Rod Mackay and I paddled from near the hospice Sunday morning
at about 8.30 am – into the Jerra wetlands and
left into the ‘fingers’.
We say 37 species – some in large groups (2-300
Starlings, 100+ Swans, 50+ white Ibis, 12+ Tree Martins, 9 Masked
Lapwings, several Maned Ducks including one pair with 7 young); mostly ones and
twos: Sacred Kingfishers, Dollar birds, Gold Finch,
The highlight of the paddle was when a pair of Whistling
Kite attacked an Ibis nest which contained several young. One adult Ibis was
defending the nest. Then one of the Kite was distracted by a Sea Eagle which it
flew some distance to harass. It continued harassing the Sea Eagle until it was
well out over the lake. The Kite seemed to lose interest in Ibis for breakfast after
that.
Usual suspects (including Darters, Cormorants [Black, Little
Pied] Swamphens, Moorhens, Coots (surprisingly few); WW, Grey Fantails; Mudlarks,
Magpies, a couple of Pelicans etc).
We didn’t see an Australian Night Heron – which Rod
thought was a near cert to see. Pity – it’s a while since I’ve
seen one.
Roy
.
