red-necked phalarope @ Lake Martin near Cressy, west. Vict.

[Peter Lansley <>]

Greetings netters,

some may be interested to know I found a basic-plumaged (non-breeding, eclipse) RNP this morning on the northern side of Lake Martin at 08:20. Despite about three hours further searching on both north and south/west sides of the lake by myself and Curtis Doughty, the bird was unfortunately not found again. The weather was not co-operative, alternating between hypothermia-inducing and heat-haze! Many shorebirds were sheltering from strong winds and gravitated to the south/west end of the lake by midday, quite some distance from the shore.

Other birds of interest in the area included Peregrine 1, Black Falcon 1 or 2, Cape Barren Goose 2+, Double-banded Plover 4, and Banded Stilt circa 20,000.

 

Local Lismore birder Bob Hughes was informed and might be going for the bird tomorrow Sunday 6th March, if weather permits. The site is accessible from road reserves off the Cressy-Foxhow road in the north and Cotties Road on the south side. It is likely that up to a full day might be required to find the bird, since this was our 4th count of Lake Martin in the last week and the first to turn up the phalarope - no significant migratory shorebird numbers on any other lakes in the region at present, only a few at nearby Cundare Pool.

 

Cheerio. Peter.

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