A very good roll up of birders including some new faces fought their way through appalling traffic to get to the Kelly’s Swamp carpark at the appointed time.
The first bird entered on the list was an immature Little Eagle, still looking very spiffy. Most of the usual suspects contributed to the total list of 48 species. Less common birds were a Pied Cormorant on the silt trap and two European Greenfinches just through the gate at the school end of the swamp. Although not uncommon, we had extremely good views of Golden-headed Cisticolas on the fence at the end of the water and, as we returned from the silt trap, a Brown Falcon being harassed by smaller birds.
Some of the group then visited the Sewage Ponds (being careful to sign in the book). There were relatively few birds on the lagoons; presumably they have dispersed as there is water elsewhere. There were good numbers (approximately 10) of Blue-billed Duck, Australian Shoveller, Pacific Black Duck and Grey Teal. It was particularly helpful to be able to get Australian and Hoary-headed Grebes in one field of view.
Martin Butterfield