Did the trek out this morning to see the Plumed Whistling Duck at Lake
Joondalup (south). They were easy to spot although there wasn't alot of
activity. I was at the site for two hours (7:30-9:30) and in that time the
only time they moved was when some bickering stilts landed in the middle of
their loafing area, after a short chorus of disapproval from the whistlers
they settled back down to resume napping. My count was 14-15 PWD, although I
was some distance from them and I'm sure the other birder there with the
spotting scope would have gotten a much better view! ;) Had some other great
observations though and some good counts, up until a male Whistling Kite
decided to flush out half the lakes inhabitants.
Other birds present:
Grey Teal (81 and counting), Pacific Black Duck (~50), Australian Shelduck
(~10), White-eyed Duck (4), Musk Duck (2), Australian Shoveller (~5),
Australian Wood-duck (13), Blue-billed Duck (4), Plummed Whistling Duck
(14), Domestic duck (1), Black Swan (11), Australasian Grebe, Hoary-headed
Grebe (LOTS!!), Eurasian Coot (LOTS!), Black-winged Stilt (160+), Common
Greenshank (1), Great Egret (10 - some in full breeding others
non-breeding), Little Egret (1 - breeding plumage), White-necked Heron
(17+), White-faced Heron (14+), Rufous Night-heron (1 adult, 2 juv), Glossy
Ibis (16), Straw-necked Ibis (4), Australian White Ibis (~5), Yellow-billed
Spoonbill (7+), Australian Pelican (4), Whistling Kite (1 pair)*, Brown
Goshawk (1), Crested Pigeon (2), Spotted Turtle-dove (2), Australian
Ringneck, Long-billed Corella, Sacred Kingfisher, Western Gerygone, Red
Wattlebird, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Mudlark,
Australian Magpie, Grey Butcherbird (1).
* Whistling Kite: male flew out from west bank and over towards big
L.Joondalup. While scanning the bank female could be seen dragging something
up the bank where it then proceeded to pull apart it's meal. Although far
away the meal appeared to be a White-faced Heron. After 1/2hr on the bank
the female did a circle of the lake - none of the birds on the ground were
upset by this - where she landed on the east bank not far from me. She
picked up something from the grass and then returned back to the west bank.
The male on returning did some low flights over the wading birds in the
north end of the lake. This sent the inhabitants of the lake into a panic
and flushed out many into the open water. Others took to the air and left
the area. Nesting?
Other Counts:
Lake Joondalup (North - Big):
Picnic Cove Park (10:00)- Grey Teal (hundreds!), Pacific Black duck,
Australian Shelduck , domestic duck (pekin), Black Swan, Black-winged Stilt,
Silvergull, Eurasian Coot, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant,
Australian Pelican, Great Egret*, Australian White Ibis, Rainbow Bee-eater,
Laughing Kookaburra, Western Gerygone, Yellow-rumped Thornbill (with young),
Silvereye, Australian Ringneck, Clammourous Reed-warbler plus more ...
* Great Egret seen displaying with sticks in paperbarks behind picnic area.
Neil Hawkins Park (11:00) - Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Australian
Wood-duck, Black Swan, Musk Duck, Australian Shelduck, Domestic Geese,
Little Black Cormorant, Silvergull, Eurasian Coot (with young), Red-necked
Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Great Egret, Little Egret, Australian Pelican,
Austrailasian Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe, Whistling Kite, Willie Wagtail,
domestic pigeon, Long-billed Corella, Galah, Clammourous Reed-warbler plus
more ....
note: May have been Banded Stilt at big L.Joondalup, but equipment wasn't
strong enough to view that far.
Also, sorry but I didn't get time to pop by the Freckled Ducks like I said I
would!
Happy Birding,
CS
www.birdsofperth.com
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