Ramblings around Canberra today

[martin butterfield <>]

My first call was to the ANBG where the birds of interest were at least 2 Crescent Honeyeaters in the Sydney Gully.  Also in the gully is a massive Gymea Lily which is about to bloom: always a spectacuar sight and should be popular with honeyeaters.

After a couple of diversions I then headed past BowenPark.  Just before getting there someone - possibly the ACT Government - has put up a sign about "Traffic Hazard".  The hazard in question is the swans walking across the road to graze in the central reservation (as reported by Suzanne a few days back).  I counted 35 birds on the reservation and 18 on the lake side.  I have attached a small image of one hazarding the crossing.  It was very pleasing that the drivers were slowing down to allow the swans to pass.  

I got out to the Fyshwick Sewage Works where there were reasonable numbers of Coots, Pacific Black Ducks and Grey Teal.  There were also 2 each of Australasian Shoveller and Hardhead and 4 Chestnut Teal.  The biggest surprise was on pond 1 where 20 Black-fronted Dotterels were probing an extensive area of mud.  (All the ponds seemed to have low water levels: has the population of Canberra stopped producing effluent?)

Martin

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