> Hi everyone,
> Here's a few highlights from the past couple of days birding.
> On Saturday had the pleasure of showing an American couple around. Only
> their second day in Australia so we stopped for everything! My plans for
the
> day were cut down to one third of the number of sites. Fair enough too as
> they wanted to get good looks at it all.
> First major stop was a good area of mallee just north of INGLEWOOD in
> central Vic.
> It understandably took some time for them to get their heads around the 10
> species of Honeyeater present (poor things). I think we invented a few new
> ones...White-tufted?,Yellow-eared...?
> Needless to say they were impressed with the Aussie bush.
> We managed good views of Shy Heathwren,Spotted Pardalote(that got a "wow"
in
> the notebook),and Eastern Rosella("WOW").
> It got me wondering ,with so many honeyeaters of so many species in such a
> concentrated area there seemed to be little or no aggression between
them.?
> Perhaps it was a superabundance of food but there didn't appear to be any
> heavy flowering.??
> Then to MT. EGBERT near Korong Vale.
> A good spot for Gilbert's Whistler but not today. 2Wedgies were
> impressive,and a pair of Hooded Robins, but the Diamond Firetails stole
the
> show.
> Lastly to HIRD SWAMP.
> With low water levels and lignum and cumbungi thats swamped the swamp! it
> was hard work seeing a lot. We found a Blue-billed Duck and a couple of
> Spotted Crakes amongst others.
> My American friends saw nearly 50 lifers for the day and left very happy!
>
> Now to today.
> Checked some of the Kerang lakes I'd missed out on Saturday.
> TUTCHEWOP and KELLY LAKE both had higher water levels and fewer birds!?
> LAKE MURPHY more than made up for the others.
> The water level is dropping and it's perfect for waders there now. (and
> perhaps not for much longer).
> Best of all was a large RUFF with greyish legs (imm?) and a small REEVE
with
> bright orange legs(adult?).
> Not far behind was a single PECTORAL Sandpiper.
> A few hundred Sharp-tailed Sandpipers,lots of Red-kneed Dotterel,a few
> Glossy Ibis,Marsh Sands,Greenshank etc and 3 adult BROLGA amongst the
> throngs of other waterbirds. Not usual to see these stately birds mixing
it
> with all the other lesser mortals!!
> Lake Murphy is SW of Kerang. Take Bott Road east off the Kerang/ Boort
> road..
>
> Cheers,
> Simon Starr.
> Pyramid Hill,
> Vic.
>
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