FINDING THE PHALAROPE

Today my father and I revisited the Western Treatment Plant, as the previously mentioned vagrant red-necked phalarope had been spotted in the T-Section Lagoons.
Upon arrival in the area, we immediately stopped at a small bank of trees. Here several small birds were flitting around. After close examination they turned out to be distant zebra finches. Not a bird I've seen often, but not a lifer either. As we drove towards the first birdwatching gate, I got close looks at several raptors. In eucalypts near the road was a perched black kite and flying above a lagoon was a close-by swamp harrier.

This black kite stood on its perch for about a minute before flying off to look for prey

The swamp harrier was harassing several purple swamphen in the lagoon 

Upon arrival at the first lagoon, we didn't see many new birds. Australian white ibis and straw-necked ibis were flying overhead, some chestnut teal and black swans were swimming in the lake and a few black-winged stilts were wading in the shallows. However, the shores of the next lake were coated with red-necked stints and sharp-tailed sandpipers, along with 3 greenshanks. A massive flock of red-necked avocets and banded stilts rested in the center of the lake.

The greenshank is a bird I see often in Sri Lanka, but not very commonly in Australia

Red-necked avocets are very social: I don't think I have ever seen one alone

The third lagoon was the jackpot. Three massive flocks of waders were resting on rocks in the centre and on the edges of the lake. A scan of the birds (helped by some other birders nearby) showed red-necked stints, greenshanks, sharp-tailed sandpipers, red-necked avocets, banded stilts, curlew sandpipers and even some black-tailed godwits. The real star of the show was swimming around near the shore: the red-necked phalarope!

This red-necked phalarope probably thinks it's in America

It was amazing to see such a rare and beautiful bird for myself

As we headed back, we passed a small marshy area where several wood sandpipers were resting, along with many white-faced herons, an eastern great egret and a cattle egret.

Finally, on the way out we disturbed a large flock of zebra finches on the road. Two of them perched on a nearby branch, giving us great views.

Zebra finches aren't usually found in the Melbourne area but are very nomadic

All in all it was a very successful trip, with an amazing view of a rare bird.