Let's get the discussion back on to birds for a moment. I'm sure our
most capable "list incubator", Russell Woodford, will sort out the
infinite re-runs of those messages for us. Personally I don't want to
be reminded about jetskis ever again, and even the Lewin Rail story is
wearing a bit thin.
At the risk of giving away trade secrets re: the Twitchathon, here are
some notes from a reconnoitre trip that Stuart Dashper, Susan Myers and
I did on the weekend, to Terrick Terrick State Park in north-central
Victoria; plus a few notes on places thereabouts.
Lawrie Conole
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Terrick Terrick is a relatively small park about halfway between Bendigo
and the Murray River (36° 10' 09"S 144° 14' 33"E). The predominant
vegetation type is cypress-pine (Callitris) woodland, with some
extensive areas of box-ironbark (Yellow Box, Grey Box) and the odd
Buloke. The understorey is sparse, but includes typical box-ironbark
species such as Drooping Cassinia and Gold-dust Wattle, as well as more
typically dry-country plants as Weeping Pittosporum and Cassia sp. Most
of the area is dead flat, with a few granite outcrops (one laughingly
called Mount Terrick Terrick). On the granite, Deane's Wattle (with
heavy infestation of Grey Mistletoe) is predominant. The ground cover
is typically grassy, dominated by wallaby-grasses (Danthonia spp.),
spear-grasses (particularly the very spectacular Stipa elegantissima)
and numerous Asteraceae [daisies] (particulary Chrysocephalum
semipapposum, and Sunrays - the things previously called Helipterum).
It has great birding centred on the cypress-pine around Mt Terrick
Terrick and the old cemetery, but other parts are a bit leaner. The
birds are a mix of box-ironbark/riverina/dry country. We picked up
about 55 species in the first 90 minutes after getting there on
Saturday.
Small-medium raptors (Nankeen Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, Brown
Falcon) were very abundant on the plains between Bendigo and Mitiamo.
One Brown Songlark seen; lots of Crested Pigeons. Migrants such as
Rainbow Bee-eater have not arrived yet, but others such as Rufous &
Brown Songlarks, all the cuckoos, Sacred Kingfisher, Olive-backed
Oriole, Rufous Whistler, etc., certainly have.
Terrick Terrick State Park; 20-21/9/1997
Brown Treecreeper, White-plumed Honeyeater, Australian (Mallee)
Ringneck, Red-rumped Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Galah, Dusky Woodswallow,
Sacred Kingfisher (at least 1 calling), Rufous Songlark (a few on east
side of Mount Terrick Terrick), Western Gerygone (as for last species),
Mistletoebird, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike,
Red-capped Robin (at least 2 males calling, south of Mount Terrick
Terrick), Hooded Robin, Southern Whiteface (abundant on fenceline near
cemetery), Yellow Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Horsfield's
Bronze-Cuckoo, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Pallid Cuckoo,
Varied Sittella, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Restless Flycatcher,
European Goldfinch, Common Blackbird (first one here?), Golden Whistler,
Rufous Whistler, Gilbert's Whistler (not very vocal on the day, but a
few around), Grey Shrike-thrush, Australian Raven, Australian Magpie,
White-winged Chough, Black Kite (one seen several times), Little Eagle
(a pair seen often around Mount Terrick Terrick), Brown Goshawk, Brown
Falcon, Tree Martin, Laughing Kookaburra, Common Starling, Diamond
Firetail (a couple near cemetery), Superb Fairy-wren, Striated
Pardalote, Common Bronzewing, Peaceful Dove (VERY abundant),
White-browed Babbler, Welcome Swallow, Weebill, Painted Button-quail
(one seen on Marlow/Leeds Track), Black-chinned Honeyeater (a few
calling around Marlow Track), Southern Boobook, Australian Shelduck.
Tang Tang swamp, east of Dingee off the Mitiamo-Bendigo Road; 21/9/1997
Three Brolgas were undoubtedly the highlight, but many other waterbirds
(lots of birds, not lots of species). White-necked Heron, White-faced
Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, Australian White Ibis, Yellow-billed
Spoonbill, Masked Lapwing, Pacific Black Duck, Black Swan, Australian
Shelduck, etc. We saw a Darter not far from here too.
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