Mark, Striated Fieldwrens are common in the saltmarshes of Western Port, between
the mangroves and wooodland as you describe, and your description suggests that
is what it was. Little Grassbirds often occur as well, mainly in mangroves or
taller saltmarsh, but have completely different calls and don't cock their tails
in the same way. Chestnut-rumped Heathwrens have been reported historically in
the woodland/saltmarsh interface, but are much less streaky (and are now rare or
absent). Oddly, if you'd got to French Island you would nould not have seen
Striated Fieldwrens there as they apparently disappeared several decades ago.
They and Superb Fairy-wrens are conspicuous by their current absence from French
Island, possibly because of high cat populations, and only occur there as
vagrants. Cheers, Richard Loyn.
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