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Yesterday while I was watching Musk Ducks at
Yerrabi Pond (there were 10 there, counting the 2 ducklings still dependent on
their mother), a female swam to the shallows on the eastern side of the island
that is crossed by a footbridge. There she stood and preened for quite some
time, then walked out of the water and up a small sloping bank to a patch of
grass, where she again stood and preened before settling down to roost.
I couldn't see if the patch of grass was, in fact,
a nest but I don't think it was as it is very exposed and under no cover
whatsoever. Have attached a photo of the duck leaving the water, in case not
many members may have seen a Musk Duck on land. My references say that it is a
"rare" event or that the birds are almost helpless on land. I wouldn't actually
agree having seen this bird walk - it wasn't ever going to set any Olympic
records but by the same token, it managed OK for the short number of steps
needed to ascend a small slope and walk around a clump of grass to the
shorter patch where it roosted. Its walking style reminded me of Indian Runner
Ducks - it was upright but leaned forward slightly, not perfectly upright like a
penguin.
Also notable at Yerrabi were 20+ Hardhead, many
Australasian Grebes, several White-faced Herons including one still very much in
juvenile plumage and a family of Black Swans (2 adults and 7 very small
cygnets). I think these must have been the birds which were reported not long
ago as having a nest right next to the footpath on the south-eastern side.
Judging by the size of the cygnets I think they must have hatched only a few
days ago. The Intermediate Egret which I saw at the Pond 2 weeks ago was not
there this time and nor did I see the male Musk Duck with the large bill lobe
and which is, I assume, the father of the 2 still-dy ducklings.
Bruce
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