Birds Australia’s regular monthly count at Melbourne Water’s Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP) near Carrum, SE of Melbourne on Sunday 23 October produced 77 bird species 46 of which were wetland dependant. The exodus from central Australia began some months ago but is now accelerating. Migrant waders, many of which stopped on the inland floods last year are not pausing in such numbers this year. Highlights of this count were 7 FRECKLED DUCK, 1300 Grey Teal, 185 Pink-eared Duck, 7 GREAT CRESTED GREBE, 80 Australasian Grebe (down from >300), 180 Hoary-headed Grebe, 160 Australian Pelican, 4 White-necked Heron, 8 Great Egret, 5 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 6 GLOSSY IBIS, 5 Royal Spoonbill, 8 Yellow-billed Spoonbill, 2 Buff-banded Rail, 6 Australian Spotted Crake, 1 Black-tailed Native-hen, 5600 Eurasian Coot, 3 AUSTRALIAN PAINTED SNIPE, 41 LATHAM’S SNIPE, 4 Common Sandpiper, 410 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 120 Black-winged Stilt, 39 Red-necked Avocet, 9 Red-kneed Dotterel and 35 Whiskered Tern. And on 24 October, an AUSTRALIAN LITTLE BITTERN was calling at the nearby Edithvale Wetlands. Unfortunately, access to both sites is restricted as the hide at Edithvale is yet to reopen although the wetland can be viewed from external elevated platforms. Alison Kuiter has a gallery of bird photographs taken at the ETP on the web site below. The last ~20 shots are from Sunday’s survey. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1263672552387.2035940.1246929841&type=1&l=0043bafc80
Mike Carter 30 Canadian Bay Road Mount Eliza VIC 3930 Tel (03) 9787 7136
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Following on from Mike’s observation of the waterbird influx from inland into southern Vic, there may also be a mini irruption of Sacred Kingfisher.
Despite being a reasonably common bird in Melbourne over summer, there definitely seems to be many more of them than usual. Over the last week I have heard SK at suburban Wattle Park in Melbourne’s mid east (I have never recorded them here in 10 years), as well as seeing several at Karkarook Park in Moorabin on Sunday. This is on top of 3 extra sightings in different Melbourne suburbs on Birdline just over the last 3 days.
Could be an interesting summer in Vic
Cheers, Greg
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