180801_Jack Smith Lake

Nine birders went to Jack Smith Lake today. Although it was a bit windy and cool (cold), we had a good walk around the northern edge of the has-been-dry-for-quite-a-while lake and, after morning tea, the area around the permanent water at the southeast corner near the beach. Despite a good search for Blue-winged and Orange-bellied Parrots which we were unable to find, we saw 42 species for the day - not a bad total for mid-winter.  I reckon a pair of Beautiful Firetails was the standout species on land and we were able to see bit of a feeding frenzy of Australasian Gannets and shearwater species a few hundred metres offshore. The Flame Robin paddock had a dozen or so White-fronted Chats and a single female Flame Robin. So we didn't get to see our target birds but it was still a nice day out.

Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii

Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera

 White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons