Hello All,
Pale-headed rosellas have certainly occurred in Royal Park (about 3 km North of
Melbourne GPO) for about a decade. They occasionally venture over to West
Brunswick (about 1 km further North of the GPO) - we used to have them visiting
our almond tree every year up until a few years back when some galahs moved in
and now they make free with my almond crop instead!
We've also seen the Pale-headeds more recently in Royal Park West along the
railway line near the Zoo, feeding intently on Boxthorn fruits.
Speaking of Royal Park West, what it almost certainly another refugee from the
works there has turned up here. This time it was a European Goldfinch, which
seemed quite relaxed and untroubled during its visit to our yard. The last one
we saw here arrived as the CityLink tollway was being constructed along the
nearby Moonee Ponds Creek. This particular bird, by contrast, was mercilessly
and repeatedly beaten to the ground (even right under our back steps!) by a
posse of White-plumed Honeyeaters.
Still on W-p Honeyeaters, I've seen one trying to drink nectar from flowers on
a citrus tree. Do citrus flowers contain nectar? We recently saw what we think
was a White-eared Honeyeater drinking nectar from the flowers of a Prunus Mume
growing at St Andrews(about 35km North-east of Melbourne).
Returning to the local Galahs (x3 at present), I was quite amazed to look at
them on the local oval today and see a strange green 'galah" accompanying them.
Even more amazing when I realized it was a female Superb Parrot! No, I haven't
been on the cooking sherry - I can only assume it escaped from the Zoo. In any
case it seemed quite at ease with its pink and grey cousins.
A pair of Wood Ducks were on the oval yesterday, we haven't seen them around
here for a while. I saw one recently perched on a house chimney in nearby
Moonee Ponds peering forlornly inside, no doubt hopeful of finding a snug nest
hollow. This happened once before some years ago, with a Wood Duck looking down
our neighbour's chimney pot. How many Wood Ducks end up inadvertently roasted
or wedged in chimney pots around Melbourne each year.
Jan Flack
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