Australia Part 29: shorebirds at Barron River Mouth and Cairns Esplanade Oct 7

Описание: This video covers our visit to Machans Beach, at Barron River Mouth, on our way back to Cairns. We had seen a report of a Little Tern (or was it Fairy?) there, so why not have a look-see? We didn't spot any tiny terns among the Silver Gulls and Great Crester Terns roosting on the sand. However, while we watched through that flock of resting seabirds, a Roseated Tern came flying by. That was nice, it's only my second time seeing that species :-)
We also had nice, close views of a Ruddy Turnstone and an adult male Red-capped Plover, busy foraging and mostly ignoring us. There were also a few nervous Red-necked Stints present, and they didn't ignore anything or anyone... Not us and not the Plover who seemed to take extra pleasure chasing them away every time they happened to get closer to me where I was sitting and waiting for just that result...
When we were happy with our visit there we continued to Cairns and checked in at our hotel. This time we had chosen one of the big ones, close to the Plaza. It's a shorter way to walk to the harbour tomorrow morning, for our Michaelmas Cay boat tour.
After check-in we walked the short way to the Esplanade and enjoyed all the present birds. Tide wasn't low, but seemed to be on the way out and the mudpeeps were numerous. Not in species, maybe, but in numbers. Grey-tailed Tattler, Terek Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Knot, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper were the most common. Interspersed between the larger numbers of bigger peeps were a few Curlew Sandpipers and Red-necked Stints.
We had a tasty early dinner at Muddy's Café, while watching the birdlife, then continued our stroll along the walkway. Eventually the tide came in again, after sunset, but so far most of the birds stayed put, resting and foraging. It was a magical evening, with hoards of people enjoying it.