Weekend at Yarrawonga

[mark kliene <>]

Hi All,
I had an opportunity to do some intermittent birding this weekend whilst
staying at a resort in Mulwala 270 km NE of Melbourne - just into New South
Wales from Victoria on the southern edge of Lake Mulwala on the Murray
River.  Thanks to Chris Tzaros for his maps they indeed gave me a
starting point.  Birds of note for one (who does not get north of
the state often) :- Blue Faced Honeyeater at the resort pool on
friday night.  Saturday morning around 9 am headed off to do some
birding on my own.  First stop Lower Ovens Regional Park (where the
Ovens & Murray meet)  I traversed the north track by vehicle stopping
here and there to walk into the bush. I had my digital handy cam to record
bush sounds and follow up on birds I may record on film.  It was already
over 36 degrees with no one else in the area (except for the slightly unnerving
shot gun blasts in the distance).  Chris, the campsite is as you said
excellent.  Birds of note in this area :- Diamond Dove, Bar
Shouldered Dove, Sacred Kingfisher, Red Backed Kingfisher,
Prolific Brown Treecreeper, White Throated Treecreeper. 
Around 11.30 am I headed towards Chiltern Box Ironbark National Park, where
I had a fairly brief nose around Frog Swamp (off the Murray Valley Highway).
Lovely little spot where I came across:- White Winged Chough, Peaceful
Dove, Sacred Kingfisher, Yellow Tufted Honeyeater, Dusky
Woodswallow, Black Faced Woodswallow. Across the Hume Highway
at the Honeyeater Picnic Area Dam Walk :- Little Lorikeet, Yellow
Faced Honeyeater, Yellow Tufted Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater,
Eastern Yellow Robin (singing), Grey Shrike Thrush, Black
Faced Cuckoo Shrike, Richard's Pipit.  Total 4.5 hours
driving/birding. Another highlight a pair of Apostlebirds wandering
about while I had a hit of cricket in the nets at the Mulwala Cricket Club. 
Unfortunately I did not have an opportunity for any spotlighting around
Boorhamen North. Also dipped on Grey Crowned Babbler. Next time...
Also of note was the general absence of Common Myna. Only on the
way back to Melbourne did I see a pair on the roadside near Benalla. 
All in all a nice hot weekend, mixing some birding with sunshine associated
activities.

Cheers,

Mark Kliene.

Bird list as follows:-

Australian Pelican
Pacific Black Duck
Australian Wood Duck
White Necked Heron
White Faced Heron
Sacred Ibis
Masked Lapwing
Silver Gull
Nankeen Kestrel
Whistling Kite
Black Shouldered Kite
Rock Dove
Peaceful Dove
Diamond Dove
Bar Shouldered Dove
Common Bronzewing
Crested Pigeon
Galah
Long Billed Corella
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Little Lorikeet
Red Rumped Parrot
Eastern Rosella
Yellow Rosella
Laughing Kookaburra
Sacred Kingfisher
Red Backed Kingfisher
Brown Treecreeper
White Throated Treecreeper
Superb Fairy Wren
Red Wattlebird
Blue Faced Honeyeater
Yellow Faced Honeyeater
Yellow Tufted Honeyeater
Fuscous Honeyeater
White Plumed Honeyeater
Eastern Yellow Robin
Grey Shrike Thrush
Rufous Whistler
Grey Fantail
Willie Wagtail
Magpie Lark
Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike
Dusky Woodswallow
Black Faced Woodswallow
Grey Butcherbird
Magpie
Australian Raven
White Winged Chough
Apostlebird
Welcome Swallow
Richard's Pipit
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Noisy Miner
House Sparrow
Common Starling
Blackbird
Common Myna