Boggy Bridge, Winton Wetlands Visit 3

 

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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Boggy Bridge Road, Winton Wetlands Visits 1 & 2

 

Check my birding map for specific location.

On the road to the Nesting Ground campsite, from the north was a narrow but very well constructed road structure through an area of wetland. There was a really small pull in towards the middle and there I spent the best part of several days. As you drive through this part, there are hundreds of birds (herons, cormorants, spoonbills, cockatoo), which immediately take off. So, using the van as a hide, I sat pointing out at the side where the sun would shine the most. Unfortunately, all the herons etc, were over the road on the other side. 

Not to worry, I sat and watched. It could have been frustrating at the wetlands as I was just not getting any photos because the birds were so flighty. But I was happy to sit and just watch. 

My first day sitting here, only yielded a flash of a Buff-banded Rail and lots of fly-bys. But I had arrived mid-morning so I wasn't surprised.

The next day, I got there from the campsite at 7am. As I pulled the van in, I flushed a Buff-banded Rail and Latham's Snipe so I was immediately more hopeful. As I was setting up my solar panel at the back of the van, I turned around and saw an Australian Spotted Crake. 

Not even time for a cup of tea, I crept out onto the firmer ground and waited. The crake was totally unconcerned by me and ran around, practically at my feet. I was amazed.

Australian Spotted Crake (Porzana fluminea)

As the crake pottered about, it seemed to give the rail some confidence and it came out too. 

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)

In a short respite from furious snapping of these wonderful birds, I looked up and saw the snipe a short distance away. It disappeared as soon as it saw me but I got a couple of snaps.

Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)

Once the crake, snipe and rail had retired for a rest, I had a look further around and found nesting grebes. These birds are so gorgeous.

Australian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

When I was further south in Victoria, I heard the Little Grassbird a lot and got used to hearing its melancholy piping call. I haven't heard any futher north but I thought I caught a single note. I sat in the van and concentrated. I heard it again and whistled a poor imitation back. The bird flew right out and into the grass in front of me. Learning bird calls is starting to pay off!

Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus)

The smaller birds became less active and quiet during the morning and I started to pay more attention to the birds flying over. There were plenty of them. I stood in the shade of the van and tried to shoot them. Check the raven image, it is carrying the head of a duck. Brutal.

White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica)

Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)

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Ashmeads Swamp, Winton Wetland

 

Check my birding map for specific location.

I spent a night at the other campground in Winton Wetlands, Crescent Camp. It bordered several swamps and in the morning I moved the van, very carefully, down a track (backwards) onto the Ashmead Swamp. It was full of herons that immediately took off on my arrival. I thought that once I was settled, they would return. They didn't. For 6 hours. 

Not to worry, it was very pleasant sitting in the back of the van, drinking tea and just watching. It was hot but there was a nice breeze. The fairywren and honeyeaters started to come down to drink. I watched as a young Superb Fairywren danced around on the ground in front of me. It was so lovely.

But then, I saw the flash of a Sacred Kingfisher fly past with a brown lump in its mouth and the fairywren was gone. It was a bit brutal.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus)

White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata)

Part of the problem at the wetlands is that it has its own early warning system. They are called cockatoo. The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo rule here, in large numbers. And they travel in large groups, shrieking all day. And if they spot you, they shriek even more. Not very helpful.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Eventually, the White-faced Heron started to return and forage in the shallow water. Again, lots of youngsters but I thought I might be safe from the horrors of nature as I watched them. 

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)

I really wanted to see the White-necked Heron though. While I have seen and photographed lots of them, they are so stunning that I always want to watch them. And there were lots of them around. After waiting another couple of hours, a single bird arrived and stood at the edge of my lens range. After a squabble with the smaller White-faced Heron, it put on a bit of a show for me.

White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica)

There were a lot of dead trees around the whole area and that meant plenty of perching places for the Brown Falcon. These are terrific birds with such variable plumage, you never really know what to expect.

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)

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