Hi Shaun
The waders you mention, did you consider
Latham’s Snipe? Are you familiar with them?
The reason I put this forward is that the
snipe are reasonably common at Kellys, while godwits are very uncommon (last year’s single bird
was the first record in about 20 years).
However, the snipe are a bit smaller than
godwits. And the thing that throws me is your description of rusty plumage on
the neck.
Four godwits would be a big deal!
Cheers
Anthony
-----Original Message-----
From: Shaun Bagley
[
Sent: Monday, 10 November 2008
12:00 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] ...um,
well, er, a little bit more about those birds, you know who you are...
So,
since the Koels were not audible in my area today, took a trip to Kelly’s
via Fyshwick (Bunning’s and Sportsmans Warehouse in case any of you were
worried about inappropriate posts) where I observed the Royal Spoonbills for
the first time. Rushing in where angels, well ornithologists, fear to tread,
there were 8 spoonbills in evidence at Kelly’s today, 6 of which were
engaged in some form of breeding activity in the same willow clump. Looked like
the Left Hand Nest (LHS in Martin’s email) was more ensconced with mating
and nest enhancement, one bird sitting on that edifice during an entire 2.5 hr
period. The RHS was not as advanced apparently but nevertheless mating and nest
building were observed. In the crown of the same willow coppice, another
pair was observed engaging in nest-length branch gifting. This pair actually
tried to pinch some branches from the LHS which ended up in a watery result for
one of them.
It
was a beautiful afternoon (3-5:30pm). Highlights were 2 Bee-eaters hawking
insects (?) off the surface opposite the Tadorna hide where they continually
splashed in the water to take their catches. More like the Sacred Kingfishers
but still beat the prey against the perch once snared. Stunning colours since
the sun was at the right angle to highlight their shimmering plumage. A single
Glossy Ibis also added to the glitter.
Drongo
unseen, though many Blackbirds in voice, both tunefully and a few calls I had
not heard before. Willie Wagtails pestering Pied Currawongs just over the
bridge but did not want to find the former’s nest that I believe it was
defending for fear of revealing to the latter. Lots of Silvereyes everywhere,
nests in various places. Perhaps providing a start for Horsfield Bronze Cuckoo
immature observed in grass, specifically in cranesbill in company of
Goldfinches which made me wonder if they were the original foster parents.
A
Swamp Harrier caused a disruption at a couple of points, during the first of
which I was opposite Crake Alley when 4 waders came flying by in anxious
haste. Think they were Bar-tailed Godwits, based on size, one of them
having significant rusty plumage on the neck and the very distinct alarm call
they gave, almost like a beefed up version of the Reed Warbler grating
call. You would think that the bills would have been diagnostic but in
flight, flashing by was not what I saw. Honestly could not tell you what form
or shape the bill was, just the size, calls and the contrasting colour of one
of the birds.
Just
one more observation/question. I’m no Acrocephaline expert, indeed not
even an old world warbler expert as my uncle was, but it seems to me that we
have different birds amongst the “Reed Warbler” population at
Kelly’s. There are some individuals that are quite a bit larger and do
not seem to vocalize quite the same way. Has anyone else noticed this?
Cheers
Shaun
