Craigie Reserve, Kanwal

The White-headed Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus is included as a sub-species of Himantopus himantopus, the Black-winged Stilt by Christidis and Boles. The American version is the Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus. Given that they all seem to have white heads, black wings and black necks, the common names aren’t particularly imaginative.

There were a small group of them off the shore of Craigie Reserve, this morning. I haven’t seen the huge flocks that we usually see in the estuaries, and thought they had gone outback with the other waders and ducks.