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Regent Honeyeaters and many more in NE Vic

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Subject: Regent Honeyeaters and many more in NE Vic
From: "Aaron Organ" <>
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 11:30:35 +1000
Hi all,
        Let there be life!!!!  MARGE THE RAINS ARE ERE!!!

This weekend l made a trip up to Chiltern - Mt Pilot National Park north 
eastern Victoria where they have received some good rains over the past week 
(50mm or more).  It was good to see all of those dying trees and shrubs 
springing back to life, and all of the dams full of water (Cyanide dam 2/3 
full).  I had an excellent day birding with sightings of two Regent Honeyeaters 
vigorously defending a number of Ironbarks in flower (hopefully they will start 
breeding in this area soon).  I watched the birds for about one hour feeding on 
the flowering eucalypts, occasionally giving there distinctive call.

The rest of the day was just as exciting with sightings of three Hooded Robins 
(one female, one immature male and one adult male).  The adult male was a 
magnificent male bird, glowing in the afternoon sun trying hard to devour a 5 
inch worm.

A group of five Grey-crowned Babblers in their usual spot north east of the 
Park.

Three Turquoise Parrots flying overhead (Donchi Hill) and a couple of birds 
feeding on the side of the road (Chiltern - Rutherglen Road) on the introduced 
Poa annua, (Beautiful birds).

At least three likely to be more Black-chinned Honeyeaters calling loudly near 
Battery Hill Road.  I also kept an eye out for Barking Owls in their usual spot 
without success.

For those who love chocolate, Chiltern - Mt Pilot National Park will be the 
place to visit in spring, as 95% of the understorey is covered in Chocolate 
Lilies and other wildflowers, which will look spectacular when in flower in the 
next couple month or so.  The entire countryside, including the Park has 
certainly gone through a transformation after some decent rain, and is no doubt 
similar to many other area throughout central and northern Victoria.  
Consistent with observations made in the north of the state (Pyramid Hill, 
Terrick Terrick National Park) by Simon Starr.

After the trip to Chiltern l briefly stopped off to Killawara State Park.  
Unfortunately it was pretty quite for birds but l was lucky enough to see a 
small flock (nine birds) of Diamond Firetails feeding on poa annua on the side 
of the road with Red-browed Firetails and European Goldfinches.

All in all a great day birding (one national and five state significant birds), 
which l would recommend these spots to anyone considering a trip up the north 
east.

On another note not for those who live in areas that have received recent rains 
it is a good opportunity to spend an hour or two after dark listening for frogs 
in areas that have been inundated.  People should particularly listen out for 
the elusive Common Spadefoot Toad Neobatrachus sudelli or the Mallee Spadefoot 
Toad Neobatrachus pictus as these species, like many other frogs are responsive 
to periods of rain.  I spent Friday and Saturday night racing around Wangaratta 
(north eastern Vic) in the car stopping on the side of the road and listening 
for frogs and managed to get some great records (will enter them in the Atlas 
of Victorian Wildlife).  During the day a number of wetland birds (White 
necked, White-faced Herons) were observed at these sites, presumably feasting 
on the plethora of frogs, tadpoles and aquatic invertebrates.

Anyway happy birding and froging.

Cheers
PS:  Great to here all the news with the confirmed OBP sighting in NSW!! 
Species list
Peaceful Dove                   Geopelia striata
Crested Pigeon                  Ocyphaps lophotes
Australian Pelican              Pelecanus conspicillatus
Masked Lapwing                  Vanellus miles
Australian White Ibis           Threskiornis molucca
Straw-necked Ibis                       Threskiornis spinicollis
Yellow-billed Spoonbill         Platalea flavipes
White-faced Heron               Egretta novaehollandiae
White-necked Heron              Ardea pacifica
Australian Wood Duck            Chenonetta jubata
Black Swan                      Cygnus atratus
Pacific Black Duck              Anas superciliosa
Brown Goshawk                   Accipiter fasciatus
Little Eagle                    Hieraaetus morphnoides
Black-shouldered Kite           Elanus axillaris
Nankeen Kestrel                 Falco cenchroides
Little Lorikeet                 Glossopsitta pusilla
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo                Cacatua galerita
Galah                           Cacatua roseicapilla
Crimson Rosella                 Platycercus elegans
Red-rumped Parrot               Psephotus haematonotus
Turquoise Parrot                        Neophema pulchella
Laughing Kookaburra             Dacelo novaeguineae
Fan-tailed Cuckoo               Cacomantis flabelliformis
Welcome Swallow         Hirundo neoxena
Fairy Martin                    Hirundo ariel
Grey Fantail                    Rhipidura fuliginosa
Willie Wagtail                  Rhipidura leucophrys
Scarlet Robin                   Petroica multicolor
Flame Robin                     Petroica phoenicea
Hooded Robin                    Melanodryas cucullata
Eastern Yellow Robin            Eopsaltria australis
Golden Whistler                 Pachycephala pectoralis
Grey Shrike-thrush              Colluricincla harmonica
Magpie-lark                     Grallina cyanoleuca
Crested Shrike-tit                      Falcunculus frontatus
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike               Coracina novaehollandiae
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike     Coracina papuensis
Grey-crowned Babbler            Pomatostomus temporalis
White-browed Babbler            Pomatostomus superciliosus
Weebill                         Smicrornis brevirostris
Striated Thornbill                      Acanthiza lineata
Brown Thornbill                 Acanthiza pusilla
Superb Fairy-wren               Malurus cyaneus
Dusky Woodswallow               Artamus cyanopterus
Brown Treecreeper               Climacteris picumnus
White-throated Treecreeper      Cormobates leucophaeus
Mistletoebird                   Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Spotted Pardalote                       Pardalotus punctatus
Black-chinned Honeyeater                Melithreptus gularis
Brown-headed Honeyeater         Melithreptus brevirostris
Regent Honeyeater               Xanthomyza phrygia
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater                Lichenostomus melanops
White-plumed Honeyeater         Lichenostomus penicillatus
Red Wattlebird                  Anthochaera carunculata
Diamond Firetail                        Stagonopleura guttata
Red-browed Finch                Neochmia temporalis
White-winged Chough             Corcorax melanorhamphos
Pied Currawong                  Strepera graculina
Australian Magpie               Gymnorhina tibicen
Little Raven                    Corvus mellori
Common Blackbird                Turdus merula
House Sparrow                   Passer domesticus
European Goldfinch              Carduelis carduelis
Common Starling                 Sturnus vulgaris
Black Wallaby                   Wallabia bicolor
Eastern Grey Kangaroo           Macropus giganteus
Red Fox                         Canis vulpes
Spotted Marsh Frog              Limnodynastes tasmaniensis
Common Spadefoot Toad           Neobatrachus sudelli
Plains Froglet                  Crinia parinsignifera
Common Froglet                  Crinia signifera
Sloane's Froglet                        Crinia sloanei
___________________________________
Aaron Organ

Zoologist
mobile: 0429 792 906


Biosis Research Pty. Ltd.
Natural and Cultural Heritage Consultants
322 Bay Street (PO Box 489)
Port Melbourne, Vic  3207
ph: (03) 9646 9499
fax: (03) 9646 9242
___________________________________










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