Whiskered Terns on Phillip Island

[Susan Knowles <>]

One day I intend to produce a slim volume entitled "Birds of carparks".  I strongly suspect that if you wait in them long enough you will see everything.

> On Sunday I was doing a
> tour with Denis Vernier (as mentioned in an earlier message in a trip
> report to Werribee).  I met him at Cranbourne station and had a
> great day finding about 75 species including about 10 of the 12 he
> hoped to see with me. Many of the 'specials' he wanted to see around
> Phillip Island were just where I hoped they would be first time e.g.
> Hooded Plover, Cape Barren Goose, Black-faced Cormorant, Kelp Gull,
> Little Penguin and Eastern Curlew.  He appeared well satisfied by
> the time I took him to catch the ferry back the mainland and train to
> the city.
>  
> As we drove onto
> Churchill Island there were about 10-12 terns fluttering over Fisher's
> Wetland, the relatively new freshwater wetland created on Phillip
> Island at the entrance to Churchill Island aabout three years ago. 
> This is proving to be a great birdwatching resource with many species
> rarely seen on Phillip Island becoming regular at Fisher's. 
> Denis identified these terns (which were new to me and as far as I can
> work out new to Phillip Island) as Whiskered Terns - he knew them well
> from France!
>  
> I returned to Fisher's
> today to check whether they were still there.  Yep! So I was able
> to show them off to a friend/fellow WESBOC
> birder. 
>  
> Last Summer I saw my
> first good view of a Latham's Snipe there and Black-tailed Native
> Hens, another rare record for Phillip Island and all within full view
> of the carpark!
>  
> Elizabeth
> Shaw
> Phillip
> Island

--
Susan Knowles