. Though Cable Seaside will not be essentially famend for its shorebirds there are some respectable sized flocks at the moment of yr and visiting the seaside round excessive tide presents the perfect probability of essentially the most shorebird species. Gray-tailed Tattlers desire rocks on the seaside, to allow them to be noticed simply from the entry ramp space on these massive tides.