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Diamond Dove,Common Sandpiper and other interesting birds at ETP, Melbou

To: "Mike Carter" <>, "BIRDING-AUS" <>, "Tim Dolby" <>
Subject: Diamond Dove,Common Sandpiper and other interesting birds at ETP, Melbourne,on 24
From: "John Harris" <>
Date: Wed, 27 May 2009 16:54:10 +1000
No hope on the Mandarin Duck, Tim.  Especially after your comments last 
night............

Keep dreamin'!!!!!!


Yours in all things "green"

Regards

John Harris
President, Victorian Association for Environmental Education (VAEE)
Manager, Environment and Sustainability
Donvale Christian College
155 Tindals Rd Donvale 3111
03 9844 2471  Ext 217
0409 090 955



>>> "Tim Dolby" <> 27/05/2009 3:44 pm >>>

Thanks for your excellent analysis Mike. There may be a potential for a few 
more turning up in southern Victoria. I wonder if there are any unusual 
patterns for DD in NSW i.e. records towards the coast. From looking at NSW 
Birdline it's hard to determine, DD doesn't seem to be a reportable bird in 
that state.

It's actually refreshing news for me personally, especially in terms of my 2009 
Victorian list. After I went for the Westgate Diamond Dove I was faced with a 
birding dilemma: should my list be 310 with the Diamond Dove included or 309 
without. I'd actually put my foot in both camps, 309 / 310.

With tongue firmly planted in cheek, I don't suppose we can call the Mandarin 
Duck at Dight's Falls a wild bird? Vagrants are vagrants, despite how rare or 
improbably they may be. I suppose the circular ring around its leg is a bit of 
a give away, see http://www.eremaea.com/sightingphotos/9194.jpg (I'm also 
spliting Yellow Rosella and returning White-backed and Black-backed Magpies 
back to full species status.)

Cheers,

Tim


-----Original Message-----
From:  on behalf of Mike Carter
Sent: Wed 27/05/2009 12:13
To: BIRDING-AUS
Cc: Andrew Silcocks; Danny Rogers; Andrew McCutcheon; Birdline Vic; Maarten 
Hulzebosch; Bill Ramsay
Subject: Diamond Dove,Common Sandpiper and other interesting birds at ETP, 
Melbourne,on 24 May

A DIAMOND DOVE was seen and photographed during the monthly Birds Australia
survey at the Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP) near Carrum SE of Melbourne on
Sunday 24 May. This is the first record for the area of a species rare at
any time in Victoria especially in the south. Normally such occurrences
would be considered likely escapees from aviaries but this bird was very
wary and although pursued for an hour we got no closer than 40 m. Moreover
it fits a pattern of recent reports. Birdline Victoria lists sightings from
Chiltern and Lilydale in April, at Westgate Park, Melbourne 11-14 May, and
three currently still at Werribee Zoo have been there since shortly before
19 May. They too are behaving as wild birds (Maarten Hulzebosch pers comm.)
Another surprise was a very fat apparently sub-adult COMMON SANDPIPER. This
is an extremely late date. Danny Rogers considers that virtually the entire
Australian population returns to the northern hemisphere in the boreal
spring. Winter records in the Australian Atlas, taken as being within the
period 15 June - 15 August, are really early returning migrants.

In all 72 species were seen including 9 raptors and 32 wetland dependant 
species. Other highlights included a Stubble Quail, another unusually late
date, an adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle, and a Little Eagle, both have been
present for a while, 1,400 Chestnut Teal, 72 White-fronted Chats, 200
Magpie-larks, 13 Flame Robins, 75 Golden-headed Cisticolas and 16 Eurasian
Tree Sparrows.



Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza  VIC 3930
Tel  (03) 9787 7136

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