Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria

Published sightings for the week ending 10 Jul 2011.

Sat 9 Jul	Bassian Thrush Jumping Creek section, Warrandyte State Park One scratching in a moist area before I disturbed it. It flew a short distance and then froze. Watched for several minutes and If I had taken my eyes from it, I'd have lost it as it was so well camouflaged. Several years since I've seen one there. Sonja Ross
	White-bellied Sea-Eagle Lake Condah Adult bird perched in leafless willow at the northern end of the now filled-to-capacity lake Peter & Rhonda Barrand
Fri 8 Jul	Brush Bronzewing Anglesea Heathland Noted along tracks leading off Bald HIlls Rd. Two flushed on one occasion and at a second location, a single bird flew across the track. On both occasions - dumpier, smaller and dark brown appearance seen clearly. Other species incl. Wedge-tailed Eagles, 3 circling (giving wonderful views) at one location, single bird at a second, Scarlet Robins seen in 3 locations and Fantailed Cuckoo (seen) and Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (heard). Craig Morley
	Shy Albatross, Black-browed Albatross Pt Addis At least 12 Shy Albatross, several close in majority further out. One Black-browed. Strong (and cold) W wind blowing and occasional misty rain. Also at least 3 Rufous Bristlebirds heard. Craig Morley
	Black browed Albatross Port Phillip Heads (Pt Lonsdale Lighthouse) Favourable winds and rough seas combined to encourage the albatrosses a bit closer than normal to the shoreline. A pair of Black-browed albatrosses were viewed just inside the heads, whereas the Shy Albatross kept sweeping the swells just outside the heads. Hedley Earl
	Spotted Quail-thrush, Rose Robin Stanley State Forest (Gapsted Block) Four Spotted Quail-thrush were seen on Flagstaff Rd. Two pairs were observed together walking through an almost perfect habitat of native grasses and herbs with scattered rocks, overtopped by box and peppermint on a ridge line. Another three were heard in grassy woodland along Stoney Creek Track giving high pitched, almost inaudible calls. A female Rose Robin was also seen with a small flock of thornbills. A winter visitor here from higher and wetter hills to the south. Michael Ramsey
	Southern Giant Petrel Found Chelsea Beach Juvenile, possibly starving, much underweight. Now at Melbourne Zoo for health check. etc. When able will go to wildlife carer. Deb Crosby
Thu 7 Jul	Hardheads Lake Joanna Castlemaine botanical gardens There are 2 hardheads that have been at the lake in the botanical gardens for the past 2 weeks. 1 in particular is starting to think it is a black duck as swims up with them for a feed of bread when any is offered. The other still remebers how to dive for food. Greg McKay
	Great Crested Grebe Yarra River by the Melbourne Aquarium Single juvenile Great Crested Grebe on the Yarra River at Southbank, between the casino and the Melbourne Aquarium. Colin Clark
	Regent Honeyeater Lurg Hills The male Regent Honeyeater is still turning up in the Lurg Hills. Cracking views today in the afternoon sunshine while it fed on Mugga Ironbark blossom. Michael Ramsey
	Swift Parrot Altona 2 Swifties seen flying west over train line near the Pines Scout Camp in Altona at 09:56 hrs. David Richardson
	Hardhead Westgate Park Currently there is an estimated 130 Hardhead in the large freshwater lake probably sheltering from the current windy conditions. This is by far the most significant sighting of this species in the park. In the past only one to three Hardhead have been seen at any one time, the most recent being a single bird in August 2008. There are also lots of Australasian Grebes in the same lake. Andrew McCutcheon, George Fotheringham
Wed 6 Jul	Red-capped Robin Woodlands Historic Reserve Male and female birds observed near Gelliband Hill -must be one the only semi-reliable sites in Melbourne for this species. Also heaps of Flame Robins (15+), Fantailed Cuckoo and Rufous Whistler. Scott Baker
	Swift Parrot 13 Sheok Crt Ocean Grove 4 adults & 2 immatures in large Yellow Gum, just 2 doors from my home. Denis Sleep
	Southern Giant-Petrel, Kelp Gull Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Southern Giant-Petrel (1) very large bird, similar flight to an albatross, dark colour (no white above of below) so juvenile, possibly Northern Giant-petrel? but bill looked 'yellow' Kelp Gull (2) on flats in front of lighthouse at low tide Angus Hartshorn
	Indian Ringneck (blue mutation) Doncaster, Victoria Yesterday and this morning a pair of powder-blue parrot-type birds have been feeding at our bird-feeder. along with the regular lorikeets and galahs. As they bird-type was quite unfamiliar to us I made a web-search and found that photos of Indian Ringnecks (blue mutation) closely match our visitors. Josie and Kevin Hall
Sun 3 Jul	Barn Owl, Lewin's Rail, Red-kneed Dotteral Western Treatment Plant A Barn Owl flushed from bush at Borrow Pits. No Orange-bellied Parrots, but 2 Red-kneed Dotterals. 1 Lewin's Rail flushed along track to Little River Mouth bird hide, 1 Buff-banded Rail there too. Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo just north of Beach Road gate. Red-necked Avocets at Paradise Rd. Kevin Bartram
	Southern Giant-Petrel Lorne Pier Bird still present at pier. Silver metal band clearly visible on R leg. John Newman & Tim McKellar
	Swift Parrot, Grey-crowned Babbler, Scarlet Honeyeater Killawarra Forest A nice sized flock of 16 Swift Parrots was observed along Frost Road, flying out of Grey Box lining Chinamans Creek. A small flock of 5 Grey-crowned Babblers were also seen in the same area. Nearby at Mattamia Road, a gorgeous male Scarlet Honeyeater was observed singing. Michael Ramsey
Sat 2 Jul	Rufous Songlark Terrick Terrick NP One pair and several additional males at scattered sites around the park. All birds silent apart from occasional contact calls while in flight. (Moderators note: there have been quite a few overwintering Rufous Songlarks around the state this year. Perhaps as the birds have had a good breeding season during the previous spring and summer, when conditions were very favourable). Richard Nowotny
Fri 1 Jul	Hooded Plover Py-yoot Bay ( Pearl Point via Bemm River ) 9 Hooded Plovers ( 5 adults, 4 juveniles ) were observed sheltering on this secluded ocean beach in the late afternoon sunshine. David McKenzie per Len Axen
	Great Egret Werribee Park A Great Egret seen beside river from lookout on K Road around midday. Peter Booth
Tue 28 Jun	Horsfield's Bushlark Wallington East side of Lake Connewarre. One bird noted in wheel tracks through pasture. A rare winter record for this species in this region. 2 Australasian Pipits noted nearby and ~6 Eurasian Skylarks, some singing. Craig Morley
Fri 10 Jun	Wandering Whistling-duck Corringle A very late but significant sighting. 3 Wandering Whistling-ducks were observed on a brackish swamp adjacent to the road that accesses the Snowy River estuary at Corringle and "the Slips" camping area. Darryn Newlyn per Len Axen
Sat 4 Jun	White-bellied Sea-Eagle Healesville Flying over RACV Country Club, Healesville-Yarra Glen Road Michael Smith

Birdline Victoria is sponsored by Birds Australia - Victoria and co-ordinated and hosted by Eremaea Birds.

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