59 [page number]

[25.10.47]
the wind a few inches from the water. On my second 
day the only bird I saw was one which came, beak 
snapping, low over the meadow in the evening. A 
single KESTREL hovered over the stones. SILVER GULLS were 
in large flocks behind the plough or in the wet fields, they 
flew singly over the paddocks swinging from side to 
side, but very few were on the swamp itself. HERONS 
stood singly by the water, one flying low over me 
croaking, to settle on a stone on top of an 
outcrop, crouched forward, statuesque.
  On the surface of the swamp were SWANS - 
I counted 432 of them, most of them feeding with 
necks extended down, bills dabbling on the bottom. 
Among them were many MOUNTAIN DUCK, some 
with young while on a nearby sodden paddock 
was a flock of fifty or so. Hundreds upon hundreds 
of BLACK DUCK floated on the surface, rising in 
flocks to circle at great speed before swishing onto  
the water again.
  On the edge of the swamp were WHITE-HEADED 
STILTS poised on long legs, heads thrown forward, 
bills sinking into the moist grass. As I was lying on 
the ground one flew over me - rose-red legs trailing - 
yelping like a small puppy. Also by the water were 
Sandpipers, moving from one spot to another in silver