Lake Ginninderra Jottings. Often about Black Swans!

 Early this afternoon a Black Swan was still incubating on the nest west of the house on the eastern arm of Lake Ginninderra. I have checked out this bird and its partner several time since April 14.  The partner Black Swan and presumed cob BJA was in the lagoon of JKMP on the east shore amongst ducks and Coot being fed. Nothing much else to report except 3 Australasian Grebe were feeding along the eastern shore just N of the Ginninderra Parkway bridge. Three Australasian Little Grebes amongst the Coot in the middle distance but completely impossible to make out! Disguarded fish under the bridge – one a large Carp. Are the two smaller one Redfin? Still sitting

The presumed BJA cob Black Swan was at the beach in the lagoon at about 1730 this evening. Loafing amongst the usual gathering of Coot , Swamphen , Pacific Black Duck , Feral Domestic Duck  and a solitary Australian White Ibis . I could check that this Black Swan was left leg red inscribed band but could not confirm ID. A little earlier there was another Black Swan still sitting tightly on the nest at 1720, with its neck curled down and its head on its back. Still incubating. First seen sitting here on 5 April but could have started incubation more than a week before that date. Five Australasian Grebes were diving in calm water to the west of the lagoon bay, amongst a light surface covering of drifting vegetation. Still a few Superb Parrots in the JKMP. I saw at least three just on dusk.  

 Black Swan still siting on nest at 14:20 this afternoon. No sign of partner along the shoreline from the lagoon to half way to Ginninderra parkway but my search was not thorough.

 Short walk in the mid afternoon with Yori. Black Swan still on nest sitting but before I checked this out an 'on station' bird, probably BJA ( at leat it was a red band on the left leg), came into the lagoon swimming quickly and headed to the shore where ducks are commonly fed. Here, it casually preened but I could not read its band. I then checked out the nest site where a sitting bird was lying low with head down. Could I have come at a post changeover moment and the presumed BJA in the lagoon had a short while before been sitting? If the partner is BNB that swan is unfortunately also banded red on left leg. Additionally, it is a swan that has not been seen for a year and when last see it was paired with BNA –  a pairing first recorded in January 2020. Black Swan, probably BJA in the lagoon   Black Swan incubating this afternoon Australasian Swamphen

 At 2:23 this afternoon Black Swan BKC (right leg) was clearly identified in the lagoon Bay at JKMP. This bird moved off the beach from near the waterfall and came along the shoreline feeding. A few minutes later I was able to confirm that a Black Swan was sitting on the nest to the N and about 20 minutes later I saw two Black Swans swimming slowly S along the eastern shoreline of the E arm of the lake and S of the bridge. I could not identify them as colour banded swans because they never came in close enough to observe.  Black Swan on nest this afternoon

A walk with Yori this afternoon (2:20 -3:30 checking out a nesting Black Swan that I spotted a couple of days ago. This Black Swan is now sitting on a nest in the fringing vegetation along the shoreline of the lake, directly in front of the house. The site is close to the northern BBQ.  I first spotted a Black Swan sitting on this nest two days ago but did not have a camera with me at the time. What I take to be the cob (Red BJA, left leg) was nearby to the S. This pair may have started incubation well before a few days ago because I have not been down to the lake for some days and I was away on Montagu Island 21-28 March.  Earlier this morning there were 7 Swamphens grazing in front of the house. The light was difficult but I used the Fv option on the R6 with some success, although the birds were far too far off and the images needed considerable cropping. Yesterday, there were 12 of them! Some scuffles with display/aggressive interactions. Body feathers fully fluffed up, hea...