Silver Gulls © 2010 Peter Rothlisberg
Site information:
Queens Esplanade, Thorneside, is an excellent place to view a variety of waders on the mudflats. One of the advantages of this site is being able to get close to the birds, particularly in the early stages of a receding tide. In addition, when the high tide is below 1.9 m in height, some waders roost at the eastern end of the foreshore or in the vicinity of the mangroves at Mooroondu Point, just to the northwest.
Most sandpipers and plovers occurring in south-east Queensland are readily observed here. Red Knot passing through south-east Queensland from September to December can be compared with the more common Great Knot. Close views of Lesser Sand Plover and Greater Sand Plover provide a good opportunity to compare these two species.
How to get there: Thorneside is located on the south-eastern outskirts of Brisbane, about 18 km from the central business district. Thorneside is reached by driving east along Wynnum Road and then Manly Road. Turn right into Green Camp Road and then a quick left into Rickertt Road. After crossing Tingalpa Creek, turn left into Thorneside Road and then right into John Street, which runs into Queens Esplanade.
Site coordinates: Lat 27º 20’ 57” S, Long 153º 12’ 16” E.
Amenities/access: Toilets and picnic facilities are nearby in Beth Boyd Park at the western end of the Esplanade. This site is easily accessible for disabled people.
Wader species: Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eastern Curlew, Common Greenshank, Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, Great Knot, Red Knot, Red-necked Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Pied Oystercatcher, Black-winged Stilt, Pacific Golden Plover, Red-capped Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover and Masked Lapwing.
Other species: Striated Heron, Caspian Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Crested Tern and Little Tern.
