November trip- bird list and notes

The following bird list was compiled partly during our boat cruise on the Murray River provided by Kingfisher Cruises .A very successful outing of 1.5 hours duration with several highlights .Incredible numbers of Nankeen Night Herons ,active during the day as well ,with lots of juveniles after the wetter than usual season .A personal highlight for many were the large numbers of Azure Kingfishers which can be approached quite closely by the drifting boat .The only missing bird was the majestic Sea Eagle ,which may have been spotted up very high but unconfirmed by anyone else .Nesting Whistling Kites were very active and everywhere were the usual waterbirds .A highly recommended cruise for birdoes with a reasonably professional commentary .Anyone else will be impressed with wjhole experience of drifting though the Murray River at its narrowest point ,the Barmah Choke and and on into the nearby Barmah Lake .
Some of us wandered along the nearby shore line on the lake ,discovering huge ancient Red Gums , and evidence of the hatching of many native tortoises, species unknown .There are ancient Aboriginal middens here ,fenced off and protected ,evidence of an unbroken usage for many thousands for years .This is the traditional land of the Yorta Yorta Nation and we thank them for their stewardship of this land ,now the country's newest National Park .
Lunch and Christmas Break-up at the Barmah Pub was an enjoyable end to the day ,and also to the year's official outings .

Bird list for Barmah - Kingfisher boat trip and camping area 27 November 2011

Musk Duck
Brown Falcon
White-plumed Honeyeater
Australian Wood Duck
Purple Swamphen
Jacky Winter
Pacific Black Duck
Galah
Rufous Whistler
Darter
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Grey Shrike-thrush
Little Pied Cormorant
Yellow Rosella
Restless Flycatcher
Little Black Cormorant
Red-rumped Parrot
Magpie-lark
Great Cormorant
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo
Willie Wagtail
Australian Pelican
Azure Kingfisher
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
White-faced Heron
Laughing Kookaburra
White-breasted Woodswallow
Little Egret
Sacred Kingfisher
Dusky Woodswallow
White-necked Heron
Dollarbird
Australian Magpie
Eastern Great Egret
White-throated Treecreeper
Australian Raven
Intermediate Egret
Brown Treecreeper
Welcome Swallow
Nankeen Night Heron
Superb Fairy-wren
Tree Martin
Australian White Ibis
Striated Pardalote
Australian Reed-Warbler
Straw-necked Ibis
Weebill
Little Grassbird
Whistling Kite
Little Friarbird
Rufous Songlark
Swamp Harrier
Noisy Miner