Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria

Published sightings for the week ending 27 Jan 2013.

Sun 27 Jan	Magpie Goose Westgate Park, Port Melbourne 5 geese on a small island in the Fresh Water Lake George Fotheringham
	Brown Gerygone, Olive Whistler, Pilotbird, Cicadabird Tarago State Forest What a terrific spot Tarago Rd is for birding. The species located this afteroon included Brown Gerygone (yellow marker 1), Pilotbird (calling loudly from the side of the road), Crescent HE, Satin Flycatcher, Rufous Fantail, Cicadabird (all at yellow marker 4), Olive Whistler and Blue winged parrot (between markers 8-9) and Wonga Pigeon (between markers 9-10). Birds were active with the cooler weather which allowed some great photo opportunities. Bernie O'Keefe
Sat 26 Jan	Baillon's Crake, Australian Spotted Crake, Spotless Crake, Red-kneed Dotterel Lake Hamilton Baillon's Crake on beach Australian Spotted Crake every where there was cover from water ribbons Spotless Crake on sth side large island Red-kneed Dotterel (2) on beach Samantha Greiner
Thu 24 Jan	Cattle Egret Lake Connewarre Wildlife Reserve (Reedy Lake) Cattle Egret (31) In paddock to West of the end of Whitehorse Rd (with cattle!). Flushed by another walker, flew overhead, at least 8 with orange flush (but none in full breeding plumage) Angus Hartshorn
Thu 24 Jan	Black Honeyeater Whipstick section, Greater Bendigo National Park 11 Black Honeyeaters(10 male, 1 female) in total located around the trees surrounding the dam on Skylark Rd. Bernie O'Keefe
	Chestnut-rumped Heathwren No 7 Pond, Crusoe Reservoir, Bendigo Two birds located. From the carpark, I walked up the path to the top of the pond. Birds were found about 50 metres to the left around the edge of the pond. Bernie O'Keefe
	Painted Snipe Crusoe Reservoir, Bendigo Thanks to recent reports, a single bird was located after a bit of work combing the shoreline. It was located on the west side of the reservoir, about 200 metres past the pine plantation in a small inlet. The bird is not visible from the track so walking the shoreline is advisable. Hard work but a great reward. It was relatively approachable and I spent 10-15 minutes taking pictures without it worrying too much. Bernie O'Keefe
	Freckled Duck Mill Park Lakes At least 7 Freckled Ducks on the ponds. 2 Yellow-billed and 1 Royal Spoonbill feeding alongside. Also present were 4 Black-tailed Native-hen, 2 Blue-billed Ducks, 2 Australasian Shovelers, about 6 Latham's Snipes, 10 Australian Spotted Crakes, 2 Red-kneed Dotterels, 2 Great White Egrets and 2 Nankeen Night Herons. Falk Wicker
Wed 23 Jan	Grey Goshawk white morph Nicholson River Sarsfield East Gippsland Our resident Willie Wagtails drew my attention to a white morph Grey Goshawk that had killed a small bird near our house. The GG flew to a large Blackwood wattle to eat its prey which gave me a chance to take a few photos through the thick foliage. We have seen the Grey Goshawk here on a number of occasions over the years, they have all been white morphs. John Hutchison
	Spotless Crake Banyule Flat 2 adults feeding and sometimes chasing each other at grotty pond, also an Australian Spotted Crake and a Buff-banded Rail, each visible in open at different times late morning. On Sunday 20th I saw at least one juvenile Spotless Crake (almost certainly 2 juveniles) here in early morning as well as an adult, the juvs young enough to indicate local breeding. The juvs kept below cover on 20th and did not show themselves today. (Photo of juv attached, can supply photo of adult if needed.) Richard Loyn
	Australian Painted Snipe Hospital Swamp, Lake Connewarre One Painted Snipe (and four Latham's Snipe) flushed from bank with tall eucalypts just west of rough turning circle on Hospital Swamp Road. Drying wetland has hundreds of shorebirds, including 400 Banded Stilts, 100 Red-necked Avocets, 50 Red-kneed Dotterel, 42 Marsh Sandpipers. [Moderator's Note: Please be aware that this bank is on private property and permission should be obtained before entering this area.] Guy Dutson
	Grey Butcherbird Sunbury Grey Butcherbird (1) This sole bird has been around the Station St, Jackson St, Harker St area now for a couple of weeks, including my backyard at 64 Stations St. I've never seen one in my area before; first heralded by its melodious warble. ( Moderators note: though common and widespread through many areas of Greater Melbourne, Grey Butcherbirds are quite scare in the outer north west with only a few records submitted to Eremaea around this area). Lou Citroen
Tue 22 Jan	Australian Spotted Crake, Spotless Crake Belmont Common Wildlife Reserve & Wetlands Australian Spotted Crake (2) Spotless Crake (1) Up to 5 Spotted, and 2 Spotless Crakes seen on each visit this week. All observed from hide. Russell Woodford
	Australian Painted Snipe Crusoe Reservoir On a walk with Ken around the reservoir we saw the Australian Painted Snipe on the shore of the SW arm. As per previous reports. Malcolm Cousland
	Spotted Harrier Swan Lake Phillip Island While walking at the Eastern end of the lake a Spotted Harrier flew around me several times.Initially I mistook it for a Swamp Harrier, first recording for Eremaea Birds for Phillip Island, sorry about the photo, I got the shakes. Derek Whitehead
	Blue-faced Honeyeater Royal Park, Parkville Blue-faced Honeyeater (1) Feeding in flowering trees, Royal Park Golf Course near the tram line. Nicole Spillane & Paul Jacobson
	Freckled Duck Private dam adjacent to Balbirooroo Wetland, Balnarring. 63 Freckled Duck present 20 January; 71 present 22 January. Dennis Gosper
Mon 21 Jan	Cicadabird Wombat Forest At 0930 a group of us from Melb and Ballarat watched one, possibly two male Cicadabirds 1.5 km down McGees Rd, off the Spargo Blakefield Rd. The birds have been seen for about 4 days. A female has also been seen. GPS 37º 29' 18" S 144º 10' 26" E There is a pull-off on the left and a culvert under the road. We had to wait about 20 minutes before we heard the birds call and then saw them. Jen Spry, Joy Tansey, Ian Ashton and a group from Ballarat area.
	Brown Booby Western part of Port Phillip Bay A male Brown Booby was observed in the company of Australian Gannets at Midday. Maarten Hulzebosch
	Lewin's Rail Duck Island Three Lewin's Rail calling simultaneously from three separate locations. Unable to gain sighting in heavy cover. Trevor Lumb
	Great Knots, Red Knots, Grey Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones Mud Island On the SW sandbars this morning were Great Knot(1), Red Knots(22) and 2 RKs with orange flags right leg, associating with Grey Plovers (33) and 5 Grey Plovers with orange flags right leg. Scurrying around with them were 2 Ruddy Turnstones. In a separate grouping close by Greenshanks (33) seemed unusually relaxed some even sitting down. Mixed Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper and Red-Necked Stint (455) on yet another close by sandspit completed a grand scene out in the bay. Trevor Lumb
Sun 20 Jan	Budgerigars Parwan (near Werribee) A flock of 35 - 40 budgies were seen feeding on panic grass seed and the last of the wallaby grass on a private property near Werribee. Lorraine Jolly per Deb Crosby
	Magpie Goose and Pectoral Sandpiper Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Magpie Goose (4) Conservation pond 35e. Pectoral Sandpiper (2) 1 Near gate 8 in 145 wa lagoon, another seen on coast side of 85wb lagoons. Also Cape Barren Goose (14) T section; Glossy Ibis (1) Seen on T section pond 5, weird behaviour seemed to be associating and following a group of 12 Purple Swamphen, feeding and behaviour similar. Brolga (4) possibly 6, seen 2 flying from t section pond 5 towards western lagoons, then we came across 2 adults and 2 juv near gate 3 near the Cape Barren Geese. Latham's Snipe (1) Possibly 2, one seen in borrow pits and Black Falcon (1) On fence post beach road. Philip Peel
Sat 19 Jan	Glossy Ibis Box Flat, near Boort Glossy Ibis (1) Box Flat, on Billings Rd east. With Black-tailed Native Hens Malcolm Cousland

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

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