For
any interested Perth birders, or anyone heading
for Perth over the holiday period, Herdsman Lake
in the Perth
metropolitan area is presently in excellent condition, having had good winter
rains. Many areas normally dry are under water (including the paperbark
swamp serviced by the boardwalk near the Gould League Centre) and bird-life is abundant.
In
two morning bicycle rides (with many stops) around the circumferential path I
recorded a total of 60 species, including the following more interesting sightings:
White-necked Heron, Rufous Night-heron, Glossy Ibis, Little Egret, Great Egret,
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Buff-banded Rail (multiple sightings, including one of
a pair with 4 chicks), Rainbow Bee-eater, Red-capped Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Fan-tailed
Cuckoo, & Little Grassbird.
Richard NOWOTNY
Port Melbourne,
Victoria
M: 0438 224456
