G'day
Oneupmanship:-
We pulled up and parked just over the weir at Audley 1pm today (Sunday Nov
18), heading to Sydney, walked a few metres to the reeds, and straightaway
the Little Bittern pushed reeds apart and stuck its smart head up, keeping
an eye on us (Lynn and me) for several minutes. It then calmly recomposed
itself, withdrew its neck, and made its way along the outer reeds towards
the boatshed - watching for the 2 pairs of goggle-eyed 'nocs staring at it.
Again it stuck its head up and eyed us off for another 5 mins or so, until
we couldn't stand the intrusion any longer and went for a stroll.
By the way, the Little Bittern's crown and back appeared to glisten
bluish-purple grey in the bright sunlight, not really black as expected.
Legs looked very green.
Regards
Bruce Roubin
-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Cox <>
To: Birding-aus <>
Date: Friday, 16 November 2001 5:36
Subject: Little Bittern at Audley Weir.
> Hi all,
>
>Mainly for Sydney birdos!
>
>The Little Bittern was still at Audley Weir on the evening of Thurs. 15th.
>Bob Way and I saw it twice on that day, In the morning at about 8.10 AM and
>again in the evening at 4.50 PM. In the morning it was in the reeds on the
>east side of the weir ( on the far side of the causway as you approach from
>Sydney) and in the evening we inadvertently flushed it from the western
>reeds. I suspect it prefers the eastern reeds but obviously it could be in
>any of the 3 patches of reeds.
>
>We watched from the grassy bank just behind the western reeds, it took 25
>minutes to appear in the morning and about 35 minutes in the evening.
>
>Be prepared to wait quietly and scan the reeds frequently, it is an
>unexpectedly tiny little bittern whose striking colours blend remarkably
>into the reeds. Watch for reed movement and scan the higher portions of the
>reeds as well as at water level as we saw it just below the tops of the
>Typha, (the lower of the two reeds present, the other being Cumbungi).
>
>Bruce.
>
>Bruce Cox.
>48 Rangers Retreat Rd. Frenchs Forest.
>Sydney. 2086. Australia.
>Phone:--02 9451 5394.
>
>
>
>Birding-Aus is on the Web at
>www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
>To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
>"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
>to
>
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
