I agree with Sue - waders are fun. But frustrating. I would love to have
had Julian, his camera and his obvious photographic expertise at the other
end of the coast on the weekend when I paddled my kayak up Coila Creek. I
flushed a bird which at first glance I thought was a Striated Heron, but
when it flew up into the trees along the bank I saw yellow vertical stripes
on the neck and possibly upper breast, and a sooty/charcoal back. It flew
short distances on I think 3 occasions (the photo opportunities were there)
before flying to another tree across the creek. I was looking upward into a
monochrome background so viewing was difficult, but I made a mental note to
look up these features in the field guides as in my opinion it was
definitely not a Striated Heron.
"Black Bittern" does not even feature on the Eurobodalla Natural History
Society Observation Record, but one glance at 2 guides and I reckon that was
it. On advice from a slightly incredulous Barbara Allan I wrote up all I
could remember about the encounter and at the risk of being heaped with
ridicule subsequently made a submission to the ENHS which I only recently
joined. Probably not enough there for a positive record, but I await with
interest the opinion of the South Coast gurus.
I was better equipped (with pen and paper) next day when I paddled
Cullendulla Creek, and able to make notes about 2 grey/brown birds with
bobbing heads and twitching tails and white wingbars - Common Sandpipers
after reference to the field guides - apparently not so common in our part
of the world.
Yep, waders are fun despite the doubts and uncertainties, esp. when gliding
thru glassy waters of narrow creeks, mangroves or tall timber along the
banks, despite the distractions of Azure and Sacred Kingfishers darting back
and forth, Cormorants panicking, Sea Eagles only metres overhead. Oops,
nearly forgot the sandflies.
Cheers!
Rod
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