Gloucester Birding

Dear all, The rain has arrived at last, after a dreadfully dry 6 months. My patch of Gloucester has had 127ml to date and more appears on the way. The rivers are running high and paddocks flooded. This has brought into Gloucester large flocks of Straw-neck Ibis, and yesterday in two small paddocks south of town opposite the hospital, were 380-400 Cattle Egret, 250 S-N Ibis, 2 Royal Spoonbill, 4 Great Egrets, and sundry White-faced Heron, Magpies, Masked Lapwings, Black Ducks and Common Mynas, all busy in just two flooded paddocks. A quick drive around other local ibis/egret favourite paddocks, found one Cattle Egret in a paddock on Bucketts Road, and 2 White-headed Stilts, 8 White Ibis, 7 Straw-necked Ibis, 8 Cattle Egret and 1 White-faced Heron in a dam on Showground Rd. The Avon Wetland’s flooded paddocks had large numbers of Black Duck and Grey Teal, and an unusually high number (15) or so White-headed Stilt – too far to accurately count amongst the reeds. The only new bird for 2014 for my garden list was a Wompoo Fruit-Dove that paid a quick visit on the 18th August and was then seen by other people in George V Memorial Park on the Gloucester River. White-faced Herons that bred in 2011 and 2012 in my neighbour’s gum tree, have also been inspired to start nest building, with a flimsy few sticks in place. Happy birding everyone