FINALLY saw a Pink-eared Duck! March 2015

I've been hoping to come across a Pink-eared Duck for ages now and it's frustrating to see that other birders have seen them in places I regularly visit. But today I finally saw a pair of them at Mill Park Lakes.

They are interesting looking birds with a massive square-tipped bill, zebra stripes and a cute little patch of pink feathers behind the eye. The ducks are highly nomadic birds - here one day, gone the next - which is probably why I've had so much trouble finding them.

Pink-eared Duck, Malacorhynchus membranaceus

Pink-eared Ducks, Freckled Ducks and a couple of Teals.

Mill Park lakes never disappoints with a huge variety of waterbirds on show at close range. I took so many photos in such a short time that this will end up being another long post to fit in all the photos!

Blue-billed Duck, Oxyura australis

Little Black and Great Cormorants sitting on the rocks.

Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Yellow Spoonbill, Platalea flavipes

Little Pied Cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos

There are many domestic ducks swimming around the lakes, but this one in particular caught my attention with it's bright red facial skin. It's called a Muscovy duck. These ducks are native to Mexico, Central & South America and in there true wild form they are mostly black. It is the domestication of these ducks that has changed their coloration to include more white and red.

Muscovy Duck, Cairina moschata

Domestic Duck

Australian Pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus

Australasian Shoveler, Anas rhynchotis

Chestnut Teal, Anas castanea

The metallic sheen of this Straw-necked Ibis shone beautifully in the sunlight.

Straw-necked Ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis

Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus

Black-winged Stilt (juvenile), Himantopus himantopus

This Eastern Great Egret was very successful fishing in the lake.

Eastern Great Egret, Aredea modesta

Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio

Swamphens are very common to the area and these ones aren't shy, coming right up to you when sitting on the ground. A lot of the ducks and coots are friendly too but that's only because so many people feed them bread.

A young Swamphen trying to steal mum or dad's food.

Another wonderful day out at the lakes with plenty of photo opportunities and one more tick to the list.