Report  –  27 January 2007 — Black Mountain Peninsula/

Springbank Island

This now annual boat trip to view the Darter/cormorant nesting among the willows on the eastern side of Black Mountain Peninsula is always taking something of a risk, as the extent is very hard to check from the land using the bike path. So it was a pleasant surprise when only a few hundred metres past the mouth of Sullivan's Creek we encountered a major congregation of Little Black Cormorants, and another large one and then a smaller one a few hundred metres further on. Typically this species was very wary and many birds often left the trees before a good estimation of numbers could be made, but we estimated at least 120 birds and over 40 nests in these three spots. The chicks in the nests were mostly very well developed, though still with some black down, indicative of hatching some time ago, with only several younger ones seen. This species dominated with only about 15 Little Pied Cormorants and a single nest with young and about a dozen Darters present, including two males sitting tight on nests. Two Great Cormorants were also seen near a nest, though breeding could not be confirmed. A number of other species were also seen, with the count being 17 along this edge.

Rather than visit other places on the Lake, which in the past have proven somewhat disappointing, we were dropped off on Springbank Island for a very enjoyable picnic tea. Thirteen species were seen during this visit; of interest was the large number of Purple Swamphens feeding on the open areas in the centre of the island, and several Superb Fairywrens, causing a debate as to how they got to the island given the several hundred metres of water separating it from Acton Peninsula.

While only a small group joined me, due to some mechanical problems a bonus was being able to travel for the first time in the larger conventionally powered motor boat the “Darter”. This was especially appreciated when we were picked up to be taken back to the cars, being a much more comfortable ride than was experienced by the attendees of the 30^th birthday party that were being ferried back, in a variety of very small and frail looking craft, against the chop caused by the strong NE breeze.

Jack Holland