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Northern Pintail near Grafton NSW

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Subject: Northern Pintail near Grafton NSW
From: "Allan Morris" <>
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2000 17:23:18 +1000
Hi Birders,
Dic & Margaret Branch and Eric Wheeler on their regular birdwatching tour around the Clarence Valley, Northern Rivers , NSW on 3 August 2000 called in  to Cowan Ponds, a well known birding site (regular place for Magpie Geese & Plumed Whistling Ducks) about 8 km W of Grafton. Here they were surprised to find an adult male Northern Pintail in full breeding plumage amongst the ducks on the wetland. All have seen Northern Pintails before, Eric on his recent trip to North America and the Branch's on a recent trip to the UK so that there was no problem with identification. The bird is still at the site (5/8/00) and all the local birders have been to see it. Cowans Ponds is a typical open freshwater wetland and reed swamp on the Clarence River Flood Plain.
 
The only published record that they are aware of for Northern Pintail in Australia is an adult male that was seen at Chandala Swamp, 50 km NE Perth, WA on 12 July 1985 (HANZAB). The WA record was condsidered to be an "Accidental reverse migration". Northern Pintails are not ducks regular kept in waterfowl collections in Australia so it is unlikely to be an escapee. If there have been any subsequent sightings in Australia I would be interested to hear about it in order that I can pass the information onto Eric Wheeler.
 
Alan Morris
Records Officer, NSWFOC
Tel 02 43 891390
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