Recently I stopped by Braeside Park to look for the reported Long Toed Stint, a tiny, rare, migratory shorebird. It was fairly easy to find with the help of other birders all lined up with their scopes looking for it as well. Eventually we found it working the mudflat on the main lagoon with a few Sharp-tailed sandpipers, a Pectoral sandpiper (another rare shorebird) and a bunch of Red-kneed dotterells. The Stint became my 350th Lifer and 348th Vic Tick.
On the way back to my car I checked the car park area looking for the pair of Tawny Frogmouths that can usually be found in the trees around the cars. I found them on a low branch taking a bit of late afternoon sunshine. Always a favourite find in any location and a nice way to finish the successful twitch.
Tawny Frogmouth, practicing its “just a branch, nothing to see here” pose,