Hi All,
After reading a recent report from Stuart Dashper I felt inspired to take
advantage of an empty house at Cape Patterson and spend some time exploring
the Wonthaggi area.
Picked up Jen Spry for company and set off early Sat afternoon. Went
straight to the Wonthaggi heathlands. The first bird of the day was Emu (2)
visible in the cow paddock across from the trail entrance. Careful
searching picked up 7 species of Honeyeater, Olive Whistler and at the other
end of the size scale to Emu, Southern Emu-wren. But no Beautiful Firetail.
A walk out to Baxter's Wetlands and we found the Magpie Goose was still
around, along with some superbly coloured Hoary-headed Grebe and a
magnificent Blue-billed Duck.
A pleasant evening followed over a red wine on the veranda under a slightly
misshapen near full moon. The day had been so pleasant we decided to do it
all again in the morning - ever optimistic.
Early morning at Baxter's and the Magpie Goose decided it REALLY liked the
nesting box the Chestnut Teal were sleeping on scattering them before its
landing. An adult and then later an immature Collared Sparrowhawk gave
stunning views.
Back to the heathlands. We did manage to turn up a Firetail this time,
unfortunately it was a Red-browed rather than the elusive Beautiful. Still,
a second walk was as good as the first, and we could always call it
exercise.
A close inspection of all ravens failed to turn any into Forests, which was
our second dip. Phillip Island was our third dip, but we can do that another
day. All up 66 species for our 24 hour de-stressing jaunt, and a promise to
do it all again.
Cheers,
Joy Tansey
Altona Meadows
Emu
Blue-billed Duck
Black Swan
Magpie Goose
Australian Shoveler
Pacific Black Duck
Chestnut Teal
Grey Teal
Hoary-headed Grebe
Australasian Grebe
Little Pied Cormorant
White-faced Heron
White Ibis
Black-shouldered Kite
Collared Sparrowhawk
Purple Swamphen
Dusky Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Masked Lapwing
Silver Gull
Pacific Gull
Spotted Turtle-Dove
Galah
Eastern Rosella
Blue-winged Parrot (heard only)
Fantailed Cuckoo
Laughing Kookaburra
Spotted Pardalote
Striated Pardalote
Superb Fairy Wren
Southern Emu-wren
White-browed Scrubwren
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Brown Thornbill
Red Wattlebird
Brush Wattlebird
Noisy Miner
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
White-eared Honeyeater
White-naped Honeyeater
Crescent Honeyeater
New Holland Honeyeater
White-fronted Chat
Eastern Yellow Robin
Grey Shrike-thrush
Olive Whistler
Rufous Whistler
Willie Wagtail
Grey Fantail
Magpielark
Varied Sitella
Dusky Woodswallow
Australian Magpie
Grey Butcherbird
Australian Raven
Little Raven
Red-browed Firetail
European Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Welcome Swallow
Golden-headed Cisticola
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Silvereye
Common Starling
Common Blackbird
Common Mynah
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