I called past the Sale Common and Lake Guyatt today, the Common was very quiet, but Guyatt delivered the goods. It’s drying out fast, so I went down on to the bed in the hope of seeing Latham’s Snipe in the grass. They were there, but very wary, flushing well ahead of me, so seeing a Black-fronted Plover on the mud I headed in that direction to try for a photo. It was wary too, but no matter, up on the grass beside the walking path I saw a bird that initiated the birder’s twitch, a bird of the inland, a Black-tailed Native Hen. Peter and I saw one a couple of years ago near the Heart Morass, but that said they’re a very rare occurrence in these parts. Lake Guyatt strikes again! Also known as the Barcoo Bantam, this one was unusual because of the white feathers on its back, and I caught it just as it was starting to run in the characteristic manner.
Photos taken I went back to the lake bed in search of snipe, but they and everything else took to the air well in front of me. There are a few feral Mallards on the lake, and these two had the joystick back as they went past.
The flock of Royal Spoonbills that had also taken off did a circuit, and came back to land at the far end of the mud, up went the camera again to catch these two.
Blue Wrens were numerous, ( I know I should call them Superb Fairy Wrens, but bear with me), and I spent a bit of time on the boardwalk trying to freeze them in their tracks. Not easy, they barely pause for a moment while they hop around feeding. Persistence paid off and I got the male and female, plus a Brown Thornbill for a bonus. Distance was a bit far, but I was happy.
The late Herb Guyatt after whom the lake is named was a champion of the wetlands, I’m sure he would have been rapt if he could have seen the variety of birds that can be observed at this small man made lake in the heart of Sale.
Photos from top, click to enlarge.
Black-tailed Native Hen,
Mallards,
Royal Spoonbills,
Superb Fairy Wren, female
Superb Fairy Wren, male,
Brown Thornbill.
A great variety of birds, Duncan. The Native Hen is very special indeed. What would bring it to your area? Drought inland?
Possible I suppose Mick, but it would be out of the frying pan into the fire! Maybe just a vagrant.
Great to get a rarity now and hen, but the symmetry of the ducks really takes the eye. Nice one!
Hey Duncan,
Have just returned home from a trip to Vic and while passing called in on the Sale Common – yes very quiet but I did find an Aus Spotted Crake and what I thought to be a chick. But now I think after checking the S&D Field Guide it may have been a Ballion’s Crake? Managed to get both in the one photo. Also at Lake Guyatt (and top marks to the late Mr Guyatt for creating such a wonderful spot) saw all what you mentioned minus the NH. Saw too what I thought was a Bar-tailed Godwit – would this have been the Latham’s Snipe? Photo isn’t really clear enough as was too far for the 18x camera.
Hi Duncan
Your Native Hen is a good find. And I loved the action shot.
Your Brown Thornbill has a beak full of insects to feed its chicks.
Beautiful pairings of your Mallards and the Spoonbills. Its great when you can catch them so sweetly. Well done.
Cheers
Denis
Hi Lindell, There has been a Spotless Crake in the same area as the Spotted, a photo is on a previous blog post. Of course a Baillon’s is also a possibility. That would have been a Latham’s Snipe you saw at Guyatt, there are quite a few there.
Thanks Denis, both pairings due to 4.5 frames per second. I’d say the insects in the thornbill’s beak would be craneflies by the length of the legs. I’m getting a few into the moth light now.
Good one again Tony
I was pleased with the mallard picture, even if they are ferals.
Hi Duncan,
LOVE the Mallard Duck photo!! and of course always love blue wrens – hard to capture.
Lyn
Great finding a Black-tailed Native Hen and an unusual looking one at that. Reportedly seen down here on rare occasions too but I doubt I’ll ever see one. Those ducks look like the ones folk used to hang on their walls
Just discovered your blog, wonderful photos. Yes the blue wrens twitch and scitter so much.
Looking forward to exploring your other photos.
Thanks Lyn, The more I look at the mallards the more I like it.
Alan, I don’t know if that’s a thumbs up or a thumbs down!
Thanks for visiting Maree, you’re in a nice part of the world.
Yep – that was a thumbs up
wonderful birds, those wrens especially. Mallards are common all over the place here but that photo of yours is very striking
Love the wrens CGP, great little birds, hard to photograph though!