On Sunday 21st April a couple of hours at Banyule Flats (Yarra bank,
Heidelberg, Vic) produced at least two, maybe three Fantailed Cuckoos
calling loudly. Two giving the trilling call from different points in
the dense growth in and round the Billabong (currently dry); when I
walked up to the west end I could hear one trilling and another giving
the fife-like 'whooo' call, which I believe is the female. This bird I
found in a wattle, at about head height, only about two metres from me!
I had a splendid view of an adult bird with a rich tan coloured breast,
apparently so intent on calling as to disregard me. When it eventually
moved it went only ten feet or so into denser growth and continued to
call. The trilling bird also went on calling but remained invisible.
Golden Whistlers were also very noisy in the wattle canopies. I was
able to find two apparent pairs, in each case two grey birds but when
examined closely one bird had a few yellow feathers appearing in the
breast and a faint indication of the bib markings. There were others I
could hear but not find.
A large flock of Goldfinches between the Swamp and the Billabong fence.
The Swamp seems fairly full.
About 20 Cattle Egrets were keeping 3 horses company in Yarra Flats Park
nearby.
Anthea Fleming in Ivanhoe
Bird List, Banyule Flats:
Black Swans 2
Black Ducks
Chestnut Teal
Australasian Grebe
Hoary-headed Grebe 2
Little Pied Cormorant 1 flying
Pelicans, 2 in dead treetop in the Swamp
Dusky Moorhens
Purple Swamphems
Coots
Black-necked Stilts 3
Masked Lapwings 2
Domestic Pigeons, large flock overhead
Spotted Doves
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos
Galahs
Rainbow Lorikeets
Musk Lorikeets
Fantail Cuckoo
Kookaburra
Superb Blue Wrens (one blue male, many brown birds)
Brown Thornbills
White-browed Scrubwrens (Heard, not seen)
Red Wattlebirds
Bell Miners
Golden Whistlers
Grey Thrush
Grey Fantails, playing chasey in pairs
Willie Wagtail
Magpie-Larks
Magpies - singing
Goldfinches, flocks with many young birds just acquiring red faces of
adult plumage. Mainly in mown grass areas.
Red-browed Finches - flocks - seem to prefer long grass patches
Welcome Swallows
Blackbirds
Starlings
Indian Mynahs
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