58 [page number] 
[23.10.47] At the end of Ryan's Lane which runs eastwards to the 
northernmost tip of the Lake is a small flooded swamp 
on which were hundreds of birds. It was a cold 
day with a strong SW wind bringing up heavy 
showers and I decided to come back in two 
days time, on my afternoon off to investigate further. 
The only bird I saw then which was not present 
when I returned was the WHISKERED TERN - a small 
party of which was beating up and down the shore. 
25.10.47 I returned on a warm afternoon with a slight 
(22) breeze to the same spot - equipped with camera 
which I had no opportunity to use. Of the 
birds of that particular country-side the most common 
was the MAGPIE of which many young immature 
birds were seen on the ground. MAGPIE-LARKS, RAVENS 
STARLINGS, SPARROWS, SKYLARKS (singing magnificently) and 
PIPITS were all to be expected in that habitat. The 
ubiquitous YELLOW-TAILED THORNBILL was there in 
small parties as were a very large number of 
GOLDFINCHES. Both the latter species I think were 
particularly abundant because of the pines and 
cypruses, from which the twittering of the GOLDFINCHES 
could always be heard. The odd WILLIE WAGTAIL 
fluttered over the road-side pool and here on the 
first day was a flock of SWALLOWS which hovered into 
