> >
> NB: This message may be a little out of date as I have been busy with
> exams.
>
> On Monday, 9/6/97 I spent and enjoyable and interesting afternoon
> observing in the Killawarra Forest (Box/Ironbark) , 20km north of
> Wangaratta in north-east Victoria. My main objective was to search for
> Regent Honeyeaters and Swift Parrots which are somewhat regular species
> here. Not as many Mugga Ironbark were flowering compared to other years so
> Honeyeaters, especially Friarbirds were not as common as expected. 44
> species were recorded however, many good sightings.
>
> I first observed at the entrance to the forest where Yellow-tufted
> Honeyeaters were common as well as Weebills. A small party of Speckeled
> Warblers was noticed foraging on the ground with Brown Thornbills in
> heathy understorey nearby. Red-browed Finches were common as well as a
> single and later a pair of Diamond Firetails. Nearby at a small spring a
> pair of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes were observed. They gave a kw-seek
> kw-seek call, one bird was a dark-headed morph, I have not observed this
> type before. This species is generally a spring/summer visitor here so it
> was quite unexpected.
>
> Most observing was done in and around a clearing in the forest termed the
> Oval. Eastern Rosellas were noticed feeding on the ground as well as
> Common Bronzewings and Australian Magpies. A male Hooded and Scarlet
> Robin pair were noticed as well as a Grey Butcherbird, a species rare in
> local region but regularly seen here in the forest. Winter visitors
> included a single White-naped Honeyeater, a few Noisy Friarbirds, many
> Fuscous Honeyeaters (some are resident here in spring/summer though),
> Golden Whistler (immature), Pied Currawong, Silvereye, Grey Shrike-thrush,
> Red Wattlebird, Striated Pardalote (probably race ornatus)
> and Musk and Little Lorikeets. Many birds were in mixed species feeding
> flocks that are often observed in winter. A typical flock would be a
> Thornbill species, a Robin, White-throated Treecreeper, one or two
> Honeyeater species, Superb Fairy-wren and perhaps and Golden Whistler.
>
> Regent Honeyeaters were not observed through a flock of 10 Swift Parrots
> were seen. About 5 minutes before sunset a flock was noticed flying fast
> overhead the oval, red underwings were clearly seen. This species was
> observed last year in the adjoining Boweya Forest in July. At one stage
> 150 birds were present, I only observed 7 as I observed there as they were
> leaving. Swift Parrot were also seen in 1995 in the Warby Range State Park
> a few kilometres south.
>
> When I am at home next (Wangaratta) from Uni. I will probably look for
> Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters again in the forest. Bird list
> follows, 44 species, numbers recorded in brackets.
>
> Yellow-tufted Honeyeater (27) Noisy Miner (32)
> Grey Shrike-thrush (8) Australian Magpie (8)
> Speckeled warbler (4) Musk Lorikeet (11)
> Weebill (7) Brown-headed Honeyeater (8)
> Laughing Kookaburra (7) Galah (6)
> Striated Pardalote (1) Willie Wagtail (3)
> Diamong Firetail (3) Hooded Robin (1)
> Red Wattlebird (25) Noisy Friarbird (11)
> Black-chinned Honeyeater (4) Silvereye (10)
> White-throated Treecreeper (3) White-naped Honeyeater (1)
> Brown Thronbill (2) Magpie-lark (1)
> Superb Fairy-wren (34) Little Lorikeet (15)
> Mistletoebird (2) Grey Butcherbird (1)
> Common Bronzewing (5) White-winged Chough (5)
> Eastern Rosella (29) Australian Raven (7)
> Restless Flycatcher (3) Brown Treecreeper (2)
> White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (2) Swift Parrot * (10)
> Spotted Pardalote (6) Peaceful Dove (1)
> White-plumed Honeyeater (25) Red-rumped Parrot (4)
> Scarlet Robin (2) Golden Whistler (1)
> Fuscous Honeyeater (34) Red-browed Finch (11)
> Yellow Thornbill (9) Pied Currawong (2)
>
>
> Best Regards and Good Birding,
> Michael Ramsey,
> Bundoora, Vic
>
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