Melbourne Water's Eastern Treatment Plant which currently has vast areas of
water available has been without nomadic waterfowl, or only just a few, for
nearly two months. The last to leave were Blue-billed Ducks. Even the Coots
which usually number ~1,500 have mostly gone. Whereas our survey last October
counted 2,900 Pink-eared Ducks, this year NIL. Some other comparison examples
are Latham's Snipe 11 & 1, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 1,120 & NIL, Whiskered Tern
215 & NIL. Even Black-fronted Dotterels are scarce.
We did however have a rather intriguing looking 'Barn Owl' which is unusual for
us and because of some other reports I wonder whether we are about to
experience an irruption.
Mike Carter, 03 5977 1262
181/160 Mornington-Tyabb Road
Mornington, VIC 3931, Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus On Behalf Of
Carl Weber
Sent: 27 October 2016 10:46 AM
To: 'Tom Wilson';
Subject: Whats happened at Lake Galletly, Gatton?
Lake Cargelligo STW is the same. On Saturday last, there were 6 black swans, a
duck and a moorhen - not even a swamphen or black duck. The flooded paddocks
around the perimeter were also devoid of birds.
Carl Weber
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus On Behalf Of Tom
Wilson
Sent: Wednesday, 26 October 2016 8:42 PM
To:
Subject: Whats happened at Lake Galletly, Gatton?
Hi all
Sydney is the same – and Penny is probably right. They’ve all gone out
west...way west – I was at Lake Wallace a bit west of Lithgow in late September
– there were a few ducks but only about a dozen Coots whereas I would expect
100s. Lithgow STW was similarly devoid of birds (about 20 ducks and a couple of
grebes and certainly nothing “interesting”).
Cheers
Tom Wilson
From: Penny Brockman
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 6:45 PM
To:
Subject: Whats happened at Lake Galletly, Gatton?
One thought - all the rain out west has attracted them to "better pastures"
On 26/10/16 6:08 PM, David Taylor wrote:
> Ive been a regular visitor to Lake Galletly at the UQ Campus at Gatton,
> Sth-east Queensland for many years and had some memorable birding encounters
> there. At its peak there were hundreds of Pink-eared Ducks, thousands of
> Plumed Whistling-ducks and similar numbers of Magpie Geese. Mixed amongst
> that were the likes of Blue-billed Ducks, Grey, Pacific Black, various
> Egrets, Herons, Cormorants, shorebirds, coots, swamphens etc as well as
> occasional Native-hens, Bitterns, Crakes and other rarities that have showed
> up there.
>
> Over recent visits every time I go there though there appear to be less and
> less birds! Cattle Egrets have colonised the areas around both ponds and
> appear to have breeding cycles a couple of times a year and then move on.
>
> I was amazed yesterday on my way home from Durikai to visit and see so few
> birds - not a Pink-eared in sight or a Magpie Goose - greatly reduced
> Whistling-ducks and a tiny smattering of other birds - I noticed some rather
> horrid green algae covering some of the lake and wondered if the water is
> affected at some levell? There are numbers of Cattle Egret who appear to be
> in the early stages of a breeding bout but not much else. I do understand
> that wetland areas can change with climate/environmental issues and this can
> see variances in numbers but it does seem this terrific spot has lost its
> appeal for many of the local birds lately ….. any thoughts?
>
> Cheers
>
> David Taylor
>
>
>
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