> 1) The first I can only describe as looking like a Yellow Rumped
> Thornbill,
> but to my knowledge they don't occur in grassland/coastal scrub. There were
> several flittering around a patchy grass/scrubby area around the Altona
> Tip, just behind the beach. The birds were spotted above and below the
> eyes. They approximated the size of Goldfinches which were also around.
Yellow-rumped Thornbills are very abundant in most open habitats in
Victoria, so there's no reason at all to discount them at Altona.
> 2) The second was seen on the fringes of Cheetam Wetlands. It was again a
> small 'finch-sized' bird with an orange face and grey (brown?) back. It was
> in thick grassland (where several Pipit's were) and often sat on the tops
> of grass blades, after concluding its flight over the grass. It made a call
> alot like sucking air through the gaps in your teeth and was punctuated
> with a 'whit'.
>
That would be Golden-headed Cisticola - good description of the call!
Cheers, Lawrie
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