canberrabirds

Lake Bathurst

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Subject: Lake Bathurst
From: "Paul T." <>
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:01:00 +1100
Howdy All,

Not sure whether or interest to people or not, but I thought I'd pass on a quick report of sightings at my father and sister's property on Covans Rd near Lake Bathurst. This wasn't serious birding, just having a look around while I was out there. I was pleased to see a pair of Australasian Grebes in breeding plumage out on the dam, as I didn't really get a good look at the Grebes on the last Wednesday walk. Got a good look at the colourations through the binos and after a while they ignored me and went back to their diving for food. There was a Wedge Tailed Eagle circling, much to the consternation of the resident gaggle of Magpies, and a parrot of some description that zipped out of the tree as I was trying to work out what it was. Definitely a very dark olive green colour, with no bright markings at all. Darker than any parrot I have come across before and of a grass parrot size rather than a rosella or something like that. No clear view of face or anything to tell any more. Shortly after returning from my wander around the dam I noted a bird alight on the telegraph pole and as far as I can tell it was a Nankeen Kestral. Strong single black "teardrop" running downwards from the eye on a pale bird. Checking references the only one I can come up with is Nankeen Kestral.

On the drive back from the property to Lake Bathurst we saw squillions (that is a technical term meaning lots and lots! <grin>) of Crimson Rosellas, another Wedgie, and just after we got back onto the main road from Covans we saw an Emu (!!!!!?) in one of the paddocks. We stopped on the side of the road to have a look through the binos. No idea whether it was wild or someone's pet, but it was somewhat surprising to see in a paddock within half a km of Lake Bathurst. While we were stopped there we saw a Willy Wagtail, and just after Lake Bathurst there was a large flock of Starlings feasting on the Hawthorn berries on the trees that seem to be popping up all over the place out there.

And lastly, after we left LB and headed for Bungendore we saw another Wedgie, but this could possibly have been the original wedgie as I am not sure exactly how far away the road is from Covan's Rd at that point.

Not sure if any of these are particularly of note (except the Emu if it was wild), but thought it might be of interest to someone. I definitely have to admit that I would not be noticing many of these things nearly as much if it wasn't for this list and the Wednesday Walks. Thanks everyone!! I am hoping to join COG at a meeting soon, but unfortunately won't make it to this meeting either as my wife is having a hand operation on Wednesday and knowing how these things go I could be picking her up very late in the day. I'll get there and join up one of these days, just haven't got to a meeting since I have had the funds to do so.

Thanks again everyone for a great group!!

Cheers.

Paul T.
Canberra, Australia

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