Victorian Birdline Update - see below. For further information on rare
and unusual birds in Victoria see: http://www.babblersnest.com/birdline
Cheers,
Tim
January 2006
Wed 11
Long-toed Stint Western Treatment Plant1 seen at T-section Lagoons (3rd
pond on left from gate on 29-mile Road). Also Wood Sandpiper in
adjacent narrow pond near dry saltmarsh. George Appleby
Tue 10
Long-toed Stint Western Treatment Plant1 bird, more or less in the
middle of 35E pond 8, on a strip of mud with some vegetation. Maarten
Hulzebosch, Russell Woodford
Mon 9
White-throated Needletail BroadfordA flock of over 200 White-throated
Needletails were observed circling and flying over Broadford for over 2
hours. Michael Ramsey
Red-whiskered Bulbul Wilson Reserve, IvanhoeA single Red-whiskered
Bulbul was seen and another bird was heard calling. Tim Dolby
Sun 8
Buff-banded Rail & Nankeen Night Heron Boohraman East Road. Excellent
wetland about 5 km north of the Boohraham Pub (about 20km north of
Wangaratta). Saw about 20+ species in about 10 minutes, apart from
masses of Egrets, Ibis, Spoonbills, Kingfishers etc, spotted a Buff-
banded Rail just in the grass next to the side of the road. On the
other side of the road a Nankeen Night Heron rested in the branches of
a tree in the forest. Alf Forbes
Sat 7
Oriental Plover Yaloak Estate, Ballan. A group of us again located the
two birds between 8 and 9 AM, at the eastern end of the airstrip.
Please note this is private property with restricted access, and the
birds are not visible from public roads. If still present on 24-25 Jan,
when I am next due to do field work on the site, I will try to gain
permission for another group vsiit. P S Lansley
Fri 6
Red-necked Phalarope (Update) Seaford SwampAfter more than four hours
searching, we finally found the Red-necked Phalarope (as well as a Wood
Sandpiper) in the extreme north west corner of the wetland, almost a
kilometre from where it was first seen. Best access to this area is via
the bike track next to Seaford North Primary School. From the track
head along the track through the paddock toward an octagonal pergoda
structure. This overlooks an area of open water and the Red-necked
Phalarope was on the very shallow water closest to the school amongst
grass tussocks. The area is drying rapidly and when last seen the bird
moved off with some Sharpies towards the south east in the general
direction of where it was originally discovered. Sean Dooley, Andrew
Silcocks
Ruddy Turnstone, Pied Oystercatcher, Fairy Tern, Red-necked Stints
Edwards Point, St LeonardsSecond outing to Edwards Point Nature
Resereve since Boxing Day. Seem to be a good number of Red-necked
Stints at the lagoons, along with a few Red-capped Plover. Up at the
point (the very end of the reserve) today there were nesting Fairy
Terns, Pied Oystercatchers (2), Ruddy Turnstones (20) and what to me
seemed to be Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. I'll have to check my photos to
confirm. However previous sighting suggests that they are. Darryl Morgan
Thu 5
Common Tern Marlay PointApproximately 70 Common Terns. Duncan Fraser
per Mike Carter
Rainbow, Musk, Little and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Wattle ParkMusk
Lorikeets in particular everywhere. A few Littles amongst them. A small
group of Scaly-breasteds also. First time I've seen Musk outnumber
Rainbow there. John Gray
Wed 4
Oriental Plover Yaloak Estate, BallanTwo birds seen on the airstrip.
Found by Roger Holloway, Kim Jolly and Peter Lansley. Later seen by
Curtis Doughty. Both still there on morning of 5th Jan. P S Lansley
Mon 2
Long-toed Stint, Red-necked Phalarope and Common Tern Western Treatment
Plant3 Long-toed Stint were seen feeding together on the eastern 35E
conservation pond. On the western 35E conservation pond 3 Red Knot were
recorded. The Red-necked Phalarope was seen on 85WC pond 9 - before
taking flight around 2:00 pm. At Kirk Point 6 Common Tern were recorded
as well as 3 Pacific Golden Plover. Tim Dolby
Cape Barren Goose, Brolga Lake Martin; Colac-Ballarat RdNine Cape
Barren Goose about 500 m from main road, with 4 Brolga nearby. A
further 2 Brolga in drain 60 m off road - 1 km further North. Also a
few thousand Australian Shelduck and Black Swan. Colin Trainor
Sun 1
Cape Barren Goose, Common Sandpiper, Great Crested Grebe Eastern
Treatment Plant9 Cape Barren Goose, one Common Sandpiper and one Great
Crested Grebe. per Mike Carter
Wedge-tailed Eagle Corner Westernport Highway and Frankston-Cranbourne
Rd, LangwarrinA pair seen roosting in paddock immediately north-west of
the roundabout. Sean Dooley 2/1
Black Honeyeater Chiltern National Park, NE Victoria1 male Black
Honeyeater at a dam on edge of park (Red Box Track). Same site where
many seen during influx in 2002 drought. Barry Traill
December 2005
Sat 31
White-throated Needletail BroadfordA single bird was observed flying
north-east over the train station. Michael Ramsey
Fri 30
Spotless Crake Coimadai Creek, Long Forest Flora ReserveOne adult
clearly seen in Cumbungi fringed pool. Sean Dooley, Paul Peake, Peter
Lansley
Australian Pratincole Ryan's Swamp, Western Treatment PlantAn
Australian Pratincole was seen by Paul Peake, Peter Lansley and myself,
amongst a flock of 1000+ Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. No sign of the
Oriental Pratincole elsewhere on the Farm. Similarly we also dipped on
Broad-billed Sandpiper and we just missed the Red-necked Phalarope by
about half an hour on the Conservation Ponds. Did manage to see the
Long-toed Stint there as well as two Red Knot. Sean Dooley
Little Button-quail GoschenFlushed on 6 separate occasions. Also seen
were 80 + Budgerigar, and a White-fronted Honeyeater. Simon Starr
Thu 29 Banded Lapwing Lake Tutchewop 130 seen from the Lake William
road. Simon Starr
Gull-billed Tern Lake Tutchewop1 Simon Starr
Painted Honeyeater Bright Golf Course, Bright, NE Victoria.At least 4
pairs of Painted Honeyeater in and adjacent to Bright Golf Course. One
pair attending a nest with two well developed young. Others showing
territorial behavious and likely to be breeding. There could be more in
the area as I made just a cursory look around. The birds are feeding on
mistletoe in Black Wattles, with abundant fruit. To see 'em, go to
front entrance of Golf Course on Back Porepunkah-Bright Rd. Walk to
left or right along the bike path which goes along the Golf Course
Boundary. Look in the abundant mistletoe. Birds are also doing
occasional display flights and calls. There is/was a pair in each
direction within 200m from the entrance. If anyone has the time to do
broader surveys in the area to get the total numbers of Painted
breeding this would be handy for this threatened wee birdie! Barry
Traill
Pale-headed Rosella White Hills Cemetery, BendigoOne Pale-headed
Rosella observed by Ted Cadwallader on Christmas Day. It was feeding
on 'shell grass" in the cemetery grounds. Today, December 29, Maurie
Lewis found there were two Pale-headed Rosellas feeding on lerp in a
large eucalypt at the same site. (Report submitted by Glenise Moors)
Ted Cadwallader
Koel (Common) Golden Square, Bendigo Two Koels were reported from
several sites in Golden Square from 8th December to the present.
A.Spurling reported these two birds present in the grounds of 'Fortuna'
for 2 weeks prior to 22nd December. (This report submitted by Glenise
Moors - I haven't observed them) A.Spurling, M.Chisholm, M.Lewis
(independant reports)
Tue 27
White-throated Needletail Clonbinane. A lone bird was seen flying
towards the north-west over Sunday Creek at Clonbinane. Michael Ramsey
Oriental Pratincole Western Treatment PlantAnother rarity has turned
up, this time an Oriental Pratincole. From the Little River ford, turn
right and it's in the second pond on the left. Tim Dolby
Oriental Pratincole Walsh's Lagoon, Western Treatment PlantOne non-
breeding bird sighted at approx noon. We watched it for 20 mins and
during that period it rose 15-20 mtrs then glided back to almost the
same spot it took off from at 1-2 minute intervals. Peter Bright,
Rodney Long, Pamela Rae
Long-toed Stint Seaford WetlandsOne Long-toed Stint observed amongst
about 50 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Melways Map 99 G3, "Gate 8". Red-
necked Phalarope still present in the same location. Observations from
0915 to 1030. Richard and Margaret Alcorn
Mon 26
Grey Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, nesting Fairy Tern Edwards Point State
Fauna ReserveLarge numbers of waders are currently feeding at low tide
(3:00 pm) Edwards Point (at the point itself), near St Leonards, on the
Bellarine Peninsula. Birds included a single Lesser Sand Plover, 3 Grey
Plover, an active colony (30+) of nesting Fairy Tern as well as good
numbers of Bar-tailed Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Red-necked Stint, Curlew
Sandpiper and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Tim Dolby
Sun 25
Black Falcon, New Holland Honeyeater OxleyA male Black Falcon was
observed on Christmas and Boxing Day in paddocks along Morse Lane in
Oxley. Two New Holland Honeyeaters were also recorded in a small patch
of proteas at the same site on the 26/12. This is north of this species
usual range. Michael Ramsey
Sat 24
Latham's Snipe Winter Swamp, Cardigan-BallaratWinters Swamp is just off
Blind Creek Road at the end of Gregory street: Latham's Snipe - 6
flushed over 15 mins, Clamorous Reed-warbler - 5-10 birds singing Musk
Lorikeet - c. 4-6 birds Colin Trainor
Fri 23
Red-necked Phalarope, Long-toed Stint, Broad-billed, Terek, Pectoral,
Wood Sandpiper Western Treatment PlantSeveral good waders were found
yesterday at the Western Treatment Plant by Bob Swindley and Danny
Rogers, as part of our regular monitoring for Melbourne Water. They
included a Red-necked Phalarope and a Broad-billed Sandpiper at 85WC
pond 9 (can be viewed from 280S road); another Broad-billed Sandpiper
in the eastern 35E conservation pond, along with a Long-toed Stint and
a Terek Sandpiper; a Pectoral Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper in the
western 35E conservation pond; and another Pectoral Sandpiper in the T-
section Lagoon. Also 29 Magpie Geese at Paradise Road for good measure.
It's been some time since this many scarce waders were seen together on
a single day, especially the freshwater species such as Long-toed
Stint. Most of the waders are feeding in conservation ponds, managed
deliberately for wader habitat by Melbourne Water. Bob Swindley, Danny
Rogers report Richard Loyn per Tim Dolby
Wed 21
Great Crested Grebe, Rainbow Bee-eater Chiltern Valley No 2A pair of
Great Crested Grebes were seen on the dam displaying their elaborate
courtship rituals. Also heard was a Rainbow Bee-eater. Mark Carey
Red-necked Phalarope Seaford Wetlands/Swamp Whilst doing their monthly
survey this morning, Sean Dooley & Andrew Silcocks found a Red-necked
Phalarope at Seaford Wetlands SE of Melbourne. Sean Dooley and Andrew
Silcocks per Mike Carter
Tue 20
Great Knot Lake Lonsdale, Pt Lonsdale3 birds Peter Fuller
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Eumeralla Flora ReserveOne seen in open, low
heath on coast walking track about 500m east of Angelsea. Richard and
Margaret Alcorn
Mon 19
Terek Sandpiper Lake Lonsdale, Point Lonsdale Seen again on Monday as
initially reported by Rod Corinaldi. Peter Fuller
Common Sandpiper Patterson River, Patterson LakesA nice surprise to
observe a Common Sandpiper on the rocks beside the Wells Rd crossing of
Patterson River. Lots of tail bobbing happening. Jacqui Sheppard
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