Check my birding map for specific location.
Most times when I revisit places, I am disappointed. Great birding spots are a combination of right place and right time. And that time generally only happens once. However, Geelong has now given me 2 places that I know I can visit again and again and find something new and interesting. And so it was, that on a lazy birding day I revisited Balyang Sanctuary.
Although there is activity all around, this spot in the photo is where most of the action is. The ducks, cormorants and parrots all seem to like the tree in the top left and the water just behind it. The sun was shining on the water so it seemed like a good time to shoot some ducks.
Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)
Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)
Now, I know that technically this last photo is a gull but I swear it thought it was a duck. It was the only gull present, it followed the ducks around and bathed just like a duck.
The colony of cormorants were still busy. Some were courting, some mating and the juveniles fell off the branches into the water. Wonderful spectacle.
Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
I'm sure the top bird is the original model for angry birds!
The highlight of this visit was seeing a darter. I don't think I have seen one since I left Queensland! Much larger than the cormorants, they are elegant and stunning. The red patch on the neck indicates this bird is breeding.
Australian Anhinga (Anhinga novaehollandiae)
Australasian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
Back around the water once more, the lorikeets were screeching. I just can't get enough of these birds!
Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
eBird List
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