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Spent a hot morning birding at Lake Samsonvale on th March.Got
there bright & early to find the elusive King Quail.Alas, despite hours of
walking along the mown tracks through the chest-high grass, and hearing and
seeing many Brown Quail, enough Tawny Grassbird
and Golden-headed Cisticola to keep the binos jumping
every minute, yet again I was forced to consider the obvious. Tom Tarrant had
failed to release them from his avairy up the road at Daybro !!! What do I need
to do to get the same service as you give the Mexicans, Tom?
Pocketing the disappointment I ultimately headed for the water, and the growing
muddy shoreline.Things improved with the highlight being 53+
Great-crested Grebe scoped on a wide expanse of water.Found 4
species of duck, withHardhead predominant, didn't conduct a
detailed count but must have been close to 700.Only 2 raptors (Whistling
Kite and Australian Kestrel) ,3 egrets, 2 ibis, and
Royal Spoonbill. Scanned the edges hoping for Painted Snipe,
given their rash of appearances elsewhere this summer, but could only locate a
Buff-banded Rail. No waders as such,but plenty of
Black-winged Stilt and a handful of Black-fronted
Dotterel.One Gull-billed Tern amongst a few
Crested Tern and an occassional Silver
Gull.
Bush birds as expected, with great views of a number of
Shining-bronze Cuckoo. All up, 56 species and a need to raid
the secret breeding location of Mr.Tarrant's King Quail.
Russ Lamb,
Maleny,SEQ
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