Well the Common Driving Petrolheads had a mighty impressive list and
their list of embarrassing omissions was no where near as long as
ours! Our parrot and honeyeater sightings were particulalry poor and
hence such super-rare (sarcasm, sarcasm) spp. such as New Holland HE,
Red-browed Firetail, Pied and Little Pied Cormorant, Whistling Kite,
Brown Goshawk, Richards Pipit, Yellow and Yellow-rumped T'bill all
eluded our twitching (some were actaully seen but alas not by more
than 50% of the team - probably the most frustrating of these was
the Black Kite which we virtually collided with with the two of
team getting good enough views to twitch and the other two seeing
nothing but a dark raptor suddenly loom periously close to the
windscreen). These were compensated by several unanticipated pluses
such as Spotted Harrier, Regent Parrot, Yellow-rumped Pardalote and
Owlet Nightjar. The highlight was undoubtedly the Avoca Floodway
about 23km this side of Swan Hill on the Murray Valley Highway. This
area, just beside the Highway (Lake Tutchewop lies just behind it)
floods after heavy rain in the area and attracts thousands of
waterbirds. We were all absolutley enthralled to see, as the sun set
painting the sky pink behind us, what must of been close to 1000
Marsh Terns wheeling and diving together over one
litte shallow area - there were many more elsewhere along the flood
way as well- as well as hundreds of Stilts, Avocets, Ducks, Black-
tailed Native-Hen, Red-kneed Dotterel and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
It was a great weekend and we look forward to doing better next
year and topping our 142 of this time. Congratulations to all teams
in all states and please give us all a run down on your 24 hours of
birding madness.
Sean Pywell for Peter Fell, Josh McGoldrick and David Taylor for the
Sore-arse Cranes (we promise to have a better name next year).
====================================================================
|
