Birdline Victoria
Update No. 142
For the week ending: 21 December,
2003
I hope everyone has a happy and safe Christmas, and thanks once
again for the support of all those bird-watchers in hyperspace who make Birdline
Victoria such a success. May the new year bring you much feathered
enjoyment
Stuart Cooney
Sightings
21 December
A Wood Sandpiper was seen at the Conservation
Ponds (the bare one) at the Western Treatment Plant, thanks Jacqui
Sheppard.
21 December
The following species were observed at
Bush's Paddock off Mount Cottrell Road, Mount Cottrell: in the Grey Box woodland
area small numbers of Diamond Firetail,
Tree Martin, Jacky Winter,
Dusky and White-browed Woodswallows were
present, all with fledgling young, while in the native grassland a single
Singing Bushlark was observed along with small numbers of
Zebra Finch while small numbers of White-throated
Needletail were observed overhead ahead of frontal activity. This is a
terrific remnant of the original flora and fauna 33km's W/NW of the Melbourne
CBD, thanks Micah Kawalek.
21 December
While driving from
Horsham to Donald a lone Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo was seen
about half way between Horsham and Minyip, thanks Sarah and Peter
Dixon.
20 December
Two Dollarbirds were seen at
the Little Desert Lodge, 16 km south of Nhill - the species is only a rare
visitor to Western Victoria, thanks Gordon Rich.
19
December
During the monthly survey of the Edithvale Wetlands there was a
Freckled Duck, a Wood Sandpiper and a
Glossy Ibis, thanks Mike Carter and Andrew
Silcocks.
19 December
There was 1 or 2 Common
Sandpipers on the breakwater at the St Kilda Marina, thanks Mike
Carter.
17 December
A Yellow Wagtail was seen
feeding at the edge of the first pond. Strong winds and overcast sky prevented a
good view, until the bird was feeding on the roadside between the ponds. The
bird was in first basic plumage. It is an early summer record. Directions: The
last "permit accessible" gate on the right, off Point Wilson Rd. The wagtail was
frequenting the area of the first ponds either side of the road. Also seen at
the T-section, a Terek Sandpiper, a scarce summer migrant in
southern Victoria, thanks Rory O'Brien.
14 December
1
Long-toed Stint and at least 1 Pectoral
Sandpiper at the T-section Lagoons, Western Treatment Plant (thanks to
Rory O'Brien for the tip off on stint), thanks George Appleby.
14
December
The highlights of this month's Port fairy pelagic were an inshore
Pomarine Jaeger, 5 Royal Albatrosses, which is
perhaps the highest ever count in one day on these trips and on the return
journey an apparently satiated Southern Giant Petrel so soundly
asleep that they almost ran over it, thanks Mike Carter.
13
December
Michael Tesch saw 6 Freckled Ducks at Baxters
Swamp, Wonthaggi from the bird hide, thanks Leone Thiele.
11
December
A Square-tailed Kite was seen at Narbethong, thanks
George Appleby.
11 December
There were 11
Brolgas on a swamp a few km north of Darlington, thanks Steve
Clark
11 December
There were 19+ Little Egrets
nesting in cypress trees on the foreshore at Geelong Grammar School, thanks Don
Greaves.
10 December
On the morning of Wednesday, 10/12, Darryn
Costanzo of Bayside's Bushland crew found a Little Bittern on
the ground on the "landside" at Ricketts Point, Beaumaris. This is Coast Banksia
woodland along an inland cliff face, separated from the sea by a major road. The
bird was taken to a vets but unfortunately the bird soon died, according to the
vet probably as result of a broken vertebra, thanks Michael
Norris.
9 December
From northern Victoria: Painted
Honeyeater at Regals rock in the Terrick NP, a few Painted Snipe at
Hirds swamp, Australian Pratincoles settling in to breed west
of Pyramid Hill and more found near Mt. Hope, thanks Simon Starr.
7
December
A Black-breasted Buzzard was seen flying over the
"Burnt Bridges" area of Toorloo Arm, Lake Tyers. Sight record confirmed by a
number of experienced observers, Joy Johnstone per Len Axen.
6
December
A Glossy Ibis was seen from the hide at Edithvale
Wetlands, first spotted by Neville Chiselett, thanks Paul Hackett.
Birdline Victoria is a service for birdwatchers to report
and find out about rare and unusual birds in Victoria and is brought to you by
Birds Australia Victoria. Birdline can be contacted on (03) 9882 2390 or on the
Internet at
http://home.iprimus.com.au/scooney/index.htm
Regards,
Stuart
This update was sent to you on request or via the Birding-Aus
mailing list. If you received this e-mail in error please reply to the sender to
be removed from the recipient list.
|
