> 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
>
>
> =====================================================
>
> 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, Pied Butcherbird
> (numerous on creekline west of park), 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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