Hooded plover

Description:

Two very cautious small birds about 200mm long. One was banded. (estimated 3000 left).

Habitat:

These two were teaming up to hunt sand dwelling insects on a windswept ocean beach. Tall sand dunes at the base of an old aboriginal midden were the backdrop.

Notes:

Also known as Hooded Dotterel. Their method of hunting was amusing but interesting. In perfect unison they would suddenly trot forwards about 2 metres then simultaneously 'freeze' watching for any insect that might reveal itself by moving. Then repeat. This is actually one of 2 subspecies - T. r. rubricollis From Wiki... " It is threatened by habitat loss because of its small population and native range. It is a non-migratory inhabitant of coastal and subcoastal South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and is a vagrant in Queensland. Fox predation is a major threat to the western subspecies. "