Roy Harvey and I paddled to Acacia Inlet and environs this afternoon and
managed to find the Little Bitterns. Roy had a good view of the male bird
in flight while I managed a very brief sighting just before the bird
dropped down to cover. We decided to pursue our quarry on foot and after
making landfall at a suitable location trudged thru the well trampled (by
COG members obviously) long grass to the approximate location. The female
flew up and landed in shrubbery about a metre above the water and I had an
excellent view for about 30 seconds before it too disappeared. So, back to
the kayaks for another waterborne assault. As I glided past the location
where I had last seen the bird I was lucky enough to see the top of its
neck, head, eye and beak, well camouflaged and absolutely motionless. I
passed about two metres from it. In the 30 seconds or so that it took to
attract Roy's attention and to turn the kayak around, it had disappeared
again. So that was that.
Highlights in about 25 other sightings included Dusky Woodswallows on nest
and also feeding dependent young, and Purple Swamphens mating.
Cheers
Rod
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