Category Archives: Twitching

A rare bird was reported at the Western Treatment Plant a few months ago, a Red-necked Phalarope. It was quite far away in the middle of a large lagoon but I did get good views through my spotting scope and a few average photographs…and there was plenty of company to share my “lifer” (1st time seeing a new species of bird). A twitcher is someone who hunts out rare and vagrant birds to add ticks to their life lists. They can travel all over Australia and the Territories. While I am generally a birder – will view/study, photograph any bird, I will twitch a good Victorian sighting of a rare bird…like the Lake Tutchewop Long Billed Dowitcher. I can can proudly add the Red-necked Phalarope to my twitch and life lists.

Sneaking up on the Twitchers in their natural element

(psst…the man on the left, David E, was a contributor and reviewer to HANZAB for those that know the Aussie/NZ 7 volume Bird Bible) 

Everyone is delighted to observe the rarity…

Fellow obsessive Twitchers – Dave and Gio

The little white dot is a Red Necked Phalarope

Red Necked Phalarope – a  lonely little bird, a long way from home and lifer 330

Large Cape Barren Geese conducting a flyby and stirring up the twitchers…