As posted in my Big Year Challenge, I was very excited to have the chance to see a "Rare Vagrant" to Tasmania. Only the 3rd record - 2000 Strahan, 2018 Waterworks Hobart, and now 2022 Liffey Falls. 1st sighted Sunday, and I think every day until yesterday (no reports back from today yet).
Early start, long drive, 45 minute walk (I walk slowly) and an hour or more searching. Another birder spotted him (it is a male) 1st at the bottom Cascade (Liffey Falls proper - 4th cascade of 4), fleeting glimpse before it took off upstream. Walked up the steep path to the 3rd cascade, where it was again sighted briefly - took off back downstream. We waited here for an hour, thinking it would return, it did not! Returning to the bottom cascade rewarded us with distant but good views, as he appeared to be resting, before hopping around the top of the falls, appeared to be feeding.
Amazing how such a small bird can keep its feet in fast moving water on slippery rocks. Anyway that is my story for Wednesday June 1st. Suppose I best put some photos up now. All are heavily cropped. Overcast day, wet forest, bottom of a gully, other than that almost perfect conditions for photography! Lowish shutter speed with high ISO.
Hope you enjoy, and thanks for looking.
Stayed in this pose for maybe 10 minutes, occasionally turning his head.
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
This one shows his black bib nicely!
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) by Dale Watson, on Flickr
What a sighting, Dale! I went to my The Australian Bird Guide by Menkhorst et al & found that the Grey Wagtail is a "scarce but regular visitor" to northern mainland Australia in late October to April so this individual is out of season. Interestingly, there was no mention of the Grey Wagtail having visited Tasmania. Also interesting is the habitat it frequents in Indonesia & New Guinea: "a preference for waterfalls and fast flowing rocky waterways". Little wonder you saw it where you did!
Thanks Woko, the other birder I met, had seen it in Wales. He also remarked about the habitat, and said it "is fairly typical". This gent has way more experience than I, a humble beginner.
It certainly was a memorable experience.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Wow, Dale, what a sighting and some great photos to record it! Wish I was there but some trek to get down all the cascades and back again.