One of the spots we visited at the COG campout on the Lachlan River over the March long weekend was the sewage ponds, always a sought out facility for birdwatchers wherever they go. It's just north of the town with sweeping views over the ponds, adjacent grasslands and down to the river. We recorded an amazing 43 species of birds there over about an hour, all viewed from a stationary position at the fence line. These included Pink-eared Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Hoary-headed Grebe and Black Swan, as well as Pied Butcherbird, Little Friarbird, Zebra Finch, Whistling Kite and a pair of Brown Goshawks. I also saw a Barn Owl in the area one evening when driving down the road. (Plum-headed Finches are reported to be there too, although we did not see any on this trip.)
Of particular interest was an article about the birds of these wetlands in the local paper, put together by birdo Athol Colemane, who also has a country music tourist enterprise and encourages Tree Sparrows in his garden. An inventive local journalist had transcribed various species of ducks, plovers and ibis, including some which were very new to us - 'March and Spotted Cranes', the 'butterfly-like March Terns' and 'Little Pied and Black Cornier Ants'. I wonder if they are related to Argentine ants?
Note: to get to the sewage ponds as you drive into Cowra go over the bridge, turn left at the lights (pub on the corner), left again on the road to Canowindra, then another left at Mulyan Street (just after River Street), and over the level crossing; the ponds are a couple of kilometres down the road. It is useful to have a telescope.
Jenny Bounds