I visited Busselton today with three others from Perth (Bill Rutherford,
Rolf Jensen and Wynton Maddeford). The Grey Heron was nowhere to be found :-(
We met a local from the Busselton Dunsborough Mail. He had photographed
the bird for Jim Lane an Monday afternoon when the bird was last
seen. There was an article on page 4. The photo will be given to Jim Lane
and will hopefully make its way through the rarities committee somewhere.
We searched many areas close by, and along the Vasse Estuary but without
luck. There was one false alarm on the Vasse Estuary. We could see a
couple of White-faced Herons with an obviously larger heron further
away. We tramped through the salt marsh to get a lot closer and set up the
scope ... The third heron was another White-faced. It is amazing what a
bit of heat haze, etc can do to sizes etc.
Some good birds for the area though were :
Rock Parrot (3), Banded Lapwing (2), Red-necked Avocet (2,000+), Banded
Stilt (1,000), White-bellied Sea-Eagle (2), Little Eagle (1), Wedge-tailed
Eagle (2), White-winged Triller (2), White-fronted Chat (~20 all up)
If I hear any further news then I will pass it on to birding-aus.
At 18:48 20/05/2002 +0800, Frank O'Connor wrote:
I have received a second hand report below of a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
from Busselton in the south west of WA. This would be a new species for
Australia if confirmed. I have no further details. I hope to visit in
the next few days (possibly Wednesday).
Subject: Grey Heron at Busselton!
Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 14:03:20 +0800
Thread-Topic: Grey Heron at Busselton!
From: "Blyth, John" <>
To: <>
I have just had a call from Jim Lane (CALM's very experienced water-bird
person) who, along with two of his wader watching volunteers, is
currently standing about 150m away from what he is certain is a Grey
Heron on the banks of the Vasse River! Jim and I are unaware of any
existing Australian records. I am unable to go down to Busselton but I
thought you might be able to contact people who might be keen enough to
do so. Jim's instructions as to finding the place where the heron is at
present are as follows.
Park car at the Tourist Bureau, just off the main road in Busselton in
Causeway Road. From the carpark walk about 20m to the southeast, then
about another 20m through a sign-posted Aboriginal garden, to the bank of
the Vasse River. Walk south (100 or so metres) along the west bank of the
river until a large area of open water is visible on your right. This is
the New River extending to the West. The heron is currently visible
perched on a large fallen branch at the water s edge, about 150 m from
where you would be standing.
Jim is going to write up a story for the next WABN but is unable to
photograph the bird himself, so anyone with a very long lens might be
able to get a suitable photo. He thinks a lens more than 600 ml would be
necessary.
___________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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