I had a brilliant afternoon today (from about 1:30 pm onwards) in the
Hawkesbury area (approx. 50-55km NW of Sydney CBD).
Along Cornwallis Rd, Windsor there were 2 adult pairs of Banded Lapwings
(one pair was with 3 tiny chicks) and a juv. Spotted Harrier.
At Bakers Lagoon, Richmond (where a lot of the water has been pumped
out), there were 50 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, several Black-fronted
Dotterels, 2 Plumed and 3 Great Egrets and another adult Banded Lapwing
with several Masked Lapwing on the edge of the lagoon. The lapwings
together with most of the waterbirds were disturbed by a circling adult
White-bellied Sea-eagle. Several Zebra Finches were also at Bakers
Lagoon.
On the Richmond Lowlands (along Edwards Rd) were several White-browed
Woodswallows and a pair of White-winged Trillers.
Finally, the best destination of all was Pitt Town Lagoon (can't get
enough of it) where I had again great views of the RUFF; 2 Pectoral, 3
Wood and at least 200 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers; a Greenshank; 2 Latham's
Snipe (feeding with the other waders); a Red-necked Avocet with several
Pied Stilts; 9 Red-kneed Dotterels; 2 Spotless, 2 Baillon's and an
Australian Crake; a Whiskered Tern ; 5 Yellow-billed Spoonbills; 5
Pacific Herons; 35 Glossy Ibis; 10 Australian Shelduck as well as a few
Australasian Shoveler and Pink-eared Ducks amongst the hundreds of Grey
Teal; a Swamp Harrier and at least 25 Chestnut-breasted and a few Nutmeg
Mannikins.
The Ruff was seen happily associating initially with the Sharp-tailed
Sandpipers and then together with the 3 Wood Sandpipers. The Ruff like
many of the Sharpies was at a time hiding amongst the weed growth beside
the lagoon which would easily explain why many birdos still have missed
seeing this bird. One visit here is never enough!
I was also at Pitt Town Lagoon for a short time yesterday morning were I
also saw a Black-tailed Native-hen; a Red-necked Stint; Double-barred
and Zebra Finches; a pair of Crested Shrike-tits with young, Horsfield's
Bronze-cuckoo and heard both a White-winged Triller and a White-browed
Woodswallow.
Until next time!
Edwin Vella
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