Taking the scenic route on the way to work, 2 beaches, Cherry Lake, 2 creeks, 1 river & Westgate Park if I peer very carefully and get the eyes focused just right through all the bridge wire.
Regularly seeing 27-33 species a day, until today I would have debated whether Sooty Oystercatcher or Australasian Gannet was the best bird on the transit list. After this morning’s journey, I now boast a transit list of 58 species, but none more extraordinary than today’s addition.
As I travelled N up Millers Rd, having just passed Kororoit Creek Rd, a large white bird with a raven hot on its tail burst out of a small stand of trees towards the passenger window of my car. I glanced towards it to try and determine whether it was a Sulfry or a Corella and was astonished to find myself looking into the flat round face of a Barn Owl. Too much traffic for the usual birding brake-slam, but the view in the mirror was of the owl circling around behind me and heading back toward the trees with the raven still in pursuit. The refinery on the other side of the road probably didn’t look to be an appealing habitat to hide in.
Can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow and has certainly added an edge to the trip to work. It will be a hard memory to beat…… maybe a bittern or a rail hiding under the Kororoit Creek bridge as I pass overhead – but probably not.
Cheers,
Joy Tansey
60 Myers Parade
Altona Meadows 3028
ph: 03 9315 6595
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