Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria

Published sightings for the week ending 4 Mar 2012.

Sun 4 Mar	Brolga (12) Calivil creek, Yarrawalla 10 adults, 1 first year and 1 second year bird in a flock along the Calivil creek west of Pyramid Hill next to Hampsons road. A traditional flocking area, but numbers down from the usual 20-25 birds that were regular before the drought. 2 young birds is a positive, suspect they were from the same pair. simon starr
	Plumed Whistling-duck Little Lake Boort Two Plumed Whistling-ducks with Cormorants, Grey Teal and Pacific Black Ducks in southeast part of the lake. Malcolm Cousland
Sat 3 Mar	Broad-billed Sandpiper Western Treatment Plant, Werribee The bird was still present on the first coastal pond inside the Beach Road gate at around 9am. It went to the coast to feed, where we relocated it and later found it again back in the pond next to the original one but further along the coast. Considered whether this final sighting might be a different bird, but on plumage and observed movements seemed to be the same bird. John Barkla + BirdLife Photography group
	Blue-faced Honeyeater Carisbrook We've had steady rain all day but a family of seven Blue-faced Honeyeaters landed in a gum tree in my backyard for several minutes. They are becoming more common down this way. Gary Oliver
Thu 1 Mar	Buff-banded Rail Royal Botanic Gardens near F Gate A most unusual sighting. Previous sighting was reported by Roy Wheeler BOC Secretary in the 1950s? [Moderator comment: We also have a report in Eremaea Birds from 2007. Buff-banded Rails are probably more common in the city than is generally realized. When the diet of Melbourne's Peregrine Falcon was researched it was found that Buff-banded Rail was a surprisingly common food source for these city based birds.] Jo Carouso per David Plant
Wed 29 Feb	Rufous Fantail Bellbird Dell North, Vermont Rufous Fantail (1) Sighted twice by myself and once separately by my wife. Alan Atkinson
	White-throated Needletail St KIlda Flock of at at least 50 White-throated Needletails hawking quite low in St Kilda (Alma Road, near the cemetery). Warm humid conditions. Greg Oakley
Tue 28 Feb	Rufous Fantail You Yangs Regional Park Saw a single Rufous Fantail in low shrub in south east corner of park adjacent to The Great Circle Drive Road. Warren Palmer
	Fork-tailed Swift Wilby I have been searching for this bird all summer and finally found one in a flock of White-throated Needletails, another two possibly seen. I initially noticed the bird from its different flight to the needletails. The bird seen well dived down from a height and its white rump could be clearly seen. Its tail was not forked but longer than the nearby needletails and ended in a point. Michael Ramsey
Sun 26 Feb	Fork-tailed Swift Monterey Boulevard Reserve, Frankston North Swifts seen flying northeasterly direction ahead of some very dark clouds. White rump not visible, though forked tails on two birds seen clearly. Colin Mulvogue
	Diamond Firetail Jeffreys Lane, Broadford Very surprised to find a Diamond Firetail here. It was an immature bird so they may have bred nearby. Another was also heard. I lived in Broadford in the mid 2000's and visited this site numerous times, never finding this bird here and only once in many years in the wider local area. Encouraging to see a woodland bird making a comeback. Michael Ramsey
	Eastern Curlew The Spit NCR A single Eastern Curlew was observed by members of Ballarat BOCA, on the Spit, while on their annual outing to WTP. The bird was alone on a smallish sandbar, approximately half way along. Sighted approx 10.15am. Ballarat BOCA members per John Harris - WIldlife Experiences
	Spotted Harrier (imm), Banded Lapwing Beach Rd, between Avalon Airport and Pt Wilson Rd (WTP) Immature Harrier was feeding on a road kill rabbit just near entrance to Avalon Airport. Very reluctant to leave despite traffic. 16 Banded Lapwing observed further towards Pt Wilson Rd, in usual paddock, behind the dam. (While with Ballarat BOCA outing to WTP). John Harris - Wildlife Experiences
Sat 25 Feb	Osprey Banksia Peninsula, Gippsland Lakes This bird was observed for about an hour,first sighted flying over the lake, fishing by striking with its feet. I am not sure how successful it was, It landed in the same tree each time it returned for maybe five flights. Other pictures suggest it is an immature bird. Ian and Merryl Wright
Fri 24 Feb	Black Falcon, Collared Sparrowhawk, Sacred Kingfisher Winton Wetlands/Lake Mokoan Very clear sightings of Black Falcon (1) and Collared Sparrowhawk (2) along the main road adjacent to the lake. As per usual numerous other raptor species and one sacred kingfisher seen. Andrew Martin
Thu 23 Feb	Powerful Owl Sugarloaf Reservoir Pair of Powerful Owls spotted by members of the North Central CMA Hepburn and Central Goldfields Flood Recovery Employment Program (FREP) at Sugarloaf Reservoir near Avoca. Reports of a third deceased bird unconfirmed in the same area. Craig Cossar per Adrian Martin
	Nankeen Night Heron Juvenile Private Land, near salt marsh Newhaven Vic Sitting on a branch over a dam. Second time I have seen this bird in last 2 months. [Ed note: rare on Phillip Is.] Jane Dyer
Wed 22 Feb	Intermediate Egret, Spotless Crake Mulgrave Reserve Wetland, Wheelers Hill The Intermediate Egret was standing next to a Great Egret in the large pond showing clearly its much smaller size. Noted rounded head, with open face, yellow -pinkish bill, gape not beyond eye. Feeding with many White Ibis, several Nankeen Night-herons and the Great Egret in shallow water and well-spaced aquatic vegetation. One Spotless Crake seen and another heard at the small pond. Also Peregrine Falcon flying purposely along the creek line. Richard & Margaret Alcorn
Sun 12 Feb	Little Eagle Viewbank One over horse paddocks Richard Loyn
Mon 6 Feb	Channel-billed Cuckoo Thirlmere Cres, Berwick, Vic A young Channel-billed Cuckoo was being fed by a pair of Ravens for approx. two weeks from 6 Feb 2012. Channel-billed Cuckoo have been recorded in the Berwick area in previous years during summer months. Perhaps this may be the first breeding record there? Reported by Bob Clydesdale to myself, today 29 Feb 2012. First seen being fed on Bob's back fence and then adjoining property. Hasn't been seen 22 Feb. Graeme Hosken

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

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