Just home this evening after a lightning trip from Canberra to Burren
Junction.
Thanks to Andrew Plimer for posting my brief report earlier today.
Mark Clayton, Carole Elliott and I saw the lapwing today Wednesday 28th from
0655 to 0830, at the paddock site on the eastern edge of town, opposite the
cabins which are behind the pub.
We got into town at 0045 and swagged out under the picnic table shelter at
the junction on the western edge of town. Up at 0630, and drove east through
town looking in all the spots mentioned in previous reports to birding-aus.
At the eastern edge of town we turned left and were going to head back to
check the police station spot when Carole spotted some lapwings in the
paddock to the east. Sure enough there was the Grey-headed, with a pair of
Masked Lapwings, three Black-fronted Dotterels, and a White-faced Heron.
After reading today's messages, it seems we pretty much had a carbon copy of
yesterday morning's sighting by Sean Dooley.
The sun rose and showed the bird beautifully. We stayed at the fence,
viewing the bird from about 70-80 metres. The bird's limping was obvious as
it walked about foraging. It was not wary of us or agitated at that
distance.
After great views and some photos, we wandered up the street again to make
some quick calls and check out what else was around. We ran into some folks
(Stacey Spanswick from the Namoi Catchment Management Authority, and Vinnie
Palmer, a cotton farmer from Wee Waa) looking for the lapwing at the dams
behind the wheat store on the north side of the main road. We took them down
to the paddock and showed them the lapwing. No other birders evident during
our brief stay. Some locals stopped to chat and were aware of what was going
on.
Other birds in town included 1000+ ducks on the water storage behind the
silos (Plumed Whistling ducks, Grey Teal and Pacific Blacks), a Royal
Spoonbill, and countless Cockatiels.
We left town soon after 9am and headed south through the Pilliga scrub.
Didn't take long for us to find many pairs of Banded Lapwings!
Thanks to those who reported the bird and everyone who sent in reports with
directions. Good luck to those making the trip.
Cheers
Anthony Overs
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