Sorry Mick,
I didn't intend to misquote you. Your theory sounds logical and
plausible to me.
Wouldn't it be nice to know if the Grey-headed Lapwing made it back to
its breeding grounds ?
Mike has convinced us to spend some time watching for the Wagtail this
morning. It is highly unlikely we will ever get to see one in East
Asia.
Julie
On 10/05/2013, at 12:12 PM, Mick Roderick wrote:
Actually Julie I was suggesting / proposing that the bird has just
arrived from a reverse migration (i.e. instead of flying north from SE
Asia it went the wrong way and flew south on a long-distance flight
and was fortunate enough to find the "island" that is Alice Springs).
If my theory is correct then the bird should stay longer, just as the
Grey-headed Lapwing did in 2006. This is of course, just a 'hunch',
and I take no responsibility for birders putting off plans to go see
it thinking "ah, it's alright, it'll be there all winter"...! ;-)
Mick
From: Mike Carter <>
To: Julie Neumann <>; ;
Birding Aus <>
Sent: Friday, 10 May 2013 11:30 AM
Subject: Non- twitcher in Alice and the Forest Wagtail
Julie, like Tony who is really just getting too old, you are making a
big mistake by not going to the 'famous B& B'. Missing the tick may be
a minor consequence but not enjoying watching this bird and the social
occasion that this has become should not be missed. It was a joy to
watch the Forest Wagtail at close range walk in a deliberate and
unhurried manner, wave its tail in a horizontal rather than a vertical
plane, search for food in the shadows, eat a large caterpillar, take a
long bath scattering water widely and then preening at length on the
ground and in a tree. All this in the pleasant surrounds of a
landscaped but surprisingly small garden and in the convivial company
of the host and five others of like mind sharing the experience. It
was great!
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
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