COG's regular outing to coincide with World Wetlands Day was attended by 15 people, including a few experienced birders, some novices, as well as interested friends of birders. For many, this was their first visit, especially to the sewage ponds.
Highlights at Kelly's Swamp were a Great Egret, a Royal Spoonbill displaying its breeding plumage and Australasian Shovelers. There was plenty of time to study the differences between swamphens, moorhens and coots, and compare the size of White-faced Herons and Great Egrets, as well as Darters and cormorants in flight. A pair of Eurasian Coots was busy with dependent young while another was building a nest in front of Bittern Hide.
The sewage ponds had the usual selection of waterbirds, with the exception of Pink-eared Ducks. Blue-billed Ducks proved to be the favourites, but a single Freckled Duck on Pond 1 was a highlight. We were treated to wonderful views of a Spotted Harrier lazily circling the ponds, landing on a fence post and later on the ground, and a Whistling Kite made a brief appearance. Two family groups, one of Sacred Kingfishers and the other of Dollarbirds, sat obligingly to give great views through the scopes. Golden-headed Cisticolas showed themselves well at the top of grass stalks, but Little Grassbirds, despite calling repeatedly at both locations, remained hidden.
With 44 species recorded on a fine and mild morning, it was a rewarding way to celebrate World Wetlands Day.
Sue Lashko