Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria Published sightings for the week ending 2 Nov 2014. Fri 31 Oct Banded Stilt Lake Corangamite eastern shoreline, Baynes Rd at southern end Numerous large flocks of Banded Stilts, estimated to be many hundreds & possibly 1000+ individuals sheltering behind rocky islets from strong winds in warm weather. Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Black Swan, Shelduck also present. Kaye Trainor & Martin O’Brien Swift Parrot Sheoak Crt Ocean Grove One Swiftie roosted this evening in large gum,at 12 Sheoak CRT. Denis Sleep Alexandrine Parakeet Park Street, Carlton North One Alexandrine Parakeet (obviously an escapee) seen flying and feeding on eucalypt blossoms by the bike path on Park Street, between Lygon and Nicholson Streets, Carlton North. Very distinctive in flight as it is larger than any native parrot in Melbourne with a very long tail. Harry Saddler Swift Parrots Manrico Crt Sunbury Three birds first heard and then sighted flying between flowering Yellow Gums at the bottom of the court. Other parrots present include Purple-crowned Lorrikeet and Musk Lorrikeet. This is about the latest date I see them at this location. Gerard O’Neill Thu 30 Oct 2Wood Sandpiper, 8Glossy Ibis, 2Brolga, adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle Hirds Swamp Water levels very low, but top up water due to be delivered. 2 Wood Sandpipers amongst big numbers of Red-kneed Dotterel, also plenty of Sharpies. simon starr Eastern Koel California Gully Heard call of Eastern Koel in the evening and through the night and again on Friday morning. Marion Roberts Purple-crowned Lorikeet Banyule Flats Reserve 3 birds flying over near the playground. Noticed the red underwings and thin, high pitched screeching. Quite a few Ironbarks in full flower, and lots of Musk and Rainbow Lorikeets as well. Owen Lishmund Leaden Flycatcher Earlston Adult male heard calling and seen this morning in garden. only the 4th record in 20 years’ observation here Doug Robinson Female Hardhead Duck Emily’s Pond First Hardhead Duck I’ve seen in Emily’s Pond , Lake Victoria. Due to works pond is very low and non appealing with few birds but low and behold .. a lone Hardhead Lachlan Manley Australasian Bittern Eastern Freeway Was astonished to watch as an Australasian Bittern flew only about 50 metres above the traffic jam on the eastern directly after exiting the Mullum Mullum Tunnel. Observed for about 20 seconds as it flew overhead, but couldn’t really believe what I was watching. Seen approx 7.30am James Mustafa, Clancye Milne Wed 29 Oct Terek Sandpiper (1), Sanderling (4), Black Rock Reserve, Barwon Heads At least 4 Sanderling observed yesterday along beach whilst searching for Terek Sandpiper. Terek was successfully located, no longer with PGP’s but had moved to a large wader flock a few hundred metres down the beach along the sand. It was very difficult to locate because the wader flock numbered a few thousand birds of which 90% were Red-necked Stints. Also Ruddy Turnstone, Curlew Sandpipers and a probable Whimbrel seen briefly. Terek Sandpiper became bird 378 on 2014 VicTwitch. James Mustafa, Clancye Milne Terek Sandpiper Black Rock Reserve, Barwon Heads Together with Pacific Golden Plovers on rocks along the beach about 300 m east of Blackrock Rd. Svante Martinsson Gull-billed Tern (race affinis) Stockyard Pt. One race affinis Gull-billed was present with around 50 race macrotarsa Gull-billed Terns at the point at high tide. At least 30 Banded Stilts were also present at the point for the first time this year and 1 Lewin’s Rail was calling consistently from the swampy grassland near the point. Tim Nickholds Mon 27 Oct Top-knot Pigeon, Australian Figbirds and Beach Stone-Curlew Mallacoota Six Top-knot Pigeons perched in eucalypts along the walking track at Gypsy Point. 25/10/2014 six Australian Figbirds near Foodlands Supermarket Mallacoota. 29/10 a single Beach Stone Curlew in saltmarsh habitat along Lakeview Drive Mallacoota. Rob Farnes Sat 25 Oct Lathams Snipe Melton Botanic Garden Two Lathams Snipe flushed from long grass in Ryans Creek, in Melton Botanic Garden, on bird walk. Seen & identified by by Geraldine Kelly & John Bentley (friends of Melton Botanic Garden) during Bird Week in Melton, & identified by bird expert Birgitta Hansen. Daryl Akers (observer Geraldine Kelly)