Water birds seemed to be making the most of the cooler weather to forage, and to my delight there seemed to be birds everywhere.
Thanks to Lyndall for pointing me in the direction of the male Painted Snipe – in the reeds below the brush fencing.
Also delighted to see one Baillon’s Crake, Black Fronted and Red-kneed Dotterel, at least 10 Pink Eared Duck hoovering up surface insects (some with pink ear) several Latham’s Snipe moving actively across the space, maybe 10 Pelican resting on logs, Hardhead hoovering, White faced Heron in ?partial breeding plumage. Reed Warbler gathering nesting material, Red-rumped Parrot flying in and resting in the tall dead tree, Superb Wren, lots of Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Wood Duck, Australian White Ibis, Coot, Dusky Moorhen, Purple Swamp Hen, Magpie Lark and I had a last minute view from a distance of what I thought might be a Black-winged Stilt.
A Whistling Kite circled around the lake and right in front of me in the hide – thus causing lots of the birds on the water to rise up, circle and settle again. After this the Painted Snipe disappeared, to the disappointment of a South African visitor. However by now, about 10am, the day was warming up and birds were maybe going to rest.
Happy Christmas to all
Jean
