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Travelled up through the Colac / Ballaarat area of
Victoria yesterday, looking to see which of the lakes still had water and who
was using them. Most of the smaller lakes, including all of Lake Beeac,
were totally dry with a covering of salt. As we approached Cressy, we came
upon two quite small areas of water that were teeming with waterfowl. We
could not get close to the second as it was on private property, but between the
two there were perhaps 200 Black Swan, and dozens each of of Cape Barren Geese,
Pink-eared ducks, Aust. Shoveler, Chestnut and Grey Teal, Egrets, White-faced
Heron, Black Ducks, a few Yellow-billed Spoonbill as well as both Ibis and
Masked Lapwings. There may have been an even wider variety but we
were too far away. I guess these will all migrate to the permanent lakes
(Corangamite and Colac) once these areas dry up.
Also checked Belmont Common on Saturday and it is
almost totally dry. we circumambulated (is that the word?) the wetland and
only saw a few Moorhen, Swamphen, Grey Teal and Silver Gulls poking about, a
lone White-faced Heron and a group of 6 Lewin's
Rail. Dozens of Red-browed Finches were in the adjacent grassland.
Hope we get an Autumn break soon!!!
Bob & Sadhana Cook
Elphinstone, Central
Vic.
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