Ruff Ruff!

Headed out with Max to Pitt Town Lagoon on Friday to have a look for some recently reported rarities (Painted Honeyeater and Pectoral Sandpiper). We found neither, but instead located our own rarities, in the form of two Ruff and two Marsh Sandpipers. On finding the first Ruff, I sprinted back to the car to grab the camera leaving Max to keep track of the Ruff. On my return as I took photos, he scanned the shoreline and we had to triple check when he spotted a second Ruff 70m further on!

Pitt Town was positively booming, with our list at 68 species in only 2 hours. Other highlights included 15 Glossy Ibis, 5 Red-kneed Dotterel, a large mixed flock of Chestnut-breasted and Scaly-breasted Munia/Mannikin, Double-barred Finch, Whiskered Tern and hundreds of Sharpies.

A few hours at Scheyville National Park and the Turf Farms were not quite as fantastic, but some great birds including Zebra Finches and Trillers galore (Turf Farms), and at Scheyville, Pallid Cuckoos, Jacky Winter, White-throated Gerygone, Restless Flycatcher, White-browed Woodswallows, Crested Shrike-tit, Scarlet Honeyeater, Bar-shouldered Dove and Little Lorikeet.

Frustratingly the Pectoral Sandpipers and Painted Honeyeater were resighted over the next two days, so another trip is in order as soon as I finish these damn exams on Monday!

 Ruff #1

 Ruff #2

Marsh Sandpiper #1 and #2