Since 26th January 2025 I have seen 251 different species of wild bird, and photographed 160.
15th Mar 2025 - 15th Mar 2025
Bought my first pair of bins, so visited a new location to celebrate. Thought it might be too hot (31C) but still plenty of birds around.
Headed out clockwise around the lake, though heard an insistent chirp before I got there. Clear enough to get a recording of a Grey Fantail.
The lake is very low. Walked out on to the dry bog to get a good look a Pink-Eared Duck and its brood, about 5 chicks, with a couple of Pied Stilt in the background. Also my first properly IDed Grey Teal.
Was shocked by a Straw-necked Ibis sitting on a log, not a bird I expected would exist. Even better, right next to it a Little Black Cormorant.
Spotted what I think were two Australian Reed Warbler on the way around, but wasn't sure so didn't tag them. Around at the hide, a Pelican I wasn't expecting and a Royal Spoonbill! They look incredible.
Not long after saw a Great Cormorant I took a long time to ID. Didn't feel it had sufficient white patches the description and images on Merlin showed, but the face was dead on. Took a photo through the bins, which was dodgy but enough for an image search to give me confidence it was indeed the bird I thought it was.
On the way back around got a clear view of a bird in a tree with the rough shape and beak of a kookaburra, but much darker. No idea what it was, and it flew off before I could figure it out or grab a photo. Other bird I failed to ID looked kinda like a moorhen walking around but with a much more muted beak. Maybe an immature but saw three of them and no adults.
Figured I'd be pretty much done coming back along the other side, but a Great Egret was perched on a branch waiting to receive me. Also, another Royal Spoonbill even more resplendent than the last.
Was trying to ID a duck (apparently there are shovelers around, never got one) when my bins raked over a Black-fronted Dotterel. What luck! I could hardly see it from shore even after knowing where it was, and would never have noticed it otherwise.
Very successful outing with half the birds lifers. Stoked with the bins too.