Swampy days

Being alerted to the presence of Banded Lapwings on the Plain I took myself off there on 8 October and had a wonderful afternoon on a private property.

Here is one of 5 Banded Lapwings.  They have been declared 'extirpated' from the Canberra area, but have been re-establishing themselves recently.  This lot - 5 in total - are the first I have seen in the Carwoola area. Note the breast band and the lack of a face mask.  A brilliant sighting.

The Lapwing story continues the next day!

There were also 30 Black-winged Stilts in the area.  They are taking advantage of the water in the area (and probably declining levels in the inland).  The first image gives an impression of a group flying by, while the second shows them feeding.  Their 'yipping' calls were constant.

This pair seem to have been given ideas by standing on a swan's nest (from which the three cygnets are close to full grown).

 There were several White-necked Herons (previously Pacific Herons, thank you taxonomists) in the area.

Also 1 Great Egret - this has been around for some days, but had not previously been recorded in this project.  Note the Little Black Cormorant in the background.

Other excellent birds seen were 25 Australian Shelducks, great slow-motion fly-bys by the resident Spotted Harrier, 2 Golden-headed Cisticolas and a Brown Songlark.

From the future (29 October).  I went back to the Swamp, passing by at least 37 Banded Lapwings in the same paddock.  On the Swamp were 15 White-necked Herons, 14 White-faced Herons, 35 Black-winged Stilts, 1 Great Egret and 1 Yellow-billed Spoonbill.  Some not too flash images: