Like Laurie Conole, Craig Arms and I went to Griffith last weekend as
well, and also to attend the Bignet Meeting in Leeton along with Jenny
Bounds & Co. Despite the rain and the need to attend a few of the
sessions of the meeting, we were able to see some good birds.
Enroute we stopped off at Terramungermine Reserve Dubbo, where there
were Red-capped Robins, Rufous & Golden Whistlers, an early pair of
Sacred Kingfishers & Western Gerygones; at Gum Swamp, Forbes where
there were many Black Ducks, Grey Teal and Pinkears with new ducklings,
as well as a pair of Sea Eagles at their nest and about 10+ pairs of
White-necked Herons at their nests!
Led ably by Mike Schultz, a visit to Tully's Hill, Leeton was very
rewarding with a pair of Black-eared Cuckoos, nesting pair of Hooded
Robins, Diamond Firetails, Speckled Warblers, Inland & Chestnut-rumped
Thornbills and about 6 calling White-winged Trillers.
Again ably led by Bill Moller on the Sunday, at Campbells Swamp,
Griffith we saw c. 30 Marsh Sandpipers, 4 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers,
Red-capped Plovers, some very obvious Little Grassbirds, and a
Shelduck; at Nericon Swamp there were about 6 nesting Swans plus one
pair with young, 5 Greenshanks, Shovellers, Red-capped Plovers and
nesting Silver Gulls & a Singing Honeyeater; while at Wilbriggie Swamp
there were Night-herons in breeding plumage, Pinkear, Western
Gerygones, Yellow-billed Spoonbills, nesting Cockatiels and Yellow
Rosellas.
A very pleasant weekend.
Alan Morris
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