Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria Published sightings for the week ending 4 Jan 2015. Sun 4 Jan Eastern Curlew, Banded Lapwing Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) Eastern Curlew seen Western Lagoons and Banded Lapwings seen in Paddocks opposite Avalon Airport on Beach Road. Corrie & Ian Macartney Red-necked Avocet Fishers Wetland (Newhaven) One lone Red-necked Avocet resting amongst the resident Aust Shovellers and Black Swans. It is the first time we have seen an Avocet at Fishers Wetland. Sally & Derek Whitehead Sat 3 Jan Long Billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop Seen at southern end surrounded by Sharp Tailed Sandpipers and other waders. Did not flush. Nick, Tom, Alex, Robyn and Duncan Goode Fri 2 Jan Many waders (several 1000), Terns, Plume Whistle Ducks etc. Winton Wetlands The main swamp is drying but going out with a bang with 1000s stilts, sandpipers, Whiskered Terns, swans, Glossy Ibis etc. etc. It literally will be dry within days – so hurry – superb photographic opportunities. To access go to boat ramp and walk directly south for 1-2 kms towards the maroon area (Red Milfoil) and enjoy. Need water bottle, hat, old runners and binos, spotting scope, camera Ian Davidson Thu 1 Jan Speckled Warbler, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Mistletoebird and White-throated Gerygone You Yangs Regional Park Speckled Warbler, Mistletoebird and Buff-rumped Thornbill all seen at the junction of the asphalt road leading from rangers station and the great circuit loop track, pulled over and all birds were seen just on side of road. We tracked down the White-throated Gerygone on Branding Yards track where was last seen, calling beautifully Philip Peel, Tim Nickholds and Andrew Allen Black-chinned Honeyeater (2) , Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (1), Pjnk-eared Duck (1) Serendip Sanctuary Black-chinned and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater were near the observation tower just before north arm dam, also at the dam 1 lone Pink-eared Duck, also of note on dam was a lone Red-kneed Dotterel 3 Black-tailed Native-hens and at least 700 Magpie Geese Philip Peel, Tim Nickholds and Andrew Allen Spotless Crake (1) Grey Plover (2) Banded Plover (10) Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) Spotless Crake in pond just inside gate 4 near boat ramp on Beach Rd, easily observed with 2 Spotted Crake. 2 Grey Plovers and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits on the Spit and Banded Lapwings were in usual spot along Beach Rd heading towards Avalon. Philip Peel and Andrew Allen White-winged Triller (2), Red-capped Robin (3) Woodlands Historic Park Early morning start, 54 species but definitely highlight being male and female white-winged triller and 3 robins chasing each other around near sugar gum plantation Philip Peel and Andrew Allen Black Falcon and Australian Hobby Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) One female harassing a large flock of Shelduck resting in the paddock adjoining Avalon (Beach Rd. east of Avalon Airfield). Also one Australian Hobby plucking a small bird while perched in a dead tree near the Little River ford. Julian Lea-Wood and Tom Fletcher Eastern Osprey Hume Hwy near Wodonga Eastern Osprey seen flying over lagoon off side of Hwy between Wodonga and Albury but on the Wodonga side just! Very surprised to see it there so far inland…. but there was no mistaking it! It was low, close and in good light! Moderators note: no photos available for 100 % confirmation. Posted for others to follow up. Chris Steeles Freckled Duck, Pectoral Sandpiper Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) Two Freckled Ducks on the “box” in the pond 24 (south-east of Lake Borrie); single Pectoral Sandpiper in the first lagoon north of boat ramp. Mark Stanley, Annette Hatten Cape Barren Geese Baxter -Mornington Peninsula Freeway north of Eramosa Road West We were driving southwards down the Freeway at 11.30 this morning and I noticed eight, maybe 9, Cape Barren Geese in a short-grass paddock beside the Freeway. Paddock probably cut for hay – lots of horses and hay rolls around. As I asked “Where are we?” Eramosa Road West appeared. Melway says the site is in Baxter. Anthea Fleming Lewin’s Rail, Spotted Crake, Spotless Crake Truganina Swamp, Altona About 8am, immature Lewin’s Rail seen close to the fence beside the path that runs south from the railway line between two swamps. 1x Spotted and Spotless Crakes in the same area. Same three species seen in the same area yesterday around the same time. Peter Shute Southern Boobook, Blue-winged Parrot Brisbane Ranges National Park We were barely 100 metres along Sheep Track when the Boobook flew to a tree branch just in front of us at 11.15am this morning. Also surprised to see a pair of BWPs in such dry woodland. Hedley and Irena Earl Buff-banded Rail La Trobe University Bundoora Campus 1 seen right next to the car near corner of Research Ave & the Ring Rd next to a small pond. Kevin Bartram Little Corella Camberwell At the stroke of midnight, a small agitated flock settled briefly in a very large poplar before flying off calling. Apparently disturbed by the sound of fireworks from the city, possibly closer. I haven’t seen them for months in the local area. George Appleby Wed 31 Dec Eastern Koel Benalla. Clarendon Street Gained our attention by calling loudly from the tree, an exotic, in the garden next door. Flew around the neighbourhood a few times before appearing to go to roost locally. Too dark to gain any photos. Bill & Jackie Morecraft Long billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop Resting in the water close to the Southern shore among a group of waders. Robyn Duff, Noel Renouf and 3 others Grey Goshawk(white phase), Cicadabird Yarra Ranges National Park–Badger Weir Park Vocal pair of white phase Grey Goshawk present again today (also seen on 19th Nov), and a pair of Cicadabird still present were the highlights of a great morning’s birding. A great way to end the year. Steve Davidson – The Melbourne Birder Brush Bronzewing Glenfern Valley Bushland Des Palmer Pink-eared Duck, Eastern Koel Royal Botanic Gardens (Melbourne) A pair of pink-eared ducks was doing circle work on the Ornamental Lake in the Gardens this morning. I’m not sure if that is a first for the Gardens but certainly the first pink-ears seen by Trisha or me. Also saw a male koel flying across the Ornamental Lake at the same time as we could hear another calling. It’s possible that there’s two pairs of koels in the Gardens. Yesterday we saw a great egret in full breeding plumage. This bird has probably abandoned any breeding attempt this year due to lack of inland river flooding. From David Plant: Re Phil Maher’s sighting of Pink-eared Ducks and querying if it was the first sighting at the RBG.They have been recorded there in 1997, 2002 and 2013. Philip Maher Tue 30 Dec Spotted Quail-thrush Croajingolong National Park–Genoa Peak We flushed a single Spotted Quail-thrush from the Genoa Peak trail, about halfway to the top in a rocky section. Logan Lalonde Glossy Ibis McDonald Swamp Wildlife Reserve Up to 50 Glossy Ibis (some in breeding plumage) feeding on the North East shoreline located off Lancaster Road. Water in the lake is going through drawdown phase creating opportunities for waders. Adrian Martins via Anthony Sloan Long Billed Dowitcher and Square Tailed Kite Lake Tutchewop The Long Billed Dowitcher is still at Lake Tutchewop. It was found by us this morning in the SW corner of the lake. It wasn’t in the water but was in some of the shoreline scrub sheltering down with the STSP to keep out of the strong wind. Also on the way up and also on the way back a Square Tailed kite was seen hawking above the road just north of Durham Ox. Greg and Janice McKay and Dave Livermore Mon 29 Dec Square-tailed Kite Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary Flew low over the dam & camping area. Kathy Costello, Val La May, Jenny Lawson, Julie Rundell Tue 23 Dec Leucistic eurasian coot Lake Murphy Observed from a long distance through binos appeared to be a Leucistic Eurasian Coot swimming amongst a throng of other water birds (including hundreds of other Coots) on Lake Murphy. Adrian Martins