Birdline Victoria Weekly Update

Birdline Victoria Published sightings for the week ending 30 Nov 2014. Sun 30 Nov Long Billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop LBD sited at the southern end close to the inlet channel Lucky enough to turn up at the right spot first thanks to a the only birder onsite. spent about 2 hours with the bird being quite happy to feed and allowed some good photos. Wayne Wignall Long-billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop The lake was well searched yesterday (29 Nov) by 10+ people and the bird was absent. It was back again this morning being found on the western shore about 200 m north of the (old?) brick pump house at about 7 am. It moved around a bit of its own accord through the morning but mostly stayed on the western shore – seen by at least half a dozen people. Rohan Clarke et al. Long-billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop The LBD was located at around 8am on the west side of the lake just north of the pump station near the large communication tower. It was amongst sharpies. This was to the joy of many punters who were able to get some great photos. It could not be located on Saturday despite the efforts of many birders. Bernie OKeefe Sat 29 Nov Satin Flycatcher, Common Tern, Red-necked Avocet (1422) Cheetham Wetlands (Altona Meadows) Some interesting sightings on the monthly Birdlife Survey. A male Satin Flycatcher was present and singing in trees alongside the access gate near the Information board. Common Tern has returned with 4 present, all in basic plumage and showing very worn primaries, and good numbers of Red-necked Avocet with 1422 counted. Steve Davidson & David Richardson Eastern Koel Peter Weinstock 2 birds in Long Gully. Corner of Arms and Havilah road and corner of Curtis and Quick St. Peter Weinstock Fri 28 Nov Long-billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop The bird was found on the northern shore amongst a large group of Sharpies. Access from Tresco Rd, signed as Benjeroop 13, 2.9 km from Murray Valley Hwy near 2 concrete bunkers. The bird was standing in the water close to the water level post. Margaret and Richard Alcorn Thu 27 Nov Dollarbird, Black-faced Monarch Den of Nargun, Mitchell River National Park. Dollarbird seen on an exposed perch near the Bluff Lookout. Monarchs, probably two, seen in Deadcock Den. Both species had also been reported being seen on the previous day by a team from Melbourne Museum doing moth surveys. Rohan Long Long-billed Dowitcher, Banded Stilts, Red-necked Avocets Lake Tutchewop With Kathy Costello. The LBD was feeding actively when we arrived at the S end of the lake at about 11am. By about midday it was resting amongst the flock of Whiskered Tern. Only 2 other observers there. Valerie La May, Kathy Costello Cicadabird, Brush Cuckoo, Blue-winged Parrot, Red-browed Treecreeper Lerdederg River west of Blackwood; 37ADEG28’00.4″S 144ADEG16’50.4″E Two Cicadabirds heard, one Brush Cuckoo heard. A Blue-winged Parrot feeding on New Sultan Mine Rd. Red-browed Treecreeper seen in one place near river and heard further upstream. 37 other excellent species. Lawrie Conole, Warren Palmer, Warwick Remington Channel-billed Cuckoo Nossal High School, Berwick Heard the CBC calling whilst teaching during class. On the way out of work managed to locate the bird hiding in the pines presumably from the mobbing of other birds. Not doubt this is one of the CBC currently residing in the Berwick area, have seen now twice up the road at Wilson Botanic Park in 2014. Apologies for poor photo – only had iPhone on me James Mustafa Wed 26 Nov White-cheeked Honeyeater, Australasian Figbird Croajingolong National Park–Howe Flat Track I saw a White-cheeked Honeyeater very close to where the two were reported by Mustafa and Davidson on 23/11 (I did not see their report until today) plus 1 Figbird at Lakeview. Also a 1 Pink Robin, 1 Brush Cuckoo, many Beautiful Firetails (eBird Checklist in preparation) Angus Hartshorn Red-lored Whistler Murray-Sunset National Park–Honeymoon Hut Track Heard calling from Honeymoon Hut Track around 2-3 km west from intersection with Meridian Track. Followed call in around 400-500 m to locate bird. Alex Holmes and Dan Eyles Eastern Koel Station street Port Melbourne Bird calling from Moreton Bay Fig in Station street Colin Mulvogue Scarlet Honeyeater Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve Just the one, observed in woodland down the southern end, near the Latrobe River; calling it’s little heart out. One Magpie-goose in the wetland also. Rustem Upton and Joe Wilson Tue 25 Nov Long-billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop We arrived at the lake to find a very helpful man (Greg) that directed us to where the Dowitcher was roosting. We joined a team of three birders on the eastern shore where we watched the Dowitcher roost with a small flock of sharpies. There was some movement of this group of birds from the occasional Whistling Kite or false alarm. The Dowitcher moved between the southern and northern ends of the eastern shore. It did not feed between 12 and 2 pm. Amanda Lilleyman and Rowan Mott Eurasian Tree Sparrow Strathtulloh Woodland (restricted access) A pair of Eurasian Tree Sparrow’s seen in open box woodland habitat, unusual environment for a principally urban species. Also nesting Dusky Woodswallow and Varied Sittella. Micah Kawalek Caspian Tern Kororoit Creek Mouth (Williamstown North) Single bird seen along Kororoit Creek near the ford (which is currently closed to traffic) Paul Randall (wingsonwire.com) Cicadabird, Brush Cuckoo, Spotted Quail-thrush, Olive Whistler Lerdederg River near Blackwood; 37ADEG28’00.4″S 144ADEG16’50.4″E Two Cicadabirds calling; one cracking view of male low in a streamside Blackwood tree. Two Brush Cuckoos calling incessantly. Male Spotted Quail-thrush heard singing, one seen on Lerdederg Road. One Olive Whistler singing from streamside scrub, observed. At least 6 pairs of Satin Flycatchers along 2km of river; most prospecting nest sites – one pair of Leaden Flycatchers as well. 3 pairs of Rufous Fantails; 2 pairs Red-browed Treecreepers. Astonishing 2 hours. Lawrie Conole Eastern Koel Peter Weinstock Much movement in the Long Gully area, two birds calling and flying around the area from 6.00 a.am. Peter Weinstock Mon 24 Nov Long-billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop Found the dowitcher around midday feeding on the southern shore just east of the outlet, among the four fence posts. Watched for an hour feeding in the shallow water with sharpies catching prey in the water rather than poking the mud Al Stewart Brolga Williams Landing Wetland Amazed while sitting in peak hour traffic this morning to see 2 brolga take off from the swamp, cross the freeway and head off across the ever expanding suburbs of Point Cook. Joy Tansey Sun 23 Nov Long-billed Dowitcher Lake Tutchewop From early on Sunday morning until about noon, about 30 birders watched the Dowitcher roosting on the south-eastern shore with the large flock of Whiskered terns and other waders, feeding along the eastern shore with a small group of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and then roosting again on the south-eastern shore. I understand other birders turned up in the afternoon and also saw it. Chris and Rosemary Lester Eastern Koel Hawthorn Koel calling around 8 am in the St James Park precinct of West Hawthorn. It’s early this year. Greg Hunt Eastern Koel Burnley, not far from Yarra River The unmistakable call of a male Koel heard from my place in Burnley Sunday morning at about 0715hrs. Just two rounds of calling then nothing further. May be the one that has recently been reported in the Royal Botanic Gardens South Yarra (?). A bit earlier this year. ‘Usual’ time for Koels in Richmond has been in December. Martin O’Brien Sat 22 Nov Eastern Koel Genoa 10′ VICCell Near the Mallacoota road about 1 Km south of Genoa Angus Hartshorn Wed 19 Nov Rufous Fantail, Satin Flycatchers Wilsons Promontory National Park–Lilly Pilly Gully Nice to see Rufous Fantail, a pair of Satin Flycatchers, Beautiful Firetail, Bassian Thrush and others along this walk. Jenny Skewes