On Friday, I visited Lake McLarty near Pinjarra south east of Perth with
two Dutch friends. The water level is excellent (although lower than most
previous years for mid December, but much higher than 2001).
The waterbirds were phenomemal, with an estimate 30,000 plus birds. Rough
estimates are as follows :
WADERS :
Red-necked Stint 4,000 to 5,000
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 2,000 to 2,500
Curlew Sandpiper 200 to 300 (with one Victorian leg flagged CS reported to
AWSG)
Common Greenshank 5 to 10
Long-toed Stint 5 to 10
RUFF 1
PECTORAL SANDPIPER 1
BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER 1
Red-capped Plover 400 to 500
Black-winged Stilt / Banded Stilt / Red-necked Avocet 3,000 to 5,000
Red-kneed Dotterel 1
GULLS / TERNS :
Silver Gull 50 to 100
Whiskered Tern 3 (in near breeding plumage)
DUCKS / SWANS
Grey Teal 5,000 to 10,000
Australian Shelduck 1,000 to 2,000
Black Swan ~500
Eurasian Coot ~750
BLACK-TAILED NATIVE-HEN 9
Pacific Black Duck 10 to 100
Australasian Shoveller 100+
OTHER WATERBIRDS :
White-necked Heron 3
Yellow-billed Spoonbill 7
White-faced Heron 20+
Australian Pelican 4
We only covered about 25% of the shoreline (on the eastern side), and a
very quick look on the west side. The purpose of our visit was not to
count the birds, so the estimates are very rough, and done after the
visit. I am sure that some species would have been undercounted (hence our
estimate of 30,000 birds but a total above of less than that).
The water level looked like good conditions should last for another two to
three weeks, and then perhaps the water level might get too low and the
numbers will drop off quickly.
PS : The Freckled Ducks seem to be flocking to the coast. Last Tuesday we
counted at least 61 Freckled Ducks at Herdsman Lake in Perth (I think there
were probably at least 70+) but they were hard to count as they moved
around to some extent. This is the highest count of Freckled Ducks that I
am aware of in WA in one place for quite some time. Great photo
opportunities, as you could approach some to within 10 metres while they
loafed on the bank.
___________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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