Check my birding map for specific location.
I returned to the Boggy Bridge area with my friend Graeme who had come up from Melbourne in the hope of seeing the snipe. He was as amazed as I was, that as soon as he arrived, the crake was running round in front of him.
We sat in my van for a while and watched the crake and rail going about their business. There was no sign of the crake so we ventured out and wandered around the area. I am always nervous of doing that on my own so it was good to have him there. Even better that he walked in front on the soft ground!
Graeme spotted a Black-tailed Native Hen. I have seen them a couple of times but hadn't got good photos. I had even spent some time stalking a moorhen, thinking it was the black-tailed. We stalked it round the water and it became comfortable with us.
Black-tailed Nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis)
Overhead there were dozens and dozens of Great Egret flying over. I couldn't resist.
Eastern Great Egret (Ardea alba)
As I walked around the swamp, 3 cisticola popped up right in front of me. The birds were singing and chasing each other around in the long grass and reeds. They are such photogenic little birds and it is always fabulous to see them.
Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
With no sign of the crake but good views of dotterel and a glimpse of a night heron, we moved on to the dam wall some kilometres down the road.
A track runs between a channel and lake, the remnants of the old waterworks. The highlight was a pair of Hoary-headed Grebes lurking in the middle of a group of Australian Grebes. These grebe are so interesting and different. Look at that hair!
Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)
There were lots of swamphen around and yet again, I am reminded of looking fresh at these common birds. Regarded as a pest in New Zealand, just look at how beautiful this bird really is.
Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)
On my way back to the van, I spotted a large hare coming towards me. I know they are introduced and feral but gosh, they are cool.
European Hare (Lepus europaeus)
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