Lesley Deacon | Guest Contributor
Friday 4 October brought lots of birders and cameras out to Hasties Swamp to spot the Australian Painted-snipe that has been lurking in the reeds on the far bank for almost two weeks. Early in the morning appears to be the best time to see him, when there are short bursts of frenetic mud-probing feeding, along with extended periods of sheltering in cave-like hollows of reeds.
Interaction with the local Buff-banded Rail may also send him running along the bank to a new hiding hole. The white band around the wing makes it quite easy to pick him out with binoculars, but a scope gives better views. It is wonderful to have such a rarity on the Tablelands and we hope he stays for a while longer.
The falling water level in the Swamp has brought in other birds including all three wading Egrets, as well as Royal Spoonbills that race through the shallows sweeping the water with their black bills, sifting incessantly.
Some Comb-crested Jacana have also appeared, although the water is still too deep in their usual accessible place, so scopes are really needed for them. Several Nankeen Night Heron were roosting in trees either side of the hide, but one obliged by resting on the log in the water giving great views. There were also some Pied Stilt stepping gracefully through the shallows on their outrageous pink legs. A group of Australian Pelican, uncommon at Hasties, were fishing along with the usual Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants.
We wondered at the lack of Magpie Geese, but they had obviously been out for a morning feed and arrived in noisy swarming honking hundreds. We put down a number somewhere between the highest and lowest estimates. Watching them arrive and settle down to roost is a birding experience in itself.
There are also bush birds to spy along the road. The Eastern Yellow Robin and Pale-yellow Robin always delight with their quizzical stance on the side of tree trunks. Both Spectacled Monarch and Black-faced Monarch have returned after winter sojourns.
The White-browed Scrubwren may be found busily hopping beneath the vegetation, or arguing with the bird in your car side mirror, if you are lucky or unlucky enough, for it results in many bird droppings down your car door.
Local intel is that many birds are nest-building and we did find a lump of dead leaves, which we confirmed as the nest of the Bower’s Shrike-thrush.
The full list of 69 species may be found on eBird: entered by Lesley Deacon. If you wish to join the Hasties Swamp count fun, the next survey will be Friday 1 November. We meet in the carpark near the hide before 7am. You never know what we might find.