Directions:
Caloundra Rd runs from the Bruce Highway east 10km to Caloundra. After
your first glimpse of the sea you pass through three roundabouts and various
traffic lights. At the second traffic lights after the (aforementioned)
third roundabout turn right into Park Place, towards Golden Beach. (Be sure
not to follow the first sign to Golden Beach at the first lights.) Park Pl
is only a short stretch, and becomes the Esplanade, which follows the water
alongside the Pumicestone Passage. Look for a park as soon as you see water
on your left side, where the buildings give way to open space. This would be
about 500 metres from the traffic lights where you have turned. On your
right you will see the little kiosk, which is Bill’s Boats, and the boats
are launched opposite Bill’s. This is where you can hire a tinnie.
George from Bill’s Boats knows where we go every week.
Or you can set up your scope from here anywhere along the Golden Beach
Esplanade.
Birds occupy various sandbanks between Golden Beach and Bribie Island,
dependant upon the tide. A high tide will push them north in the Passage, a
low tide will give them plenty of options. As Easter means full moon, it
also means very high and very low tides. Birds numbers build up as light
fades, and during the day it’s pot luck how many birds you will find
roosting on the sandbanks. For example, one Thursday survey gave
a small flock of only 3000 terns, and yet on the Monday there was a flock of about
16-20,000 around 4pm. Evening viewing is usually best from the Bulcock Beach boardwalk, but
if the birds take a different route in from the sea, you have to be
flexible.
If, rather than turning onto Golden Beach, you can head straight on into town
and to Shelley Beach. The path from Shelley Beach to Moffat Beach takes you along Caloundra Headland.
The rocky shore here is good for Sooty Oystercatchers and Reef Egrets and Brown Honeyeater and Little Wattlebird are often
abundant here in the coastal shrubs and Norfolk Pine.
eBird bird list: https://ebird.org/australia/hotspot/L2560447
