The plant in Ian and Roger’s photos looks like Tall Spike-rush (Eleocharis sphacelata). The pond also has some sizeable patches of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) and some Cumbungi/Bullrush (Typha) if I’m remembering correctly. Evidently too bewitched by the bittern to pay proper attention to the vegetation. The plant in Julian’s shot looks like some sort of rush, maybe Common Rush (Juncus usitatus).
Steve
From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Wednesday, 11 June 2014 4:09 PM
To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Bittern
Without wishing to be pedantic, the photos by Ian, Julian and Roger appear to show foreground or background ‘rush’ (Juncidis spp) rather than ‘reed’ (Phragmites). This may suggest some kind of habitat preference, since the A Bittern(s) at Rose Lagoon also favoured rushy growth. I have not yet visited the area to check for reeds or rush (or typha - or bitterns). Perhaps tomorrow. Anyway, a belated well done to Duncan. He has highlighted this as a wetland area of particular interest. Did he not also photograph an osprey somewhere around there? What next? The male L Bittern is a pretty good find too.
From: Williams, Roger
Sent: Wednesday, 11 June 2014 3:41 PM
To: canberrabirds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Little Bittern
This afternoon I went looking for the Australian Bitten at the Mckellar pond, although i didn’t see the Australian Bitten. I did see a Male Little Bitten about 2/30, after 2 fleeting glimpses i managed to take a photo of the bird flying towards the reeds.
