A quick trip to the Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) this afternoon
revealed:
1 Little Curlew at the lagoon in Paradise Rd (opp Lake Borrie)
2 or 3 Long-toed Stints - a couple developing some breeding
colouring (Conservation Ponds)
Greater numbers of Double-banded Plover than last week - there were
at least 23 on Walshe's No. 6, the dry lagoon more or less opposite
the ford over Little River.
13 or 14 carloads of birders - it was rush hour at the farm!
Wader numbers seem down from last weekend, but the BOCA wader count
was being conducted so more reliable data should come out of that.
I did hear from others present that this morning's count included:
1 Wood Sandpiper where there had been 6 or more last week
Very few Sharp-tailed Sandpiper on the Conservation ponds
1 Ruff (yellow-legged) at the western end of the Borrow Pits
No Phalaropes - however there were rumours that the Red-necked
Phalarope had been sighted on 85WC - that's the large partly dry
lagoon on the north side of the "main" track from the ford to the
conservation pits, a little after the track turns left and then right
around 145W-48.
The Little Curlew was on the long spit of mud and vegetation that
almost bisects the Paradise Road lagoon. We were lucky, and saw it
when it was by itself (thanks to John Harris for standing guard while
the cars came and went) but soon after we arrived it moved away along
the shoreline and in amongst the perennial Aus Shelduck. It went from
side to side a few times but didn't come right out to the end of the
spit again before we left.
Good luck for those going to look for the bird over the next few days
- hopefully it will remain easy to see for a little longer.
Russell Woodford
PS It was great to catch up with so many Birding-Aus folk out there
today!
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