At the swamp


The swamp in question is Kellys Swamp at the Western edge of Fyshwick (or the South-eastern end of Lake Burley Griffin).   On getting there this morning the first birds of note were the gang of 7 Black-tailed Native Hens which seem to have taken up residence there this summer.  Here are some of them, plus a Eurasian Coot for comparison.

My main reason for visiting the swamp was to check on progress of this year's Royal Spoonbill nesting event.  It appears that there are two nests active, very close together and very low in the same tree as last year.  An Australian White Ibis was also in the tree and as can be seen in the following image (if you expand it) it was gathering branches as well.



Apparently it was a bit to close to the nests and was soon chased off.  This image below shows the nest site (under the upper spoonbill).

Of course when you have breeding plumage like a spoonbill, you add new emphasis to the phrase "bad hair day"

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