Hi Bob
That's the way to go! Swimming and birding on Christmas Day!
While you were indulging yourself at Lake Moondarra, we were doing the same
thing here in Lockyer Creek. Our son and daughter, Owen and Isobel, both
came up from Brisbane for a Christmas visit, and the four of us (with
Eileen) took to the water in the afternoon.
No Pratincoles here, but with the creek in front of the house at about 4
feet depth, up to about 8 feet just a little upstream, I did have secret
ambitions that while I was wading and swimming quietly around I might just
find a platypus for company, or spot a Cotton Pygmy-goose among the lily
pads that have come back in strength in recent weeks.
Neither of those daydreams came to fruition, but I did breast-stroke quietly
beneath a Sacred Kingfisher on a line that crosses low above the creek - he
wasn't concerned at all about the disembodied head that appeared to be
floating along on the top of the water. And a little later, while standing
up to my neck in the creek, it was stunning as an Azure Kingfisher speed
closely by at eye level!
I guess we'll try again today for more close encounters.
All the best
Bill Jolly
"Abberton",
Lockyer Valley, Queensland.
Visit our website at http://www.abberton.org
Email:
Ph: (+61) 7 4697 6111 Fax: (+61) 7 4697 6056
-----Original Message-----
From:
Behalf Of Bob Forsyth
Sent: Tuesday, 25 December 2001 5:41 PM
To: Messages Birding-aus
Subject: Oriental Pratincoles at Mount Isa
G'day all,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Today, fellow birdo Darlene Kneen, my neighbours, their visiting
family from the A.C.T. , our 4 dogs and I went to the junction of
Spring Ck and Lake Moondarra for a swim. Temp was a little warm at
41.2C.
Before we left we had a quick scan around the lake with the scope
and Darlene picked up a Great Crested Grebe.
But....
Just as we pulled away from the waters edge we counted 18 Oriental
Pratincoles. They were standing at the waters edge, spread out over
40m. A few were in adult plumage with the remainder in moult
plumage. All had their mouths open.
See my earlier posting
http://menura.cse.unsw.edu.au:1080/2001/12/msg00169.html
(As I did not include the words "Oriental Pratincole in the body of
the message "Searching the Archives with the words "Oriental
Pratincole" will not pull out that posting. The Search Facility
apparently does not include in its search the Subject Heading...)
In that posting one bird was seen at the southern side of the Wide
Bay on the western side of Lake Moondarra on 10/12/2001
Oriental Pratincoles have been rare visitors to the Isa except for
an influx in 1967.
Regards, Bob Forsyth, Mount Isa, NW Qld.
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