double-banded plover

Lowest tide of the year so far here at Wello and several of these getting set to make the return journey over the ditch to the South Island of New Zealand for the breeding season.

Several of these little fellows in Breeding Plumage made the morning worthwhile down at the Point.

http://www.waderquest.org/

Very difficult to hand hold the camera with the Sigma 500 prime yesterday arvo as the winds were so strong down here. Still another month or so before we see the migratory Waders

These Plovers tend to migrate to Australia from the South Island of New Zealand for winter. Apparently they prefer to do this than to compete for food with the birds on New Zealand's N . Island. This one is in breeding plumage and will shortly be heading back across the Tasman to breed

This Double-banded Plover was one of 60 or 70 on the east coast of Australia. More photos can be seen on my blog at http://topbirdsandeveryfing.typepad.com/top-birds-everyfing/ including some Bar-tailed Godwits.

Breeds in NZ and winters in Australia. We always get a few down at our local reef but this one was feeding along the sand at the local lake that was draining as it's mouth had been opened to the sea to prevent flooding in the area ( it's been raining a lot in Sydney over the last month or so )...

Male in full breeding plumage

Guess the tap dancing is a characteristic of most plover species when feeding. This plover still hangs around in Sydney, and many of its companions have already left for New Zealand

I visited the site just to catch up with this Double-banded Plover before it heads back to its breeding ground in New Zealand. Many have already left but those are still around has donned the colourful breeding plumage.

this might be the first one arriving back from breeding in the New Zealand home. we haven't seen them at our local lake before as they normally stay out on the reefs along the coast here.

one of a group of about 50 and several were in breeding plumage.

this little plover breeds in New Zealand and winters in Australia.