Ruddy Turnstone!

Arenaria interpres

Spent a good portion of today down south of Perth at a place called Rockhingham. It was a perfect summer's day. Clear blue skies, turquoise water, crisp white sand....and a balmy 31 degrees!

We visited Point Peron after a lovey lunch on the foreshore and I came across these awesome little turnstones - a new bird for me and also for the blipbigyear! Gotta get one last one in before the year is up!

The Ruddy Turnstone is a stocky medium-sized wader with short orange-red legs. The distinctive marking and dark and white pattern in flight make the Ruddy Turnstone unmistakable, along with their habitat of turning over stones.
In Australia, Ruddy Turnstones are widespread around the coast of the mainland and off-shore islands. They breed on the northern coasts of Europe, Asia and North America. They are found on coastlines around the world, when not breeding or on passage.

After breeding in the northern hemisphere, Ruddy Turnstones migrate south. There are five breeding populations. The birds migrating to Australia breed in east Siberia and west Alaska, moving through south-east Asia then south to Australia. Some birds appear to migrate south across the Pacific Ocean, island-hopping to the east coast and to New Zealand, probably returning north again via east Asia. They visit Australia from about September to May.

Ruddy Turnstones feed busily, by probing, pecking and poking into cracks. They turn over stones and seaweed to find insects, crustaceans, molluscs and spiders. They sometimes eat eggs and carrion (dead things), feeding by day and night.


The secluded and sheltered beaches of Point Peron make paddling in the water great fun for doggies as there are next to no waves - just have to be careful of the rocks! I waded in to my thighs and coaxed Bonnie out - trying to get her to go for a swim. She wasn't happy about it but did actually get her paws off the bottom for about 10 seconds! Proud of my girl :)

I had to backblip yesterday's bee shot due to not being able to access a computer yesterday. Have a look if you like :)