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Folks,
Just a couple of observations that might be of
interest.
The Corellas are still hanging around Dandenong/
Hallam, south-east of Melbourne. There were at least 20 sitting on street
lights along the Princes Highway just east of the freeway interchange about 4 km
east of Dandenong around 4 pm on Tuesday afternoon. The couple I got a
good look at (given heavy traffic, drizzle and fading light) were definitely
Long-billed, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are Littles in the group as
well.
Earlier on Tuesday I poked my nose over the fence
of the sewage works at Drouin, about 50 km further east. The water level
in the pond that had Avocets a couple of months ago was much higher - no Avocets
but at least 140, and probably >200 Blue-billed Ducks. There were also
a dozen or so Shovelers, some dozens of Hardheads, lots of Pink-eareds and at
least a couple of dozen Grey Teal, plus heaps of Coots and Hoary-headed
Grebes. No Chestnut Teal or Pacific Blacks as far as I could see
through the mist. A site well worth a glance if you happen to be
passing.
Early Wednesday moring (~7:15, lightish but not yet
sunrise) at home in Syndal (~20 km east of Melbourne), the Noisy Miners suddenly
got excited. I looked up to see a smallish accipitrid cruise stealthily
over. Tail-tip looked more rounded than square so my guess would be Brown
Goshawk (probably male by the size) rather than female Sparrowhawk. I
don't know whether the distinction would affect the Miners - they definitely
reacted to the bird even more vigorously than they usually do to the much more
frequent passage of the Little Falcons that inhabit the area.
Still Crested Pigeons and Red-rumped Parrots at the
primary school just around the corner - seem to have settled in for the long
haul.
Nearly up to the shortest day - I always feel
spring is on the way once we get past the equinox, even if it takes a while for
the daylight to stretch out in any perceptible way. Good birding,
all.
Regards,
Jack
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