Ramblings around Canberra today

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Re the last few words below about producing effluent: Just maybe, hopefully, the wider community has taken to heart and broadened the scope of a comment from our most lovely leader (JG) to the press gallery about "don't write crap".

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: martin butterfield [
Sent: Tuesday, 19 July 2011 6:12 PM
To: COG List
Subject: [canberrabirds] Ramblings around Canberra today

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