The Babbler - BirdLife€¦ · and Grey Falcons, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, White-winged...
Transcript of The Babbler - BirdLife€¦ · and Grey Falcons, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, White-winged...
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The Babbler
Number 46 March 2018
Occasional newsletter of Birdlife Australia Murray Goulburn Branch
Birdlife Murray Goulburn
President: Pat Feehan
Ph 0437 354088 Email: [email protected]
Secretary: Denise Feehan
Ph 0484 195696 Email: [email protected]
A big welcome to our new Birdlife Murray Goulburn
president Pat Feehan and secretary Denise Feehan,
who were unanimously voted to these positions at our
branch AGM in March 2018. We wish them both well,
and look forward to supporting them as they co-
ordinate the activities Birdlife Murray Goulburn.
Our retiring president Mike Kerr and secretary Val La
May have done a wonderful job over the last (nearly)
seven years. Our membership is growing and in recent
times our monthly outings have been attracting from
20 to 30 members. Heartfelt thanks to both of you.
Forthcoming activities for 2018
Sat 21 April 2018 9am. Euroa district. Meet in
Kirkland Ave, Euroa for a visit to private property, and
to Gooram Falls. Leader Judith Durston
Wed 2 May 2018 8.45am for a 9am start. Winton
Wetlands quarterly bird survey.
Sat 19 May 2018 10am. Killawarra Forest, Warby
Ovens National Park. Note later start time for our
winter activities.
Sat 16 June 2018 10am. Kinnairds Swamp,
Numurkah.
The full program was distributed to members in
November 2017, and is on the BLMG Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/birdlifemg/
Queries about our website and Facebook pages can be
emailed to Graham Boast [email protected]
BIRDING BY BICYCLE - BROOME TO PERTH
The following article was written by Len and Rae
Jeffers, who have joined our branch after moving to
Benalla from Merbein, where they were active
members of Birdlife Sunraysia. The Jeffers have done a
number of long distance cycling trips. This one was
completed in 2005. The 2500km from Broome to Perth
took them 35 days. Amazing.
The title is not really accurate. We didn’t go looking
for birds. They found us or we spotted them in
passing, as the main aim of the trip was to ride from
Broome to Perth. Seeing the birds was an added
bonus.
We arrived in Broome by plane on 7th August. It took
Len four hours to put our bikes together at the
Caravan Park, so then we went to explore Broome.
Laurie Jones, a Mildura Birdo, had told us where to see
Red-headed Honeyeaters, but despite looking we didn’t
find them - however we did see Brahminy Kites
wheeling over the mangroves as people tried to catch
little crabs.
The 9th
August we set off. Turning South from
Roebuck Roadhouse into the Great Sandy Desert we
were struck by the greenery and the numbers of birds.
The main birds we saw were Rufous Whistlers,
Mistletoe Birds, Rainbow Birds and large green parrots
Contents 1. New BLMG President and Secretary
1-4. Birding by bicycle – Broome to Perth
4-5. Puffins in Iceland
5-7 . Meet a member. Kathy Costello
7-8. Bird breeding events in our region
8-10 Reports of outings
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/birdlifemg/mailto:[email protected]
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with red wings. Not having a bird guide we asked
people at the bush camp that evening what bird it was.
The only response we got was “I think it’s a parrot”!!!
Road into Barn Hill Station
At Barn Hill Station the next night, after seeing many
more of the parrots, a more knowledgeable person was
able to tell us Red-winged Parrot. Apparently the
much drier interior had brought them closer to the
greener coast where there had been good unseasonal
rain.
Leaving Barn Hill on the coast, we saw a flock of
Budgerigars plus 5 dead on the road - a sad sight.
Later that day a flock of about 30 Red-tailed Black
Cockatoos flew over us and we saw Yellow-throated
Miners at Bush Camp Stanley. Past Bush Camp
Stanley the landscape changed from trees and shrubs
to very low acacia. Many small reddish kangaroos
were dead along the road, and consequently we saw a
couple of Wedge-tailed Eagles. We also saw Brown
and Grey Falcons, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, White-
winged Fairy-wrens, Pipits and finches we couldn’t
identify - lots of finches.
South of Sandfire Roadhouse there were few trees but
many different low bushes and plants, some in flower.
Birds were everywhere - birds such as Brown and
Rufous Songlarks and Black-faced Woodswallows.
We’d reached the 80 Mile Beach and so had a rest day
the next day. We were able to watch several Pied
Oystercatchers in the shallow water and Pied
Butcherbirds in the caravan park.
We set off for the Pardoo Roadhouse the next day and,
with a lovely tail wind, could appreciate the Little
Woodswallows, Black Kites, and Corellas we saw on
the way.
From Pardoo Roadhouse we crossed the Pardoo River,
which had red water and ghost gums. We continued
to De Grey River, which was a beautiful, wide stretch
of water. The Blue-winged Kookaburras arrived at
dusk and really amused us with their strange sounds.
De Grey River
Next morning, we left in fog for South Headland,
where we replenished our supplies, the next stop being
Yule River. We were fortunate to see two Letter-
winged Kites on our way. At the river itself were
Australasian Grebe, Black-winged Stilts, Eurasian Coot,
Fairy Martins and a Red-backed Kingfisher. The best
part of our stay at Yule River was the sound of Bush
Stone-curlews in the evening - a sound we hadn’t
heard since childhood in the Goulburn Valley.
Riding from Yule River to Whim Creek we heard many
Crested Bellbirds, saw Spinifex Pigeons and the first
Sturt Desert Peas. Len eagerly photographed the peas
not realizing that they were going to be with us for the
next few hundred kilometres!
Camp at Yule River
While we lunched on the side of the road we watched
two Banded Lapwings giving any Kite that came near a
very bad time, sending them off.
From Whim Creek to Roebourne we were flying along,
surrounded by purple hills, acres of red Sturt Desert
Pea, green grass, green spinifex, slopes of mauve
Mulla Mulla and purple wildflowers - so colourful and
with a great tail wind. It was cycling heaven!
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Mulla Mulla
Two days later we were treated to a smorgasbord of
wildflowers riding from Karratha to Fortescue River.
We crossed many creeks and rivers and came across
two magnificent Brolgas, moving so gracefully a short
distance from the road. We stopped and watched for
some time.
The following day an Australian Bustard took to the air
and flew over us taking our minds off the hill we were
climbing. A Pacific Heron was wading on the edge of
Robe River when we arrived and the surrounding
bushes were full of Zebra Finches.
Riding from Robe River to Cane River there were
wildflowers everywhere, and undulating hills
punctuated by creeks and rivers. A flock of Cockatiels
and a similar number of Budgerigars flew across our
path. While lunching among some bushes on the side
of the road (we found any shade and protection from
the wind we could) we finally identified Painted
Finches.
As we neared Yannarie Roadhouse familiar Yellow-
rumped Thornbills, Red-capped Robins, and White-
winged Trillers were noted, as well as the first magpie
since the start of the ride. It was a white-backed
Magpie. In the evening, as we relaxed by the river
pool, Black-fronted Dotterels were wading and Port
Lincoln Parrots were in the trees around us.
Getting a bit remote
Two days later at Lyndon River, we awoke to birdsong
and were serenaded the whole day with hundreds of
the same birdsongs. The song was a chiming four
note descending call. It was very musical with so
many calling at once. We couldn’t locate one of the
birds with the binoculars because they always stopped
calling as we neared. Finally, we saw one calling, and
saw its crest, so positively identified the Chiming
Wedgebill. Shortly after we came across an Emu, a
silly bird! Instead of taking off in the opposite
direction it kept running just ahead of us. It kept
going for a few kilometres until it finally tired and
stopped.
Roadside wildflowers
We were now into sandhill country, crossing line after
line of sandhills. There were many flowering bushes
and paper daisies. It was along here, approaching
Carnarvon, that we saw a Black-shouldered Kite and a
kindly caravanner stopped us and gave us each a
deliciously cold can of soft drink.
Riding from Carnarvon there were masses of bright
pink, pale pink, purple, white, and yellow flowers with
a delightful perfume in the air. A Stubble Quail took
off from the roadside, but it quickly disappeared again.
Rufous Songlarks joined the chorus of the Chiming
Wedgebills. We also saw some Black-tailed Native
Hens before we camped at a roadside stop where,
incidentally, the flies drove us crazy.
The scenery changed approaching Wooramel
Roadhouse. There were no significant bushes or trees,
just low shrubs. The wind was merciless. We did see
White-browed Babblers and Whistling Kites however.
As we rode towards Billabong Roadhouse we travelled
through Mallee trees, acacias, and wildflowers. The
wattles were blooming, and we found it very attractive
being among our familiar Mallee trees. We heard and
saw Striated Pardalotes.
Heading towards Murchison River, we saw a Scarlet
Robin, which, on checking our bird guide after arriving
home, we found was very close to the Northern limit of
its range. A huge flock of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos
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were around a dam by the side of the road. With them
were two Carnaby Cockatoos. It was just past this
point that the red sand, that had been with us since
Broome, changed to yellow. With the change of soil so
the flora changed. We were on the eastern edge of
the Kalbarri National Park. Banksias, grevilleas, and
eremophilas were the main flora. When we paused for
a drink and some respite from our bike seats, we saw
two Elegant Parrots resting in a tree just 50 metres
from us. We had plenty of time to study and enjoy
them with the binoculars.
The Murchison River was a very popular camping spot.
There were 33 caravans that stopped for the night. It
is a lovely wide river, but unfortunately the water is
quite saline as Len discovered when he made a cup of
tea. It was undrinkable! Brown Honeyeaters abounded
among the river oaks, gums, acacias and cassias that
edged the river. We saw a Grey Butcherbird too. Next
morning we saw another Scarlet Robin and many
wrens but no males in breeding plumage.
Gets a bit windy near Greenough
We had a rest day in Geraldton, and then continued to
Port Denison. Banksias, acacias, and Geraldton wax
lined the roadside. We saw over 30 Carnaby
Cockatoos on the banksias and saw more the next day,
as well as New Holland Honeyeaters and Red
Wattlebirds. The brilliant blue of Leschenaultia was
scattered amongst the Geraldton wax.
While relaxing outside our cabin at Reagans Ford
Caravan Park, we were thrilled to see a beautiful little
bird come right up near us. It was a male Splendid
Wren. He had fluttered across the road from a
bushland reserve and he was so close we didn’t need
our binoculars. After hearing wrens most of the trip,
and seeing plenty of females and juveniles, it was
satisfying to see a male in full colour.
As we neared Gin Gin, only 56km from Perth, we were
in taller trees and along the roadsides we came across
kangaroo paws - brilliant red and green ones. The Gin
Gin cemetery was covered in them. It was here that
we saw Crimson Rosella and a Pallid Cuckoo as well as
Port Lincoln Parrots, Red-tailed Black Cockatoos and
New Holland Honeyeaters. The next day as we left Gin
Gin for Perth, we were farewelled by magpies attacking
us!
Chance meeting with Bill and Marj Wood from Benalla
We rode 2,500km from Broome to Perth. In all we
recorded 60 special species of birds of which 6 were
firsts - the Red-winged Parrot, Spinifex Pigeon,
Chiming Wedgebill, Banded Lapwing, Little
Woodswallow, and Elegant Parrot. There were of
course, some other obvious birds extra to this list such
as the Willy Wagtail and Little Crows. We saw plenty
of them but we didn’t record them. We only noted the
“special” ones each day as we came across them. As
well, there were many other birds which we saw so
briefly that we didn’t have a chance to get a good look
to identify them - especially the “little brown birds”.
The next cycle trip we made sure to carry a bird guide
despite the extra weight!
PUFFINS IN ICELAND
by Ann Kerr
In July 2017 Mike and I visited Scotland, Iceland and
Poland, travelling with another couple who are not bird
watchers, so it was not a bird watching focused trip.
However, one of our goals in Scotland or Iceland was
to see our first Puffins, the local species being the
Atlantic Puffin. Because of their amazing beaks,
Atlantic Puffins are also called the “sea parrot” or
“clowns of the sea”.
In Scotland we were fairly unsuccessful, seeing only
very distant, hazy, foggy or drizzly views of flying or
floating birds from coastal cliffs or from the ferry to the
Orkney Islands and we didn’t have the opportunity to
visit other more suitable areas.
Luckily in Iceland it turned out to be quite easy in the
right locations. We had our first sighting at Dyrhólaey,
the southernmost tip of the Icelandic mainland, as the
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March 2018 5
birds returned to their nest burrows on the cliffs above
the distinctive black beaches and others floated in rafts
just off the beach. This is a popular tourist spot for its
spectacular and dramatic coastal scenery but the
puffins were not shy and seemed quite unperturbed by
the many onlookers taking photos. So we had ticked
Atlantic Puffins off our wish list, but the experience
also made us want more.
Later, near the lovely little village of Bakkagerdi on the
Borgarfjördur Eystri in the East Fjords, we really hit
the jackpot. Here viewing platforms on a grassy cliff
behind the beautiful harbour gave excellent close-up
views of 100+ birds.
View of Puffin observation deck at Bakkagerd. Photo Ann
Kerr
Atlantic Puffin. Photo Ann Kerr
In glorious sunshine we watched and photographed
the Puffins coming and going or sunning themselves
and juveniles squabbling like naughty children. Even
our non-birdo travelling companions were impressed.
It was a wonderful and fulfilling experience.
Puffins near their nesting burrows. Photo Ann Kerr
MEET A MEMBER – Kathy Costello
by Lorna Ward
On a sunny day early in October 2017 I had the
pleasure of spending the afternoon with Kathy
Costello, our editor of The Babbler, out at Reef Hills
State Park near Benalla. A chorus of bird song greeted
us as we settled on our chairs, me with a notebook
and Kathy with the ever-present binoculars. I was
keen to learn about Kathy’s deep interest in birds. I
must say this was punctuated with Kathy’s
spontaneous comments such as, “That’s a Rainbow
Bee eater’s call. Where is he?” or “I can hear a
Painted Honeyeater, no, two. One is perched there.
Oh, there they go. Did you see them?” It was all very
exciting for a beginner birdo like me.
As a child Kathy took a passing interest in birds and
other wildlife, and especially enjoyed reading the
series of books written by Gerald Durrell on his travels
as an animal collector to different parts of the world.
Family visits to relatives on a farm in Western Victoria,
and having a brother who was interested in native
birds were also influential.
Later, in 1979, Kathy was reading The Age Weekend
Guide and decided to join a Bird Observers’ Club visit
to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. She joined
the club and started attending outings and eventually
camping trips run by the club, often on farms owned
by club members. Bird camps increased her interest in
identifying birds, learning their calls and her
enjoyment of being out in the country. This finally led
to Kathy’s decision to leave Melbourne and to live in
rural Victoria, and she was successful in obtaining
employment as a librarian at Dookie Agricultural
College.
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Her Dookie College home provided her with a great
bird learning experience. She saw her first Square-
tailed Kite in the Dookie Bushland Reserve there, an
uncommon raptor in Victoria. Mt Major, at the college,
was a spot where Kathy saw a Wedge-tailed Eagle fly
past below her. She saw Nankeen Kestrels and
Australian Hobbies perched up on the TV towers there.
On another occasion, when in the bush reserve at
Dookie, she watched a Brown Goshawk make a
ferocious diving attack into a small bush three metres
away, trying to catch a small bird that had fled there.
She was not sure of the outcome as the goshawk flew
off with its back to her but the speed and ferocity of
the attack amazed her. Kathy has continued to have a
special interest in raptors, and when driving with her
to the quarterly Winton Wetlands Bird Survey she is
always the first to see a raptor, I might add, even
while driving!
On the weekend she moved to Dookie College in 1992,
Kathy attended an outing of the Murray-Goulburn
BOCA group at Dargile Forest, and has been an active
member of the branch (now called BirdLife Murray
Goulburn) ever since. An outing was organised to the
Bushland Reserve at Dookie College in those early
days and soon Kathy was a committee member
supporting the group’s activities. 1995 was a special
year for bird sightings in the reserve, although she
didn’t realise it at the time. In April 1995 there was a
massive flowering of Grey Box which attracted birds
from far and wide. She saw flocks of Swift Parrots,
Little Friarbirds, Fuscous and White-naped
Honeyeaters and smaller numbers of Noisy Friarbirds,
Yellow-faced, Black-chinned and Yellow-tufted
Honeyeaters. Usually the reserve is dominated by the
resident White-plumed Honeyeaters. On 30 April 1995
she recorded a male Gilbert’s Whistler there, a rare
bird in north east Victoria. In September that year
there were flocks of Budgerigar and Cockatiels in the
reserve, both unusual visitors.
As an aside regarding hearing bird-calls, Kathy shared
her thoughts on learning bird-calls. She commented
that friends might ask her what was the bird they
could hear, and she began to take a lot of interest in
each call, eventually through repetition and
reinforcement, to being able to identify many of the
calls of birds found in the area. She commented on
other club members who have a wonderful ear for bird
calls and postulated that perhaps having a musical ear
might help in learning bird calls.
In 1995 Kathy became the inaugural editor of The
Babbler, and has remained in this position ever since.
The first edition was in black and white and was two
pages long! The newsletter started as a way of
communicating with members in addition to the annual
mail out of a one page list of branch activities for the
coming year. What changes we have seen both in the
delivery and in the production of newsletters with the
now wonderful colour photos of special birds by many
members, embellishing the articles being written.
Members now receive The Babbler by email and it is
also posted on Birdlife Murray Goulburn’s Facebook
page. It was never intended as a historic record of the
branch, but after 23 years it does fulfil that function.
There have been numerous references made to
previous editions when researching details of people,
birds and places.
Photo Lorna Ward
Kathy remains an avid camper and has many
memories of camps over the years. A memorable
Murray Goulburn branch weekend camp at Terrick
Terrick National Park in October 1999 was special
because she and others saw Black Honeyeaters. One
of the members, Roger Standen, a patient birder,
found a pair nesting. Other highlights were Gilbert’s
Whistler near the camp, a Spotted Harrier nesting,
communal nests of Diamond Firetails, a small flock of
Cockatiels, a Black-eared Cuckoo near the camp and
the campers found the first group of Chestnut-crowned
Babblers recorded in the park. This information,
incidentally, was recorded in Babbler No.8, Nov. 1999.
And so, the listening and sightings went on…Buff-
rumped Thornbills, a Yellow Thornbill, 2 Western
Gerygones, 4 Rufous Whistlers, 2 Grey Fantails, 2
Leaden Flycatchers and an Eastern Yellow Robin. Over
2 hours and 15 minutes 28 species were seen or
heard. It was a wonderful experience made all the
more interesting by Kathy’s conversation in between.
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She is such a passionate birdo with a sensitive interest
in nature, finding the peace of the bush relaxing, and
enjoying the beauty of the tiny orchids, bush plants
and our Australian trees.
Kathy’s advice to beginner birders is to note each new
bird you see or hear as soon as you join a bird group
or as soon as you begin to take an interest in bird
watching, recording the date, where and when. If your
interest develops, you will then have the data for a life
bird list. Club stalwart Don Roberts has 50 years of
bird records. Kathy didn’t make any consistent records
of her early sightings and now regrets it. She also
advises to purchase the best binoculars you can afford
as they are invaluable in your learning. And, like Don
Roberts, to purchase a current Field Guide, whether
printed or electronic. Kathy finished by saying that, in
her opinion, learning from other birdos is the most
enjoyable part of being a birder. It is the social aspect
of her birding that is truly rewarding. For those of us
who tag after her, and our other experienced birders,
at club outings I am sure we agree. It is truly
rewarding.
BIRD BREEDING EVENTS IN OUR REGION
Buff-banded Rails at Gemmill’s Swamp,
Mooroopna
Long-time BLMG member Don Roberts has been
recording birds at Gemmill’s Swamp for the past 50
years. Heavy rain from the Strathbogie Ranges in
December 2017 caused an overland flood to the west,
with some of that water eventually filling Gemmill’s
Swamp. This made conditions for waterbird breeding
very good early in 2018.
Don found at least 4 pairs of Buff-banded Rails at
Gemmill’s over summer. His best sighting was of 2
adult birds with an unusually large brood of 8 small
black chicks walking around the edge of the water on
23 January 2018. He also recorded another pair of
Buff-banded Rails with 4 chicks. On 1 February he saw
3 adults and 5 juveniles, possibly from 2 groups, and
his last sighting was on 9 February 2018, by which
time the water in the swamp was receding rapidly. Don
has only ever seen rails at Gemmill’s when there has
been water in the swamp, so they are birds that
sometimes need to cover large distances.
The Sacred Kingfisher in our garden
Pat Feehan
Juvenile Sacred Kingfisher. Photo Pat Feehan
I took this shot when the bird was sitting on our
clothes line. I was pretty happy with the way the photo
turned out - the camera (Canon SX60) seems to be a
bit hit and miss (probably due to the operator’s lack of
skill).
We live about one kilometre from the Goulburn River
and a Sacred Kingfisher is not a bird I would have
expected to see in a suburban back yard, although we
have had some interesting visitors this year (e.g.
Scarlet Honeyeater). At the moment the birds are
dominated by Common Mynahs, House Sparrows and
Crested Pigeons (plus the Corellas in the park over the
road).
This is the first time we've seen a Sacred Kingfisher in
our backyard (it could be that we had never seen one
before!). It was on its own and seemed to be feeding
on dragonflies.
We saw it for 4 or 5 days running, but when Val was
here for lunch it turned on a pretty good show sitting on
the clothesline, the pool fence and on the ground. Val
thought it was juvenile bird, confirmed by a look at our
Australian Bird Guide.
I did see it once on a Eucalypt in our front yard, but it
mostly showed up in the backyard for brief visits
around 8 am or about 5 pm. We haven't seen it for a
few days so I assume it has moved on. I listed it a
couple of times in eBird.
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Masked Lapwing breeding in central
Seymour
Val La May
Last year, at least two pairs of Masked Lapwings raised
their young inside fenced-off vacant blocks in central
Seymour. A smart choice for a breeding site, as the
young birds were protected from dogs, foxes and
people. Cats would have been able to climb the chain-
link fence enclosure; but perhaps the adults could see
a cat off.
The first pair raised at least 2 chicks in a block on Oak
Street. I first spotted the adults with 3 small chicks on
the 20 September. By mid-October there were 2
nearly full-grown young with the adults. The second
pair had 4 small chicks in a vacant block next to
Burtons Store on ANZAC Avenue. I first noticed this
family on the 3 November. By 28 November there
were 3 nearly full-grown young with the pair of adults.
I assume it was two pairs of Lapwings, i.e. one pair
nesting at each site. If it was only one pair, they were
very prolific, producing offspring by October and then
another batch in November. The woman who runs the
pet shop next to the vacant block in ANZAC Avenue
said Lapwings have produced young there for several
years. The only drawback, as far as she was
concerned, was that she had to ensure that the block
wasn’t mown until the young birds were big enough to
get away from the mower.
Young birds in my garden
Kathy Costello
I’ve learnt quite a lot watching birds coming to bird
baths in my garden over the years. For example, it has
been a great way to learn how to identify Brown,
Yellow and Striated Thornbills. Late in 2017 I noticed a
Crested Pigeon resting for several days in the shade
under a shrub near the bird bath. Not an unusual sight
around my place, but when I saw another Crested
Pigeon arrive and start feeding this bird, I suddenly
registered it was a juvenile. Then I had a proper look,
and checked my field guide. The young bird lacked
iridescent markings in its wings, lacked a white edge to
the tail and had plainer brown plumage than the adult.
Always something new to learn, even with common
garden birds.
Other young birds I’ve seen over the summer.
A family group of Brown-headed Honeyeaters coming
in for a drink, at least 2 of them juvenile birds with
duller markings than the adults and yellow bills. They
are uncommon visitors to my garden. Two adult Willie
Wagtails and two juveniles, with a brown tinge to their
plumage and a fainter white eyebrow. Several groups
of Red-browed Finches, including a number of
juveniles. They have a red rump like the adults, but
the bill is black, not red, and they lack the red eyebrow
of the adult birds.
One day I watched a procession of Superb Fairy-wrens
hopping across my patio – one brown adult, followed
by one short-tailed begging youngster and another
brown adult. A minute later an adult blue male, then 2
begging short-tailed youngsters and finally a brown
adult. I was so pleased they’d bred successfully, as I
think I’d disturbed a breeding pair in the garden a few
weeks earlier. I’d been weeding some long grass in a
shrubby part of the garden, prior to watering the
shrubs, and the male wren perched near me,
chattering loudly. A week later I found an empty nest.
Oh dear. But they are remarkably resilient little birds,
despite their tiny size.
REPORTS OF OUTINGS
Victoria Park Lake, Shepparton
Saturday 9 December 2017
Little Pied Cormorant. Photo Catarina Gregson
Well, our planned outing to Gemmill's Swamp
underwent several plan changes on Saturday and not
all the changes were due to elevated water levels.....
Water levels were high, which necessitated a convoy
relocation to the eastern, forested side of the swamp.
However, there was really only one location in the
forested area where we could fit our largish convoy but
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the site was already occupied by a lone "fisherman".
We soon realised that this individual was experiencing
some sort of psychotic episode and wished to vent his
anger on us, meaning that the vehicles could not be
left there either. Consequently, a further relocation
was made, this time to Victoria Park Lake in
Shepparton, where we were at last able to enjoy the
marvellous weather in relative peace and quiet -
whew!
We birded the quiet side of the lake until lunchtime
and then did a short stroll westward to the Goulburn
River/Broken River junction after enjoying lunch on the
lawn below the red gums - a relaxing way to spend the
day after our harrowing start. Separate lists have been
generated for the pre and post lunchtime sessions and
this month my better half, Annie, did the eBird data
entry work.
Nothing startling to report but of note was the large
number (at least 40) of Reed Warblers to be seen
around the boatshed end of the lake. We even
witnessed them feeding on insects on the lawn and in
the red gums. It is always pleasing to see new season
family groups and many young birds were seen with
their parents, including Purple Swamphens, Dusky
Moorhens and Wood Ducks.
Dusky Moorhen family. Photo Catarina Gregson
Tawny Frogmouth family. Photo Catarina Gregson
I know that a highlight for many was the three Tawny
Frogmouths spotted not 1 metre off the ground in the
forest by our sharp-eyed leader, Don Roberts.
Thanks Don for another great day of birding.
by Mike Kerr
Cussen Park, Tatura
Saturday 17 February 2018
Twenty two people attended our outing at Cussen
Park, Tatura. We birded around the wetland in the
morning, then held our Annual General Meeting during
lunch in the rotunda.
The wetlands had plenty of water, in contrast to many
of the other wetlands in the region, which seem to be
dry or close to dry.
Some highlights:
the flying fox colony and an impromptu lecture
from local batologist Terry Court
homemade cakes provided by Ann and Kathy J
award winning vanilla slices from the Tatura
Bakery (thanks Kathy C and Lorna)
Lorna, Judith, Val, Rae and Henry at Cussen Park. Photo Pat
Feehan
Amongst the bird highlights were:
glimpses of raptors
several Latham’s Snipe along the edge of the
wetland
good views of several Spotless Crakes
-
The Babbler
10 The Babbler
Juvenile Spotless Crake at Cussen Park. Photo Marg Clarke
Two juvenile White-breasted Woodswallows with adult. Photo
Marg Clarke
Other birds of interest were several Black-winged Stilt,
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Darter and good numbers of
Red-rumped Parrots.
We saw a total of 49 bird species, and one large Tiger
Snake (at a safe distance).
by Pat Feehan
Nankeen Night-heron. Photo Pat Feehan
Office Bearers elected for 2018
President - Pat Feehan
Secretary – Denise Feehan
Treasurer – Judith Durston
Committee - Karen Balfour, Lorna Ward, Kathy
Costello, Debbie Hill, Mike Kerr, Val La May
Web master - Graham Boast
Conservation officer - Don Roberts
Newsletter – Kathy Costello
Once again, many thanks to our generous
contributors to this newsletter.
Kathy Costello,
Editor