Stilt Sandpiper at the Western Treatment Plant

We made a half day trip to the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee today to see the Stilt Sandpiper, this bird has only been seen in Australia on a handful of occasions. We found the sandpiper at the T-section lagoons associating with a few Common Greenshank and Curlew Sandpiper. The Stilt Sandpiper looked very like the Curlew Sandpipers and similar in size however its bill was longer and legs were a yellowish colour unlike the black legs of the Curlew Sandpipers. After viewing the Stilt Sandpiper we took a drive down to Kirk Point, although it was high tide the rocks on the point were exposed and we were happy to find a couple of Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, a Red Knot and a few different species of tern, including White-winged Black Tern and Common Tern. There was also two White-Bellied Sea Eagles perched at Lake Borrie.

Most parts of the Western Treatment Plant are accessible only with a permit, however the road to Kirk Point is open to the public so no permit is required to visit this area. The T-section lagoons can be visited with a day permit and key, which can be obtained by contacting Melbourne Water. Other areas of the plant require a special access permit which can only be acquired after attending an induction session.