I made one of my frequent trips to Little Llangothlin Lagoon (north of
Guyra, NSW) yesterday to inspect the ducks. It was a cold winter's day up
there at 1350 metres, the temperature hovering around 7 degrees all day, and
rain closing in after midday (we had a light sprinkling of snow back here in
Armidale last night!). It was generally quiet and there were fewer ducks
than usual that were identifiable at Llangothlin, but many more blobs of
uncertain brown crouching in the edge of the reeds. I counted c. 80
Blue-billed Duck, the most numerous species apart from the Coots, which were
in the hundreds. There were also good numbers of Shoveler and Grey Teal, and
a solitary Mallard, looking a long way from home. Best of all were a single
pair of Freckled Ducks. I have now seen this species so often there that it
might be considered frequent, if "regular" is not a good word, given their
nomadic habits.
Only read on if you might be interested in visiting Llangothlin:
I have come to the realisation that best views of the ducks are obtained
when there is a fresh westerly blowing. If you arrive in the car-park area
and there is little to be seen in the wide area of open water in front of
the reeds (you need a good scope to identify them there!), that is probably
a good sign, but you have to walk a bit. Put on your gumboots (essential!)
and cross the marshy ground to the south of the car-park area. Then join the
mown track on the other side and follow it up on to the higher ground past
the abandoned cattleyards and on for a few hundred metres more, taking the
path close to the water where it branches. Where the land begins to fall
away again, creep very slowly through the trees to your left, and if you
have managed not to spook the birds you will be looking down on them from
about 100 metres. They have taken refuge from the wind in that south-east
corner. For every one you see there, there are probably many more hidden in
the channels between the reeds. You occasionally see dark lumps floating
past in the interstices. Of course, most people cannot choose the weather
for their visit...
John Clifton-Everest
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