Many thanks Joy
Today (Monday) two male Freckled Ducks were there at Edithvale
Wetlands from c1215 to 1430 (when I left).
Easily seen - but not easily identified - from the viewing
platform (always open) near the hide (open Sat and Sun 1-5pm).
They were resting in shallow water about 50m SE of the hide and
for almost all the time looked rather like round buffish-grey
balloons with a grey triangle (or bump with a little point)
projecting at 11 o'clock.
When I first saw them I thought they might be resting shovellers
or.. and went along the north side of the wetlands. Gorgeous
Flame Robin and Horsfields Bronze-cuckoo in the sunshine of this
20C day. And about 25 Blue-billed Duck in a interesting range of
plumages (eg. males in transitional plumage with greeny-grey
bills).....
On my return to the hide area the Freckled Ducks preened for a
while and were disturbed by other birds. So I saw features like
the very short folded wings relative to total length, amazing
long thin (spatulate?) bill with pinkish-red base (both
birds)...
Michael Norris
Sometimes I twitch !
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