Lotsa Freckled Ducks

["Bob & Sadhana Cook" <>]

At Mildura Sewerage Pond on Thursday, 15th.  I missed these earlier this year 
when they left a couple of days before I got there.  This time, they have just 
arrived in the last few days.  Around 6 p.m. last evening I counted between 190 
and 200 Freckled Duck, about 3/4 of them in one group very close to the edge 
from where I was observing.

Also on the (very crowded) pond were 100's of Grey & Chestnut Teal, 100's of 
Hardhead, more than 1000 Coots, around 150 Black Swan - some with chicks, a few 
Mallards and PB Ducks, three Pink-eared and a solitary Blue-billed looking a 
bit out of place.  Several Musk Duck also reported there this week, but I 
couldn't find them.

There were about 50 of the ubiquitous Black-tailed Chooks, a few Black-winged 
Stilts, several Whiskered Terns, Swamp Harrier, pair of Whistling Kites and a 
solitary (probably Great) Egret.  Also an inquisitive Brown Snake!!  I only got 
to scan about two thirds of the pond, missing a lot of the shallower margins, 
so you can extrapolate from the above figures to get indicative totals.

This is a great spot - if you can get there - Les, the caretaker, is very 
friendly (only cost me a six-pack of Fosters to get in!).

Bob Cook
Mildura Vic

At Mildura Sewerage Pond on Thursday, 15th.  I missed these earlier this year when they left a couple of days before I got there.  This time, they have just arrived in the last few days.  Around 6 p.m. last evening I counted between 190 and 200 Freckled Duck, about 3/4 of them in one group very close to the edge from where I was observing.

 

Also on the (very crowded) pond were 100's of Grey & Chestnut Teal, 100's of Hardhead, more than 1000 Coots, around 150 Black Swan - some with chicks, a few Mallards and PB Ducks, three Pink-eared and a solitary Blue-billed looking a bit out of place.  Several Musk Duck also reported there this week, but I couldn't find them.

 

There were about 50 of the ubiquitous Black-tailed Chooks, a few Black-winged Stilts, several Whiskered Terns, Swamp Harrier, pair of Whistling Kites and a solitary (probably Great) Egret.  Also an inquisitive Brown Snake!!  I only got to scan about two thirds of the pond, missing a lot of the shallower margins, so you can extrapolate from the above figures to get indicative totals.

 

This is a great spot - if you can get there - Les, the caretaker, is very friendly (only cost me a six-pack of Fosters to get in!).

 

Bob Cook

Mildura Vic