So many people are taking an interest in Kelly Swamp that a little historical note as regards the veg might be of interest. Here is a low-res idea of the view from a few metres to the north of Cygnus hide in 2003. That
watery space is now almost entirely Typha.
Below is the view looking from the western side in 2007. Cygnus hide is concealed behind the willow. That tree (red arrow and at left in above photo) was the site of spoonbill nesting in 2009. The well-known log (blue
arrow) is now lost to view but was a favourite perch for many species. One of the fledgling spoonbills is shown on it, but photographed from Cygnus hide which still (just) offered a log view in 2009. The spoonbill willow is still there, but looking rather
threadbare. I don’t remember Kellys before the hides. By 2003 I think they had just had their names nailed on by Harvey Perkins, I think to help with directions for the purpose of the telephone bird information line operated by Ian Fraser. My next door
neighbor would remember though: he went to school with Farmer Kelly’s boys.
