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Hi Birders,
Dic & Margaret Branch and Eric Wheeler on their
regular birdwatching tour around the Clarence Valley, Northern Rivers , NSW on 3
August 2000 called in to Cowan Ponds, a well known birding site (regular
place for Magpie Geese & Plumed Whistling Ducks) about 8 km W of Grafton.
Here they were surprised to find an adult male Northern Pintail in full breeding
plumage amongst the ducks on the wetland. All have seen Northern Pintails
before, Eric on his recent trip to North America and the Branch's on a recent
trip to the UK so that there was no problem with identification. The bird is
still at the site (5/8/00) and all the local birders have been to see it. Cowans
Ponds is a typical open freshwater wetland and reed swamp on the Clarence
River Flood Plain.
The only published record that they are aware of
for Northern Pintail in Australia is an adult male that was seen at Chandala
Swamp, 50 km NE Perth, WA on 12 July 1985 (HANZAB). The WA record was
condsidered to be an "Accidental reverse migration". Northern Pintails are not
ducks regular kept in waterfowl collections in Australia so it is unlikely to be
an escapee. If there have been any subsequent sightings in Australia I would be
interested to hear about it in order that I can pass the information onto Eric
Wheeler.
Alan Morris
Records Officer, NSWFOC
Tel 02 43 891390
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