Despite predictions of yet another 30° plus scorcher of a day, 12 birdwatchers rolled up for this midweek outing. A gentle breeze, lots of birds, and visiting the unshaded sewage ponds first before it got too hot combined to make for a pleasant morning. Most of the time at the sewage ponds was spent admiring the Blue-billed Ducks, two males and one female, on the same pond as they have often been seen of late.
Back across Dairy Road there was another highlight, a sight most of the group had not previously experienced: large 'different'-looking birds (nine of them) soaring high above on the thermals created by the baked-dry Kellys Swamp. Fortunately Philip Veerman was at hand to identify them as Darters. HJ Frith writes 'In flight they tend to soar on thermals and updrafts. With their long wings, tails and necks they resemble flying crosses.' Most of us didn't know they did any such thing!
Other birds recorded included Australasian Shoveler, Royal Spoonbill, Double-barred Finch and Mistletoebird. In all, 45 species for the morning.
Phyl Goddard