As Mike mentioned I did see the Grey-headed Lapwing yesterday (Tuesday 27th)
from 0655 to 0825 on the "wetland" in the paddock immediately east of the
town on the north side of the road. It fed with the two MASKED Lapwings
until around 0805 when they moved away from the wetland area and stood
resting. Also present were a White-faced Heron and a pair of Black-fronted
Dotterels.
Interestingly, and contrary to Mike's experience, the bird was much more
wary at its favourite haunt, the patch of rough ground near the silo. After
returning to the paddock after getting breakfast the other birds were still
there but the Grey-headed had disappeared. I relocated it at the tussocky
stretch at 0855 and it was very wary and agitated. Whereas I had been able
to spend an hour and a half with the bird at the paddock, approaching to
within 25-30 metres at times without disturbing it at all, at the second
site it seemed jumpy even at the presence of my vehicle. (I did not get out
of the car at this site.) Other passing cars on the main road put it into
alert as did the numbers of Magpie Larks flitting about it.
Not wanting to agitate the bird further I headed off at 0910 for the drive
home. Arrived home at 2300, a mere forty hours after setting off!
Glad to hear others got the bird later in the day. I agree with Mike, there
is a good chance this bird may be a long stayer. It was feeding vigorously
and seemed to fly strongly though it did have a slight limp due to the
growth/lump/thing attached to its leg. Any ideas on what this could be? How
much of a threat to its health do people think this might be?
Sean Dooley
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Mike Carter
Sent: Tuesday, 27 June 2006 7:29 PM
To: BIRDING-AUS
Cc: Tony Palliser; Brett Davis
Subject: Grey-headed Lapwing at Burren Junction, NSW -
update,there today.
It was still there today. Sean Dooley saw it at 07.00 this morning on the
paddock immediately adjacent to and just east of the Burren Junction pub
alongside the north side of the Walgett-Narrabri road. This paddock was
where it was feeding energetically early on Monday morning. It has some
shallow water, a few Black-fronted Dotterels and on that day, 2 Banded
Lapwings for a while. After he'd breakfasted in the local shop, (my wife and
I recommended the eggs & bacon there), he found it had moved back to its
favourite haunt, at least for the hours between about 10.00 and 14.00. That
is the tussocky grassy stretch on the north side and immediately adjacent to
the road just east of the silo. This area is about 80 m long by some 30 m
wide but one can still overlook the bird if it squats to rest as is its
wont. It may leave that area if disturbed by workers, birders, or by a BOP
(possibly a Hobby), but returns fairly quickly. The bird seems very attached
to the area and judging by the Spotted Redshank we had here at the wetlands
around Carrum in Victoria in 1992, also I believe, a case of 'reverse
migration', it could stay a long time. That bird stayed 6 months!
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