Black-necked Stork
reported on 25.03.05 from Tungamah, N Vic.,
via Bob
Cook.
I searched
unsuccessfully for this ‘Stork’, described as being black & white and larger
than accompanying Brolgas, on Monday pm and Tuesday am, 4 & 5 April. It was
reported as being seen on 25.03.05 by non-birding friends of Bob Cook, (David
& Laurel), while staying at a farm at Tungamah in N Victoria. It was on a
swamp at the NW corner of the junction of Wallden Rd & Dickie Rd, (VICROADS
Country Directory p 33 F3). This is private land, a property called
Sand Bank. I made 3 visits to the swamp, which is about 1.5 km in diameter and
checked it thoroughly. I saw several White-necked & White-faced Herons,
Yellow-billed Spoonbills and both Ibis species, but no Stork or Brolgas. The
latter had bred nearby. It is a red-gum swamp, but less densely wooded than
others in the area.
I also looked at Tungamah and Taylor’s Swamps situated north of the
Tungamah Road east of Tungamah, some of the southern shore of Lake Mulwala at
Yarrawonga, Dowdles Swamp (see J3 on same map) and the swamp south of Fisher
Road (H4). I glanced across Moodies Swamp (E5), followed parts of the courses of
the Broken & Boosey Creeks, a small section of the Murray River and scanned
the irrigated farmland north of Katamatite. Saw some nice birds but no Stork.
There is of course much suitable habitat along the Murray.
At this stage, I regard the report as highly likely (what else could it
be?), but unproven, as this would be only the 5th record for
Victoria.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian
Bay Road
Mt Eliza VIC
3930
Ph: (03) 9787 7136
Email:
