Hi all,
Felt like I had to share a memorable afternoon and evening yesterday around the Terrick Terrick National Park and the nearby Patho plains on the northern plains of Victoria.
Following rain,rain and more rain, the area is still very much green and native plants are continuing to seed. This has resulted in an explosion in numbers of Quail and Button-quail. A couple of years ago at the dry and dusty end of the drought, these species were hard to find at all, but at present sightings are relatively easy.
My evening started driving from Gunbower south along the Gunbower-Terricks road where certain grasslands were jumping with Singing Bushlarks, and Stubble Quail called from all directions. A lone Budgerigar was sighted far from any trees, eventually resting in a large African Boxthorn alongside a healthy flock of Zebra Finch.
Further south some quick walks in various grassland reserves produced Stubble Quail and Little Button-quail in abundance.
I then drove west across the Bendigo creek to have a look at some of the grasslands closer to the Terricks Forest. Along Ferris road a number of birding experiences collided… and it really was quite incredible. A pair of plumed Whistling Duck came up from a still wet depression ( normally a rare summer migrant), then a raptor extravagansa as a Little Eagle soared up in a thermal followed by a Black Falcon, which decided to cruise back down and then circle a nearby paddock obviously hunting. It was focused on a small area, and to my surprise looking down there was an adult Spotted Harrier floating and hanging in the air just above the grasses. The Black Falcon continued to follow the Harrier’s progress waiting for the inevitable flushed prey. It seemed to lose interest after some time when no action was forthcoming, and eventually a Pipit burst out and caught its interest. A chase then proceeded , high into the sky, with the Falcon pursuing hard, but the Pipit had the mo ves and the mean black hunter gave up in disgust ! Further along the road more Stubble Quail erupted, and a Buff-banded Rail legged across. The place is pumping !
I then poppped into a waterhole in the north-west of the Terricks forest, where the action was just as lively. The warmer weather and “slightly” drier conditions had encouraged many birds to visit the area. Within half an hour the following birds were sighted….White-browed Woodswallow, Restless Flycatcher, Diamond Firetail, Rainbow Bee-eater, Common Bronzewing, Peaceful Dove, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Tree Martins, a family of Aussie Grebes, White-plumed and Singing Honeyeaters, WWChoughs, Little Button-quial and a male Painted Button-quail on the drive out plus another flushed along another track, I left somewhat bedazzled.
I then picked up 4 birdos visiting from NSW who were quite keen to connect with a Plains Wanderer. We drove out to some grasslands east of the Bendigo creek and waited for the sun to go down. 20+ Plumed Whistling Duck flew by and Stubble Quail called from all around as a fiery sun slowly faded. Our 2 hour grassland wallk with spotlights was incredible for the sheer numbers of Little Button-quail and Stubble Quail. They must be up to a third generation this summer. Young chicks were seen, plus many calling birds. What a bumper season for them. After 1 and a half hours a female Plains Wanderer was flushed and we spent some 20 minutes enjoying her company…however we needed a little bit of luck, as this species has largely dispersed from the general area following the eruption of grass growth everywhere and few relaible sites remain. And then, as if that was not enough, the walk back to the car produced a flushed Red-chested Button-quail which we managed to see well on the ground…possibly thanks to the lack of moonlight. Eventually two male RCBQ’s were seen at close range…another normally rare summer migrant The night was rounded out with a calling Owlet-Nightjar back in the forest.
The good times that inland Australia have been having for a year or two have definately made it to Victoria :-). Its a welcome reprieve after many many dry times.
Cheers, Simon Starr.
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
