Finally getting a chance to head to Lake Tutchewop this afternoon, and just wanted to see if anyone had any luck this weekend so far to try and work out the best possible starting point (if none will start in the South East near the drain and work from there). Looks like Swan Hill hasn’t got anywhere near the rain originally predicted (unfortunately for the locals) so I am hoping it hasn’t up and moved. Will have the iPad with me so any latest news would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Peter
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Managed to spend about an hour and a half today at Lake Tutchewop with no luck this afternoon. Saw three male ostrich at Lashbrook road on the way and the other two nsw threatened species seen were spotted harrier (one near the Balldale turn off near Corowa, and one just after Thule Creek) and a flock of White-fronted chats South of Deniliquin. Pulled in first quickly at lake Kelly with hundreds of banded stilt on the far eastern shore, and when I approached the western shore there were quite a few waders present including a single curlew sandpiper – with more time it might have ben worth a walk along this shore as despite the wind blowing to this side of the lake thee were many birds there. Then traveled to the inlet channel at lake Tutchewop where there were a number of birds present (mainly grey teal, Australian shelduck, Silver gull and Pelicans). At least two sharp-tailed sandpipers were present amongst the vegetation on the inlet channel, and another ten or so were present out amongst the ducks. I watched for about twenty minutes while all turned their heads and no dowitcher was obvious. I walked the shore past the nest boxes almost to the rock groyne but very few birds were present (about 30 red-necked stints, masked lapwings and a number of red-capped plovers including one runner chick) before heading back to the other side of the inlet channel to se if anything else was hiding there (a single greenshank was the only other wader found). I then drove around the lake viewing at a couple of points including a brief walk on the north side where the concrete bunkers are (only birds seen here were more silver gulls). Then returned to the inlet channel for one last look with only three sharpies left. Did meet one other birder in a Queensland registered vehicle that also had had no luck, but not certain where exactly he had been looking. Would be interested to know if anyone else has recorded the bird over the weekend, but at this stage I suspect that will be a dip for me, unless I have another excuse to head over this way in the next few weeks. Cheers, Peter
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