Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria

Published sightings for the week ending 18 May 2014.

Sun 18 May	Spotted Harrier Heatherton As a follow-up to the recent report, I observed a Spotted Harrier over a quarry on Old Dandenong Rd. It caught a small prey item and was mobbed by Little Ravens. Lewis Hiller
	Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Kurrajong Crescent, Melton South A single bird observed for an extended period of time feeding in a Yellow Box in our backyard at midday on a very mild afternoon (21.4 degrees Celsius). My first record in suburban Melton since May 1990. Micah Kawalek
Sat 17 May	Sooty Owl Bunyip State Park (Ash Landing Road) Two Sooty Owls were located around 1 km up along Ash Landing Rd around 7 pm. They were located by their intense territorial calls which included hissing. Attached is a wonderful photo taken by Irena Earl. A big thanks to Tim Bawden who gave me excellent instructions on how to find the owls. Bernie OKeefe, Hedley and Irena Earl
	Australasian Bittern Heath Rd Wetlands, Portland West Parked on the side of the road of the wetlands and the moment I crossed the fence and into wetlands the Bittern flushed from metres away from me. It soared and landed about 20 metres further in. I then flushed twice more before I left. This bittern is an adult bird James Mustafa
	Freckled duck Skeleton Waterholes Creek 6 Freckled ducks spotted in shallows near reeds at the edge of Skeletons Creek around 2km north-west from the bridge at Cheetham Wetlands end (slightly south-east from the Merton St walkway entrance onto the walking track). They were swimming in the company of 3 pairs of Australasian shovelers. Anna Matilda
	Swift Parrot Goorambat Hills At least four birds in flowering ironbarks on the north side of the hills. Michael Ramsey
Fri 16 May	Morepork Mt Worth State Park A small Ninox-type owl flushed from the side of the road at Mt Worh SP last night (16th). It remained in the car headlights briefly, & binocular views & photographs confirm Morepork - small size, yellow eyes, white-spotted breast, fine white spotting on crown & nape . Brian Johnston, Beth Carr
	Yellow-plumed Honeyeater James Cook Drive, Emu Creek 4-5 Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters spotted, along with a couple of yellow faced honeyeaters, in a flowering red Ironbark just by our backdoor. A newie for our block - it is unusual to see them south of Bendigo. Phil Robertson
Thu 15 May	Spotted Harrier Heatherton Watched a Spotted Harrier soar over Kingston Rd in market gardens area just east of Old Dandenong Rd. Mark Bennett
	Swift Parrot Avoca Along the Avoca river at Avoca, two Swift Parrots flew overhead a couple of times amongst all the Musk Lorikeets. Quite good flowering of the eucalypts along the river. David Wilson
	Painted Buttonquail Heatherton Road Wetlands, Dandenong Spotted the bird casually walking through scrub near the playground! Very tame, allowed me to get close before it sprinted off. Unbelievably exciting! James Mustafa
Wed 14 May	Double-barred Finch Black Dog Creek, Norong On the Lilliput rd. Arrived at 9am and almost immediately heard the characteristic "mewing" sound. 2 birds flew from a tree on the West side of the road onto the fence (giving excellent view) then they flew into the old primary school area and could not be relocated. Very shy, my 3rd visit in 3 days Angus Hartshorn
	Rose Robin Shepherds Bush A male foraging low down close to the main track Simon Starr
	Powerful Owl Shepherds Bush A pair roosting near to the main track Simon Starr
Tue 13 May	Regent Honeyeater Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park (Ryans Road) At 11:30 am one bird in an Ironbark in blossom. Feeding for over 30 minutes. The only one I saw in 3 days around here (ie did not see any at Greenhill Dam/Road) not a lot of blossom around. Angus Hartshorn
	Pied Butcherbird Western Treatment Plant, Werribee A single Pied Butcherbird flew into the 270S Borrow Pit area today at around 12.20pm, announcing its presence with a few song notes. Chased off by a Willie Wagtail & Magpie-lark, it continued east along the coast. Steve Davidson
	Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Central Creek Grassland Reserve, Reservoir Single bird in wattles in northern section of reserve. Ian Sutherland
	Curlew Sandpiper Lake Colac 50+ I guess these birds didn't notice the change in weather. 1 in breeding plumage the rest I'd say are young birds. Adam Fry
	Swift Parrot Crusoe Reservoir, Bendgo 6 Swifties flying overhead just above canopy height. Ken Dredge
Mon 12 May	Beautiful Firetail Anglesea Heath Great views of a Beautiful Firetail. Weather was sunny and calm at around 9am. Also seen nearby were Olive Whistler, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater,Southern Emuwren, and Striated Fieldwren Richard Arnold
Sun 11 May	Rufous Whistler Buckley St, Essendon Single bird seen singing in a tree. Unusual sighting for this part of Melbourne. Mark Camilleri
	Freckled Duck Little Lake Boort Two Freckled Duck seen this afternoon swimming with Hardhead. Malcolm Cousland
Sat 10 May	Pied Butcherbird Roadside 4-5 km from Forrest on Colac-Forrest Road Flew rapidly and directly in front of my car. Rob Youl
Thu 8 May	Entomyzon cyanotis (Blue-faced Honeyeater) Royal Park, Ryder Oval, Park Street, Parkville Lone bird attracted to its reflection in car side mirror Chris Nicholson

Birdline Victoria is sponsored by BirdLife Victoria and hosted by Eremaea Birdlines.

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