Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii Scarce, summer migrant: Formerly moderately common. Single to small flocks on freshwater swamps, flooded grasslands, watercourse margins, and rarely, on estuarine margins. Largest known congregations are from Long Swamp, Yallah (27), and Shellharbour Swamp (15). Long Swamp is now filled-in for urban development and Shellharbour swamp is to be replaced by a marina! Populations declining due to habitat destruction. Breeds in northern Japan and adjacent Siberian islands. back to top
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa [Schedule 2, vulnerable fauna] Scarce, summer migrant: Single to small flocks on estuaries, tidal flats and swamps, with up to 17 recorded from the lower Shoalhaven estuary and Lake Wollumboola; up to 4 from Windang estuary and Koona Bay; 2 at Tom Thumb Lagoon, December 1955. Usually found in flocks of Bar-tailed Godwits. Breeds in Mongolia and north-eastern Siberia. back to top                                                        compare Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Locally common, summer migrant: Singly to large flocks on estuaries, tidal flats, lake margins, flooded fields, beaches: many first year birds regularly over wintering at Windang and Comerong Island. Up to 1228 recorded from lower the Shoalhaven River; up to 200 on Lake Wollumboola; up to 430 at Windang estuary. Formerly flocks of up to 200 on Tom Thumb Lagoon prior to the construction of Port Kembla Harbour in the 1950's. Scarce elsewhere. Breeds in northern Siberia. back to top
Little Curlew Numenius minutus Rare, summer migrant: Single bird observed on Five Islands NR, November 1976; lone bird on playing field next to Why Juck Bay (Lake Illawarra), September 1984; up to 10 birds observed on Comerong Island, November 1994. Breeds in central-northern and western Siberia. back to top
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Uncommon, summer migrant: Singly or small flocks in estuarine flats, coastal rocky shores, and off shore islands; a few occasionally birds overwinter. In estuaries shows strong association with mangroves. Up to 45 recorded from Comerong Bay. Elsewhere it is only found in numbers less than five. Breeds in north-eastern Siberia. back to top                                                             compare Whimbrel and Eastern Curlew
Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis Locally common, summer migrant: Up to 10 birds regularly observed at Windang estuary and margins of Lake Illawarra, up to 300 in Shoalhaven estuary. Rare elsewhere in region. Prefers tidal mudflats, especially those adjacent to mangroves. First year birds regularly over-winter. Breeds throughout eastern Siberia. back to top
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Rare, summer migrant: Estuaries, tidal flats and freshwater swamps, with one to seven birds recorded from Lake Illawarra margins, Windang estuary, Killalea Lagoon, Shellharbour Swamp, Comerong Island and Lake Wollumboola. Often in association with Common Greenshank. Breeds in southern Siberia and north-east China back to top
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Locally common, summer migrant: Tidal flats with a mix of sand and muddy sediments. Flocks of up to 60 birds in the Lake Illawarra and Shoalhaven estuaries. Largest numbers at Picnic Island in Windang estuary and Bevan Island in Shoalhaven estuary. Rare elsewhere. Breeds throughout central Siberia. back to top
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Rare, summer migrant: One bird recorded from Nowra STW, December 1980; one from Shellharbour Swamp, September 1987; two at Killalea Lagoon, January to March 1995, one in January 1996 and two in January 1999. Breeds throughout central Siberia. back to top
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus [Schedule 2, vulnerable fauna] Rare, summer migrant: Lone birds recorded from Currarong, September 1933; Lake Wollumboola, November 1978; Windang, October 1983, February and December 1984, December 1985, March 1996 (3) and March 1997; lone birds recorded from Comerong Island, November 1986, March and November 1987. Breeds in central Siberia. back to top
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Rare, summer migrant: Lone birds recorded from Currarong, November 1946; Shoalhaven Heads, January 1959; Minnamurra River, February 1974; Comerong Island, March 1974, November 1976 and April 1977; Duck Creek at Tallawarra, January 1976; Macquarie Rivulet, February 1976; Hooka Point, Lake Illawarra, March 1981; Minnamurra River, January to February 1984; Fitzroy Falls, January 1984; Werri Lagoon, April 1985; Port Kembla Harbour, October 1988; Little Lake, December 1988 and December 1989; Yallah Bay, October 1992. Breeds throughout the interior of Siberia. back to top
Grey-tailed Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes Scarce, summer migrant:Estuaries with mud flats. Singly to flocks up to 20. Formerly uncommon, now only regularly recorded from Little Lake, Barrack Point. Previously occurred in flocks up to 20 at Windang until 1985, when its micro-habitat was destroyed by foreshore improvement works. Occasionally found (up to 4) in Curleys Bay and on the lower Crooked River in the Shoalhaven estuary. Breeds in central and eastern Siberia. This species population in the region is in danger of becoming extirpated. back to top
Wandering Tattler Heteroscelus incanus Rare, summer migrant: Lone birds recorded from Five Islands NR, February 1913 and January 1989; Windang Island, March and October 1983, March 1984 and March 1985; Bellambi Point, October 1989; North Port Kembla, February to March 1992, and April 1994; Barrack Point, February to March 1992. Breeds along alpine streams in Alaska and extreme north-eastern Siberia. back to top
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Moderately common, summer migrant: Coastal rock platforms and reefs, beaches, occasionally estuarine sandflats, with up to 83 at Bellambi Point; 45 at Crookhaven Heads; 40 at MM beach in summer. Elsewhere, mainly 1-10. Some birds overwinter. Breeds across far northern Siberia and Russia. back to top
Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus Accidental: One record, the second Australian record, of a lone bird in a flock of Bar-tailed Godwits from Shoalhaven Heads, February 1977. Breeds in southern Siberia, Mongolia and far north east China. back to top
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris [Schedule 2, vulnerable fauna] Scarce, summer migrant: Estuaries and tidal flats. One to nine birds regularly recorded from Lake Illawarra entrance, Shoalhaven Heads/Comerong Island and Lake Wollumboola. Breeds in north-eastern Siberia. back to top
Red Knot Calidris canutus Locally uncommon, summer migrant: Single birds to medium flocks on estuaries, tidal flats, beaches, with up to 195 recorded from Comerong Island; 100 from Griffins Bay, Lake Illawarra; 146 from Windang estuary; 60 from Lake Wollumboola; 30 from Sussex Inlet. Rare elsewhere. Often only recorded as a passage migrant from October to December, enroute to New Zealand. Breeds in north-eastern Siberia. back to top
A comparison of Bartailed and Balck-tailed Godwits back to top
A comparison of  Whimbrel (left) and Eastern Curlew (right) back to top

go to Part 10, Sanderling to Stone-curlew