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Hi all
Last Saturday I was out with an American birder and
we were at Lake Samsonvale nw of Brisbane (Tom Tarrant territory).
There were about 400 pelicans hard at work accompanied by a couple of
thousand cormorants (estimated). These were about equal numbers of Greats
and Little Blacks. The Pelicans were swimming around in circles and the
cormorants were diving among them. Also close by were a couple of thousand
Coots and over a thousand Hardheads. Another highlight was a White-bellied
Sea-Eagle harassing the Coots and ducks. Every time it flew low over the
Coots, they formed a solid raft, dipped their heads under and then up in the
air. The ducks dived, flew and generally scattered.
There were a number of other waterfowl species
around in less impressive numbers. We also had a Southern Boobook being
harassed by Figbirds, Little Shrike-Thrushes, Leaden Flycatchers, Rufous
Whistlers and Spangled Drongos. One Drongo persisted long after the others
had all given up. Nearby we had great views of a Wompoo Pigeon feeding on
Moreton Bay figs only about 5 metres from us.
All in all some memorable birding with about 80
species in a couple of hours. Another interesting episode involved a
large Eastern Brown Snake visiting us as we sat having lunch. I have never
seen someone get up on a picnic table so quickly.
Cheers
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