Back on line after Xmas break. Videoed some birds, enjoyed Werribee &
Langwarrin. Saw the usual number of birds I couldn't identify, most are of the
"fast blurred bird" type but one is really disturbing.
What white bird has two white spots on its black tail?
Details:
Videoed on the bayward side of the boardwalk south of Hastings. A pair high up
on the rushes. The birds appeared white to the naked eye, were too far away to
see any streaking of plumage. On video:
Length 150 to 220 mm
Body white or cream
Face darker, possibly black
Wings very light brown
Wing tips black OR sides of rump black
When one was facing away from me it stretched its black tail sideways and I
could see a very large white circular spot in the centre of the top of each
side of the black tail.
The very tips of the inner tail feathers are white.
When folded up, the tail looks white from above.
The birds are not raptors or waders and are very much whiter than both the
dusky wood swallow and the black faced cuckoo shrike.
They showed no signs of being disturbed by, or even noticing my presence.
Any ideas please.
On other topics.
I was surprised to see that the Werribee WTP bird list doesn't list the
red-necked stint as breeding there. At the mouth of the Werribee River I
videoed an "I'm injured follow me but stay away from my nest" act that I
associate with breeding birds.
What's the bird, present in hundreds if not thousands, at the upper Werribee
River WTP that is often startled out of the long grass emitting "carc" sounds
as it flies away.
I plan to update the Australian Bird Video website soon.
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Dr David Paterson
http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.com/~hallsofjamaica/Birds.htm
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