Haven’t done FSP for a few weeks, but last time I was there the sky and trees were black with starlings, and not many small birds. Didn’t go looking for ducks on the deeper ponds.
ML
From: Mark Clayton [
Sent: Monday, 12 September 2011 2:40 PM
To: 'cog line'
Subject: [canberrabirds] Fyshwick Sewage Ponds
Afternoon all,
I did a quick bit of birding this morning checking out Kelly’s Swamp, the FSP and Norgrove Park as I have 2 visiting overseas birders coming over the next month. Kelly’s was quiet with mostly swamphens, moorhens and Pacific Black Duck with a large group of teal in the far western corner. What did surprise me was the general lack of birds at the FSW, with NO Blue-billed Ducks on the usual second pond on the left as you walk downhill. The first pond on the right has a wide expanse of exposed mud but I didn’t see any crakes – probably because I was too late in the morning – but there was a Black-fronted Dotterel here. There were a few Hardhead and a largish group of Grey Teal, 2 Australasian Shoveler, the usual Hoary-headed Grebes and 3 larger species of rail plus several (not calling) Australian Reed-warblers on the second two ponds . Has anyone else noticed this lack of birds, especially the Blue-billed Ducks? Forget going to Norgrove Park as there was work going on in and round the park!!
Mark
