Following up recent sightings of various ducks and pygmy-geese in
Lismore-Casino areas I can report the following from Tuesday 28/3/06:
Lismore lake: dipped on the Pygmy-geese but found 7 Plumed Whistling and 1
Wandering Whistling ducks; there are plenty of places for the pygmy geese to
be hidden; I have certainly enjoyed watching the Jacanas build up over
summer, could watch them all day, but more pressing issues intrude, such
as...
McMahons Lagoon: confirmed 1 Blue-billed Duck - lucky enough to get a good
photo with Hardhead and Pacific Black for clear ID. Also found 2 Freckled
Ducks hanging in the far right-hand corner, though too far for my camera to
provide satisfying image; two new lifers, sometimes you get lucky. Lots of
other birds with species of note including 1 Marsh Sandpiper, 2 Sharpies, 2
Red-kneed Dotterels (lots of dotterels in the area at the moment) and
Hoary-headed Grebe.
Geneebeinga Wetlands at Casino: really coming to life here, there are two
things of particular note - my first record of Blue-billed duck here, a
single, and two for the day (only half an hour after leaving McMahon's I
feel confident it's not the same one). Also, equally of note is that there
appears to have been a breeding 'incident' involving a pair of Plumed
Whistling ducks! Although there has been a recent arrival of possibly 300+
of these ducks (I first noted them on Friday), I noted and photographed a
pair in Late January that were very cosy in a back corner of the main
lagoon. Yesterday I was able to get some modest quality photos of what seems
clearly a pair with 7-10 chicks staying very separate from the many other
flocks and rafts of Plumed and other ducks. I have recorded these ducks (as
well as Wandering Whistling) on other occasions but never imagined they
would breed. What is the status of these ducks as far as breeding goes in
NSW? I mean are they recorded breeding much/at all? I am hoping to get out
again tomorrow and hopefully get some better pictures. However, Geneebeinga
is not a spot for easy photos without creating a real disturbance, which
under the circumstances I am hoping to avoid. This is a great spot for
birds, though patience is essential and at the moment wet feet are part of
the experience for the underprepared. My list for here is over 100 species
(exact count unsure until I review recent additions), as the composition
changes with fluctuations in water levels. The average count is around 40+
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