Maffra Wetlands and Herb Guyatt Reserve.

Took a drive over to the Maffra Wetlands last week early in the morning, to check out the Crakes and the Rails. The water level has receded out to the edge of the reeds, leaving a fair amount of semi bare mud. The first birds I noticed apart from the ducks and Coots were the Latham Snipe. These are usually vert flighty; but this day they were sitting every where along the waters edge. In the hour and a half that I spent sitting and watching none moved.

 

 

There were a few Spotted Crakes; but at a fair distance until I stumbled across two further along the shore line. This one was feeding about 10 Yards away.

 

 

This morning I went for a walk around Herb Guyatt Reserve at Wurruk, the birds were quiet until I rounded a corner and here was a Sacred Kingfisher, this is the first that I have sighted at the reserve this Spring and Summer.

 

 

Then to my surprise a little further along the track a pair of Crested Shrike Tits were feeding up and down the trunks. These I haven't seen for some time.

 

 

 

On the way out a small bird landed just off the track, not knowing what it was I took a photo; but soon found out the species as one of the parents landed and began to feed the baby. Turned out to be an Eastern Yellow Robin. So all in all the walk turned out to be very successful.

 

 

 

 

Ross.







Maffra and Sale Common

Went for a drive over to the Maffra Wet Lands last week, the wind was blowing gale so my hopes of seeing many birds was very low. Having walked the length of the wet lands and spotted only a few ducks, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a lone Intermediate Egret, this is a first for me, they seem to be very rare in this area.

 

 

I then drove out to Bellbird Corner, and looking over the water hole before going through the gate a Raptor flew up from the side of the water, not sure of the species. Also feeding were a pair of Yellow Spoonbills.

 

 

 

 

 

Last Friday I went for a walk through the Sale Common, the water is starting to dry up and you can now walk a couple of hundred metres past the look out, again the wing was blowing pretty strong and the bird life was quiet. So it was down to the Swing Bridge and on the way a lone Sacred Kingfisher was sitting on the electricity wires, this is the first sighting this Spring and Summer.

 

 

 

 

Ross.





Around the Sale Wet Lands

I went for a  walk down to the Sale Common last week to check out the water level. As the level has been high the track is blocked just below the lookout.
The level is now down to about 6 inches, so it won't be long before the water will be clear of the track. The birds were fairly scarce; but I did get a photo of a Great Egret.

 

 

Lake Guyatt was a little more productive, although the Speckled Ducks seemed to have left. Spotted a pair of Pink Eared Ducks, and today saw the first of the Latham Snipes, one was in the shallows, and I spotted another three on the island.

 

 

 

 

Next stop was Herb Guyatt reserve, the Goss Hawk is still around, although not using last years nest, and a Wedge tailed Eagle was circling.

Swallow Lagoon was not very productive either, White Faced Honey eaters and Yellow Faced Honeyeaters were flitting from tree to tree, and a Spotted Pardalote came down to greet me. A little way along a Rufous Whistler was singing his song. I just love these whistlers. So my day was made.

Ross.