Wandering the paths of Manly Dam reserve a couple of days ago, I met a fellow birdwatcher. He showed me some pictures of a bird that he’d seen, and asked me if I knew what it was. I didn’t, which of course was gratifying to both of us. Something new! I wandered along to the rocks where he’d seen the bird. Sure enough, two pretty little waterbirds dashed back and forth along the water’s edge, poking their beaks into the green sludge on the rocks. I managed to photograph one of them (though I’m not sure it’s always the same bird in these photos).

I wondered if it was some type of stilt, but the beak and legs weren’t long enough. My fellow birdwatcher had suggested it was a juvenile plover.

The bird had a distinctive V-shaped black marking on its chest.

Consultation of my bird book revealed that these are Black-fronted Dotterels. They’re a type of plover. I heard them make their call, a series of short pips. Evidently they’re common and widespread, though I’ve not seen them in my area before.

Common name: Black-fronted Dotterel
Scientific name: Charadrius (Elseyornis) melanops
Approximate length: 16-18 cm
Date spotted: 22 September 2024 (spring)
Location: Manly Dam Park, New South Wales, Australia: 33°46’31.1″S 151°14’47.9″E