Hi all
Alison Rowell had kindly alerted me to the presence of a Freckled Duck at
Kellys Swamp yesterday so three of us (Suzi, John and me) headed down there
this morning to see if we could find it. We met up with Alastair Smith and
also bumped into Barbara Allan. The Freckled Duck was visible from Cygnus
Hide and was actively feeding, a rather pale bird with no red on its bill,
so possibly a young one. Saw a Latham's Snipe on the far bank, and most
exciting of all a Grey Goshawk flew over. It interacted with a Little Eagle
while we were watching, judging from the size comparison the goshawk was a
female. Also Whistling Kite, Chestnut Teal, a couple of Greenfinches, YR
Thornbills nesting in a tree near the carpark. At one stage there seemed to
be 3 Little Eagles in the air to the south of the wetlands.
At the sewerage ponds Little Grassbirds and Reed Warblers calling, 10
Blue-billed Ducks including 7 males, plenty of Hardhead and Pink-ears.
Barbara had told us she had flushed a small wader at the ponds but we were
unable to find it unfortunately.
Al decided to bird on, and shortly after I got home he rang to say he had
found quite a few waders in the channels and pools across the paddocks near
were the Molonglo enters the lake. Back I went and caught up with Al. We
saw at least 2 more snipe, 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, a Red-necked Stint, 2
Red-kneed Dotterels and about 5 Black-fronted Dotterels. The Sharpies and
Stint were adult birds moulting into non-breeding plumage. Al had also seen
a Swamp Harrier fly over. There were 2 Black-shouldered Kites near the turf
farm as I was driving home.
A very enjoyable morning
cheers
Steve
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