Kelly's Swamp yesterday mid-morning

[Lindell <>]

Witnessed a bit of activity from the Cygnus hide - 1 Royal Spoonbill sleeping on the rail in front of the hide. Whenever disturbed by Swamphens it threw it's head back in a huge 'yawn' then promptly returned to it's sleeping pose (this happened several times). Another Royal Spoonbill then landed close by but was chased off immediately with the first one in hot pursuit  in a flurry of mud and feathers. Prior to the 2nd R Spoonbill arriving, 8 Cattle Egret landed 3 on the same rail and others all about and not a feather on the Spoonbill twitched. While all of this was taking place a White Ibis had found breakfast and struggled for just over 4 minutes to get this rather large fish from the mud to down it's throat. Hope it made one less catfish or carp.

Back at the Bittern hide were 2 Red-kneed and 5 Black-fronted Dotterels, 1 Spotless Crake, 1 Sacred Kingfisher and 4 European Goldfinches. (As well as a number of the usual ducks and Moorhens). Made the view from Ardea a bit mundane apart from all the not so nice rubbish left inside the hide on the benches.

Lindell

​

 Oz White Ibis-1.JPG

​​

 Oz White Ibis-2.JPG

​

Lindell

Mawson ACT