Hi all
Yesterday was a near perfect Australia Day. Three friends and I participated in what became a large (by Aus standards) twitch at the Western Treatment Plant. A couple of friends came over from western Victoria hoping to see the Stilt Sandpiper and the other delectables at the plant and the day started well with the Long-toed Stint making an appearance at pond 4, and then things became sublime. Pectoral Sandpipers are normally not common at the WTP but yesterday we had 4 “running all over our toes” – well, not really, but they were feeding in a group, not more than 10 metres from us!
Then word came through that the Stilt Sandpiper had been found on the rocks at the Austin Rd ponds so there was a mass exodus from pond 4 to Austin Rd. The result was a text book English-style twitch, in miniature. We had all walked out across the paddock and ended up some 50 or 60 metres from the rocks in a straight line.
Twenty-six people with some 20 scopes peered at the rocks, then all scopes would be picked up in unison and the line would advance a few metres. This was repeated again until finally the bird was spotted amongst the rocks. One person would say “I have a perfect view” and the person beside them would say “all I can see is the head”. Further down someone would call “there are 3 rocks with whitewash on them, which one do you mean?” Up and down the line the view varied until finally the sandpiper ran after a Greenshank and everyone got great views. The line of twitcher then started to dissolve as we headed back to our cars, all chatting away, very satisfied. Our friends now had their second tick for the day.
The quality of the day was maintained as we found two Grey Plover on the Spit and then a third, an all time high count for us at WTP. The Ruff was still a potential tick for one friend so off we went for the hunt. As we watched some Red Knots a tip-off from a passing birder told us that “45 minutes ago it was at the borrow pit”. It was late in the day but we drove direct, non-stop for the Borrow Pits. Too late, the bird had flown! The only bird wading at the borrow pits was a Magpie Lark! OK, a slower trip out was called for. We tried the Conservation Ponds with no luck and then the two little ponds on the side-track; still no luck. Last chance was going to be 85WC-9 – the big pond on the way out.
The pond had a few Stints and Sharpies on it but as we watched, flocks of waders arrived by the hundred. We soon had a mud-bank carpeted in small waders, gently shuffling as they settled to roost. Then they would all flush in a cloud of wings and chirps and settle back to the mud. Then the Ruff was found. I have seen Reeve at the WTP before but never a Ruff. It was truly a magic sight. Picture scanning through a pack of kindergarten kids and coming across a basketball player – that is how it was, many hundreds of very small birds and in their midst this huge, Obelix of “Asterix and Obelix”, of a bird. Brilliant. Tick three was secure and we went home smiling.
So next year if you want a brilliant day out on Australia Day forget the tennis, forget the BBQ and beer – try a twitch at Werribee Treatment Plant instead (smile).
Oh, and I will add more in another posting, but on Saturday we went to the You Yangs. The loop road and all tracks are still closed because they are washed out. The birding was excellent in quality, if not quantity but I imagine access will be limited for many weeks to come.
Cheers
Jenny ============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
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