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During the period September 26th to Oct 5th I
did extensive birdwatching in the NW parts of Victoria, including the
Millewa, Sunraysia and Sunset country.
The Millewa is mainly a wheat growing area
between Mildura and the SA border, Sunraysia is the fruit
growing area around Mildura and Wentworth and the Sunset
country is largely uncleared mallee and belah.
These districts cover the area between 34S and 34'30S and
between 141'E and 142'20E.
During this time I recorded 120 species, four of which I saw
for the first time and many others for only the second or third
time.
Many thanks to Barry McLean for advice on
places to go.
The species new to me were:
Australian Spotted Crake at Lake
Cullulleraine (50 km west of Mildura) and Meridian Lakes (just west of
Mildura)
Gull-Billed Tern at lake
Cullulleraine
White-Browed Treecreeper throughout the
Millewa district where suitable habitat occurred
(belah)
White Breasted Woodswallow seen in several
locations throughout the region, usually in association with other
woodswallows.
I was delighted with the large numbers of
Woodswallows seen almost everywhere. I recorded all species
except Little Woodswallow.
Crimson, Orange and White-Fronted Chats were
also widely spread but I had to search hard to find the Orange
Chats.
Black Kites were seen in many locations,
especially along the Sturt Highway between Mildura and Renmark (we also observed
a great number of road kills of kangaroo along this hwy)
The Millewa area abounded in parrots, including
Budgerigars, Red Rumped Parrots, Mallee Ringnecks, Blue Bonnets, Galahs
and a few Cockatiel.
Numbers of Sacred kingfishers were seen
throughout the survey area but I only saw one Red-backed
kingfisher and that was at the shearers' quarters at the Murray-Sunset
NP.
Rainbow Bee-eaters were seen throughout the
area but not in great numbers.
I saw Superb, Splendid and Variegated Fairy-Wrens
in many different locations but despite trying very hard the
White-winged Wrens eluded us.
Honeyeaters were everywhere, but the most
recorded were Spiny-cheeked, Singing and White-plumed and Noisy Miners
were also abundant. I missed out on the Pied and Black Honeyeaters
which had been seen earlier.
White-browed Babblers were common but I only
saw Chestnut-crowned Babblers twice (near Wentworth and in
Mallanbool Reserve)
Gilbert's Whistler was observed in Yarrara
Flora and Fauna Reserve.
Crested Bellbirds and White-Winged
Trillers were quite widespread as were Crested
Pigeons.
The Millewa district almost seemed to be alive with
White-winged Choughs and Apostlebirds were
observed at Meringur and breeding in the caravan park at Lake
Cullulleraine.
Clamorous Reedwarblers were heard and
often seen wherever reedbeds were seen and Little Grassbirds
were also observed in several locations.
Both Brown and Rufous Songlarks were recorded
in several places.
Two Banded Lapwings with three young were
almost run over on the road to Lock 9 on the Murray River.
Happy Birding,
Trevor Hampel
Murray Bridge
South
Australia
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