Not all that much around today at Jerra Wetlands, you might have thought, until an eruption of ducks out of the invisible ponds and channels just west of Kelly Swamp. I later came across Shorty who had seen the raptor
that probably triggered the panic. I see Shorty has 49 shovelers on his eBird tally. From my vantage point to the south I snapped the sudden duckburst (B) and a minute later took a snap of the more settled scene (C). All the ducks you can see are shovelers
except a small number (3-5) Grey Teal. I make this more than 60 by count, probably 70, with more out of the photo. The Google Earth view from January (A) shows about the present extent of inundated patches. The ducks must have been resting quietly in watery
areas indicated by yellow stars. There were none in view earlier from the boardwalk through Maconachie’s Gap in the typha from where an extensive shallow pond can be seen now (blue star). Red star is Cygnus Hide.
