Birdline Victoria Update No. 184
For the week ending: 14 November 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
Sightings
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------
14 November
There was a Little Egret - Avalon Beach Salt Pits, 2 X Brown Songlarks, 1 X
Singing Bushlark - Avalon Airport - Dandos Road, 2 X Black-tailed
Native-hens - Barrow Pits, WTP and a Juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle -
Conservation Lagoons, WTP. Thanks Peter Fuller.
14 November
Most unusual bird seen in the 49 species recorded at today's very windy BOCA
survey of Pinkerton Forest and Bush's Paddock (west of Melbourne) was a
Budgerigar. Given the recent sighting of a small number near this location
by Richard Nowotny, and the distance from the nearest habitation, this seems
likely to be a wild bird? Other interesting sightings were a White-winged
Triller, small numbers of Zebra Finches and Diamond Firetails, a Pacific
Heron and a nesting Brown Goshawk. Thanks Dave Torr.
14 November
Jehosophat Gully (Kinglake National Park) Lewin's Honeyeater (2),
Large-billed Scrubwren (1), Bassian Thrush (2), Rufous Fantail (1),
Red-browed Treecreeper (2), Satin Flycatcher (1). Great short walk with many
wetter forest birds. Thanks Michael Ramsey.
12 November
There was a Sacred Kingfisher at Fyansford on Barwon River. Thanks Peter
Fuller.
12 November
James Pardew reports that a pair of Top Knot Pigeons and Little Corellas
have been observed around their farmhouse at Bemm River. The Little Corella
sighting adds further evidence to the spread of this species into areas of
Gippsland to the east of the Snowy River. Thanks Len Axen.
12 November
A single Nankeen Night Heron was observed today, flying along Jackson's
Creek, Sunbury. The bird rested briefly in a gum tree before continuing
toward Bulla. Thanks Roger McGlashan.
12 November
Currently there are in excess of 200 avocets resting in the south-western
corner ponds of the Cheetham salt works along the Portarlington Road,
Geelong. Thanks Rod Corinaldi.
12 November
1 Freckled Duck at Seaford Swamp, found by Chris Tzaros on the lagoon
immediately below the viewing platform on Austin Road. The first record for
Seaford. Thanks Sean Dooley.
11 November
A pair of Wedge Tailed Eagles were seen soaring over farmland near
"Gilbert's Gulch" on the Orbost - Marlo Road. The location is approximately
1 km from the centre of Orbost and is an uncommon sighting for this area.
Thanks Len Axen.
11 November
A male Satin Flycatcher was seen at Table Rock in Melbourne's Bayside
suburbs. Thanks Michael Norris.
10 November
A Sacred Kingfisher at GL Basterfield Park in Melbourne's Bayside suburbs.
Thanks Michael Norris.
9 November
4 Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo's were seen flying over the Keilor-Melton
Highway at Rockbank, just east of the Kororoit Creek crossing. Thanks Micah
Kawalek.
9 November
A White-headed Pigeon was observed hanging around a balcony at the Bend of
Islands: a 'Residential Conservation' area about 30 km's NE of Melbourne,
adjacent to the Yarra, between Eltham and Yarra Glen. Thanks Frank Pierce.
9 November
There was a Pacific (White-necked) Heron at the WTP today (near Ryan's Swamp
on 160 South Rd) and a Black Kite over the office building on Farm Road. And
the Freckled Duck have returned to "Freckled Duck Rock" (Lake Borrie South
near the Beach Rd exit) after a prolonged absence. Thanks Dave Torr.
8 November
Whittlesea Spotless Crake (2) Seen briefly in reeds around the edge of the
flooded Plenty River. Thanks Michael Ramsey.
8 November
A possible Greater Sand Plover was seen at Breamlea on the Thompson's Creek
Estuary, thanks Peter Fuller.
8 November
There have been a number of small groups of Budgies sighted in the Pyramid
Hill/Terrick Terrick area in the last few days. Thanks Simon Starr.
7 November
No sign of the Canada Goose, escapee or otherwise, at Braeside on Sunday,
but there were 5 Glossy Ibis in a wet paddock near the Ranger station, plus
one Black-tailed Native Hen. Thanks Glen White.
6-7 November
Amongst the highlights from the 2004 Vic Twitchathon included nesting
Painted Honeyeater near Chiltern, nesting Square-tailed Kite near the
Grampians, a Greater Sand Plover at Breamlea, Arctic Jaeger at the WTP,
Little Bittern at Bundoora, Gull-billed Tern on the Bellarine Peninsular, a
flock of approximately 500 Banded Stilt at Cheetham Salt Works, 15 species
of birds of prey, 23 species of parrot and 26 species of honeyeater.
Surprisingly the rain did not seem to affect bird totals, which were
significantly higher than last years 'thon totals. Thanks Tim Dolby.
6 November
Three Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos were sighted in a pine tree (near the
railway line) in Rosanna Parklands. Thanks Doug Franklin.
5 November
Stubble Quail were heard calling in the grasslands adjoining the northern
edge Guildford township. Thanks Micah Kawalek.
3 November
A single Blue-faced Honeyeater was seen flying over the intersection of the
Bendigo-Redesdale Road and Tannery Lane in Strathfieldsaye. Thanks Micah
Kawalek.
4 November
A pair of White-plumed Honeyeaters are nesting in a Boisdale garden, a very
unusual sighting for the area. Thanks Duncan Fraser.
4 November
A pair of Pink Robins in wonderful plumage at eye level at the Otway Fly
treetop walk at Beech forest. Thanks John Newman.
2 November
The Noisy Friarbird was still in north Beaumaris on 2nd November, after 16
days, but now feeding on red Callistemons rather than Mahogany Gums and
there was a Tree Martin at Elsternwick Park and Straw-necked Ibis were
flying over Hampton.
2 November
A Canada Goose was at Braeside Park. Thanks Nicole B.
2 November
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike are currently numerous at Wartook State Forest
in the northern Grampians Range in western Victoria. There are also large
numbers of Rufous Songlark, White-winged Triller and nesting Restless
Flycatcher. Thanks Tim Dolby.
2 November
There were 4 Budgerigar on Bulban Rd, west of Werribee, and a Black Kite at
the You Yangs Regional Park in the western block. Thanks Richard Nowotny.
1 November
There was a Little Egret at Ricketts Point and seven Royal Spoonbills flew
in, a record number for Bayside. Thanks Michael Norris.
1 November
At least 41 White-fronted Terns feeding and loafing in the Corner Inlet
entrance area; includes non-breeding adult and immature birds. Thanks George
Appleby.
1 November
There were 3 Striated Fieldwrens in roadside shrubbery 2km south of township
of Clunes, in cleared farmland area consisting of mainly introduced pasture.
Also present were 2 male Brown Songlarks, and heard Singing Bushlark. Later
in day saw 2 Banded Stilt on small farm dam in Lal Lal, south of Ballarat,
and 2 Black Kite near Bacchus Marsh. Thanks Steve Davidson.
1 November
There were 25 Glossy Ibis on McGlashin Swamp, which is near Douglas in
Western Victoria. Thanks Roger McGlashan.
1 November
A single Peregrine Falcon was seen hunting low over First Avenue and
Kurrajong Crescent in Melton South. Thanks Micah Kawalek.
1 November
A Bassian Thrush at Warneet in bush beside the foreshore on edge of the salt
marsh. Fist sighting of this bird in this area since June 1998. Thanks Arnis
Dzedins.
Updates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------
Freckled Duck
14 November
Following on from Chris Tzaros' and Sean Dooley's report on Friday, Peter
Lansely visited Austin Road, Seaford late yesterday (Sunday 14/11/2004)
afternoon. He saw the Freckled Duck, the red base to its bill showing well
(i.e. male), at about 17:45 local time. The bird was standing and preening
about 50 metres due north of the observation platform and later swam off
with some teal and disappeared behind the reeds. A small number of
Blue-billed Ducks were seen elsewhere on Seaford Swamp along with at least
150 Whiskered Tern (biggest numbers of this species he'd ever seen here).
Little Bittern
13 November
The Little Bittern (male) showed itself @ 11am ish on Saturday 13/11
morning. After 3 hours of nothing, he strode out of the reeds directly
opposite the pergola for 15 or 20 seconds there was also 1 male Bluebill
Duck. Thanks Nick Portlock.
Noisy Friarbird
12 November
The Noisy Friarbird is still in northern Beaumaris after 26 days! Michael
Norris found it today on red Callistemon at 1020 within 20 seconds of
parking.
Northern Shoveler
9 November
The male Northern Shoveler was seen again at Werribee (Western Treatment
Plant) on Tuesday 9 November, by Bob Swindley during our regular waterfowl
counts for Melbourne Water. It was in the north-east part of the WTP, with
lots of Australasian Shoveler and other ducks. Thanks Richard Loyn.
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
--------------------------------------------
Birding-Aus is now on the Web at
www.birding-aus.org
--------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message 'unsubscribe
birding-aus' (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
