Birdline Victoria Update No. 194
For the week ending: 13 February 2005
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Sightings
13 February
A Psittacula parrot (presumably safely able to be assumed to be an escape)
on an overhead power line along Point Cook Homestead Rd (near the house on
the northern side of the road, Melway Map 208, G12). Initially seen near a
perched Crested Pigeon, then joined by a Magpie-Lark, the bird was last seen
flying swiftly NE across the surrounding fields. An all-green bird with a
coral bill and eye-ring, it was most likely either a female/juvenile
Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria) or a female/juvenile Rose-ringed
Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), both of which are popular cage-birds. Thanks
Richard Nowotny.
13 February
A large flock, 200+, Corella (probably Long-billed ) flew into Jackson's
Creek at Sunbury, continuing upstream. The Sunbury flock has grown
considerably over the past ten years, but this was by far the biggest group
that Roger has observed here. Thanks Roger McGlashan.
13 February
At Womelano Falls Kinglake National Park there was a Rufous Fantail and a
female Satin Flycatcher. Thanks Michael Ramsey.
11 February
There was a single Lewin’s Rail along the edge of vegetation at “The Spit
Reserve” Werribee Treatment, turn 2nd. Road to the right on entry to reserve
and go to the end, look along the fringes of the creek/lagoon?? Thanks John
& Sue O’Malley.
10 February
25 - 30 Topknot Pigeons, mainly adults, were observed gorging themselves on
ripening palm fruit within the Cabbage Tree Palm reserve early this morning.
Thanks Len Axen.
9 February
Black Falcon – Kirk Point, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee (flying fast
through a flock of small waders). Presumably the same bird which has now
been reported several times from various locations around the WTP. Thanks
Richard Nowotny.
9 February
Dave Torr made a brief visit to the main part of the Western Treatment Plant
on Wed 9th - one week after the record rains. All tracks were open and
seemed in good conditions. Pond levels of course were quite high. The second
pond down from the ford on the north side of Little River had an adult
Banded Stilt amongst the Avocets, and there were 2-3 White-winged Black
Terns over Little River amongst the Whiskered Terns. 270S Borrow Pit had no
waders at all - not even stilts. 35E8 Conservation Pond (nearest one to the
Borrow Pit) had a reasonable number of waders, including a Ruff.
8 February
There was a single Pomarine Jaeger (dark morph), flying close to shore in
Corio Bay Geelong, up near the docks car park. Also Sue and I observed 4
Painted Button-quail at the Stony Creek Picnic area near the Anakie Gorge
walk in the Brisbane Ranges. Thanks John & Sue O’Malley.
6 February
Two very special birds were seen on the weekend's Port Fairy pelagic trip:
an Atlantic Petrel, if accepted will be the first sighting in Australian
waters and a Little Shearwater will be the second Victorian sighting of this
bird! Thanks Rohan Clarke.
7 February
At Karkarook (on Warragul Rd near the end of South Road), amongst the
thousands of Silvergulls there was a single Pink-eared Duck and a Female
Musk Duck. Also of note, Australian Grebes on a nest, Black-fronted Dotterel
and about 30 immature Black-winged Stilts, 1/3 of them immature. Thanks Vin
Lam.
6 February
At Lake Gherang near Geelong, recent rains have brought an influx of
Latham's Snipe. 76 were seen 6/2/05, no other waders were seen. Thanks John
Newman.
6 February
There is white-phased Grey Goshawk hanging around the Great Ocean Rd bridge
at Separation Creek (near Wye River). There is also a large flock (200+) of
White-throated Needletail, which flies over Wye River and Separation Creek
each evening. Also a single Emu was seen in a paddock adjacent to bushland
at Bambra (between Lorne and Winchelsaea). This bird is almost certainly a
farm bird, although it would be interesting to have some confirmation of
this. Thanks Tim Dolby.
2 February
Following the record rains in Melbourne a large lake has formed at the
Melbourne Water Retarding Basin (now a new wetland development) Mount
Waverley Melway 70H3 , west of Blackburn Road. On it were a male Blue-billed
Duck and an Australasian Grebe. Thanks Graeme Hosken.
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
Stuart Cooney
www.babblersnest.com
Birdline Victoria
www.babblersnest.com/birdline
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