Friday 28 November 2014

White Women's Water Hole

Have been meaning to get back to White Women's Water Hole for some time, finally made it a couple of days ago. As I drove into the camp park the first bird I saw was a Sacred Kingfisher flash by. As I set off along the walking track the Kingfishers were calling; but no sightings, there were Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos, a couple of which looked like baby Gang-gang  Cockatoos. As I crossed the road and walked up the bank the Kingfishers were still calling, so I stopped and looked, none to be seen, as I walked on , one flew in and landed on a dry tree, here was my chance.

Sacred Kingfisher.
 
 Butcher Bird.
 
 Eastern Rosella.
 
 Gang-gang Cockatoo.
 
King Parrot.
 
 
Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo.
 
 
Ross.

Orchids

Took a drive over to Glenmaggie to check out the orchids, found some Large Duck Orchids; but my main aim was to find some Small Duck Orchids. After searching a fairly small area for 1 hour with no luck, I headed for the car still with my eyes to the ground, I walked a few paces and there they were, must have walked past them a dozen times.


 Large Duck Orchid. ( Caleana major)
 
 Small Duck Orchid.  (Paracaleana minor)
 
Small Duck Orchid .  (Paracaleana minor)
 
 
Ross.

Birdwatchers at Moe

On our last outing we went to Moe, visited two reserves which produced some good sightings. Although we ticked many species, this Whistler was the only one that sat for a photo. It looked like he was defending his nest from a pair of Grey Fantails that were giving him and his mate a hard time.


 
 
We also noticed some Sun Orchids; but unfortunately these were not out. Along the  track we ran into another bird man who said he could show us some Bird orchids, so into the bush we went and found a small patch of these orchids.
 
 
 
 
A couple of days later I checked out Lake Guyatt. It was a windy day so I stayed at the mud flats for a while counting the species. Black Duck, Freckled Duck, Pelicans Australasian Coots, Spur winged Plovers to name just a few. Always nice to see the Black Fronted Dotterels there.
 
 
                                                          A pair of baby ducks
Black Fronted Dotterel.
 
 
Ross.