Jerrabomberra Wetlands this morning

[martin butterfield <>]

I went for a stroll round the FSP and the Wetlands this morning.  A very pleasant way to fill in the time while my car was being serviced.

The highlight was watching a Little Eagle doing the undulating flight display while calling loudly.  If it was looking for love, it seemed to be unrequited as no-one turned up to respond!

The work being done around the wetlands seems to be progressing well.  The new logs in the water were looking good, although undecorated by birds, with the Grey Teal and Shovellers snoozing on a mud bank on the far side of the swamp.  The pyrancanthus has been cut on the bank beside the Silt trap.  (The remaining pyracanthus in the railway area was providing great pickings for a huge - I estimated 1,000 birds - flock of Common Starlings.)  Some planting activity seemed to be going on beside the wooden bridge and much has been done between Fulica and Tadorna hides. 

My biggest surprise was a Flame Robin (brown) perched on the wire fence between Ardea Hide and the bicycle path.  I don't recall seeing one in that area before.

Some photographs and mutterings are on http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/good-things-at-jerrabombera-wetlands.html

On leaving the area I noticed 12 Straw-necked Ibis and 11 White-faced Herons grazing in some rank grass on the turf farm close to the poo-pits.

Martin