Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria

Published sightings for the week ending 30 Jan 2011.

Sun 30 Jan	Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Cowes Noticed brighter yellow bird than usual approacjing birdbath in my backyard around lunchtime today. Got out binoculars and when it returned identified it as a Yellow-tufted Honeyeater. After ringing WESBOC colleagues it seems to be a first sighting for Phillip Island. Elizabeth Shaw
	Plains Wanderer Western Treatment Plant, Werribee A female Plains Wanderer was seen on 29 Mile Road at around 9.30am. It walked out of the grass on the west side, crossed the road to the east side and then walked along the east side for 2 or 3 minutes. It re-entered the grass when another car drove past. The observers had stopped to look at a Horsfield's Bushlark when the Plains Wanderer appeared. Fred Smith, Michael Seyfort & Karan Kapitan
	Long-toed Stint Western Treatment Plant, Werribee SE corner of Western Lagoons pond 4 (1). Still present in favoured area this morning. Also 2 Pecs there and Ruff on rocks N of the boat ramp. Alan Crawford on trip led by Joy Tansey & Jen Spry
	Pacific Golden Plover, Red-necked Avocet Jack Smith Lake 67 Pacific Golden Plovers counted on the island?? in the main lake, probably more hidden in the grass. Also 11 Avocets as well as the usual suspects. Tim Bawden
Sat 29 Jan	Rainbow Bee-eater You Yangs Regional Park Many Rainbow Bee-eaters and a number of Tree Martins flying overhead and landing in the tops of bare trees near the visiotrs' centre in the late afternoon (5pm onwards). Due to flood damage much of the You Yangs remains closed to traffic and walkers, but there is plenty to see near the entrance. Merrilyn Serong
	Topknot Pigeon Cabbage Tree Palms Single pair flying over. Also Black-faced Monarch, Scarlet Honeyeater, Large-billed Scrubwren, Bassian Thrush, Brown Gerygone, Rufous Fantail, Collared Sparrowhawk Greg Oakley
	White-throated Needletail Research Approx. 8 white-throated needletails over my house at 7.15 pm. Joy Pagon
	Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo Church Hill, Hamilton Juvenile bird sitting atop our silkyoak tree in front yard, calling strongly and beautifully like it was spring not mid summer! Samantha, Marlene & Marie Greiner
	Eastern Reef Egret Bastion Point, Mallacoota Chris Lester, Stuart Dashper
Fri 28 Jan	Turquoise Parrot Lakeview Track, Howe Range, Croajingolong Natonal Park Greg Oakley, Tim Bawden and Tim Dolby
	Eastern Bristlebird Howe Creek, Croajingolong National Park Eastern Bristlebird was seen in three different areas along Howe Creek in Howe Flat, Croajingolong NP. Also several small flocks of White-throated Needletail. Tim Bawden, Greg Oakley and Tim Dolby
	Powerful Owl Williamstown Victoria Powerful owl heard and sighted at around 9pm. Perched on high branch in eucalyptus tree in suburban front garden. Megan Erm
	Powerful Owl, Sooty Owl, Southern Boobook Gipsy Point Chris Lester, Stuart Dashper
	Eastern Bristlebird Howe Flat, Mallacoota Chris Lester, Stuart Dashper
	Wedge-tailed Eagle Miller Reserve Boronia Single bird flying over bushland behind reserve about 3pm. I believe this may have been the same bird I saw over Dandenong Creek near Scoresby Rd Wantirna about half an hour earlier. Alf Forbes
Thu 27 Jan	Square-tailed Kite Near Genoa Single bird soaring over road about 10km Melb side of Genoa Greg Oakley
	Turquoise Parrot Old Coast Road/Gravel Road junction ( Cape Conran CP ) The continued resurgence of this species occurs in a variety of coastal woodlands that border grass tree plains and heathland east of Cape Conran. A mixed flock of 14+ birds were observed feeding along the edge of the gravel road and on nearby Gahnia sp. A further sighting of an adult Turquoise Parrot occurred some 50m south of the Cabbage Tree- Cape Conran and Marlo Plains roads intersection where it too was seen feeding in short grasses beside the road. Jacquie and Len Axen
	Lewin's Rail Western Treatment Plant, Werribee On the river, approx. half way between Lake Borrie and the hide on the opposite bank to the road (on the left if you're heading towards the hide). There is an obvious cove, and approx 50 metres closer to birdhide was where it was popping in and out of the bushes. (look for a yellow shovel washed up under the shrubs, you will have to scan the bank with a scope to pick this up). Photo quality is poor but the shovel is shown (1). Brett Whitfield
	Black-eared Cuckoo Warby-Ovens National Park (northern Warby Range) A Black-eared Cuckoo was seen by Granite Track, being chased by a White-plumed Honeyeater this morning. Six Turquoise Parrots, Painted Button-quail, breeding Hooded Robin, Diamond Firetail and White-winged Triller some other interesting woodland birds seen as well. Michael Ramsey
	Spotted Harrier Wilby One juvenile/immature bird over the backyard around midday attempting to catch guinea fowl (pets) chicks. It was unsuccessful and then continued on over the paddocks to the north. This species has been very scare this spring and summer compared to other recent years. Michael Ramsey
	Grey-crowned Babbler Lake Mokoan/Winton Wetlands A pair were seen at the duck pond which is a new spot for this species. Not sure whether they are from the known group here, or the start of a new one. Musk Duck, White-bellied Sea-eagle, breeding Darter and Pied Cormorant other highlights this morning. Michael Ramsey
	Black Bittern (1), Striated Herons (2) Genoa River, Gipsy Point Chris Lester, Stuart Dashper
Wed 26 Jan	Sacred Kingfisher Horsham City 1 bird present - In water area adjacent Wotonga drive - very, very Skittish. Lance Peters
	Budgerigar Wilby A single immature bird was seen on the west edge of town, before flying off to the north. Seen in nearly the same spot in early 2010, and also back in 2009 as well. Michael Ramsey
	Plumed Whistling-Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Black Falcon Rutherglen distrit Over 50 Plumed Whistling-Ducks were seen in the swamps around Rutherglen, including three pairs with ducklings. A Great Crested Grebe and Black Falcon were also interesting sightings. Michael Ramsey and Matt Weeks
	Buff-banded Rail Banyule Flats, Heidelberg Buff-banded Rail still at Banyule Swamp. Black Swans have 7 young cygnets. Daphne Hards
	Long-toed Stint, Stilt Sandpiper, Ruff, Pectoral Sandpiper Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Long-toed Stint: Western Lagoons, pond 4. Stilt Sandpiper: Initially Austin Lagoons (rocks on eastern side). Later in the day on Western Lagoons, pond 4. Ruff: 2 at Beach Road rocks. Pectoral Sandpiper: ~4 Western Lagoons pond 4, another one in flooded Paddock. Paul Dodd & Ruth Woodrow plus about 25 other birders for Long-toed Stint and Stilt Sandpiper!
	Ruddy Turnstone Western Treatment Plant Single Ruddy Turnstone seen feeding at Eastern end of Pond 4 Westen Lagoons early this morning. David Richardson
	Scarlet Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot Cape Conran Coastal Park ( Yerrung River estuary walk ) Scarlet Honeyeaters continue to call from dense Melaleuca squarossa thickets near the mouth of the Yerrung River. 9 in total this morning. 3 Turqouise Parrots were flushed from an area of coastal woodland near the bridge. Our first authenticated sighting from this location. Other interesting observations included 3 Southern Emu-wrens from the heathland beneath the powerlines and a juvenile Shining Bronze-Cuckoo. Jacquie and Len Axen
	Singing Honeyeater Numurkah township One Singing Honeyeater first heard and seen 21/1/11, calling and feeding in flowing Eremophila. Still present 26/1/11. Unusual sighting for this area. Gary and Lisa Deayton
	Long-toed Stint Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Long-toed Stint located this morning in Southeast of Pond 4 Western Lagoons,as prevoiusly reported by Hedley and Irena Earl.Also I counted 5 Pectoral Sandpipers in pond 4..Thanks to Steve Davidson for getting me there. David Richardson and Steve Davidson
Tue 25 Jan	Hooded Plover, Ruddy Turnstone Flinders foreshore Two Hooded Plovers and a single Ruddy Turnstone seen at the Flinders foreshore by the west head. Also observed a group of 10 Sooty Oystercatchers as well as some unidentified Terns. Wayne Butterworth
	Spotless Crake Mt St Joseph pond, Altona About 8am, a juvenile Spotless Crake seen foraging on debris a couple of metres from the north platform. Although I hear them occasionally, this is the first I've seen for months because of the continuing high water levels. Peter Shute
	Eastern Curlew Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Was photographing shorebirds on the rocks just east of the Beach Rd boat ramp this afternoon (6 pm) when I noticed an Eastern Curlew chasing a Bar-tailed Godwit not far from shore. The chase continued for a minute or so before both birds headed towards Kirks Point/The Spit. Paul Randall (wingsonwire.com)
	Long-toed Stint WTP, Werribee, southeast corner of lagoon 4 Patience was rewarded tonight with an excellent sighting and photo opportunity. Stint feeding around weed and rock with 2 pectoral sp, 1 sharp tailed SP and 1 red necked stint. Even got great photo of the long toe! Hedley and Irena Earl
	Stilt Sandpiper Western Treatment Plant, Werribee At 12.30, Stilt Sandpiper in company with 7 Greenshanks flew from rocks on the north of T Section lagoon over Austin Road, to Austin Road Pond One. Several Pectoral Sandpipers in Western Lagoons Pond 4 and the flooded paddock. Sue Taylor with Roger Taylor and Graham Barwell
	Osprey Bastion Point, Mallacoota Single adult bird seen flying along beach at Bastion Point towards Mallacoota Inlet around 1:00pm. Also a pair of Glossy Black-Cockatoo seen at the intersection of the Cape Horn Track and the Fairhaven Link Rd (an area east of Wallagaraugh, see further information). Tim Dolby
	Little Stint Black Rocks, Barwon Heads Advice received from Clive Minton. Among waders caught during a Victorian Wader Study Group banding session at Black Rocks, Barwon Heads on 22 January 2011 was a first winter Little Stint. Potential twitchers beware that it is virtually impossible to detect this bird in the field unless you can correctly age it as a first winter individual then determine that the primaries are in active moult. First winter Red-necked Stints do not moult their primaries in this season (but adult Red-necked Stints do). This is the 8th Little Stint to be banded by the VWSG Clive Minton per Mike Carter
	Little Eagle Melbourne Zoo Was alerted to its presence by the birds in the Great Flight Aviary, flew low over the aviary before perching briefly on the tallest part of the enclosure. Flew off to the west as I approached. Deb Crosby
Mon 24 Jan	Wedge-tailed eagle Ferntree Gully On Monday morning a wedge-tailed eagle landed in a pine tree at our house that overlooks Ferntree Gully. It stayed for 15-20 minutes and appeared to be eating. Debbie Connelly
	Wedge-tailed eagle Ferntree Gully A Wedge-tailed eagle landed in a pine tree at the front of our house this morning. We are on the hill at the back of Ferntree Gully. It stayed for 10 minutes or so while it appeared to be eating. We have more pictures. Apparently there is one missing from Healesville? Debbie Connelly
	Stilt Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Frank O’Connor called me at around 5pm to say that he’d just seen the Stilt Sandpiper at the Western Treatment Plant. The bird was on the rocks on the far (northern) side of the Austin Lagoon. The bird was seen on rocks on the eastern side and then flew to rocks on the western side, before flying back into the “pack” of stints and Curlew Sandpipers in the middle of the northern side. Frank also saw 30+ Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and 1 Long-toed Stint in Pond 4 of the Western Lagoons. Apparently the birds were visible from the centre track, looking south. Frank O'Connor per Paul Dodd
	Sooty Owl, Cicadabird Rubicon State Forest A Sooty Owl was heard at Morris Lookout on the evening of the 23/1/11 around 10:30pm. The Cicadabird was heard calling in box-stringybark forest near Snobs Creek Road. Other interesting birds in the forest included Rose Robin, Red-browed Treecreeper, Rufous Fantail, Leaden and Satin Flycatcher, Olive Whistler, Brush Cuckoo and Lewin's Honeyeater. Michael Ramsey
Sun 23 Jan	Tawny Frogmouth (1) Frankston South One Tawny Frogmouth on a power line near my house at 10:30pm. Jaye Williams and Diane Cooper
	Princess Parrot (escaped) Somers, Mornington Peninsula, 3927 Saw this sitting on a wire near my home with some Galahs. Smaller, more delicate parrrot than the Galahs but long slim tail. From what I could see, olive greenish all over but distinctive peach colour on throat & cheeks. I looked in my bird book and can't see any other parrots with this colouring. Heard the queet queet call. I realise this is way out of its range - may be an escaped aviary bird. Judy Brokenshire
	Ruffs, Pectoral Sandpipers, White-bellied Sea-eagle Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Had a Ruff on the rocks on the beach the north side of Beach Rd gate. Only the second time I've seen one in marine habitat. Very bossy, bullying the diminutive stints and Curlew Sandpipers out of the way. Got reasonable photos, pity I found it so late, at around 8.30PM, the light was fading, otherwise they would have been much better. Also saw a Ruff in the flooded grassland the otherside of the Western Lagoon, along with 4 Pectoral Sandpipers. Finally caught up with 3 Grey Plovers at The Spit. Had an adult White-bellied Sea-eagle on South Road between 85W drain and Borrow Pits. Kevin Bartram
	Speckled Warbler Private Grey Box woodland near Melton. Two Speckled Warblers, very active, above Gold-dust Wattle thicket. Also seen were Crested Pigeons, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Little Eagles, Yellow-rumped Thormbills, Brown Treecreepers, Galah, Long-billed Corella, White Cockatoo, Crimson Rosella (juvenile), Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Boobook Owl, Willie Wagtail, Blue Wren, Magpie Lark, Magpie, Little Raven, Diamond Firetail, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Little Grassbird, Aust Reed-warbler Daryl Akers
	Crested Shrike-tit Carisbrook A pair of Crested Shrike-tits were being harassed by a fuscous honeyeater mid morning along the track which runs through the fauna reserve behind the local tip. Gary Oliver
Sat 22 Jan	Eastern Curlew Jam Jerrup, Western Port Flock of 50+ heading South just offshore. Jackson Airey
Thu 20 Jan	Singing Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler, New Holland Honeyeater Farm house vegie garden, Bromley/Betley area About 7.30 pm the singing honeyeater was catching insects above the vegie area. It is the first time I have seen the species in this location. The babbler had a dust bath then took food from the ground while the new holland honeyeater was taking nectar from succulents. Heather Freemantle
Wed 19 Jan	Bush Stone-curlew Bagshot North 1 heard on the night of 19/1, 2 heard on night of 20/1. Failed to spotlight on both nights Chris Lunardi
Tue 18 Jan	Dollarbird Picnic Point ( Bairnsdale ) A single Dollarbird was seen hawking for insects on the ridge above the Picnic Point reserve around noon today. Jacquie and Len Axen

Birdline Victoria is sponsored by Birds Australia - Victoria and co-ordinated and hosted by Eremaea Birds.

===============================

To unsubscribe from this mailing list, 
send the message:
unsubscribe 
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: 

http://birding-aus.org
===============================