Hi all,
Geoff Walker, Frank Pierce, Roy ? and myself spent today around WTP trying to
track down some more of the rarities which have been seen, especially the
Broad-billed Sandpiper. I saw the Freckled Ducks on Lake Borrie where they had
been reported earlier in the week first thing in the morning - a good start
(also saw several later). A quick stop at Walsh's Lagoon yielded Red-necked
Phalarope, then it was on to the conservation lagoons. Frank and Geoff were
already there and had found the Long-toed Stints (2) on the eastern lagoon,
exactly where Chris Lester had described them (thanks Chris, directions were
spot on). We also turned up a Wood Sandpiper here. Nothing exciting on the
western lagoon. Headed back towards Walsh's, and on the way found 6 Wood
Sandpipers in the first lagoon east of the Little River ford on 280S road.
When we stopped the cars they flushed, and flew down into Little River where
they perched on some rocks about 50 metres south of the ford - excellent views!
A quick stop at Walsh's Lagoon saw the Phalarope still foraging.
Had lunch up at the mouth of Little River, where further searching yielded a
Red Knot and a Common Tern, and a Red-necked Phalarope loafing on a spit just
out from the mouth of the river! A quick trip back to Walsh's Lagoon and the
first Phalarope was gone - we suspect it was the same bird, and this spot might
be worthy of a check if it's not seen elsewhere.
Checked Summer 2 lagoon off Austin Rd for Broad-billed Sandpiper (as well as
extensive searching of all the previous sites mentioned), but alas it was the
'dip of the day!'. Finally, we decided to follow up on reports of Lathams
Snipe and Pratincole at Ryan's Swamp. Quickly flushed a Snipe, and a lap of
the swamp yielded 2, possibly 3, more. The swamp also contained at least 500
sharpies, and an Oriental Pratincole which was flying with them. We flushed it
3 or 4 times on our lap, and it eventually flew off with a flock of sharpies in
the direction of Walsh's Lagoon. No sign of the Australian Pratincole seen
earlier in the week. A nice wrap up was watching a hunting Peregrine Falcon
having a crack at a few birds over the swamp.
Cheers, Dean
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