Tuesday 22 January 2019

Australia - WA - Wagin Water Treatment Works - Wading in the Rain!


I tasted my first night of Australian rain which is just like anywhere else but its warmer and the drying off process is quicker. En route to Albany I visited Wagin Water treatment works which is sandwiched between the railway line and extended area of the light airfield. The tanks were loaded with ducks Grey Teal being the most numerous. The only snag was to approach the tanks without putting the masses skywards. The wind and the rain did not help viewing therefore I can only claim partial success on this one!

Australian Shelduck , Shoveler, Pacific Black and Pink Eared Duck were scattered around the far tanks. I could not find any Chestnut Teal, the female resembles the Grey Teal but after a good search through the ducks concluded there were none within view.
Both the right tanks had a rocky shoreline which extended to the top of the tank. I spied a Common Sandpiper feeding along the far edge which gave me the inclination to search the edges more thoroughly. A Pectoral Sandpiper was next in view.
A couple of Wood Sandpipers followed in close proximity.

The final shorebird of the morning was a Black Fronted Dotterel. None of the above were life birds but they were a welcome sight justifying the battering by the rain! No rails or Crakes were seen during the visit.

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