We had a particularly interesting morning at Narrabeen lakes (northern
beaches of Sydney)today.The focus of our visit was to check on the
progress of the nesting swans and we were rewarded with good views of
the two new cygnets which appear to be only days old.
While checking out the other water birds on the lake -a feeding party of
2 royal spoonbills , 3 egrets and a white faced heron were in the scope
at the time - Lyn caught sight of a raptor sitting on an exposed mud
flat.I thought it would be a whistling kite but we had enough time to
identify the peregrine falcon when it took off and made a pass at a duck
which took evasive action by diving.A closer look at the intended victim
showed it to be a musk duck,the first I have seen at Narrabeen in the 6
years we have been birdwatching there.
We also found one family group (2 ducklings) of grey teal as well as the
usual chestnut teal.
I was pleased to read of Andy Burton's sighting of an Osprey on Sunday
as that confirms the tentative identification we made when a largish
raptor flew overhead while we were sitting at the traffic lights at
Narrabeen on the same day.
Ian and Lyn Matthews
Elanora Heights
Sydney
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