INTRODUCTION
• This report describes the successful breeding of Pied Oystercatchers (APO), Little Tern(LT)
and Beach Stone-Curlew(BSC) on Corrie Island Nature Reserve and the adjacent Winda
Woppa sandspit in the summer of 2025/26.
Corrie Island and the Winda Woppa sandspit are located at the mouth of the Myall River in Port Stephens, New South Wales. Corrie Island is a low, delta island of sand and shingle facing the port, with the riverside
boundaries made up of mangrove communities. (Figure 1) A gazetted Nature Reserve
managed by NSW NPWS it forms part of the Myall Lakes Ramsar site. The Winda Woppa
sandspit is a recreational reserve of the Mid Coast Council. It is used as a stockpile site
for dredged spoil from the eastern entrance to the Myall River.
• Pied Oystercatchers are known to have been present on Corrie Island and the Winda
Woppa sandspit since 2000.
Nests were first located in both areas in 2017. Since then,
nesting has been reported regularly at both sites. The first large Little Tern colony was
monitored in 2017 on the dredged sand mound at Winda Woppa and subsequent
colonies on Corrie Island have also been monitored regularly since then. This year is the
first since 2017 of a recorded Beach Stone-curlew nest on Corrie Island.
• The Pied Oystercatcher and Little Tern are listed as Endangered in NSW, while the Beach
Stone-curlew is Critically Endangered (Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016).
METHODOLOGY
The majority of the survey work was completed by Trish Blair and Sharon Taylor with some welcome assistance from Kit and Richard Streamer. The surveys were done approximately weekly, from mid-
September to late January, weather and tides permitting. The surveys were mostly conducted in the
early morning when tides allowed and wind conditions were most favourable. Kayaks launched from
Swan bay and The Anchorage at Winda Woppa were used to access the eastern shore of Corrie
Island, before proceeding on foot to the western end. Surveys of APO and BSC were conducted by
inputting records into the ArcGIS Survey123 NSW Beach nesting Birds programme and Little Tern
records were entered into a state-wide google drive programme named Saving our Species – Beach
Nesting Birds both created or adapted by NSW NPWS
All avian species seen along the access route and the near the nesting sites were recorded in the
field by Sharon Taylor and uploaded into Birdlife Australia’s database by Neil Fraser. For the three
breeding species, adults in breeding plumage, nest locations, numbers of eggs, chicks and fledglings
were recorded. These observations were supplemented by incidental observations made remotely
by NSW National Parks Wildlife Service (NPWS) personnel from trail cameras installed in various
strategic positions on the Island and by visits to the sites by NPWS personnel and volunteers
RESULTS – Pied Oystercatchers
Seven pair of APO attempted nesting this year. Two on the mainland and 5 on the island. The more senior pair
who have consistently laid successfully on the Winda Woppa sand mound, attempted early in October amid all
the mechanical activity of sand dredging, stockpiling and removal. The evidence of this attempt was one
abandoned egg on the mound. Nick Coleman and Peter Goonan noted on 21 November that the egg was some
weeks old and the chick may have died trying to open the shell. Kit Streamer also noted this egg the following
day. There was no further evidence found of subsequent attempts.
The pair who first attempted breeding around the river/shortcut corner last season laid 2 eggs high on the
sand approx. 100m upriver from the corner. This nest was unfortunately destroyed by inundation from extra
high tidal activity. No evidence of further attempts was found.
On Corrie Island the pairs returned to their annual breeding territories and 5 nests each with two eggs were
recorded thus – NE, E, Lagoon, W, West beach. (In previous years they were NE, SE, Lagoon, SW & NW) See
Figure 2
There was an extra pair consistently around the SE corner of the island east of the lagoon, in a location
previously chosen by POC for nesting, but no nest or chicks resulted this year.
Five fledglings were recorded from these five nests, though there may have been a second one from West beach.
Seven pair of APO attempted nesting this year. Two on the mainland and 5 on the island. The more senior pair
who have consistently laid successfully on the Winda Woppa sand mound, attempted early in October amid all
the mechanical activity of sand dredging, stockpiling and removal. The evidence of this attempt was one
abandoned egg on the mound. Nick Coleman and Peter Goonan noted on 21 November that the egg was some
weeks old and the chick may have died trying to open the shell. Kit Streamer also noted this egg the following
day. There was no further evidence found of subsequent attempts.
The pair who first attempted breeding around the river/shortcut corner last season laid 2 eggs high on the
sand approx. 100m upriver from the corner. This nest was unfortunately destroyed by inundation from extra
high tidal activity. No evidence of further attempts was found.
On Corrie Island the pairs returned to their annual breeding territories and 5 nests each with two eggs were
recorded thus – NE, E, Lagoon, W, West beach. (In previous years they were NE, SE, Lagoon, SW & NW) See
Figure 2
There was an extra pair consistently around the SE corner of the island east of the lagoon, in a location
previously chosen by POC for nesting, but no nest or chicks resulted this year.
Five fledglings were recorded from these five nests, though there may have been a second one from West beach.
RESULTS – Beach Stone-Curlew
For the first time in the nine years since Neil Fraser and then Sharon and I have been monitoring birds on
Corrie, a pair of BSC laid an egg in the vicinity of the lagoon. It was a very exciting moment when this nest was
discovered in mid October, though we did think it could be about to happen with the pair being seen behaving
skittishly in that area a week beforehand.
The chick hatched about a month later. The exact date wasn’t recorded, but photos afterwards showed the
BSC family visiting the nest area for around 5 weeks.
While the adults have been seen on the Island until 21 January, the juvenile’s whereabouts haven’t been
confirmed since they moved away from that camera. Literature on BSC breeding is scarce. It is believed the
chick remains well hidden for many months. The fledgling age isn’t precise or well documented.
Notification of any BSC observations from anyone in the area, preferably with photos and dates would be
welcome. We know they venture up the river at least as far as Fisherman’s Walk cove, so please keep a lookout!
Observations and recordings of three birds – two adults and a juvenile would be an important record of breeding
success for this species this season.
For the first time in the nine years since Neil Fraser and then Sharon and I have been monitoring birds on
Corrie, a pair of BSC laid an egg in the vicinity of the lagoon. It was a very exciting moment when this nest was
discovered in mid October, though we did think it could be about to happen with the pair being seen behaving
skittishly in that area a week beforehand.
The chick hatched about a month later. The exact date wasn’t recorded, but photos afterwards showed the
BSC family visiting the nest area for around 5 weeks.
While the adults have been seen on the Island until 21 January, the juvenile’s whereabouts haven’t been
confirmed since they moved away from that camera. Literature on BSC breeding is scarce. It is believed the
chick remains well hidden for many months. The fledgling age isn’t precise or well documented.
Notification of any BSC observations from anyone in the area, preferably with photos and dates would be
welcome. We know they venture up the river at least as far as Fisherman’s Walk cove, so please keep a lookout!
Observations and recordings of three birds – two adults and a juvenile would be an important record of breeding
success for this species this season.
RESULTS – Little Tern
After the very successful breeding from a small colony of 40+ adults last season in the vicinity of the lagoon
on Corrie Island, three times that number established a colony in roughly the same area this season (see
Figure 3 little Tern colony map)
An estimated 60 pair laid 155 eggs in 61 nests at the peak of the breeding recorded on 25 November.( see
Figure 4) Two thirds of the nests contained 3 eggs, but it is unusual to see more than 2 chicks survive to or
beyond hatching. The final number of nests recorded was 98, which includes 2nd attempts due to unknown
factors, but probably predation of eggs/chicks or infertile eggs.
This group proved hard to record accurately as the colony was quite spread out and our weekly to 10 day
visits were not enough to record all newly laid nests in a timely manner and to observe the vital days of
hatching for every nest. Recording an accurate count of the number of adults in breeding plumage was
extremely difficult as there were always some birds fishing away from the site and the non-breeding ones
weren’t easy to see in flight.
The most important data is the number of pairs, the number of eggs and the number of chicks that survive to
fledgling stage. From an estimated sixty breeding pairs we counted 43 fledglings six weeks after the peak
number of nests were laid. This translates to a good breeding success rate of .7 fledglings per nest.[It takes 3 weeks for the eggs to incubate and another 3 weeks for the chicks to fledge].
After the very successful breeding from a small colony of 40+ adults last season in the vicinity of the lagoon
on Corrie Island, three times that number established a colony in roughly the same area this season (see
Figure 3 little Tern colony map)
An estimated 60 pair laid 155 eggs in 61 nests at the peak of the breeding recorded on 25 November.( see
Figure 4) Two thirds of the nests contained 3 eggs, but it is unusual to see more than 2 chicks survive to or
beyond hatching. The final number of nests recorded was 98, which includes 2nd attempts due to unknown
factors, but probably predation of eggs/chicks or infertile eggs.
This group proved hard to record accurately as the colony was quite spread out and our weekly to 10 day
visits were not enough to record all newly laid nests in a timely manner and to observe the vital days of
hatching for every nest. Recording an accurate count of the number of adults in breeding plumage was
extremely difficult as there were always some birds fishing away from the site and the non-breeding ones
weren’t easy to see in flight.
The most important data is the number of pairs, the number of eggs and the number of chicks that survive to
fledgling stage. From an estimated sixty breeding pairs we counted 43 fledglings six weeks after the peak
number of nests were laid. This translates to a good breeding success rate of .7 fledglings per nest.[It takes 3 weeks for the eggs to incubate and another 3 weeks for the chicks to fledge].
Conclusion and Discussion
This breeding season has been a successful one for Pied Oystercatchers and Little Tern. While the loss of chicks and eggs cannot be directly attributed, avian species such as silver gulls are known predators of eggs and small chicks and were present. Little Tern were observed ‘seeing off’ a group of silver gull, so they could account for some losses. Australian raven were in the area but not observed near the colony. Some egg failure due to infertility is normal, plus parent inexperience can play a part.
Timely signage installation and field cameras monitored by NPWS have deterred human disturbance to a great degree, and contributed important data about the BSC and other animals on the Island. Management of canid species has played a huge part in these positive results and will need to be ongoing for these beach nesting birds to maintain healthy populations over time. The regular presence of rangers over the Summer holidays on both Corrie and Winda Woppa breeding areas would help educate the public to stay away from nesting areas.
Port Stephens, and especially the Winda Woppa and Corrie Island areas have been established as internationally significant to Pied Oystercatcher breeding. Corrie Island is also important to the success of Little Tern breeding, with results that are significant in NSW, as a ratio of breeding success to colony size.
With the arrival on the Island of the Beach Stone-curlew pair, the importance of this area for Endangered and Critically
endangered Beach Nesting Birds keeps increasing. As the BSC juvenile hasn’t been observed since December, it is unknown at this stage whether it has survived and fledged.
It is suggested that the BSC pair may be the same ones that have regularly raised fledglings over the last thirteen years on Dowadee Island near Soldiers Point on the south side of Port Stephens. It is speculated that they moved away from that low lying location due to more regular inundation from high tides. A sign of climate change triggering breeding site choices. And in this case, if they come back next season, the conditions Corrie Island offers is fortuitous for their survival and lends weight to the need for more resources and protection for these birds in this location.
This breeding season has been a successful one for Pied Oystercatchers and Little Tern. While the loss of chicks and eggs cannot be directly attributed, avian species such as silver gulls are known predators of eggs and small chicks and were present. Little Tern were observed ‘seeing off’ a group of silver gull, so they could account for some losses. Australian raven were in the area but not observed near the colony. Some egg failure due to infertility is normal, plus parent inexperience can play a part.
Timely signage installation and field cameras monitored by NPWS have deterred human disturbance to a great degree, and contributed important data about the BSC and other animals on the Island. Management of canid species has played a huge part in these positive results and will need to be ongoing for these beach nesting birds to maintain healthy populations over time. The regular presence of rangers over the Summer holidays on both Corrie and Winda Woppa breeding areas would help educate the public to stay away from nesting areas.
Port Stephens, and especially the Winda Woppa and Corrie Island areas have been established as internationally significant to Pied Oystercatcher breeding. Corrie Island is also important to the success of Little Tern breeding, with results that are significant in NSW, as a ratio of breeding success to colony size.
With the arrival on the Island of the Beach Stone-curlew pair, the importance of this area for Endangered and Critically
endangered Beach Nesting Birds keeps increasing. As the BSC juvenile hasn’t been observed since December, it is unknown at this stage whether it has survived and fledged.
It is suggested that the BSC pair may be the same ones that have regularly raised fledglings over the last thirteen years on Dowadee Island near Soldiers Point on the south side of Port Stephens. It is speculated that they moved away from that low lying location due to more regular inundation from high tides. A sign of climate change triggering breeding site choices. And in this case, if they come back next season, the conditions Corrie Island offers is fortuitous for their survival and lends weight to the need for more resources and protection for these birds in this location.
