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Hi all,
Interesting trip Saturday through Lorne Angahook
State Park from back of Lorne area and then back to Anglesea (South-West
Victoria) produced a sighting of White-throated Needletails at
2.20 p.m. - 10kms NW of Airey's Inlet at 38 24 04 S - 144 01 13 E -
(approximately 6 to 8 birds, but hard to count as we were in a treed area)
circling from just above treetop height up to about 60 metres, but generally
moving Easterly. Weather was mild, calm and quite settled, 50% cloud and
some very light showers in the area. No change predicted for another 24
hours.
The forest was generally very quiet, even pre 9.00
a.m., and only produced 22 species on Sharps Track (behind Lorne) in almost 2
hours, the best being Rufous Fantail, Horsefield's Bronze-Cuckoo
and King Parrot. The most interesting sight,
however, was a Koala parent, with youngster on lower branch of
same tree, with a Brown-headed Honeyeater collecting its fur
for nesting material (or to knit winter woollies - I'm not quite sure
which). The Koala just sat there as the Honeyeater hung off its rump
constantly pecking for a good 60 seconds. The bird, with bill full of
fluffy white stuff, then disappeared for about two minutes before returning and
repeated the process. The Honeyeater's partner was watching from an
adjacent branch (quality control??) and also disappeared when the first one did
(supervising nest construction??).
Is this a common habit involving Koalas?? I
have seen various birds collecting from other creatures and I suppose Koala fur
would be a real premium!!
We saw five Koalas in total in an area no more than
400m by 100m - obviously doing quite well in this area.
We finish our stay on the Surf Coast on Boxing Day
and will be returning to Mildura after New Year - do the birds still come out
when it's 42 degrees??
Happy Season to all birds and all
birders
Bob Cook
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