Woodswallows (mainly) Stilts and Avocets

[Martin Butterfield <>]

We went for a look at Foxlow Lagoon late this morning.  The water is now very reduced in area and heat haze made it difficult to make out much detail on the birds (of which there were very few.  I counted 28 large waders and assessed them as being half each of Red-necked Avocets and Pied Stilts.   

On the way back I noted a small number of Woodswallows on Plins Road, about 4kms from Briars Sharrow Rd.  I took a few snaps but, even by my low standards, they were poor so I returned and found a huge flock about 3km down Plains Rd.  Some were resting in a small Pinus radiata plantation on the Western side of the road and others in a Lleylandia windbreak on the Eastern side.  The majority of the birds  were feeding in the paddock.  Speaking briefly with the landowners the flock has been there constantly for about two weeks.  Some photos are here - comments will be added later.  The image with the 203 red dots highlights about half the feeding component of the flock: I estimate there were at least 100 other birds in the trees and the ratio of Masked to White-browed was about 1:4.

Martin Butterfield

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