Evan Beaver asked about wetlands and parrots in the Mt Arapiles area. Evan, Mt
Arapiles is surrounded by wetlands - once you have climbed to the top take a
look in almost any direction. However, after our 11th consecutive year of low
winter rainfall many of the wetlands are dry. I recommend Mitre Lake a large
salt lake a bit to the north towards the Little Desert. It can have very large
flocks of Banded Stilts, although they are rather unpredictable in their
presence. Birds Australia were commissioned to prepare a report on the values
of the West Wimmera wetlands with a view to possible nomination for Ramsar
listing - the report would be worth getting hold of.
Mt Arapiles itself is a great birding area with excellent heathy woodland on
the plateau, and just to the west in Tooan State Park. There used to be several
Peregrine eyries but the number of pairs and their success has been adversely
affected by disturbance due to rock climbers - I will be interested to hear of
your observations of Peregrines. Parrots are conspicuous, although mostly the
regular species - but you should be able to find Purple-crowned Lorikeet and
look out for Red-tailed Black Cockatoo [subspecies graptogyne] in the
stringybark woodlands to the west. I suggest that you also try to spend some
time in the Little Desert NP. Many of the mallee specialists are to be found
there, plus Rufous Fieldwren and Slender-billed Thornbill in the low
[knee-high] heath accessible from the Edenhope-Nhill Rd. Tawny-crowned,
Purple-gaped, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Crested Bellbird, Southern Scrub-robin,
Shy Heathwren, Malleefowl, Mallee Ringneck, Diamond Firetail etc.
Peter Menkhorst
Melbourne
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