I spent yesterday
investigating a site in the Quarry Hills near Wollert on the very
northern fringe of Melbourne towards Whittlesea. I was last there in
January 2003, and reported on some interesting records then (Speckled
Warbler, Barking Owl, etc.).
Yesterday the main point of interest for me was a large group of Flame
Robins (circa 30 birds; mostly brown birds, but including 2
fully & 1 partially coloured males) feeding on the ground adjacent
to woodland in a mixed flock with White-fronted Chats (5), European
Greenfinches (2), Yellow-rumped Thornbills (10), House Sparrows (2) and
a Willie Wagtail. I couldn't see what they were eating, but there
appeared to be an abundance of it! Some kind of invertebrate hatching
after the copious rain and then spring-like sunshine perhaps???
I photographed the site for work purposes, and later looking at the
image I was struck by the relatively clear line of sight across the
plain to the real hills around Kinglake and Healesville. I'm
speculating that this large group of Flame Robins might have been
passing through, fuelling up, on its way back to the hills to breed.
An impressive sight in any case ....
--
=================================
Lawrie Conole
Senior Ecologist
Ornithology & Terrestrial Ecology
Ecology Australia Pty. Ltd.
Flora and Fauna Consultants
88B Station Street
FAIRFIELD VIC 3078 Australia
E-mail: m("ecologyaustralia.com.au","lconole");">
Internet: http://www.ecologyaustralia.com.au/
Ph: (03) 9489 4191; Mob: (0419) 588 993
Fax: (03) 9481 7679
ABN 83 006 757 142
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