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The juvenile swallows were still there about 2
hours ago perched on the same little branch as in Ray's photo. Except there were
6 of them now - all begging food every time an adult swallow landed with them.
I spent a bit over 2 hours at Kellys/Jerra Wetlands
from 12 today. Very hot - but still rewarding birding. As well as the juvenile
swallows, there were other DYs in the area. A pair of Chestnut Teal with 9
ducklings on the water between Bittern and Ardea hides, Purple Swamphen with 4
chicks in front of Bittern hide, in front of Ardea hide a Pacific Black Duck
with 6 ducklings and Purple Swamphen with 1 chick (that I could see), and in
front of Tadorna hide, a pair of swans with 5 small cygnets and a pair of
Chestnut Teal with 5 very small ducklings, all clamped firmly together right up
against mum's stern as she swam them with obvious purpose towards the bank to
the right of the hide.
Other interesting sights were 2 Glossy Black Ibis
and a Black-winged Stilt at Kellys, a Great Egret (not in breeding plumage) on
the bank opposite Tadorna hide, and in the trees lining the walk between the
bridge and Tadorna hide, a pair of Rufous Whistlers and a Flycatcher which,
on the grounds of their relative abundances as per the Annual Bird Report,
was probably a Leaden but I didnt get a clear enough look at the
breastband to tell for sure. It was very glossy black on the back.
There are a number of interesting sights in the
Kellys/Jerra area - and snakes are one of them. Just as a reminder of the
need to be alert, I came across 2 during my visit today. Both were brown snakes
- one was a young one about 18 inches long. It was on the concrete path between
the car park entry and Ardea hide and it moved out of my way very smartly as I
approached it. The other was about 5-6ft long and it was swimming across Kellys
from the little island that is half way or so across the water from Bittern
hide. It left the water at the bank to Crake Alley and disappeared into the
grass there.
Bruce
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