These notifications are now being sent to the new list, but for some reason got filtered out, so I’m forwarding them by hand again. Peter Shute Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: From: “notifications@eremaea.comnotifications@eremaea.com>” <notifications@eremaea.comnotifications@eremaea.com>> Date: 13 January 2014 4:02:25 am AEDT To: “birding-aus@birding-aus.orgbirding-aus@birding-aus.org>” <birding-aus@birding-aus.orgbirding-aus@birding-aus.org>> Subject: Birdline Victoria Weekly Update Birdline Victoria Published sightings for the week ending 12 Jan 2014. Sun 12 Jan Forest Kingfisher Jells Park Appeared to be slightly smaller than the Sacred Kingfisher with deep blue on wings and completely white breast. Top of head was deep blue with broad black band over the eyes. Large white spot in front of eye diagnostic with white collar extending all around back of neck. Bruce Wedderburn Pomarine Jaeger Corio Bay First photographic evidence that we are aware of of Pomarine jaeger in Corio Bay. This bird was very heavy barrelled, broad wings, larger white wing patch than Arctic and lacked streamers of the Arctic. Photos show spoon shaped central feathers extend beyond tail tip. Every time our boat would drift toward the bird it would fly short distances with slow and heavy wingbeats before settling on the water. We took many photos and it was obvious that the bird was distinct. Hedley and Irena Earl Freckled Duck Mill Park Lakes Freckled Duck. A total of ten at the site; a group of six and two pairs located separately. Richard Arnold Gang-gang cockatoo, Dollarbird, Olive-backed Oriole Seymour River Walk Pair of Gang-gangs flying over, Dollarbirds in flowering Red Gums, 2 Orioles chasing each other through the bush. Walked upriver from New Crossing Place. 33 species seen, several feeding young. Val La May Broad-billed Sandpiper, Black-tailed Native-hen Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Another stunning morning at the WTP. Western Lagoons teeming with birds including the Broad-billed Sandpiper – feeding at the end on the middle track in Pond 9 – it’s usual reported location. Other birds at the same site included 8 Little Egrets and 12 Greenshank – higher numbers than normally seen. Also of interest were three Black-tailed Native-hens at the Lake Borrie outlet. Ed Williams Scarlet Honeyeater Fairhope (12 km N of Bairnsdale) Male feeding at mistletoe in large ironbark, ridgetop forest; also heard near our house. Also on 11 Jan: Painted Button-quail and Spotted Quail-thrush in same area. Felicity & Chris Healey Black Honeyeater Killawarra Forest Two males seen feeding in flowering mistletoes along North West Lane. Michael Ramsey Sat 11 Jan Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Broad-billed Sandpiper Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Monster day at Werribee with members of the Victorian Birders Facebook group, dipped on the Long-toed Stint but there was great birds around including a Wood Sandpiper, seen well around 145WA Lagoon, a Reeve found in the pond just north of Borrie outlet and 2 Broad-billed Sandpiper, one at Western Lagoons and one at Beach Rd pond, these birds where all photographed by other observers in the party. Tim Nickholds, Phillip Peel, Owen Lishmund, James Mustafa, et all. Sat 11 Jan Grey Plover, Pacific Golden-Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Eastern Curlew, Ruff, Broad-billed Sandpiper Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Grey Plover (5) On spit Pacific Golden-Plover (13) Flushed fom high tide roost, seen 2 at gate 4 on rocks but think same birds Wood Sandpiper (1) Third pond on left in restricted area, great views and photos taken, given location by another birder (mark) Eastern Curlew (1) Roosting on spit Ruff (1) Seen in pond that extends from bird hide towards Borrie outflow, again thanks to mark for showing us great photos taken! Broad-billed Sandpiper (2) 1 seen on ping just inside gate 4, 1 seen western lagoons in same spot as last weeks reports… Great photos of both Philip Peel, James Mustafa, Owen Lishmund, Andrew Allen, Tim Nickholds and others Cape Barren Goose Peninsula Link Freeway 2 Cape Barren Geese seen on farm dam, next to Peninsula Link freeway, northbound, approx 3km south of C784. Maybe associated with those seen on Bungower Rd earlier in the week. John Harris – Wildlife Experiences Banded Lapwing Wilby A small group of four seen roosting on a dam wall along Lavis Road in the evening. Michael Ramsey White-fronted Honeyeater Bacchus Marsh West Golf Course Birds seen in our small country town garden. White-fronted Honeyeater (1) I noticed a different looking honeyeater, drinking from our bird bath. The same size as a nearby New Holland HE, but more streaked with a prominent black breast. I saw it with binoculars briefly on the back fence and saw the white ring around the eye and the odd looking face. Bernie McRitchie Azure Kingfisher Banyule Flats 1 pm at Plenty-Yarra River confluence. Perched on emergent stick in Plenty River just above Yarra Trail footbridge. Proceeded to move upstream from perch to perch over following 10 minutes. Made one apparently successful fishing attempt – returned to perch and made swallowing motions. Sacreds are regular at this spot but haven’t seen an Azure recently. Neil Murray Fri 10 Jan Powerful Owl Wilson Reserve, Ivanhoe Saw one parent and juvenile at 8pm on Friday evening in the “usual spot”. As reported by R. Brockett on 11/09/13, one adult definitely has it’s left eye clouded over. Reza Mohammed Banded Lapwing Road reservation east of Palmers Road, Williams Landing 3027. At 18:40, I observed two adult and one juvenile Banded Lapwings on the road reservation on the eastern side of Palmers Road, just north of the intersection with Williams Landing Boulevard. The area is vacant subdivision land and I could see no other Lapwings nearby. Peter Gibbon. Broad-billed and Pectoral Sandpiper, Baillon’s and Australian Spotted Crake Western Treatment Plant, Werribee 2 Baillon’s and 2 Aust Spotted Crake seen at T-section app 5.30 p.m. Also seen on the day were Pectoral, Marsh and Broad-billed Sandpiper at Western Lagoons and Spit ponds. Arthur Carew and John Stirling Freckled Duck Bendigo: Kennington Reservoir 2 Freckled Duck feeding in front of hide. Also Nankeen Night -Heron on Island. David McInnes Alexandrine Parrot Research 4 birds sighted this morning with at least one being a juvenile. Have not seen Alexandrine Parrots here for a couple of years but prior to this they have been around Research for over 20 years and have bred on other occasions. Joy Pagon Thu 9 Jan Brush Cuckoo Pound Bend Reserve Brush Cuckoo – plain with no eyering. Seen along riverside track close to the kangaroo paddock and the nursery. First on our Pound Bend list. John Young Australian Koel Camberwell Walking to work along Burke Rd heard the call, South of the junction. The bird called 3 times then flew across Burke Rd. Jackson Airey Wed 8 Jan Pelican Braeside Park One all-white pelican spotted at the southern end of the main lake. Sorry I don’t have a proper camera! Matthew Crawford White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Marsh Sandpiper, Black-tailed Native Hen, Horsefield’s Buslark. Cheetham Wetlands, Point Cook Observed White-bellied Sea-Eagle (appeared an immature bird) overhead, Marsh Sandpiper and Native Hen at Skeleton Creek Ford area and Bushlark in Grassland. Some of the 46 species recorded on a morning tour organised by Hobsons Bay and Parks Victoria Rangers. Peter Gibbons, Andrew Webster, Allison Webster – et al Freckled Duck Boort 10′ Cell 12 Freckled Duck on a wetland northwest of Boort, east of Boort-Quambatook Rd/Osborne Rd intersection. Malcolm Cousland Tue 7 Jan Little Raven Yallambie/Viewbank Variegated Little Raven seen 3 times now (while driving – no photos yet) feeding with the resident flock in the mulch of the median strip on Lower Plenty Rd between Martins Lane and Yallambie Rd intersections. Whole body is mottled dark grey/brown and pale grey/yellowish. First noticed Dec 19, then Jan 3, both times opposite the 7/11 service station near Martins Lane, then yesterday opposite ARPANSA building. Neil Murray Blue-winged Parrot, Spotted Quail-thrush Kinglake National Park I’ve observed pairs of Blue-winged parrots several times within the park, most recently on lower end of Old Kinglake Rd (Everard Block). I also sighted them Mid-December in the Wallaby Crk catchment (no public access). All areas were severly burnt in the 2009 fires. Also observed Spotted Quail-thrush at various ridge-tops in the Wombelano block – also fire affected. Phil Rance Intermediate Egret Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve I think it unusual to see a loose flock of 6 in this area. Sighted from the Stephenson St 3rd gate area. Great Egret with them. Ken Sherring Australian Koel Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Single bird observed briefly and heard calling at approx 8am this morning in area of National Herbarium. Joy Tansey Mon 6 Jan Spotless Crake Lilydale Lake 2 Spotless Crakes observed towards dusk while out looking for my bird-a-dat bird. One was on the edge of the reedy wetland to left of main lake (the one with duck boxes) and the other nearby on the edge of the main lake amongst emergent wetland plants. John Harris – Wildlife Experiences Long-toed Stint Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Quick afternoon trip with son Oliver to photograph shorebirds. Spent half an hour at Western lagoon – Pond 9 – success in locating Long-toed Stint in Spit sign/solar panel corner where previously recorded. Great views as it fed alongside RNS, Sharpies, Curlew Sands and Black-fronted Dotterel. Brolga (2) Standing and walking in front of the car along the track btw ponds at Western lagoons Long-toed Stint (1) Caspian Tern (1) With metal band on right leg – unable to read band number despite scoping at close range. Australian Hobby (1) In fields adjacent to Pond 9 dive-bombing something down in the grass repeatedly. Zebra Finch Around Pond 9 – Western lagoons – population appears to be spreading about the plant Paul Rose Spotted Harrier Myrtleford Spotted Harrier (1) Eating road kill rabbit at side of road Linda Hayes Osprey Thirteenth Beach, Barwon Heads Flying West along the coastline, Barwon Heads-Torquay Road @ 11:15am. (Nice report Andrew. Possibly a bird from Point Napean. TD.) Andrew Allen Sun 5 Jan White-throated Needletail Reef Hills State Park had a chance to get out here while visiting Mum. Sorry its a bit delayed getting in, no computer, so I’m at the library. Love the birds around here! White-throated Needletail (6) at least 6 running with a storm cloud going South Adam Fry Cicadabird McGees Rd, Wombat Forrest A single male Cicadabird was seen and heard calling loudly between 0900 and 1130. Also seen were Satin Flycatcher, Rufous Fantail and Crested Shrike-tit Jen Spry & Joy Tansey Little Egret Tankerton jetty, French Island Little Egret feeding on mudflats. There have been a number of sightings of 1-2 birds on the west coast of the island and at Stony Point since November. Also 68 Crested Terns feeding, which is larger than usual flock for inside Western Port. Chris Chandler Osprey Bonnie Doon, Eildon Reservoir. Flying from Bridge at Bonnie Doon approx 50 m from shore following shore line towards Peppin Point Caravan Park at 1 pm today. Seems a long way from the sea or is this a common sighting?. Barney Enders Black Kite St Leonards (Geelong) First alerted by a raucous (more so than normal) group of Rainbow Lorikeets, I looked up as it slowly made its way over my home. A first for my air space. Sighting time, 1520hrs Peter Bright Sat 4 Jan Australian Koel Mount Eliza Heard calling distantly from Ranelagh Drive at about 6:30pm. Ben Sinclair Fri 3 Jan Freckled Duck Swan Lake, Phillip Island Five Frecked Duck seen at Swan Lake, Phillip Island on the afternoon of Friday the 3rd of January. Sitting on the bank together with a couple of Hardhead just opposite the northern bird hide. John Boyce Glossy Ibis Fishers Wetland, Newhaven Two Glossy Ibis seen at Fishers wetland, Newhaven on Friday the 3rd around lunch time. John Boyce Pink-eared Duck, Latham’s Snipe & Red-kneed Dotterel Macleod Morass, Bairnsdale, Victoria Several Pink-eared Duck were observed in one the treatment lagoons of the Sewerage Works section. Also single Latham’s Snipe and several Red-kneed Dotterel were observed in a slashed reed section of the lagoon running parallel to Saleyards Road. Ivan Traverso American golden plover — possible? Cheetham Wetlands (Altona Meadows) Twenty eight birds — 27 of which were clearly Pacific Golden Plovers. Bob Winters, Greg Hunt, Frank Mitchell and Parks Vic rangers Sat 21 Dec White headed pigeon Mallacoota – Township (Karbethong road) This white headed pigeon appeared on the bird feeder at the holiday home we were staying at in Mallacoota. It managed to push the Wonga pigeon out of the way to enjoy the seed on the tray. I noted that there have been several other sightings reported in your files at around the same time at a similar location, so maybe the same bird enjoying the free seed on offer during the tourist season? This is the first time that we have seen this species in this area so I thought it worthwhile reporting it for your statistics. kind regards, jje Jennifer Elizabeth Jones-Ellis Birdline Victoria is sponsored by BirdLife Victoria and hosted by Eremaea Birds. _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
