Howard Plowright wrote:
>
> Thursday 8 Nov the Painted Snipe was clearly visible from the northern
> end -
And it was there on Fri 9th Nov, c. 10am, when we took an interstate
visitor to see it. It was then sitting in its favourite roosting possie
at the east side behind the dick plants - as usual very hard to spot.
One's best hope is that it will move and do a little preening if not
actually stand up.
My impression is that in afternoons it sometimes moves to the little
inlet at the southwest end of the pool, where it is visible from the
bike-path along the easten side. Again it may sit or stand in shade of
dock plants and among assorted rubbish.
Incidentally, Banyule Council staff tell me the Grubby Pool is polluted
by heavy metals from the drain outlet (it's officially a settling pond
for the drain) and is due to be cleared out at some stage with an
excavator. No idea when exactly..
I should think the Painted Snipe could easily find another place to live
in the acres of swamp. But it will probably not remain so visible to
birdwatchers. The moral is that if you're thinking of having a look you
should probably do so sooner than later.
Incidentally Pied Stilts seem to have left the Swamp.
On Friday morning we saw or heard 61 other species around swamp,
billabong and riverbank, including 2 Frogmouth nests, a Peregrine and a
Hobby overhead, and a Bluetongue Lizard. Our visitor said:
"Why isn't this beautiful place in all the tourist literature?"
Anthea Fleming in Ivanhoe
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