Among 62 species of bird, an Australian Little Bittern was seen at the
Edithvale Wetlands, Victoria on Monday 12 January by Andrew Silcocks, Johnny
Loy and myself. It was an adult female and by it's behaviour, flew 100 m
between patches of reeds mid-afternoon, suggested it could be feeding young.
It disappeared somewhere near the NW corner of the northern-most lake near
where a pair were resident two years ago. This is the lake where a Great
Crested Grebe is currently residing. Other birds seen, mainly on the South
near the Hide, were 2 Spotless and 2 Australian Spotted Crakes, 2 Magpie
Geese, 80 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 60 Black-winged Stilts, 1 Greenshank and
11 Latham's Snipe. Wader numbers are expected to rise as the swamp dries.
Unusual for this site in recent years was a Stilts nest with three eggs.
They used to nest here in numbers but this site is not now favoured as
vegetation is rife.
Another interesting sighting was at the nearby PARCS Wetland on 10 January.
It was a Great Egret, (one of six heron-type species there), unusual not
because of its presence but because it was in full breeding plumage. It had
a wholly black bill, mostly pink legs and long plumes on the back draping
below the wings and tail. It did not however have blue lores which are
developed only when actually courting. Also present were 4 Cape Barren
Geese.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
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