Although my current job isn't perfect (I'm working as a secretary for a solicitor, when I have a degree in Conservation Biology), the location is brilliant. Herdsman Lake is a 3 minute drive away so I often go there for lunch.
Today is the first really warm day we've had in ages. And in the mere hour I had for lunch I spotted all ten duck species that you can see at this lake. Getting 7 - 8 species is usual, to get the full 10 there has to be the rare Freckled Duck in residence - and today there was a single female sitting among the (very common) Pacific Black Ducks.
Here's the list for today - (B) indicates breeding
Australasian Grebe
Australasian Shoveller
Australian Raven
Australian Shelduck
Australian White Ibis
Australian Wood Duck (B)
Black Swan
Blue-billed Duck
Clamorous Reed-warbler
Dusky Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Freckled Duck
Galah
Great Cormorant
Great Crested Grebe (B)
Great Egret
Grey Butcherbird
Grey Teal
Greylag Goose
Hardhead
Hoary-headed Grebe
Little Corella
Little Grassbird (H)
Little Pied Cormorant
Magpie
Magpie Lark (B)
Mallard (B)
Musk Duck (B)
Pacific Black Duck (B)
Pink-eared Duck (B)
Purple Swamphen (B)
Rainbow Lorikeet
Red Wattlebird
Rufous Night Heron
Senegal Dove
Singing Honeyeater
Spotted Dove
Swamp Harrier
Tree Martin
Welcome Swallow
Whistling Kite
Willie Wagtail
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
I think I might go check out another section of the lake after work - try for a few bushbirds. I'm awfully cheerful after getting sunshine and birds for lunch.
Today is the first really warm day we've had in ages. And in the mere hour I had for lunch I spotted all ten duck species that you can see at this lake. Getting 7 - 8 species is usual, to get the full 10 there has to be the rare Freckled Duck in residence - and today there was a single female sitting among the (very common) Pacific Black Ducks.
Here's the list for today - (B) indicates breeding
Australasian Grebe
Australasian Shoveller
Australian Raven
Australian Shelduck
Australian White Ibis
Australian Wood Duck (B)
Black Swan
Blue-billed Duck
Clamorous Reed-warbler
Dusky Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Freckled Duck
Galah
Great Cormorant
Great Crested Grebe (B)
Great Egret
Grey Butcherbird
Grey Teal
Greylag Goose
Hardhead
Hoary-headed Grebe
Little Corella
Little Grassbird (H)
Little Pied Cormorant
Magpie
Magpie Lark (B)
Mallard (B)
Musk Duck (B)
Pacific Black Duck (B)
Pink-eared Duck (B)
Purple Swamphen (B)
Rainbow Lorikeet
Red Wattlebird
Rufous Night Heron
Senegal Dove
Singing Honeyeater
Spotted Dove
Swamp Harrier
Tree Martin
Welcome Swallow
Whistling Kite
Willie Wagtail
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
I think I might go check out another section of the lake after work - try for a few bushbirds. I'm awfully cheerful after getting sunshine and birds for lunch.