The Eastern hinterland

[Paul Gatenby <>]

I went looking for Banded Lapwings along Lake Rd and roads off Tarago Rd.  

No luck, plenty of Masked Lapwings, Ravens, Magpies, Magpie Larks and Pipits

Two Plumed Whistling ducks in a farm dam near the turn-off to quarry on Tarago Rd

Wood duck with 8 ducklings, Pacific Black duck with 10 smaller ducklings , both at edge of Lake George

Fox on shore, I hope the 30 rabbits seen distract him from ducklings

Paul A Gatenby 

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From: Martin Butterfield <>
Sent: Monday, 10 October 2016 2:00 PM
To: COG List
Subject: [canberrabirds] The Eastern hinterland

 

I went for a drive around a few spots this morning.  Not the greatest weather with heavy overcast and strong winds.

• Foxlow Lagoon continues to be almost devoid of birds.  The family of Black Swans is still present with 4 cygnets.  2 Musk Duck also present, one definitely a male but the other dived too quickly for me to be sure of its sex.
  
• Next stop was the Banded Lapwing site just North of Hoskinstown, but none of that species  - nor many of any other species - present. 
  
• The three dams on the edge of Bungendore were pretty much empty of birds with a fly past by 3 Australian Shelduck the only noteworthy record.
  
• The poo pits appeared bird-free as I drove by.
  
• As I turned in to Lake Road it was very obvious that there was a massive amount of water in Lake George (as recently reported by others).  The same applies to the Big Dam, which has as much, probably more, water than I have ever seen before.  There were several waterfowl present with the big-ticket item being 2 Plumed Whistling Ducks.  I think this is the first time they have been reportes at this site.  A Cattle Egret on the far bank was very yellow around the head (the higher probability being moving into breeding plumage rather than heavy pollen deposits).  4 Hoary-headed Grebes were present but didn't seem to be breeding whereas 1 Australasian Grebe appeared to be ON and 2 others were still constructing a newst.
  

Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

The House of Fran_mart

franmart.blogspot.com.au

Although Spring doesn't start for another few hours from the time of starting typing some of the insects around Carwoola are already firing up.