This is from Lana Little, District Ranger, Northern Gulf-Einasleigh,
Chillagoe, Queensland. She is not on Birding-aus.
"On 23.08.97, Richard Johnstone was in my District collecting plant
material for the Mt Annan Botanical Gardens (attached administratively to
Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney). At the time, he was at Cardross Dam,
about 25km west of the Blacktown turnoff from the Burke Developmental Road,
NW of Chillagoe.
Mr Johnstone reports seeing a Freckled Duck Stictonetta nævosa out near the
middle of the water in association with about six Green Pygmy-geese. The
Freckled Duck lacked the red bill-base of the breeding male. Johnstone
reports its behaviour as very wary, unlike the Black Ducks, Grey Teals and
Wood Ducks that were also present.
Mr Johnstone informed me that many of the water bodies in the south that
would normally harbour this bird are severely drought-affected, which may
account for its presence so far north."
Per Glen Ingram
Brisbane, Australia.
"Agesilaus, the Spartan king, was once invited to hear a mimic imitate the
nightingale, but declined with the comment that he had heard the
nightingale itself" Plutarch.
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