Julie, like Tony who is really just getting too old, you are making a big mistake by not going to the ‘famous B& B’. Missing the tick may be a minor consequence but not enjoying watching this bird and the social occasion that this has become should not be missed. It was a joy to watch the Forest Wagtail at close range walk in a deliberate and unhurried manner, wave its tail in a horizontal rather than a vertical plane, search for food in the shadows, eat a large caterpillar, take a long bath scattering water widely and then preening at length on the ground and in a tree. All this in the pleasant surrounds of a landscaped but surprisingly small garden and in the convivial company of the host and five others of like mind sharing the experience. It was great!
Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136
Sorry Mick, I didn’t intend to misquote you. Your theory sounds logical and plausible to me. Wouldn’t it be nice to know if the Grey-headed Lapwing made it back to its breeding grounds ? Mike has convinced us to spend some time watching for the Wagtail this morning. It is highly unlikely we will ever get to see one in East Asia. Julie
Actually Julie I was suggesting / proposing that the bird has just arrived from a reverse migration (i.e. instead of flying north from SE Asia it went the wrong way and flew south on a long-distance flight and was fortunate enough to find the “island” that is Alice Springs).
If my theory is correct then the bird should stay longer, just as the Grey-headed Lapwing did in 2006. This is of course, just a ‘hunch’, and I take no responsibility for birders putting off plans to go see it thinking “ah, it’s alright, it’ll be there all winter”…! 😉
Mick
Birding Aus Sent: Friday, 10 May 2013 11:30 AM
Julie, like Tony who is really just getting too old, you are making a big mistake by not going to the ‘famous B& B’. Missing the tick may be a minor consequence but not enjoying watching this bird and the social occasion that this has become should not be missed. It was a joy to watch the Forest Wagtail at close range walk in a deliberate and unhurried manner, wave its tail in a horizontal rather than a vertical plane, search for food in the shadows, eat a large caterpillar, take a long bath scattering water widely and then preening at length on the ground and in a tree. All this in the pleasant surrounds of a landscaped but surprisingly small garden and in the convivial company of the host and five others of like mind sharing the experience. It was great!
Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136
Actually Julie I was suggesting / proposing that the bird has just arrived from a reverse migration (i.e. instead of flying north from SE Asia it went the wrong way and flew south on a long-distance flight and was fortunate enough to find the “island” that is Alice Springs).  If my theory is correct then the bird should stay longer, just as the Grey-headed Lapwing did in 2006. This is of course, just a ‘hunch’, and I take no responsibility for birders putting off plans to go see it thinking “ah, it’s alright, it’ll be there all winter”…! 😉  Mick
________________________________ Sent: Friday, 10 May 2013 11:30 AM
Julie, like Tony who is really just getting too old, you are making a big mistake by not going to the ‘famous B& B’. Missing the tick may be a minor consequence but not enjoying watching this bird and the social occasion that this has become should not be missed. It was a joy to watch the Forest Wagtail at close range walk in a deliberate and unhurried manner, wave its tail in a horizontal rather than a vertical plane, search for food in the shadows, eat a large caterpillar, take a long bath scattering water widely and then preening at length on the ground and in a tree. All this in the pleasant surrounds of a landscaped but surprisingly small garden and in the convivial company of the host and five others of like mind sharing the experience. It was great!
Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136