Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria

Published sightings for the week ending 21 Jul 2013.

Sun 21 Jul	Northern Shoveler, Black Falcon, Spotted Harrier & bulk numbers of raptors Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Northern Shoveler still there with the usual group of Aussie Shovelers & a bunch of Freckled Ducks. I just cant get over how many raptors are at 'The Farm' at the moment though. You can't look anywhere without seeing at least a few hawks. I got 10 species today, including 2 Black Falcons & 2 adult Spotted Harriers & a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles. The winter visitation of kestrels continues. Excellent numbers of Black-shouldered Kites, including mating birds, Brown Falcons (pictured here), Whistling Kites & Swamp Harriers. Also a few Black Kites & 1 adult Brown Goshawk. Quite an experience given that the waders are absent. Kevin Bartram
	Grey Goshawk Hector Street, Hamilton Grey Goshawk (1) This is the fourth time in two months I have seen a White Morph Grey Goshawk at this location, or been alerted to its presence by agitated Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian Magpies and Masked Lapwings. In April one was sighted over Arborline Nursery and Grange Burn Wetlands, possible we have a new resident bird for Hamilton? Samantha Greiner
Sat 20 Jul	Australasian Bitten and White-bellied Sea Eagle Lake Connewarre Wildlife Reserve (Reedy Lake) Brief visit to Reedy Lake on a cold and overcast afternoon yielded two great sightings: Australasian Bitten flushed from a reed bed on the western side, flew in NE direction. Followed shortly by a White-bellied Sea Eagle seen flying overhead in S-N direction. David Tytherleigh
	Cattle Egret Flora & Fauna Reserve, Drysdale 1' Cell Cattle Egret (112) In a paddock on Mooroduc Rd near the corner of Martins Rd. Cattle Egret are fairly common around Drysdale at present but this is by far the largest flock I've seen. David Fleming
Fri 19 Jul	Crimson Rosella (Immature) Epsom Park Estate, Mordialloc At 11.00 this morning an immature Crimson Rosella settled 2-3 metres from us on a leafless ornamental pear tree. It was there for approximately 30 seconds and was clearly identifiable. We were with Damien Navaud, a local arborist, who also recognised it. The same bird or similar was seen on 11th May feeding on a nature strip in the same street. Janice and Peter Metherell
Thu 18 Jul	Hoary-headed Grebe (aberrant plumage) River Gum Creek Reserve, Hampton Park During a Melbourne Water survey on a very warm (17 C) and windy morning with rain threatening we saw this Hoary-headed Grebe with a darkly stained chest which according to HANZAB is caused by either ferrous oxide staining or staining from vegetation. Richard & Margaret Alcorn
Thu 18 Jul	African Collared-Dove (Barbary Dove) Kilberry Boulevard Wetland, Hampton Park Melbourne Water survey on a very warm (17 C) and windy morning with rain threatening. An African Collared-Dove In a deciduous tree in a backyard backing onto the reserve. Richard & Margaret Alcorn
Thu 18 Jul	Gang-Gang Cockatoo Nerrina Bushland (Northern Ballarat) A group of at least 3 birds in late afternoon. Tony Edney
	Southern Giant Petrel Barwon Heads Bluff (Mt Colite) Sighted for the second consecutive day an immature Southern Giant Petrel. A fishing boat was tending nets at 9.30am with at least 100 albatrosses circling the boat, several shearwaters and a single Giant petrel. The petrel was keeping aloof from the rest of the birds by circling on the outer edges of the area. A Southern Right Whale cruised past at the same time heading north. Hedley Earl
Wed 17 Jul	Blue-winged Parrot, Restless Flycatcher Arborline Nursery, Hamilton an excellent morning 'casual' bird watching while asembling plant orders in growing area - Blue-winged Parrots (2) fly over early, & Restless Flycatcher (2) stayed around front of nursery for 30-60min, pair of bronzewing pigeons back in residence along with the fairywrens that use stacks of benchs as habitat and benches of plants as pantry Samantha Greiner
Wed 17 Jul	Pink-eared duck Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Main pond near café I spotted a lone Pink-eared Duck, hence this post. Andrew Wallis
	Swift Parrot, Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet Dunach Nature Conservation Reserve (Clunes) A flock of 20 Swift Parrots, about 15 Purple-crowned Lorikeets and 6 Musk Lorikeets feeding on heavily flowering Yellow Gums in the Reserve. They were very quiet most of the time and difficult to locate, but not afraid to stick around. One Swifty even spent a few minutes on the ground (see attached photo). Ian Miles
	Northern Shoveler Western Treatment Plant, Werribee The previously reported Shoveler was on the pond immediately north of Lake Borrrie, adjacent to Paradise Rd. It was keeping company with a female shoveler and they were separate from a larger group of Australian Shovelers (50) and Freckled Ducks (10) on the northern section of Lake Borrie. It was viewed from 1.30pm - approx 2pm. Jim Caine
	Australasian Bittern Woodlands Industrial Estate Australasian Bittern (1) Governor Rd end (11.05am). Just a few yards from where I sighted it last week. It was in long reeds on the waters edge, two Swamphens flushed, which in turn flushed the Bittern. It flew about 100 yards and landed in the reeds where the swampy area meets the lake, it was still in Woodlands. David Fleming
Tue 16 Jul	Australasian Bittern, Australian Reed-Warbler Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Bittern flushed, from extensive reed-beds on E side of Lake Borrie, for long enough to give convincing and satisfying views. One, probably two, Reed-Warblers calling from same reed bed. 5 Cattle Egrets coming in to roost late in day. 3 individual Black Falcons and 2 individual adult Spotted Harriers and then some! Great views of many birds during another great day at the farm! Craig Morley, David Tytherleigh
Mon 15 Jul	3x Eastern Ospreys, 1x Spotted Harrier, 1x Peregrine Falcon Point Nepean National Park We very lucky to get great sightings of a juvenile osprey flying over head at the Harold Holt memorial also present was a Spotted Harrier and Peregrine Falcon. Also 2x adult ospreys feeding on the point at Fort Nepean. Andrew Maltman and Keith Caldecott
Sun 14 Jul	Scarlet Robin The 100 Steps, Altona Meadows Single male Scarlet Robin at 100 Steps, at the bottom of the path up from Laverton Creek. Mel 209 A2. Seen clearly through binoculars sitting on a post. Martin Norvick
	Rose Robin Castlemaine Botanical Gardens A single male flitting about about half way along the main track between the footbridge and the playground. Gary Oliver

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