Oriental Pratincole at WTP

I had not been out birding for 10 weeks and for much of this time, while overseas, I had been reading reports of an Oriental Pratincole (a bird I'd never seen before) being seen at the Western Treatment Plant. So, despite the weather report of cold, windy and overcast conditions, I ventured out this morning in quest of the elusive Pratincole.

I'd had some good clues as to where to find it so headed for the Western Lagoons but it was nowhere to be seen. However, persistence did pay off. After waiting for 15 minutes, it did a flyby for about 30 seconds before heading over to Austin Road. I only managed a few (really bad) shots but I'm glad I saw it :-)

Oriental Pratincole, Western Treatment Plant

Another 30 minutes of waiting proved fruitless so I headed for the Beach Road entrance and was rewarded with views of six raptor species (Nankeen Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, Swamp Harrier, Brown Falcon, Whistling Kite and Little Eagle) during the 10 minute slow drive along Beach Road, with the first two close enough to the roadside to photograph out of the car window.

Black-shouldered Kite, Beach Road, Western Treatment Plant

Nankeen Kestrel, Beach Road, Western Treatment Plant

The Beach Road pond provided good views of a single Glossy Ibis feeding among Purple Swamphens

Glossy Ibis, Western Treatment Plant

Glossy Ibis + Purple Swamphen, Western Treatment Plant

along with several Royal Spoonbills flying around

Royal Spoonbill, Western Treatment Plant

...continued