Birdline Victoria Update No. 160
For the week ending: 16 May, 2004
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Sightings
16 May
There was a Franklin's Gull today on the eastern shore of Western Port with
a high tide gathering of about 50 Silver Gulls on the pier next to Lang Lang
caravan park, about 10km south of the junction of the south Gippsland
Highway and the Bass Highway at about 13:00. The bird is a non-breeding
adult / second winter. Unfortunately, 20 minutes after finding it, it got
restless, took flight and headed high south around Jam Jerrup. I was joined
later by Mike Carter and spent the rest of the afternoon checking gull
roosts in the vicinity and then scanning the bay as the tide receded, but we
were unable to relocate the bird. For anyone interested, best chance
tomorrow might be to head to any one of the boat ramps (the only places
where the Bay is accessible but coincidentally where most the gulls seem to
congregate).
If anyone wants any more info, feel free to email or call me on 0405 220830,
thanks Simon Mustoe.
16 May
Last weekend there were up to 500 Freckled Duck, and a few Shovelers and
Blue-billed as well (as usual). There have been 50+ Freckled here for a year
or more, with occasional reports of larger numbers, thanks Russell Woodford
and Hugo Phillips.
Mid May
There has been a Brown Gerygone visiting a native garden in the Maffra
township, thanks Duncan Fraser .
13 May
At least 2 White-fronted, 8 Purple-gaped and 6 Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters in
the same area just north of Skylark road in the Bendigo Whipstick. One of
each seen briefly in the same field of view, thanks Simon Starr.
12 May
The Gang-gang Cockatoos returned (after being absent from Bayside for more
than a year) to the sugar gums with 6 at the SE corner of Dendy Park,
Brighton, while the Singing Honeyeater was still at Half Moon Bay on 9/5, a
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater was around the Hampton/Sandringham Harbour on 10/5
and the Buff-banded Rail was still at the Elsternwick Golf Course on 5/5,
thanks Michael Norris.
11 May
Highlight of a BOCA outing to Laverton Creek (SW of Melbourne) were 3 Arctic
Jaegers patrolling the shoreline, thanks Dave Torr.
11 May
There was a dead Short-tailed Shearwater in Landcox Park, East Brighton
(about 3km from the shore of Port Phillip), thanks Michael Norris.
11 May
2 White-fronted Terns and 1 Arctic Jaeger (late for this species) off Norman
Island, Wilson's Promontory, thanks George Appleby.
9 May
At Long Hollow Reserve, Beaumaris, a male Golden Whistler and Pink Robin on
8/5 with another Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, many Spotted Pardalotes,
Spinebills feeding on the Silver Banksia blossom, Mistletoebirds and a group
of White-plumed Honeyeaters (scarce in the foreshore compared with previous
years) on 9/5, thanks Michael Norris.
9 May
On the monthly Port Fairy Pelagic there were at least 12 Common Diving
Petrels, an adult Northern Royal Albatross and a sub-adult Shy Albatross
race Salvini, 1 Buller's Albatross, 2 Sooty Albatross, 10 Grey-backed
Storm-petrel, a Long-tailed Jaeger and a White-fronted Tern, thanks Mike
Carter.
9 May
A flock of 40+ corellas just flew over East Bentleigh at 9 am, thanks Vin
Lam.
6 May
A Bassian Thrush was seen at Willesmere Billabong, Kew, thanks Sue Taylor.
4 May
12 Banded Lapwings in a paddock on the Werribee-Ballan Rd, 14km from
Werribee, thanks Dave Torr.
3 May
3 Swift Parrot’s were seen in Melton over the intersection of McKenzie and
Alexandra Streets, calling loudly as they headed in a north easterly
direction, thanks Micah Kawalek.
3 May
There were four Gang Gang Cockatoos (2 male, 2 female) flying in and out of
a couple of eucalypts in a park in Camberwell (the part that used to be
Burwood), eastern suburb of Melbourne. I haven't seen any gang gangs there
before. There are always numerous rainbow lorikeets in those trees and
occasional galahs, thanks Merrilyn Serong.
2 May
6 Banded Lapwings in paddock near Cowwar turnoff, west of Sale, thanks Noel
Billing.
2 May
Many sightings of Banded Lapwings in the Pyramid Hill area in the last
month, after a long absence, including a flock of 68. Interestingly
coincides with the arrival of locusts, thanks Simon Starr.
2 May
A single Whistling Kite was seen over Brimbank Park, adjacent to the Old
Calder Highway and Keilor Park Drive intersection, thanks Micah Kawalek.
1 May
A Common Sandpiper was seen on the Barwon River at the end of Sheepwash Road
in Barwon Heads, thanks Peter Fuller.
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
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