From: martin butterfield
[
Sent: Tuesday, 20 October 2009 4:57 PM
To: COG List
Subject: [canberrabirds] Lunchtime at Kellys Swamp
Between about 11:45 and 12:45 today I spotted about 4
Black-tailed Native Hens, 2 Black-winged Stilts and several each of Australian
White and Straw-necked Ibises. Also Purple Swamp Hens copulating. A
major eruption of the ducks occurred when a Swamp Harrier flew over (the first
I have seen for several months) and later a Whistling Kite soared overhead,
heading off in the general direction of Callum Brae.
No Royal Spoonbills anywhere in sight. On checking the article in the
December 2008 Canberra Bird Notes the first tangible evidence of breeding
activity (a bird carrying a stick to what became the nest tree) was reported by
Alastair Smith and Geoff Duggan on 26 October. However it seems that the
birds had only turned up the previous day (reports by Juian Robinson and Sue
Lashko) so there is still time for them to appear!
Martin
