Yesterday afternoon, c. 3.15 pm (8 Jan) I received a phone call from
George Paras (Wildlife Reserve Manager) to tell me that a Magpie-Goose
had arrived at the Main Lake in the Reserve. When I arrived c. 4 pm it
was still there, standing on its reflection in shallow water (the Lake
has been drained for control of gambusia fish). I was able to watch it
with Reserve staff Anthony and David (sorry guys, don't recall your
surnames!)
I'm not an expert in this species but I thought it might be
immature. The bare face was pale pink and not as extensive as shown in
fieldguides, with only a very narrow bare strip running up the
forehead. The hump on the head was not very much developed. Some of
the inner primaries were a dull dark brown rather than black. The white
underparts were stained. We did not see any bands or wing-tags.
It spent most of the time standing, occasionally shifting its feet
and looking around with an alert demeanour. Anthony was able to take
several photos. Unfortunately it flew off at 4.25. It circled the area
two or three times and then disappeared over the trees - we were not
sure in which direction. We hastily checked other wetlands in the
Reserve but it was not to be found. It may have gone westward to
wetlands in the Darebin Creek system or eastward to Banyule Flats in the
Yarra Valley. So if it is seen elsewhere in Melbourne, you are not
hallucinating.
We returned to Reserve Office and reported to George (who had of
course also seen it). He had been on the phone to Richard Loyn of
Arthur Rylah Institute, who suggested that it probably came from the
Serendip population.
Anthea Fleming
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