TOORA AGAIN

 An interstate friend had tried once for the Hudsonian Whimbrel and failed, and decided to try again.  I was delighted for an excuse to get the bird onto my 2022 list, so grabbed at the opportunity to accompany him to Toora.  The best thing about this was, he did all the homework.  He studied the tide times and booked the motel.  All I had to do was to tag along.  I picked him up at Avalon airport and we had a pleasant drive down to Gippsland.

One of the best things about a twitch is the interesting birders you meet at the site.  There are usually people you know and haven't seen for years, people you've heard of and always wanted to meet, and other, new birders, each with their own tales to tell.  In fact, I met one of my best birding companions at a twitch:  PJ.  I met him at Lake Tutchewop in November 2014, where we rewarded with the Long-billed Dowitcher on our second drive up from Melbourne.  PJ and I had some wonderful twitches together after that, including the South Island Oystercatcher and the Aleutian Tern.

On this occasion, there were several fascinating birders in the Toora birdhide, waiting for the whimbrel to appear.  There was a young Kiwi who had packed in his job, and planned to spend a year travelling and birding Australia.  What an adventure!  And there were several local birders from Foster, all with memorable birdy anecdotes.  We happily whiled away the time until a flock of whimbrels appeared.

View from Toora birdhide

We had compiled a short birdlist before the whimbrels put in their appearance.  We were entertained by a White-bellied Sea Eagle and both Sooty and Pied Oystercatchers.  There were several Pacific Gulls, in immaculate plumage.  Best of all were two Caspian Terns with their youngster.  And there were several small passerines hopping around amongst the mangroves:  fairywrens, fantails, Silvereyes and Brown Thornbills.  Forest Ravens flew by, helpfully calling to ensure they were noticed.  

Then, at last, eight whimbrels flew in.  One of the locals informed us that the previous afternoon, there had been a flock of eight whimbrels, which comprised seven Eurasian Whimbrels plus the much desired Hudsonian.  Needless to say, the whimbrels had our full attention.  Scopes were focused.  Chatter ceased.  It didn't take long.

The cry went up.  'Third from the left!'  Great excitement!  We all noted the more obvious white eyebrow, the slightly different shaped bill, and slightly larger size.  Later, we were to observe the darker tail and underwings.

A successful twitch is always cause for celebration, and a twitch that succeeds on the second attempt has twice the reason to rejoice.  A bottle of bubby at the Foster pub was duly appreciated.