Three of us (Lawrie Conole, Stuart Dashper & Susan Myers) spent a day in
and around Bendigo on Saturday, and had such a great time I feel
compelled to share it with you all (well, some of it)!
Near Dingee on the plains north of Bendigo there are now large numbers
of singing/displaying Brown Songlarks. The Whingee and Tang Tang swamps
have just about dried up again, and there are few waterbirds there now.
A highlight however was a Black Falcon circling low overhead, plucking a
honeyeater-sized bird held in its talons as it flew.
In the Whipstick State Park we watched two different sets of Red-capped
Robins attempting to drive off Pallid Cuckoos - without much success or
prospect of success! Large numbers of White-browed and Masked
Woodswallows (about 10:1) have arrived; many were copulating &
prospecting for nest sites. Great views of a foraging Shy Heathwren in
a mallee harvesting area of the Bendigo State Forest (an area crawling
with Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters too), and Variegated Fairy-wrens.
Crested Bellbirds calling in most forest areas, and other thickheads
abundant too (Grey Shrike-thrush, Gilbert's Whistler, Golden Whistler,
Rufous Whistler). Lots of Brush and Common Bronzewings; the odd
Peaceful Dove. Scarcely a lorikeet in the whole forest, though at one
flowering mallee site there were numerous honeyeaters (Fuscous,
Yellow-plumed, Brown-headed, Black-chinned, Yellow-tufted, White-eared,
Yellow-faced, Red Wattlebird).
Then to the Bendigo Sewerage Farm about 30-40 minutes before dusk. From
the high ground overlooking settling ponds & tanks, lots of Hardheads,
Grey and Chestnut Teal, etc.; then we ventured down to a small "natural"
swamp on low ground in the farm. Bingo! Buff-banded Rail (1),
Australian Spotted Crake (4+), Spotless Crake (1), Black-tailed
Native-hen (2), Black-fronted Dotterel (1), Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian
Coot, Pink-eared Duck (pair with about 6 ducklings), Black-winged Stilt
(2), Chestnut Teal, Little Grassbird, "Australian" Reed-Warbler, etc.
Very exciting.
More details available on locations AFTER the Twitchathon!!
Cheers
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