Globetrotters and Stay-at-homes
From October to March, you might see migratory waders such as Red-necked Stints, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Whimbrels roosting on the beach or feeding on small animals in the exposed mud at low tide. They need to feed furiously so they are fit to fly to their breeding grounds in Northern Asia.

Endless Summer!
A Sandpiper’s diary reads like a holiday brochure! They spend the summer on lakes and beaches in W. A. then fly north to catch the summer in their northern hemisphere breeding grounds.

Not all our waders are globetrotters, though.

Australian Residents
Black-winged Stilts, Banded Stilts, Red-necked Avocets and Red-capped Plovers live and breed in Australia. Pairs of Red-capped Plovers often nest on bare, sandy areas in the reserve.

Just Visiting
22 Species of migratory shorebirds (waders) visit the estuary between October and March each year. The migrants that you are most likely to see are shown in the line-up below.

Shorebird Statistics
Weight: 30g (Red-necked Stint) —1.25 kg (Eastern Curlew)
Lifespan: up to 18 years
Distance flown: up to 24 000 km per year
Breeding grounds: Northern Asia, Alaska
Stop-over sites: East Asia