Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria Published sightings for the week ending 28 Sep 2014. Sun 28 Sep White-winged chough Ford Park, Bellfield I first saw this single bird at this site on wednesday the 24th. I am surprised it is still there. It seems reasonably relaxed, allowing approach to about 10 metres. As can be seen from the photo it is a bit tatty. I wonder where it has come from. Ruth Minifie. Sat 27 Sep Painted Honeyeater Warby-Ovens National Park–Killawarra Forest At least one pair near waterhole past entrance in SE cnr of park -36.23186, 146.22687 Tom Tarrant, Brett Lane Fri 26 Sep Yellow Tufted Honeyeater, Swift Parrot Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park–Cyanide Dam At least two Yellow Tufted Honeyeaters present, chasing Red Wattlebird near Cyanide Dam. Two Swift Parrots landed in a nearby tree – amidst an Olive Backed Oriole and several Noisy Friarbirds. Andrew Williams Rainbow Bee-eater Indigo Valley Quite early for this neck of the woods. Visiting friends just south of the national park adjacent to the Chiltern Yackandandah Road when a single bird flew over head. Matt Weeks Beach Stone-Curlew Screw Creek, Inverloch, Victoria The Beach Stone-Curlew is still present at the Screw Creek outlet in Inverloch. Seen this morning from 7:15am at low tide. Andrew Allen Swift Parrots Sunbury Five birds seen flying between flowering Yellow Gums in the Kismet Estate (off Aldridge Drive) area. Also observed foraging on flowers of the gums. Low numbers have been present throughout the winter months. Gerard O’Neill Thu 25 Sep Rufous Whistler, Baillons Crake Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) Single male at Borrow Pits – not a bird I have seen very often at the WTP since the closure of Farm Rd. Also 2 Baillon’s Crake at T-Section pond 4. Dave Torr, Christine Shelley, Bruce and Judy from USA Lathams Snipe,Lewins Rail and Australian Spotted Crake Liverpool rd Retarding Basin Kilsyth Sth Observed 2 Lathams Snipe identified rail and Crake from calls.Also observed White Necked Heron stand motionless for 10 mins before striking out and catching very large frog Des Palmer Tue 23 Sep Black-faced Woodswallow Point Danger Fiona Parkin and I had a single Black-faced Woodswallow hawking insects at Point Danger, Portland. This to my knowledge is a first for the Portland District. Cape Gannet was also present in the gannetry and White-bellied Sea Eagle over Lawrence Rocks. Robert Farnes Mon 22 Sep Turquoise Parrot, Painted Honeyeater, Rose Robin, Speckled Warbler Chiltern National Park Quite a few Turquoise Parrots throughout the Park. A calling Painted Honeyeater and a female Rose Robin, both initially pointed out by Rob Drummond, along with a pair of Speckled Warblers were at Bartley’s Block. Chris and Rosemary Lester Banded Stilt (12), Brolga (2), Pink-eared Duck (60) Green Hill Lake Highlights were 12 Banded Stilts, about 60 Pink-eared Ducks, and 2 Brolgas. Also Red-necked Avocets, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (possibly a couple of Pectorals-will need to confirm), Red-kneed, Red-capped and Black-fronted Dotterels. Tristan Kennedy Sun 21 Sep Square-tailed Kite Private block, Clunes Four of us were held enraptured by fantastic views of a low, soaring Square-tailed Kite which landed several times in a large gum on the perimeter of the property. Hopefully scoping nesting sites! This was the first time seen here however we have seen one at distance near Dunach. Michael Gooch Powerful Owl, Crested Bellbird, Spot. Quail-thrush, Square-tail Kite, Diamond Firetail, 5 Cuckoo sp. Newstead area and Muckleford State Forest Wonderful box-ironbark Spring birding over the course of the weekend around Newstead visiting several sites including Muckleford SF and Rise & Shine Bushland Reserve. Highlights include Powerful Owl family of 2 adults and 2 young beside the Loddon, Crested Bellbird in MSF, Spotted Quail-thrush on Plunketts Rd, 2 Square-tailed Kite at nest in MSF, Diamond Firetail at Rise & Shine BR. Black-eared Cuckoo heard along Plunketts Rd and seen at Rise & Shine BR. Cuckoos (Pallid, Horsfield’s, Shining and Fan-tailed) heard and/or seen at most spots, all 5 in a short period on Plunketts Rd. Australian Owlet-Nightjar seen in MSF. Jackson Airey and members of the RFNC Inc. Spring camp-out Square-tailed Kite Hattah-Kulkyne National Park–Old Calder Hwy A particularly resplendent adult Square-tailed Kite soaring low over the mallee mid-morning as we left the area, near Warepil Lookout. Also had a pair of Striated Grasswren and three parties of Mallee Emu-wren along Nowingi and Konardin Tracks, heaps of other birds about and beautiful spring weather. Steve Davidson – The Melbourne Birder Cattle Egret Dandenong Creek Trail, 100m north of Jells Park About 30 Cattle Egret, some in breeding plumage feeding hungrily around cattle. Area is about 100 metres from the bridge as you leave Jells Park heading north on the Dandenong Creek Trail. First I have spotted this season. Wendy McWilliams Sat 20 Sep Banded Stilts, Red-necked Avocets and Red-necked Stints Moolap Salt Pans [old Cheetham Salt Works] On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st AM a large flock of Banded Stilts [765] and Red-necked Avocets [665] were observed resting and feeding on salt pans adjacent to Portarlington Rd. Similarly on Sunday on an adjacent pond Red-necked Stints [350] were seen arriving from N direction and commenced vigorously feeding. This area is on private land and presently subject to a major commercial and residential proposal. This important wader habitat can be viewed from the rear of the pump house situated on Portarlington Rd just east of the CSIRO main entrance way. [scope and hand counter used in bird count ] David Tytherleigh and John Newman Grey Butcherbird J J Holland Park , Kensington single bird seen in trees close to park entrance at corner of Childers and Ormond Streets. I have seen singles of this species at this spot twice before but many months apart so thought sighting may be of interest to local birders. David A Richardson Thu 18 Sep Short-tailed Shearwater Pt Addis First returns of a small number of Short-tailed Shearwater off Pt Addis this morning. Steve Davidson – The Melbourne Birder