Spotted Whistling-ducks!

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sue818
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Spotted Whistling-ducks!

Had a wonderful surprise in Cairns last Friday when there were 9 Spotted Whistling-ducks on the freshwater lake at Centenary Lakes. I recognised them immediately after searching unsuccessfully when I was in Weipa this year but had not expected to see any in Cairns. Apparently they had flown in to this lake just hours before I arrived. Sometimes you can be lucky.

I have included some pictures of them bathing as they came right up out of the water. More from this week away later as I saw a number of new birds.

Sue

Woko
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I suspect they heard you were coming, Sue.

sue818
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Wish I knew how to get the word out to all those other birds that I am eager to see!

Sue

alcatraz
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Great Stuff Sue! Have not seen one of these yet.

HelloBirdy
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Wow, I didn't even know SWDs were a thing!

Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera

laza
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Brilliant Sue

Definately a new one for me ,

Love that last pix, that duck almost looks like Harrier jet on vertial take off

Dont take life too seriously, it never ends well

Devster
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Well done! Got to be happy when they come to you. One that I haven't seen yet either. 

sue818
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These birds were first recorded at Weipa in 1995 and there is a small colony there now. In 2012, they were reported in Cairns and the Daintree. Numbers are very low so I was lucky.

Sue

oconnore51
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These are beautiful photographs.

elizabeth

akasha
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Oh wow! Lucky you!

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