This morning I spent a very pleasant time at Banyule Flats including a
good look at the Swamp - now markedly shallower with surviving clumps of
Water-Ribbons and many dead clumps protruding. (Were they eaten by the
Black Swans in recent years or affected by changes in water level?)
There were many immature Grebes about, both Australasian and
Hoary-headed.
There were also at least 2 birds which though deinitely young Grebes
seemed a size larger, with longer and straighter necks and longer bills.
Generally very pale grey, but showing dazzling white bellies when
performing a rolling preen. They entirely lacked any darker headplumes
or ruffs.
They were at the southeast corner of the Swamp, not feeeding but
apparently resting and preening.
I am reliably informed that Great Crested Grebes nested this spring at
Gresswell Grange flood control/habitat ponds, just north of La Trobe
Uni. Wildlife Reserve in Bundoora. I don't know at what age young grebes
fly off to lead independent lives, but it's not a very long flight away.
Anthea Fleming in Ivanhoe (Vic.)
As well as the 'usual suspects', there were 4 Latham's Snipe feeding out
in the open in the shallow water, 24 Blackwinged stilts, and a solitary
Red-kneed Dotterel on the western margin.
A Swamp Harrier overhead caused tremendous disturbance for a few
minutes. --- Begin Message ---
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To: |
Celia & Russell Browne <> |
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Subject: |
Immature Great crested grebes at Banyule Flats (Fri 22 Nov. 2002) |
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From: |
Brian Fleming <> |
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Date: |
Fri, 22 Nov 2002 15:24:17 +1100 |
This morning I had a very pleasant two and a half hours at Banyule
Flats. Fine and sunny conditions, light southerly wind, increasing by
midday.
I walked along the Billabong, inside the fence and the first thing seen
was a new Honey Bee colony, building comb in the Euc. X studleyensis by
the stile. I went on to a hundred yards or so beyond the seat on the
south side of the billabong, crossed the fence where it has collapsed
and returned on the mown strip round the paddock fence. Concluded with a
good look at the Swamp.
On the Swamp - Black Ducks, Grey and Chestnut teal, Hardhead.
Dusky Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Eur. Coots.
Australasian and Hoary-headed Grebes - all seemed immature birds, plus
two which MAY be immature Great Crested Grebes! They seemed longer
necked and lankier in build than the others, with longer bills, had
dazzling white bellies when performing a rolling preen, and entirely
lacked the characteristic beard or ruff of adult GCGs and were very pale
in colour. I have never seen Cresteds there before, but this year I am
reliably informed that the species bred at the settling/habitat ponds
just north of La Trobe Uni. Wildlife Reserve, which isn't so far away.
Latham's Snipe -4 feeding out in shallow water.
Masked Lapwings, 2; Pied Stilts 4; Red-kneed Dotterel, 1 on west margin.
2 very dirty White Ibis on dead tree, 1 Strawneck overhead.
1 Swamp Harrier appeared high overhead and circled 2 or 3 times, causing
tremendous alarm to all the birds on the swamp.
The Swamp now has exposed margins and is getting quite shallow.
Surviving clumps of Water Ribbon now fully visible as well as many more
ead clumps - perhaps killed off by grazing and nest-building activities
of the Black Swan family in recent years, though not this year.
The Billabong is quite dry - it's hard to believe that visitors used to
think it was the Yarra when it was full. However there is a very healthy
growth of Water Ribbon plants on its bottom among the young gum and
wattle saplings which now hide it.
Around its margins:Spotted Doves, a pair of Galahs, Rainbow Lorikeets
(one was chewing Silver Wattle leaves, presumably for nectar), Redrumped
Parrots, Eastern Rosellas.
Superb Blue Wrens, Brown Thornbills. (NO Whitebrowed Scrubwrens for
once).
Red Wattlebirds, Little Wattlebirds, White-plumed Honeyeaters,
Bell-Miners (The Noisy Miners were all in the Somerset Drive car-park).
Crested Shrike-tits were heard in the distance, probably by the Yarra,
and Grey Thrushes much closer.
A pair of Rufous Whistlers - a rather pale-breasted male chasing female
about with much singing, plus an immature Golden Whistler.
Grey Fantails and Willy Wagtails.
Grey Butcherbirds - pair with squawking flying young one perched on
fence-post - much harassed by Willy Wagtails.
Mistletoe-Bird in tree tops - one male.
One male White-wing Triller, bashing and eating a caterpillar in a
wattle.
Blackbirds.
Along the paddock fences south of the Billabong:
One very scruffy but fully-striped Shining Bronze-Cuckoo - dropped
repeatedly from fence wire into the grass for prey.
Dusky Wood-swallows.
Welcome Swallows and Fairy Martins.
Red-browed finches - one carrying grass.
Starlings and Indian Mynahs.
Magpies.
Magpie-Larks.
Cisticolas calling from the long grass.
One unidentified white cockatoo was seen and a pair of Long-billed
Corellas were heard.
That's 49 or 50 species, if you count a House Sparrow in the car-park.
#P.S.
I had intended to walk onto the riverbank with Frogmouths and
Bronzewings in mind, but met 2 lads from the BCC Bush Crew cutting
grass. They had found a very distressed woman who was resting in their
truck, having got thoroughly lost after walking from Bulleen.
They had given her a drink of water and would have driven her home, but
I volunteered to do so, so Frogmouth will have to wait till next time.
Celia, will you be kind enough to forward this to your usual Banyule
Flats correspondents, - minus this PS# section? I haven'tgot your
original message which had their addresses. I hope you will agree about
the GC Grebe diagnosis.
All the best,
Anthea
--- End Message ---
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