Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria Published sightings for the week ending 24 Aug 2014. Sun 24 Aug Latham’s Snipe Heathdale Glen Orden Wetland, Werribee 3030 At 1750 hours, I observed two Snipe that flushed at this Wetland. The first returns I have observed for this season at this location. Peter Gibbons Beach Stone Curlew Anderson Inlet, Inverloch. Single Bush Stone Curlew still on mud flats near Screw Creek nature walk. Dave Dickson Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Rufous Songlark Hicks Road (Yarrawonga) One recently arrived Sharpie at the east end of the wetland in drying shallows. Also first spring return of Rufous Songlark in full song. Michael Ramsey Sat 23 Aug Blue-faced Honeyeater Royal Melbourne Zoo, Parkville Three individuals flying free near the entrance to the gorilla enclosures. I’ve never seen them this far south. Gary Oliver Beach Stone-Curlew Screw Creek, Inverloch Beach Stone-Curlew still present at Screw Creek. Was seen sheltering amongst rocks at low tide, approximately 100m from bridge. Robyn & Nick Goode Brolga Rokewood Shelford Road. east of Rokewood Two brolga in wet area near side of road. Noel and Lynne Billing Plumed Whistling Ducks Railway Dam, Canola Depot, Willaura 260 birds resting beside dam, counted by two individuals and then seen again at the ‘poo farm’ in the afternoon Samantha Greiner & BirdLife Hamilton members Pectoral Sandpiper etc Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) 1 Pectoral Sandpiper in worn breeding plumage seen in the 5W Conservation Ponds 5W – the one just south-west of the intersection of the South Rd. It was with a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper also in worn breeding plumage. Other highlights include: a pair of Brolgas at the T-Section Lagoons; 6 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in the T-Section Lagoons; 1 Black Falcon on the fence next to the Spit. Scott Baker, Merv Marsh, Kevin Bartram White-winged Triller, Brown Songlark, Banded Lapwing, White-winged Fairy-wrens Gladfield South A scout around the plains west of Pyramid Hill turned up an early male Triller on the move through, a displaying Brown Songlark, 6 Banded Lapwings, numerous White-winged Fairy-wrens and Zebra Finches, Stubble Quail calling, a Peregrine, Pied Butcherbird and White-fronted Chats feeding young. Not bad for a few treeless paddocks ! Simon Starr Fri 22 Aug Wood sandpiper Dandenong Valley Wetlands, Rowville (Rigby’s Wetlands) One solitary bird as observed on Saturday 16 August Stephan Megroz Thu 21 Aug Swift Parrot Gilpin Park, Brunswick About 6- 8 birds seen near the Pearson Street side of the Park where previously reported. Nick Koutoulis Southern Boobook Valley Reserve, Mt Waverley Boobook seen this afternoon at Valley Res` being harassed by usual suspects. Chris Gittins Swift Parrot, Crimson Rosella Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) 3 male Swift Parrot seen in flowering Sugar Gum at woodlot along Pt Wilson Rd this morning around 0930hrs. Also there a roving band of Crimson Rosella which is a rare bird for the plant. Fairy Martin is returning in good numbers now and I saw one and heard two other Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo in saltmarsh at T-section and Western Lagoon. Steve Davidson Wed 20 Aug Intermediate Egret & Latham’s Snipe Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary Went down looking for a few Snipe a friend told me about. I was lucky enough to find the Snipe and an Intermediate Egret. Also lots of other species including several Swans nesting, Yellow-billed and Royal Spoonbills, a Pacific Heron and 2 Great Egrets in breeding plumage. Adam Fry Swift Parrot Gilpin Park, Brunswick At least 8 swift parrots still present this afternoon (4pm). All seen at the Pearson Street end of the park feeding on tall flowering gums. Richard Arnold Song Thrush Dundee St, Reservoir 1 seen in a private backyard this morning Matt Vinicombe Tue 19 Aug Swift Parrot (2) Monash University Clayton Campus 2 Swift Parrot seen in usual area today feeding in natives. Seems like there is a small number hanging around at the moment. James Mustafa Mon 18 Aug Swift Parrot Gilpin Park, Brunswick Feeding near Pearson Street. Witnessed several interactions with Noisy Miners. Debbie Lustig Sun 17 Aug Powerful Owl Dandenong Ranges National Park ,Old Coach Rd The Basin Des and Jeremy Palmer Sat 16 Aug White-winged Chough Viewbank (Melbourne) Flock of 7 foraging among red gums at end of Martins Lane. 10 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos in wattles nearby. Richard Loyn & Debbie Tully Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Spotted Harrier, 70 Neophemas, 30 Double-banded Plover Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers at the T-Section Lagoons & 2 at the Western Conservation Ponds (=5). Also around 70 Neophemas seen at the saltmarsh south of the T-section Lagoons, presumably all Blue-winged Parrots. A few hundred Curlew Sandpipers, around 6 Red-necked Stints, about 30 Double-banded Plovers also at T-section. 1 adult Spotted Harrier on fence post on Pt Wilson Rd. 1 Glossy Ibis, Western Conservation Ponds. Kevin Bartram Noisy Friarbird Price Park, Viewbank The Noisy Friarbird was living up to its name at 9:30am, so it was very easy to find in the gum trees below the toilets. It kept chasing Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Red Wattlebirds over the houses and into the tall trees 100m away, only to return to its preferred gum tree after about a minute. (In addition, at least 4 Swift Parrots were seen feeding at 11am in Car Park 8 of La Trobe University Campus.) Reza Mohammed