Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria Published sightings for the week ending 21 Sep 2014. Sun 21 Sep Painted Honeyeater Sullivan’s Track, Newstead Two seen, others calling. First return to a regular spot Geoff Park Sat 20 Sep Cape Gannet Point Danger Magnificent views of a Cape Gannet that really put on a show for us continually displaying black line on the throat for about 30 minutes. Thanks to Rob Farnes and John Weigel for locating the bird. Photos avsailable. Bernie OKeefe and Ken Haines White-winged Chough Simpsons Park, Mitcham Was alone. Paul Kearsley Mallee Emu-wren Wyperfeld National Park A family of Mallee Emu-wren was seen on the Discovery Walk at Wyperfeld National Park in an open area of tea-tree heath. Matthew Crawford Fri 19 Sep Indian Peafowl French Island, Bullock rd Following reports of a previously unrecognised (as far as the birding community is concerned) feral population of Indian Peafowl on French Island with James Mustafa and Brian Johnson. A single bird seen briefly on private property near tip, another 6 birds located at end of Bullock road. Difficult to approach but certainly the legitimacy of this population does require some discussion. Either way a current extermination program may limit opportunities to record on Victorian list. Scott Baker, James Mustafa and Brian Johnson Rose Robin, Baillon’s Crake Karkarook Park The reported male Rose Robin was seen today in the same location in the acacias along the path to the stables. Also seen were two Baillon’s Crake encountered at close quarters in the southernmost wetlands in the late afternoon. Lewis Hiller, Matt Pedersen Malleefowl Hattah-Kulkyne National Park–Nowingi Track 1 bird allowed close, prolonged approach Greg Roberts Thu 18 Sep Swift Parrots Heyfield Golf Course At least 20 birds still present in the area after initial sighting 4 days ago. Peter Ware & Jack Winterbottom Rose Robin Karkarook Park Good views and photos taken of one male bird. Along the path near the lake between the horse stables and the carpark. Julie Sarna Pallid Cuckoo Karkarook Park Seen today around 15:30 and on Tuesday afternoon along the path between the retarding basin and the bird hide. Spent some time on the outer fence close to Dingly Bypass. Got good ID photos today. Reporting it because it seems to be the first report at this location.(Moderator’s note: indeed it is the first sighting at this location). Julie Sarna White-bellied Sea-Eagle Caulfield A juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle was observed soaring over Caulfield Racecourse at 1pm. Lewis Hiller Wed 17 Sep Scarlet Honeyeater Fairy Dell Two seen but many more heard, many Rose Robins present. Deb Crosby Hutton’s Shearwater Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) I’ve been keeping an eye on a large flock of Fluttering-type shearwater that’s been hanging offshore from the east end of the plant over the last 14 days or so but generally they’ve been way too far out to monitor closely. Today however in the strong southerlies several were pushed in close to shore to around 300m off with a feeding flock of gannets, cormorants, terns, etc, and amongst about 70 Fluttering SW was a clear Hutton’s that showed a dark hood with little white visible around the chin, dusky axillaries and generally less white on the underwing; it also showed more dark feathering on the thighs that further differentiated it from the FSW. It clearly stood out, and in the time I watched I could only see one at any time, however there may have been more. First I’ve seen this sp. at WTP. Steve Davidson Dusky Woodswallow Swan Reach, East Gippsland 80 counted resting on fences and power lines near home close to Colquhoun Forest this morning Ken Sherring Mon 15 Sep Swift Parrot Heyfield Golf Course Between 15 and twenty birds observed feeding in Red Box blossom. Peter Ware plus 4 other members of Birdlife East Gippsland Latham’s Snipe Laverton Creek , Altona Meadows 2 Latham’s Snipe seen on mud in Laverton Creek in section that runs through A B Shaw Reserve which is a dogs off leads park. I have seen 1 or 2 here for past three years. David A Richardson Sun 14 Sep Magpie geese Newcomb, Moolap station rd. A flock of about 24, can be seen along Moolap station road near the Gateway church, past the Bellarine HWY. Also saw Yellow-rumped thornbills a pair of Brolgas fly towards Reedy lake. Andrew Wallis Scarlet Honeyeater Log Crossing Lakes Entrance Two young birds at the picnic spot at Log Crossing. Also present a Rose Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin and a Beautiful Firetail amongst several other honeyeater species. Gary Oliver Arctic Tern Port Fairy Pelagic 1 juvenile Arctic Tern seen for a few minutes around 9.55 today. Numerous photos taken. Diagnostic distinct and long black trailing edge seen, translucent underwing, small bill & domed head all characteristic of this species. Other a very quiet day with birds reluctant to feast on our burley & fewer species expected. Other highlight include a Common Diving Petrel photographed on the shelf, 1 Wandering type Albatross (probably gibsoni) flew past. Kevin Bartram, Neil McCumber, James Mustafa etc Sat 13 Sep Beach Thick-knee Anderson Inlet, Inverloch. A single bird, seen in early evening around 6 pm, foraging in the sand flats and shallows of the receding tide near the Screw Creek outlet. Stephen Lacy Black-eared Cuckoo Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park–Mt. Arapiles Following up earlier report. Heard then seen along left side of Summit Road, a few hundred metres west of the C240. Awesome views while it perched. James Mustafa, Owen Lishmund