14 [page number] 
[10 th October 1948] and there were many BLACK DUCK out in 
the centre. I suspect there was also another 
species but I could not fix it. A few 
MOUNTAIN DUCK were round the edge. LITTLE 
GREBE were there in pairs and the matter 
of telling them apart from the Hoary-headed is 
much simpler in summer than winter. I 
was rather surprised to find a single 
GREAT CRESTED GREBE on the water. I should 
have thought the water was too shallow. On 
the fringes were SPUR-WINGED PLOVER and 
up to twelve Little Pied CORMORANTS. SWALLOWS 
and a WILLIE-WAGTAIL completed the list 
for that spot. 
We turned left to Warncoort and 
proceeded north across the plains till the 
road defeated us. But whenever 
there were trees - pines, plantations or open 
forest there were PALLID CUCKOOS. We must 
have seen nearly 20 in half an hour. They 
are extraordinarily plentiful this year - as 
certainly anyone being in Colac could 
tell. 
