You Yangs Birding and Boneseeding

3 December 2016

Words and photos by Merrilyn Serong

What a beautiful day for birding and boneseeding; mostly calm with a warming sun and good company. Thanks to the participants for making it a very enjoyable day for my last time as organiser of the activity.

As usual, we began at the carpark near the Park Office, where there were both Grey and Pied Currawongs. Two chicks, which I believe were Grey Currawongs, had almost outgrown their nest, high in a nearby Eucalypt. Near the dam, we found two Willy Wagtail nests with a parent sitting on each one.

Grey Currawong nest near the You Yangs office

 

Despite the good spring rains, the water level of the dam was still low, though a little higher than it was on our September visit. Turtles used to live in the dam; I wonder if they are still there. The trees in the area looked healthy with lots of new bright green leaves, but flowers, and therefore Lorikeets, were few. No Tawny frogmouths were to be found, either.

Rufous Whistler, Gravel Pit Tor

Next stop Gravel Pit Tor, with more healthy new growth on the eucalypts. We found the reliable Mistletoebird, but no red robins. This is a good place to look for small bush birds, and we did find Silvereye, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, White-throated Treecreeper, Yellow-faced Honeyeater and Rufous Whistler. The last two mentioned are prolific in the park at present. We also saw a goat, which is not unusual here.

Eucalypt, Gravel Pit Tor

Hungry after spending so much time at our first two stops, we eventually arrived at Fawcett’s Gully for lunch. The upper dam had much water, the odd frog, numbers of dragonflies, and a very long Brown Snake.

Black-headed Skimmer, Fawcetts Gully

Disappointingly, our official boneseeding site, which over the past several years has been virtually boneseed-free, was studded with small boneseed plants. It’s the rain, I suspect, and the fact that boneseed seed stay viable for ever in the soil.

Boneseed in our You Yangs site

When I first became involved in the project, there were numerous large boneseed plants in our site and over the years we have cleared them out. Boneseed really can’t be eradicated, but it can be controlled, at least for a while. Our site does have a lot of native groundcover and small native shrubs that would not have grown if the boneseed had been left there. The new young boneseed plants have not flowered or fruited yet, and we managed to pull out large numbers of them. However, more work is needed.

While we boneseeded at our site, we were visited by numerous Weebills. The ever-present Rufous Whistlers sang. White-winged Choughs and other regulars were there and a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike appeared. Later we found an Eastern Yellow Robin.

Eastern Flat

Our last walk for the day was in the Seed Garden / Eastern Flat area, as usual at this time of year when the sun sets so late. The water level in the dam had dropped to almost nothing from the reasonable amount that I saw there on Tuesday, only four days ago. Evidence of spring rains can be seen in the longish and now dry grass in open places.

Total bird species count for the day was 37. A quiet day.

Sincere thanks to all those wonderful people who have been part of the project while I have been co-ordinator and also to those who might not have made it to one of the days, but remain interested.

Best wishes to all for happy seasonal celebrations, a wonderful summer and excellent birding. Wherever you are, may your environment be healthy, rich and diverse.

A bird list for the day will soon be available at http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/site-lists/YouYangs%202016.html

I will include another report and photos on my website, http://www.timeinthebush.com/

You Yangs Birding and Boneseeding

4 June 2016

Text and photos by Merrilyn Serong

View from Valley Picnic Ground

An unexpected weather event in eastern Australia turned what otherwise might have been a fine, but cloudy day into one of intermittent drizzle. It’s not often that we see the ground wet at the You Yangs or water in the gutters beside the Great Circle Drive. The level of the dam near the park entrance was lower than I can remember it, but there was some water in other dams that were quite dry on our last visit. We heard frogs in a few places. Mosses, lichens, fungi and rock ferns were looking marvellous. The wet was not enough to deter the keen cyclists who frequent the park and it did not hamper the six of us on our quest to find birds and pull out boneseed. In these conditions the number of bird species recorded was lower than usual at a mere 24, but the damp ground made it easier to remove the weeds. The day remained pleasantly calm, and with coats on, we were not too cold.

We spent some time, as usual, in the area near the entrance and Park Office. Still no sign of the Tawny Frogmouths, which used to be so reliable here. Weebills were calling and foraging in the eucalypt canopy. An Eastern Yellow Robin posed close by for a moment. Lorikeets were heard briefly, but not seen. I think they were Musk. There seem to be fewer White-plumed Honeyeaters in this area than there were in the past, but more New Hollands. The latter were particularly abundant around the profusely flowering Hakea laurina bushes to the east of the dam. These plants from the south-west of Australia thrive in this area of the You Yangs.

Eastern Yellow Robin

Morning tea was at the Valley Picnic Ground where we hoped for Boobooks, which are said to be there at times, and Tawny Frogmouths. We saw neither, but we did see numbers of Brown-headed Honeyeaters at the flowering eucalypts. Weebills were plentiful. Some of us saw a koala run across the road and disappear.

Amongst the bird species at Gravel Pit Tor were Crimson Rosella, White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Yellow Robin, and Yellow and Brown Thornbills. A female Scarlet Robin was seen. There were two pairs of Scarlet Robins near here a couple of weeks ago on a finer day.

Scarlet Robin, Gravel Pit Tor

At lunch time we shared Fawcett’s Gully with a man who was using water colours to paint a scene of the area. The light rain was not helpful. Here there were also White-plumed and New Holland Honeyeaters, Crimson Rosellas, a White-throated Treecreeper and some frogs.

In mid to late afternoon we tackled a patch of medium-sized boneseed plants to the north of our official site. There were also several newly emerged boneseed plants still at the two-leaf stage. These were much easier to pull out. I found a bird’s leg-ring. It’s the type used on racing pigeons, so its wearer possibly provided a meal for a raptor.

New Holland Honeyeater in Hakea laurina

Towards the end of the day, when the last of us were preparing to leave our boneseeding site, a small flock of Varied Sittellas appeared together with a few Silvereyes. Soon after, we saw a Buff-rumped Thornbill. These added another three species to the day’s total. It was too dark by then for photos, so we’ll just have to remember them. One of the last bird sounds for the day was the mournful cry of White-winged Choughs. This nicely complemented the approaching night and continuing drizzle.

Many thanks to all participants and others who maintain an interest in the project.

The bird list for the day will be available at http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/site-lists/YouYangs%202016.html

More photos are on my website: http://www.timeinthebush.com/you-yangs-2016.html

Thank you

A special thank you to David McCarthy for his dedicated work in our YY boneseeding project. He has made a fantastic contribution over many years. David is no longer able to continue his involvement in boneseed removal, but will keep track of our progress by continuing to add our bird sightings to the data base.

You Yangs Birding and Boneseeding

5 March 2016

Report and photographs by Merrilyn Serong

 

Grey Fantail

Despite a hot, high 30s temp the day before, our March You Yangs birding and boneseeding day was pleasantly cool and calm. The cloud cover persisted and made viewing colours of birds challenging and hampered photography. The park continues to be dry, so dry. There is little water in the dam near the entrance. The level is about as low as I’ve seen it; similar to that in June 2009.

Magpie Geese

An amazing sight from the Park Office area during the morning was the regular lines of Magpie Geese that streamed overhead from approximately north to south. They were apparently on their way to Lake Connewarre, south-east of Geelong. Due largely to the poor light quality and the appearance of a totally unexpected species, we were initially confused and in some disagreement regarding their identity. Once this was established, we were surprised by the first few hundred, impressed when the numbers exceeded 1000 and stunned when they climbed to an estimated 5000.

Magpie Geese

Other highlights in the area near the Park Office were several Purple-crowned Lorikeets, a pair of Crested Shrike-tits and a Wedge-tailed Eagle.

Another Wedge-tail was flying over the Gravel Pit Tor area in the middle of the day. We saw the usual Scarlet Robins there, but we found them at all our stops. A couple of goats were wandering on the hillside opposite the Tor, where we have seen them before.

Lunch by the Fawcett’s Gully picnic table and nearby dry dam was followed by a walk to the reedy upper dam. We were fortunate to see Varied Sittellas on the way there. The dam was quite dry and dotted with holes where animals had apparently tried to dig, unsuccessfully, for water. A rather emaciated and possibly thirsty Black (Swamp) Wallaby approached the dam while we were there.

Black Wallaby

We spent more than an hour pulling out boneseed plants to the north of our site, bordering on the Eastern Flat (Seed Garden). Two of us had good views of two Speckled Warblers. They had been seen by some in our group in September 2014, but this is the first time I have seen them there. We looked for them again later when we walked to the Eastern Flat, but could not find them. However, we added Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Tree Martin and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike to our list.

White-throated Treecreeper

The total of identified bird species for the day was 51. Some of us also saw a small raptor take off from a tree at our lunch stop, but weren’t sure if it was a Brown Goshawk or a Collared Sparrowhawk. A bird list for the day will be posted on the BirdLife Melbourne site http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/. Scroll down and click on the ‘You Yangs Regional Park’ link (outing number 512). I have included another report with photos on my website http://www.timeinthebush.com/you-yangs-2016.html

Koala

Our next YY Birding and Boneseeding visit will be on Saturday 4 June. All members are welcome to attend.

You Yangs birding and boneseeding

5 December 2015

Report by Merrilyn Serong

Photographs by Arthur Carew

Echidna

On our last birding and boneseeding day for the year, the weather was warm, but not too hot for the seven participants. The cloud-cover remained for much of the day, providing us with shelter from the hot sun. The whole place is very, very dry. Some trees that had more or less recovered after the last drought are now clearly suffering again. In places eucalypts are flowering and attracting many butterflies, but we saw no lorikeets at all. It was eerily quiet without their shrieking calls.

Galah

Notable birds that were present in reasonable numbers almost everywhere were Rufous Whistler, Grey Fantail, Weebill and Brown-headed Honeyeater. No surprise with the first two of these species, but the large numbers of the other two were unexpected. There was evidence of breeding in various species, either with active nests or young birds. Good to see, especially in the dry conditions.

Weebill

We recorded a total of 40 bird species, without visiting the Eastern Flat / Seed garden, where we usually find a few more species. The best place for a wide variety of species is generally the area where we start, around the Park Office and dam near the entrance. Here we found 27 species. We made a brief stop at the Valley Picnic Ground to look for Tawny Frogmouths that had been seen there recently, but we did not find them. Our next stop was at the Sand Mine area beside the western section of the Great Circle Drive, where there is still a little water. We didn’t stay long. Further on at the Gravel Pit Tor we found the usually reliable robins and other species before driving on for lunch and a short walk at Fawcett’s Gully. Lastly we spent over an hour at and near our boneseeding site. Some of us concentrated on a number of large plants to the north of the site. They took some effort to remove, but we cleared quite an area. Our plan is to resume where we left off next time.

White-winged Chough

Most of the boneseed plants have finished flowering now, though some blooms still persist. The fruits with their internal hard seeds are developing. It is interesting to note that Drooping Cassinia (Cassinia arcuata) plants are increasing rapidly in number in some areas of our site, particularly at the start of the main path and also along an old disused vehicle track. This native plant is known as a coloniser of disturbed areas and here it no longer has to compete with boneseed.

A list of the bird species recorded on the day will soon be on the BirdLife Melbourne website http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/site-lists/YouYangs%202015.html

There are reports of all the YY visits for the year on my website http://www.timeinthebush.com/you-yangs-2015.html

Willie Wagtail

Our next YY visit will be on Sat 5 March 2016. All BirdLife members are welcome to join us for an enjoyable and useful day. If you would like your email address to be added to my contact list for reminders and lists of birds observed, please email me at Merrilyn@wirejunkie.com

 

 

You Yangs birding and boneseeding

3 October 2015

Report and photographs by Merrilyn Serong

This was the third YY boneseeding visit for the year and all three have been on long weekends. It was not intentional, but I like to tell people that when the day falls on a long weekend, they still have two days left for other activities. This long weekend was due to the AFL grand final and we visited the YYs in October instead of September because I was not available a month ago. If I had thought of the football, I would have expected the grand final to be at the end of September.

New Holland Honeyeater

Anyway, 13 of us attended, a good number for birding and boneseeding. The day was rather warm and windy, but we still encountered 51 bird species and pulled out heaps of brightly flowering boneseed plants as well as some large and sharp boxthorn.

Some of us visited an area new to us, between the Park Office and Gravel Pit Tor. This spot used to be a sand mine and had water with bathing birds, including Black-chinned and Brown-headed Honeyeaters. We will include the place on our future visits, I think. I suppose the water will evaporate soon if there is no rain. The You Yangs are dry at present, but we have seen the place much drier in the past.

Jacky Lizard

Some eucalypts were in flower, but we did not notice any Purple-crowned Lorikeets. We didn’t record Jacky Winter either. However, the Jacky Lizard that posed for us on a fallen branch near the Park Office was great to see. We also saw Masked and White-browed Woodswallows flying above our boneseeding site. Just before the last of us left to go home a cloud of mainly Masked Woodswallows swept overhead in uncountable numbers. What a sight. The whole day was worth it just for that. Other notable birds that we recorded were Mistletoebirds, Varied Sittellas, a Diamond Firetail, a posing Scarlet Robin, majestic Wedge-tailed Eagles and families of White-winged Choughs.

Masked Woodswallow

A list of the species recorded will soon be on the BL Melbourne website: http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/site-lists/YouYangs%202015.html

There are words and photos on my website http://www.timeinthebush.com/you-yangs-2015.html

The next YY visit is in less than two months, on 5 December, and we have already noted which boneseed plants to remove on that day.

Any BirdLife members are welcome to join us for an enjoyable and useful day.

BirdLife Melbourne You Yangs Birding and Boneseeding

6 June 2015

After a cool and wet week, we were very fortunate to have a mild, sunny, blue-sky morning and some lingering sunshine later in the day for our June You Yangs visit. Seventeen people participated in the day.

With many eucalypts in flower, birds were abundant. I had visited one week earlier to check on conditions, and, of course, to look for the Tawny Frogmouths near the office. Not having seen them for some months, I was very glad to find three Tawnys in a likely-looking tree some distance away. Sadly, they were no longer there on the 6^th.

Tawny Frogmouths. Photo by Merrilyn Serong

However, we saw many other bird species, including Fuscous Honeyeater. This species was a first for our YY visits. We recorded nine honeyeater species in all. Surprisingly there were large numbers of White-naped and relatively few White-plumed. It is usually the other way around.

White-naped Honeyeater. Photo by Ken Haines

Other observations included ten species of cockatoo or parrot, four thornbill species, and five robins including Jacky Winter. We were disappointed not to see any Diamond Firetails, but we did see Red-browed Finches. Welcome Swallows afforded a spectacular sight late in the day as huge numbers of them flew low over grass in a paddock to the east of the park. The total species count of 55 for the day was rather good for this time of year. The full list will be accessible on the BirdLife Melbourne website via this page http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/.

Some mystery birds were not included in the total list. One distant bird looked to some people like an out-of-season Olive-backed Oriole, but to others it looked more like a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater. We might have been looking at different birds, but didn’t count either. Unidentified Corellas flew over the Office area. There was also a Brown Goshawk or Collared Sparrowhawk at Gravel Pit Tor, but we couldn’t decide between the two possibilities. However, a definite Sparrowhawk flew close overhead at the Eastern Flat / Seed Garden area.

Galah at You Yangs. Photo by Arthur Carew

During the day we followed the usual plan of starting near the Park Office, driving to Gravel Pit Tor then to our lunch spot at Fawcett’s Gully and to our boneseeding site. After pulling out lots of weeds near a dry creek bed at the border of our site, we spent some time birding in the nearby Eastern Flat / Seed Garden area. This is nothing like as open an area as it used to be, largely due to the numerous Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha plants that are increasing there in both size and number.

Purple-crowned Lorikeet. Photo by Arthur Carew

Thanks to everyone who participated in the day for your convivial company, lots of interesting bird sightings and plenty of boneseeding. Our next visit is planned for Saturday 3 October. Please note that there will be no officially-planned YY birding and boneseeding visit in September this year. That being said, anyone is free to go there any time and watch birds and remove boneseed, of course.

I have included words and pictures from the day on my website, http://www.timeinthebush.com/you-yangs-2015.html, where there are also photos from earlier visits.

Contributor: Merrilyn Serong

BirdLife You Yangs Birding and Boneseeding

7 March 2015

Jacky Winter

As soon as we arrived at the You Yangs for our early-autumn birding and boneseeding visit, we heard Rainbow Bee-Eaters; they were flying directly overhead. This time last year lorikeets were everywhere, but this year we saw none. However, we were pleased to record a number of small bird species.

Rainbow Bee-Eater

These included Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Buff-rumped and Brown Thornbills, Weebill, Spotted and Striated Pardalotes, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Jacky Winter, Scarlet and Eastern Yellow Robins, Silvereye, Mistletoebird, and Diamond Firetail. We recorded 40 species in all, a bit down on the 50 species we found last March. The full list will be accessible on the BirdLife Melbourne website via this page http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/.

Buff-rumped Thornbill

Despite the outing occurring on a long weekend this year, which meant it clashed with other activities, 11 people participated. The weather was mild and calm, pleasant for both birding and boneseeding. The area at Branding Yard Road, where we pulled out boneseed last March and the one before, has a new sign saying Echidna Walkabout Boneseed Control Program, so we will leave it to that organisation now. Some small boneseed plants are growing there, so Echidna Walkabout will have a little work to do. In the early afternoon we proceeded to our own official site and walked through to the bike-path that is under construction to the east. Near the path we tackled an expanse of boneseed plants that formed almost the whole of the understorey. Closer to the edges of the path where the soil has been disturbed recently, we pulled out numerous tiny new weeds. We had worked nearby on our last visit in December 2014, so we are really starting to make an impact on this area.

Garden Skink

Thanks to all those who attended for their good company, interesting bird sightings and successful weeding. Our next visit is planned for Saturday 6 June, on another long weekend.

I have included words and pictures from the day on my website, http://www.timeinthebush.com/you-yangs-2015.html, where there are also photos from earlier visits.

Contributor and photographer: Merrilyn Serong

BirdLife You Yangs Birding and Boneseeding

6 December 2014, species count 55

It’s fortunate that mobile phones work at the You Yangs. Otherwise some of us might have missed seeing the Diamond Firetails in the Seed Garden (Eastern Flat) near the end of the day … when we had almost given up. We tend to spread out in in that part of the park. When a couple of people found the Firetails, one of them phoned someone else, who let the rest of us know. We converged on the spot as quickly and quietly as keen birders can move and they (Firetails and people) were still there. The immature birds amongst the Firetails were a welcome sign of successful breeding. Nearby were two White-browed Woodswallows. A little later we also had good views of an Olive-backed Oriole. We had heard the Orioles, but until then had not seen one.

Water running in BL site

Earlier we had visited the usual places, beginning in light morning rain near the Park Office. The rain soon stopped, but the day remained cloudy and cool with water lying on the ground and even running in the usually-dry creek beds. The cool, damp day was good for boneseeding; hot dry weather can slow us down. We removed a few patches of the weeds deep in our allocated site, which already looked good and is now even better. When I checked the site two days earlier to locate the areas that most needed weeding, I was pleased to find not only the usual family of White-winged Choughs, but also a Black (Swamp) Wallaby and an obliging Echidna.

Echidna

On that day elsewhere in the park, I found a bird that puzzled me. The pattern of blotches on its front made it look young, but I couldn’t think of what it was until I saw its tail. The white shafts each side of the dark centre showed it to be a young Jackie Winter.

Altogether, the 12 participants on our Boneseeding day recorded 55 bird species. This included regular birds, such as the ever-present Superb Fairy-wren, and summer visitors, such as a Rainbow Bee-eater that was heard, but not seen. I have sent the list to BirdLife Melbourne and it should appear on the website before long. Thank you, Bill. http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/site-lists/YouYangs%202014.html

I have also added a report and photos to my website: http://www.timeinthebush.com/

Thanks to all involved and best wishes for the celebratory season. Photos from this year’s YY outings are on my website at http://www.timeinthebush.com/you-yangs-2014.html

Contributor and photographer: Merrilyn Serong

BirdLife You Yangs Birding and Boneseeding

6 September 2014, species count 64

After a week of variable weather in Melbourne, we very much enjoyed a calm, blue-sky sunny Saturday at the You Yangs. Perfect for birding and boneseeding. Some of us, including me, planned to leave early due to other commitments, so we curtailed some of our usual morning activities. After an hour or so of successful birding near the Park Office and dam, close to the entrance, we drove around the Great Circle Drive, straight past Gravel Pit Tor and Fawcett’s Gully, and on to our boneseeding site.

Boneseed for removal

We arrived by 11.30am instead of the usual 2 or even 3pm at this time of year. Again, we had to walk some distance into our site before finding any substantial boneseed plants.

Area previously cleared of boneseed

There is little re-growth of the weed through the main part of our area, but there is certainly an abundance of plants near the dry creek at the back (east) of our site.

Part of site with new understorey

There is an even larger growth of the plants on the other side of the creek to the south of the Seed Garden (East Flat). Flowers are open on many boneseed plants and there are plenty more ready to bloom.

Flowering boneseed

After an hour and more of weeding, we began to go our various ways, though several of us had lunch at the edge of our site, within view of a White-winged Chough on its nest, high in a eucalypt. Some participants left for the Western Treatment Plant and others for pre-planned afternoon activities. Even those who stayed at the You Yangs chose different places to bird for the next hour or two. In all, the 16 participants recorded a total of 64 bird species and pulled out an uncountable number of boneseed plants. Our site is looking very good.

Boneseed pulled out

Special birds found during the day included Wedge-tailed Eagle (always a spectacular sight), three Lorikeet species, Fan-tailed Cuckoo (continuously calling), Brown Treecreeper (becoming regular), Black-chinned Honeyeater (also more common, it seems), Speckled Warbler (the first for a boneseeding day, and seen after I had left!), Olive-backed Oriole, a number of Dusky Woodswallows, and both Jacky Winter and Diamond Firetail. Wonderful.

Photos from this year’s YY outings are on my website at http://www.timeinthebush.com/you-yangs-2014.html

Contributor and photographer: Merrilyn Serong

BirdLife You Yangs Birding and Boneseeding

7 June 2014, species count 43

Despite the long weekend and the forecast that did not sound ideal for birding and boneseeding, 20 of us met to begin our YY visit in cool-to-mild sunshine. This was the first attendance for a number of people, including a visitor from Germany. It was an auspicious occasion because, as Bill Ramsay pointed out, this was the 400^th outing listed on the BirdLife Melbourne website http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/

Hakea laurina. Photographer: Merrilyn Serong

Birding around the Park Office was fantastic, particularly for winter. Many of us had excellent views of Black-chinned Honeyeaters and Golden Whistlers foraging in eucalypts. A Brown Treecreeper and a White-throated appeared nearby and the resident Tawny Frogmouths were perched exactly where we saw them on our March visit. Crested Shrike-tits and Varied Sittellas showed themselves as well as Scarlet and Eastern Yellow Robins. The small birds included Weebill, Silvereye, Striated Thornbill and Spotted Pardalote.

New Holland Honeyeater. Photographer: Merrilyn Serong

At our next stop, Gravel Pit Tor, Wedge-tailed Eagles soared overhead.

After lunch at Fawcett’s Gully, we decided to go straight to our boneseeding site instead of going for a walk where we were. Being winter, we would lose the light too soon if we delayed any longer.

Far to the back of our boneseeding site and not far from the dry creek bed there, a new bike path is being constructed. This is where we did most of our work, using cutters, spades and strong arms and backs to remove numerous large weeds. With great effort and effect some keen people cut and dug out stubborn boxthorn plants as well. The boxthorn here is not as invasive as the boneseed, but tends to fight back. Some people on their first outing with us were very happy that we did so much birding and didn’t spend the whole day pulling out boneseed. An hour or so is plenty of time to remove an enormous number of weeds with so many good workers.

The only rain for the day fell on us while we were boneseeding, so we did become a bit damp. When we stopped weeding, the sky cleared somewhat and we walked to the Seed Garden (Eastern Flat) for more birding. Towards the end of the day, on the far eastern side of the park, where it borders with farmland, we found several Flame Robins as well as a pair of Jacky Winters.

Jacky Winter. Photographer: Merrilyn Serong

As we walked back to the cars through our site, a Restless Flycatcher appeared. It showed itself near the cars a little later and I think nearly everyone who was still there saw and heard it.

A total of 43 bird species for the day was certainly good for winter. We hoped for perhaps a Swift Parrot or a Diamond Firetail, but found none. For a full list of our recorded bird species, see the Melbourne website: http://www.birdlifemelbourne.org.au/outings/outings-381-400.html in the ‘400’ column.

Anyone who is not on my YY Birding and Boneseeding contact list and would like to join us on one of our outings will be very welcome. Email me at Merrilyn@wirejunkie.com and I’ll send you a reminder before the next outing.

Photos from this year’s YY outings are on my website at http://www.timeinthebush.com/you-yangs-2014.html

Contributor: Merrilyn Serong