Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria Published sightings for the week ending 28 Dec 2014. Sun 28 Dec Baillon’s Crake Lake Sambell, Beechworth One sunning itself on marshy shore near caravan park, same place where the Spotted Crake performed well last month. The Baillon’s was also here on 25 Dec. Other waterbirds include White-necked Heron, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, etc. Crakes are scarce at this lake where water levels have usually been higher than at present. Richard Loyn & Debbie Tully Sat 27 Dec Painted Honeyeater Buckland Gap near Beechworth One in scattered trees in farmland, heard calling every day from 25 Dec. Richard Loyn & Debbie Tully Southern Boobook Woodlands Historic Park Perched in tree just outside back-paddock fence on the East-West firebreak. Just to the East of the sugar gum forest. First time I have observed a Boobook at Woodlands Richard Arnold Magpie Goose Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) 11 seen in T-section, along with lots of Banded Stilts still. Some White-winged terns amongst the Whiskered. At least 10 Cape Barren geese around the plant Dave Torr with Edith from California Fri 26 Dec Australian Koel Traralgon A male was heard from Kimberley Drive at 8:10am, calling intermittently for about 10 minutes. Listened for it that evening at dusk, and the following morning from 7:45 – 8:15am, but it was not heard again. Tamara Leitch Long billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop Dowitcher still present on northern shoreline, and appears to be losing color. Despite a day-long search by 5 groups of birders, the Phalarope or Plover could not be located in the couple of hundred shorebirds still present on the lake. Banded Stilts have departed. John Daniels Thu 25 Dec Eastern Koel, Gang-gang Cockatoo Hawthorn/Burnley/Toorak Arrived at my parents’ house in Hawthorn early this morning and decided to go for a run to make room for the calories that will be consumed later today. Their resident Koel was calling from his usual spot on the corner of Manningtree Road and Through Street. As I ran city-bound along the Yarra (beginning at Leonda) I heard another calling from just south of MacRob Bridge, and then another only a matter of minutes another calling from Como Park. On the way back I stopped running and walked the short-cut past Burnley Golf Course, where I heard another one calling to the north of Wallan Road. Although this is probably not four separate birds, it’s at least two, and probably three. As reported several weeks ago, there are still several Gang-gangs at Burnley, with 4-5 birds immediately north of where the Glen Waverley and Alamein/Belgrave lines diverge. I was too far away to determine sex or age, but calls were unmistakable. Seems as though not all head back to the hills after Winter. John Gray Wed 24 Dec Red-necked Phalarope, Long-billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop Very few migratory waders present early this morning. Whispered Terns and Banded Stilts also low numbers. Red-necked Phalarope eventually located at southern end of lake around 1130am (where previously reported) an earlier sighting of bird in flight with flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers at nearby Lake William was also considered likely candidate. The Long-billed Dowitcher still present -seen resting on Northern shore later in day. Scott Baker, Tim Bawden Eastern Koel (2) Little Lorikeets(3) Frankston North / Monterey Park / Mallee Street Three Little Lorikeets have been seen and heard over the last month in the area with Musk Lorikeets, whose numbers have increased over the last two months. Koel has been seen everyday since the 2nd Dec , has 3 favourite trees , one being in our backyard . As of this morning we now have two Koels calling , one from the park and one in Mallee St. calling starts around 3am , but on a positive note , saving power usage ,alarm has been disconnected and I’m starting work earlier. Colin Mulvogue Tue 23 Dec Eastern Koel Epping Heard calling a few hundred metres from Epping train station about 9am. Ian Sutherland Freckled Duck Mcleods Morass Located behind cattle sales yards in Bairnsdale. Bridge is closed but you can still crossover by walking. Take the left hand track until you come to bird hide. 20 + Frecked Ducks viewed. Paul Nugent Channel-billed Cuckoo McAlpin Reserve Heard calling from a stand of trees just south of the dam, then seen flying north. Tamara Leitch Koel Canterbury Road, Blackburn Heard calling at 6.30pm Simon Starr Red-necked Pharalope Lake Tutchewop All credit must go to Bob Hughes who located the bird amid hundreds of waders in the scope, then confirmed by Michael Sturmfels, who are both familiar with the species. My job was to photograph it so as to determine its correct ID. It was found this afternoon on the south eastern section of the lake, about 500 metres from where the pelicans roost. If you plan to search for it, be aware that it preferred to swim rather than wade, so it is most likely to be behind the waders feeding on the shoreline. The bird allowed me to approach very closely and even then did not flush! Bob Hughes, Bernie OKeefe, Michael Sturmfels and Russell Hughes Blue-faced Honeyeater Kilmore Blue-faced Honeyeater seen feeding one young in the main street of Kilmore. I first noticed the adult bird catching insects/spiders around the street lights and then feeding these to the young bird. Chris Cobern Mon 22 Dec Eastern Koel Warranwood Heard a quiet call repeated about 5 times while standing in the front yard at about 9:30pm. Only called once and quite different from the daytime loud call. No sign of it in the morning. First record for me here in 10 years. Jackson Airey Brush Bronzewing, Southern Emu-wren Wonthaggi Heathland and Coastal Reserve Half a dozen Brush Bronzewings and two groups of Emu-wrens seen/heard during the day. Marc Freestone, Tom Schmidt Oriental Plover, Long-billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop Fresh juvenile Oriental Plover with the Dowitcher, 150 m past the bird boxes on southern shore at 2 pm. Dion Hobcroft and David James Sun 21 Dec Grey Plover Cheetham Saltworks, Point Henry Banded Stilts (230), Great Crested Grebes (130) and 1 Grey Plover. Bob & Russell Hughes Eastern Koel Rhyll Heard the distinctive call of an Eastern Koel twice at 6.30am and 6.40am on Sunday 21/12/14 at Rhyll, Phillip Island. This is the first time that we have heard one call on the Island. Unfortunately had no luck sighting it. Sally & Derek Whitehead Nankeen Night Heron Stony Point 13 adult Night Herons on the mudflats south of the boat ramp. Low tide, 7pm. Stony Point is the only place I have seen Night Herons feeding on mudflats, since 2012. Chris Chandler Sat 20 Dec Common Koel Orange Grove, Bayswater Heard calling from tall tree in suburban backyard in mid morning. Amber Wallace Greenshanks and Cape Barren Geese Coast Road, French Island Friends of French Island NP (FOFI) waterbird survey. 13 Greenshanks on Tony Rowe’s wetland, Coast Road. Good numbers of other waterbirds at Coast Road wetlands, including ca120 Cape Barren Geese, over 50 Royal Spoonbills, 5 Yellow-billed Spoonbills (uncommon on French Island), 300 teal, etc. Count data submitted to Biodiversity Atlas. Chris Chandler Freckled Duck Heifer Swamp (northern end) Waterbird survey with Friends of French Island NP (FOFI). Very few ducks seen at Heifer Swamp but we were amazed to see 9 Freckled Ducks fly out from among reeds on the north-western shore. Two of this species seen at Linley’s Swamp on 20 September were the first recorded from French Island since 1940s! Chris Chandler