Andrew Silcocks & I did the monthly Birds Australia count at this wetland on
Saturday 8 January. As it is drying out this wetland is approaching peak
condition and has attracted birds from many surrounding wetlands but if the
predicted hot dry period is realised, this may only last two weeks. We
recorded a total of 65 species of which 40 were raptors or wetland dependant
species. The highlights were 5,000 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (only 1 with an
orange leg flag), 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Marsh
Sandpipers, 1 Spotless Crake, 1 Common Tern and 2 Cattle Egrets (an unusual
date as rare here in summer). Although there is usually a good variety in
front of the hide, at the moment the bulk of the waders are not visible from
the hide unless flushed by a Hobby or similar. Then they form a very
impressive smoke haze.
The Lewin's Rail reported by Tim Bawden at Braeside is interesting as just
prior to Christmas 1 or 2 were heard at Seaford Wetland by Sean Dooley and
Chris Tzaros.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mt Eliza VIC 3930
Ph: (03) 9787 7136
Email:
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