Fred was world famous for his observations on waders (which we now call
shorebirds) when I moved to Victoria from the UK with my family in 1964.
Within days of arriving I gained employment in Kew where Fred lived so
immediately took advantage of that proximity to call on him at home. And so
started an enduring friendship. Fred was his own, and rather a private man,
so it was difficult to get close. He had no car and couldn't drive (never
learnt) and so relied on others for transport. In those early days I would
pick him up and he would show me around the swamps around the mouth of the
Yarra and then west of Melbourne further afield to the Werribee Sewage Farm
and the salt-works at Altona and around Geelong. We made several camping
trips to northern Victoria and into NSW. He also introduced me to the swamps
SE of Melbourne where I still conduct regular surveys. His renowned
expertise was with waders, being instrumental in finding and publishing
several firsts for Australia and Victoria. Without checking, those that come
to mind include Lesser Yellowlegs, White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird's
Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper,
Wilson's Phalarope and Grey Phalarope. I was with Fred and others at Lake
Murdeduke in the Western District of Victoria when a Ruff was found. At the
time we thought that it too was a first but we later learned that one was
seen a week previously on a wetland along the Murray. We co-authored that
observation. In my case, I think I learned more from Fred about crakes and
rails than any other group of birds. As my interests turned to centre more
on seabirds and so to the Mornington Peninsula, eastern Victoria and
south-eastern NSW our physical association faded but we still shared our
experiences via the telephone.
Thanks Fred, I'll miss you!
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza VIC 3930
Tel (03) 9787 7136
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