G’day all
Here are a few of the birding highlights from a visit to Jilpanger and Claude Austin forests today. There are north-west and south-east of Balmoral is south west Victoria.
Yesterday was the first hot day for the year since February and overnight here in Hamilton we had thunderstorms and good rain. Today was cool, overcast and occasionally drizzly. After a recent report of 2 Diamond Doves at Jilpanger, Rob Farnes and I thought we’d go hunting them. Permission was sought from the owner of the property adjoining the forest where the birds had been seen and off we went.
The forest was alive with birds and the activity didn’t slow down as they day progressed. Apart from the hundreds of distracting New Holland Honeyeaters we saw over 50 species including Painted Button-quail, Peaceful Dove, Blue-winged Parrot, Sacred Kingfisher, Variegated Fairy-wren, Shy Heathwren, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Jacky Winter, Hooded Robin, White-winged Triller and Diamond Firetail. No Diamond Doves and no Southern Scrub-robins which are often seen here.
On the way to Claude Austin forest we saw hundreds of Banded Stilts in White Lake and a Spotted Harrier over a wheat field.
At Claude Austin we added another Painted Button-quail, several Speckled Warblers, Fuscous Honeyeaters and a Southern Whiteface.
Still lots of breeding activity going on. The Jacky Winters in particular are having a bumper year down this way it seems.
Cheers Steve Clark Hamilton, Vic ===============================
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