Actually Julie I was suggesting / proposing that the bird has just arrived from
a reverse migration (i.e. instead of flying north from SE Asia it went the
wrong way and flew south on a long-distance flight and was fortunate enough to
find the "island" that is Alice Springs).
If my theory is correct then the bird should stay longer, just as the
Grey-headed Lapwing did in 2006. This is of course, just a 'hunch', and I take
no responsibility for birders putting off plans to go see it thinking "ah, it's
alright, it'll be there all winter"...! ;-)
Mick
________________________________
From: Mike Carter <>
To: Julie Neumann <>; ; Birding
Aus <>
Sent: Friday, 10 May 2013 11:30 AM
Subject: Non- twitcher in Alice and the Forest Wagtail
Julie, like Tony who is really just getting too old, you are making a big
mistake by not going to the 'famous B& B'. Missing the tick may be a minor
consequence but not enjoying watching this bird and the social occasion that
this has become should not be missed. It was a joy to watch the Forest Wagtail
at close range walk in a deliberate and unhurried manner, wave its tail in a
horizontal rather than a vertical plane, search for food in the shadows, eat a
large caterpillar, take a long bath scattering water widely and then preening
at length on the ground and in a tree. All this in the pleasant surrounds of a
landscaped but surprisingly small garden and in the convivial company of the
host and five others of like mind sharing the experience. It was great!
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
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