Back in the Dark Ages one might see dozens of Flame Robins on the cattle
paddocks at Banyule Flats in autumn and winter. Scarlet Robins were much
more occasional single visitors.
These days Flame Robins are few and far between, though there are plenty
of mown shortgrass areas. The Red Polls departed years ago and so did
the Flame Robins. (I have no idea if these facts are related).
However this morning I walked around the south side of the Billabong,
and there was a single male Scarlet Robin darting from the gate into the
wattles. I waited on a convenient bench, and after a few minutes he
darted down onto the fence again, from which he made a number of short
flights down to the ground.
The long grass in the paddocks was very wet after our little bit of
rain- I wished I had worn my gumboots. The Swamp looked a picture, full
of water and reflections, with 70+ Cattle Egrets on the dead trees.
Anthea Fleming in Ivanhoe, Vic.
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