Well done Bill, must be very satisfying to get back after such an ordeal.
All the best for your new start.
Tony
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Bill Jolly
Sent: Sunday, 11 December 2011 11:48 AM
To: birding-aus
Subject: Back at Abberton. another new bird, and Black Bittern
Well, we're back in the house! I can't say we're settled yet, but it's a
start.
Lockyer Creek at our place is wider and shallower than hitherto, with some
good newly regenerated margins. Accordingly, we've had an influx of
waterbirds and waterside birds including Latham's Snipe, daily spoonbills,
Cotton Pygmy Geese, multi other ducks and yesterday bird #212 on our house
list, Wandering Whistling Duck.
The garden/bush side of things is pretty much as before in terms of numbers
of spp. Although there is less cover than there was, it's coming back thick
and fast and the bird representation is much as before, over 100 spp here so
far since we got back. December will be our first full month here in 2011!
This-morning, as I sat with a cup of tea in the breakfast room at about
quarter-past seven, a Black Bittern came straight down the middle of the
creek. I thought it would just carry on past the house and under the bridge,
which they often do, but right in front of the house, it dropped into the
long grass on the edge of the creek opposite, and disappeared. Of course, I
grabbed my camera and got ready for it to come out. I could see the grass
moving as it made its way to the water?s edge, so I stayed in the house
because opening the doors and going on the verandah would probably have
stopped it in its tracks. It came part way out and stood, neck stretched
just inside the edge of the grass. Not a great view, but worth a shot. As I
sat in the armchair nearest the window and raised the camera ? it took off!
Well, a few frenzied clicks as it made its way down the creek away from me ?
but a couple of recognisable shots. (Attached to the off-birding-aus copies
of this note.)
So, despite the prospect of a lot of slog ahead to rehabilitate the place,
we know it will be worth it and Abberton remains an exciting place to be for
us, with plenty of promise still in store.
Bill Jolly
"Abberton"
Helidon, Qld
27º 34' 21" S, 152º 08' 21" E
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