Pacific Black Duck

Went out with the local Field Naturalists on Sunday to Lake McDonald Botanical Gardens at Cooroy. Bird life on the lake was few in number probably due to the widespread rain. This Pacific Black Duck came close enough for a photo, unlike the Wandering Whistling Duck which stayed too far away for the camera. Among others also recorded here on this day were Comb-crested Jacana and Peregrine Falcon.

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)

As we wandered around the Gardens we came upon this interesting group of birds.
From left - Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). (Can you find the turtle?).

There were many Dragonflys and Damselflys on and around the lake, among them this Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum)

The view along one of the many pathways in the gardens.

One of the many Banksias in flower.

To finish off the day we stopped at Yellowbelly Waterhole for afternoon tea on the way home where there were lots of birds to be seen and heard. So it was decided to come back here another afternoon for a barbecue and birdwatching. Well over 80 bird species were recorded for the days outing.

Figbird

As we wait for Cyclone Hamish to come down the coast there is not much point in going too far from home. We were going to go and do another wader count, this time in the kayak at six am Sunday, but decided against it. Just as well! Instead I had to take what our yard had to offer regards wildlife.

Looking out the window I saw Noisy Miners going to our bird bath and tried for a photo but no luck. This Female Figbird looking to see how much water was left after the Miners was much more cooperative!

Figbird (Female) (Sphecotheres viridis)

It has now started raining with gusty winds.

Variegated Fairy-wren & Rufous Whistler.

After our latest wader count we took a friend out to Inskip Point to look for the Kelp Gull which we did not find, but there were quite a few bush birds to be seen along the track. As I was walking first I came upon this beautiful male Variegated Fairy-wren which posed very conveniently for a photo. While admiring it I thought what a good photo it would make, forgetting that I had my camera in its bag over my shoulder as I had been carrying a telescope and tripod most of the day in place of this. When the others caught up to me they said "did you get a photo"?

Variegated Fairy-wren (male) (Malurus lamberti)

Luckily it stayed around long enough for me to get my camera out of its bag.

Rufous Whistler (male) (Pachycephala rufiventris)

At the end of the track we came across this male Rufous Whistler, catching only a rear view. Among others seen were Rainbow Bee-eaters, Varied Triller and Collared Kingfisher.