Photographed recently at Campbelltown, this orchid is widespread but rather patchy in its local distribution, with local flowering time mostly May, June and July, sometimes extending into September.

The small mosquito-orchid is often found in colonies and the colony at which the photo was taken was said to contain "a couple of thousand" plants.

The plants are multiple-flowered, and mostly shorter than 100mm.

The heart-shaped, dark green leaves appear long before the flowers. These leaves are distinctively purplish beneath, and are held a few centimetres above the ground, unlike the ground-hugging leaves of several other local orchids, such as helmet-orchids.

Like most wild orchids, this one is pollinated by tiny insects such as gnats and midges.

Known to botanists and orchid enthusiasts as Acianthus pusillus, the small mosquito-orchid is similar to Acianthus exsertus, the large mosquito-orchid, a species found mostly in eastern Victoria and not in the Ballarat region.

Orchid leaves of many sorts are numerous though local forests at present, pointing to a good flowering season. A few early flowers, mostly of greenhoods, are already appearing in small numbers.

An intriguing local sighting of orchid leaves is of special interest, with the leaves resembling those of red beaks (Pyrorchis nigricans). This sighting was from the Buninyong district, where the red beaks orchid is unknown. The nearest known locality is at Dereel.

After receiving a considerable covering of water, Lake Learmonth is hosting numerous waterbirds.

A couple of weeks ago there were 5000 or more grey teal across the lake, as well as a few chestnut teal.

A more recent count found nearly 300 black swans, as well as wading birds such as black-winged stilts, red-capped plovers and black-fronted dotterels.

The recent count of birds at Lake Learmonth included ten waterbird species, plus 21 other species.

Chestnut teal are never common locally, so a recent sighting of a few on the Mt Emu Creek at Skipton is of interest.

The Miners Rest Swamp is currently an impressive sheet of open water. With expected growth of aquatic plants, it should be in good condition to host Latham's snipe when this migratory Japanese wader returns in spring.

I came across these in Fairyland and wondered what they were. They seemed quite tame and barely moved as I walked slowly past them. C.H., Wendouree.

These are a domestic duck known as the Muscovy and despite that name have been bred from South American stock. They are often black and white, but can be pure white with the distinctive red face.

Most domestic ducks have been bred over many years from the mallard of Europe, but these are a completely different, stockily-built bird, Despite their heavy appearance, they can fly capably once airborne.

These three have no doubt been "dumped" at Lake Wendouree when they were no longer wanted at their former home. Hopefully they will not breed in springtime.