Shorebirds at Pumicestone Passage
The Pumicestone Passage is a high value shorebird habitat thanks to its sandbanks and mudflats.
View the map to see the shorebird habitat in the Pumicestone Passage (PDF, 1.41MB).
Pumicestone Passage shorebird species
Spotting shorebirds
View this map to for the best locations to see shorebirds at the Pumicestone Passage. Shorebirds are best observed during low tide using binoculars or a spotting scope. Free binoculars for shorebird watching are installed at the Jellicoe Street Foreshore Park at Golden Beach.
Here is a sample of the shorebirds you might spot.
Shorebird surveys
Regular surveys take place at the Pumicestone Passage, as part of the shorebird conservation action plan.
Recent sightings include:
Pumicestone Passage 1 November 2023
- far eastern curlew (critically endangered)
- bar-tailed godwit (vulnerable)
- whimbrel
- pacific golden plover
- red-capped plover incl. chick
- grey-tailed tattler
- red knots (endangered)
- curlew sandpipers (critically endangered)
- pied oystercatcher
- pied stilt.
Pumicestone Passage 29 August 2023
- whimbrel
- pied stilts
- eastern curlews
- pied oystercatchers
- bar-tailed godwits
- double-banded plovers
- > 1000 terns (gull-billed, crested)
- egrets and herons.
Pumicestone passage winter survey July 2023
- double-banded plover
- pied oystercatcher
- pied stilt
- red-capped plover
- royal spoonbill
- whimbrel
- >100 terns (common, crested, little, caspian).