The intriguing Musk Duck - Swan Lake, Phillip Island

Musk duck sit low in the water "platypus like". The presence of the leathery flap under the bill indicates that this is a male

As Pizzey says "A very strange duck". This one was swimming and diving quite close to our vantage point at Swan Lake's northern bird hide. The flow of "water off the duck's back" was quite impressive.

That tail flick again in case you missed it....!

This female bird was giving itself a belly rub (the back half of the bird is twisted belly-up)

Little black cormorant - love that eye colour!

Black swan

As usual there was good numbers of Eurasian coot

We surprised a Royal spoonbill who left the water to perch somewhat precariously on the ti-tree.

A very curious Brown thornbill was actually too close to the camera!

In the bird hide Welcome swallow chicks were excited by a camera flash until a "grown-up" came to settle things down 

Bird on!

Avian Liquorice All-sorts, Port Fairy

Within 5 minutes and 20 metres of each other were a collection of peculiarly coloured birds at Port Fairy the other weekend. All three were birds I don't often see. Three times I found myself thinking how strangely these birds were "put together".

The always nervous Black-tailed Native hen is mostly drab but has an alarming yellow eye, green and red bill and striking red legs (and it gets it's name from a black tail!?).

Black-tailed native hen - no large groups here but 5-6 birds momentarily in bright sunlight.

A single Pink-eared Duck refused to cooperate but its impressive shovelling bill can be made out on this photo as can it's zebra markings and pink "ear".

Australian Spotted crake was equally noncommittal but also has some garish colourings on bill and leg.

Australian Spotted Crake

All birds were seen at Port Fairy's Russell Clark Reserve which was conveniently located between our digs and the Port Fairy Folk Festival. We walked past daily. The reserve is actually used as a temporary  car park for the festival.

I sat for a while to view and photograph the crake which was on yonder island ….

… the usual local gang of thugs was also present ….

… and came to check me out (iPhone shots now) …..

 ….. which of course attracted the attention of the constabulary. So much for going under cover!

To my left our rented house, my right the music festival, behind me the Southern Ocean, in front of me a wetland!
Alas only one long weekend!

"Reverse charge call". The first time I've seen a Hoodie's nesting area roped off on the "dune" side preventing access to the shore line. The scrape was apparently on a short peninsula. The dune is behind me! We watched the hoodie for a while (sans camera, we were actually at the beach swimming!) and were thrilled to count five Ruddy Turnstones as well.

Returned the next day but found none of the above but a White-faced heron ...

 …. and some other locals. Always impressed at that bill! Long-billed corella.

Between Acts, Stage 1, Sunday Evening, Port Fairy Folk Festival

Decidedly birding theme to this year's festival featuring local gull, "mutton birds" (Short-tailed shearwaters), Hooded Plover and Pied Oystercatcher. Wins my vote! I wonder home many of the 12,000 patrons were as impressed as me!

Experience more at the website Port Fairy Folk Festival Worth a look! Hear some tunes!

Bird (& folk) on!

Shearwater Estate's ugly ducklings

It's OK. I'm talking swans and grebes!

The idea that a cygnet could be mistaken for an ugly duckling entertained Hans Christian Anderson. In a similar vein I remember being fascinated to discover that those funny-looking little ducklings that never grew bigger were actually things called grebes!

Whatever can be said about island developers they have certainly been successful in creating what is currently a bird-attracting wetland at Shearwater Estate.

Many other species also frequent the wetland (Ereamea list - 59 species) ..... including actual ducks!

Hoary-headed grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)
Immature bird (similar to non-breeding winter adult plumage)

I think we are seeing here the grebe's nictitating membrane
which is said to serve as a contact lens when diving.

Like water off a grebe's back!

By way of comparison - adult breeding plumage
Fishers Wetland, Phillip Island, 5/1/2009
(all other photos Shearwater estate)

Black swan (Cygnus atratus)

Can reach to scratch anywhere on it's back
and see the spot as well!

Hardhead or White-eyed duck (Aythya australis)

Little pied cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)

Welcome swallows (Hirundo neoxena)
& Fairy martins (Petrochelidon ariel)