On a glorious frosty but calm, sunny morning around 25 members enjoyed a morning at the wetlands.
The highlight of the morning was the sighting of the Frecked Duck reported in the area in recent weeks. Soon after I had given a few pointers on what to look for ('a dark duck with a peaked head and a ski jump bill'), Diane found it resting in the tangled willows in the northernmost pond. Several people had a quick look when it swam into clear water, but it then proved elusive, preferring to shelter in the lee of one of the islands.
On the main pond, there were good views-aided by telescopes-of Grey and Chestnut Teal together, Pink-eared Duck and a large group of Australasian Shoveler. A pair of Black Swans were nesting on the swamp.
As the morning warmed up, we walked over the bridge towards Kingston. A Great Egret and a sunning male Darter caught our attention, and a pair of Greenfinches flew past (we later saw these with a flock of Goldfinches feeding on the short grass in the paddock beside the reserve). Greenfinches are uncommon in Canberra, but are found in small numbers in a few places, especially along the Molonglo River.
A pair of Dusky Wood-swallows hawked over the adjacent paddocks; it is rather unusual for these birds to overwinter, but there seems to be a good food supply, including swarms of small midge-like insects.
The Double-barred Finches were out with a flock of Red-browed finches, as were several Golden-headed Cisticolas. Eastern Spinebills and White-plumed Honeyeaters were feeding in the grevilleas.
On the Sewage Ponds later, we saw Australasian and Hoary-headed Grebes, a pair of Hardheads, a Musk Duck, and a Little Grassbird, making 54 species for the morning.
Jenny Bounds