20 September 2023
Leader: Brian Thomas
Starting can often be difficult and today’s outing was no exception. Grey skies and a bothersome shower of rain as we gathered in the car park at Coolart probably qualified as an uninspiring start to the day for the 13 keen birders attending. However, our weekday group seems to have some sort of inner sunshine. The day just got better and better; the rain held off and the birds showed up. The car park yielded some early species for the bird list including Crimson Rosella, Noisy Miner, Red Wattlebird, Galah, Black-shouldered Kite, Australian Raven, and Grey Butcherbird. Fan-tailed Cuckoo were also heard calling.
Brian, a past ranger at Coolart was well qualified to lead this walk and proved to be a knowledgeable and observant guide. He still helps survey the birdlife on a regular basis.
For information relating to Coolart. Please refer to the links below:
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/coolart-historic-area/attractions/coolart-homestead (Note: The house itself is not open at the present time.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bUwEkR93DpkgoCAwLgeLiyktFAmVfSSk/view
We began with an orientation using the map in the atrium of the visitor centre. There we got an overview of a loop walk beginning at the Luxton wetland and winding its way through the lagoons. Skirting the formal garden and heading through the old farm buildings toward the wetland we detoured into an old barn. A pair of Willie Wagtails have used the barn as a nesting site in the past. The nest structure was most unusual and demonstrated the determination of these birds to make a success of their build … a structure rather precariously engineered around a horizontal wire. Several collapses were evident in the tiered remains of what resembles a multi-story nest!
Leaving the barn, we noticed a pair of Eastern Rosellas before skirting the heavily vegetated South-eastern side of the Luxton lagoon and checking what was about.
Two Willie Wagtails and a Grey Fantail were using the pathway, and Purple Swamphens were browsing the manicured areas around the homestead. Coots, Moorhens and Chestnut Teal were foraging in the waters at the base of the trees. Brown Thornbill and Superb Fairy-wren were also noted here.
We made our way to the path that leads to the Minsmere hide and were surprised by the appearance of two Australian King-Parrots. Apparently, this species has become established on the peninsula. Goldfinch were heard, then seen, flitting through the tops of the trees, still winter-bare, that line the lagoon. Then, as we neared the hide, we were welcomed by the call of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters.
We headed up the steps and into the top level where we had a great view over the lagoon and gradually commenced identifying what was around … approximately 50 Australian White Ibis on their nests with some young birds in evidence.
Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Grey Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Blue-billed Duck and Hoary-headed Grebe were all spotted on the water.
Pink-eared Duck. Photos by Steve Hoptroff
Blue-billed Duck, male. Photos by Steve Hoptroff
Welcome Swallow nests lined the wall along the rear of the inside of the hide and these lovely birds offered us very privileged views as they perched and hawked very close to the hide. They were, understandably reluctant to fly into the hide with so many of us in there but the show of colour as they swooped around the building was just magnificent.
Leaving the hide we were treated to a sighting of a male Golden Whistler, and as we got back on the main pathway, the tantalising call of a Shining Bronze Cuckoo. Locating the bird at the source of this call took a few minutes but it was well worth it as everyone in the group got excellent views of a very obliging individual.
Shining Bronze Cuckoo. Photos by Steve Hoptroff
We left the main path and headed onto a rough pathway through the extensive wetland lagoons. Straw-necked Ibis and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike were noted flying overhead, and the familiar calls of Grey Fantails and Grey Shrike-thrush were evident on a regular basis.
The next stop was the Antechinus Hide where there were more water hen and duck plus a couple of Little Pied Cormorant.
Little Pied Cormorant. Photos by Robert Sinclair
Left: Australasian Shoveler, Blue-billed Duck. Right: Australasian Shoveler. Photos by Steve Hoptroff
Spotted Pardalote calls were occasionally picked up from the surrounding bush, and on our way out of this section we heard the call of a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo which showed briefly as it flew quite quickly over the treetops.
Heading back toward the homestead we passed a known Tawny Frogmouth haunt, and sure enough, one keen eyed member of the group picked out a bird roosting in the mid-level where everyone was able to obtain excellent views of this often cryptic species.
We decided on a relatively early lunch at the picnic tables so we could fit in an afternoon walk to the beach. Lunch, as often happens, not only provides material sustenance but also settles us into a location for twenty minutes or more. Birds will often turn up, perhaps out of curiosity or maybe to sneak a crumb or two. Today was no exception as we were treated to a pair of Eastern Yellow Robins and an immaculate Grey Shrike-thrush, in the bushes, right next to our table … and who should show up on a nearby grassy patch but an Australian Magpie (just reminding us not to forget him!).
After lunch we took a delightful walk through the woodland and headed down to Merricks creek and across to the beach. More Red Wattlebirds, Grey Fantails, Brown Thornbills and Superb Fairy-wrens shared the journey with us. Little Wattlebirds could be heard calling and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters announced their presence every now and then.
We were relatively sheltered in the woodland but as we crossed onto the bridge over the creek the wind began to make its presence felt. A White-faced Heron flew upstream and landed to forage on the bank and a New Holland Honeyeater perched briefly atop a bush before heading under cover again. The wind at the beach was even stronger and the sea grey and choppy. Three Silver Gulls flew over but not much else was close enough to identify. No plovers to be seen unfortunately. Heading back over the creek we spotted a female Golden Whistler, and a Great Egret flew upstream.
Then, an unusual outline of a bird perched out in the open on a dead limb set off a debate among the back markers as to what it might be … some sort of honeyeater perhaps? The backlight was hiding the colours in the plumage making things more difficult. Brian returned to see what we were looking at and confirmed that it was a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater. This species has become more common around Coolart in recent years.
The rain looked like returning at this point, so we skipped the longer loop back and headed for the observatory to do the final bird list in comfortable surroundings. Phillip made a quick trip to the car park to get the checklist and managed an Eastern Spinebill, Spotted Dove and Common Bronzewing before returning. To top off the day a Swamp Harrier turned up outside the observatory and treated us to some aerobatics as it searched the area.
There were many pleasing sightings on the day but some rate a special mention…
Shining Bronze Cuckoo … For showing so well for so long.
Tawny Frogmouth … For not hiding its colours.
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater … For providing the challenge of the day.
Swamp Harrier… For its display of agility.
The bird records for the day can be found via the link below. Our total for the Outing … an excellent haul of 56 species.
http://birdata.birdlife.org.au/survey?id=9259741&h=8f91b956
Many thanks again to Brian for a great day birding and to the sunshine in each of you for outdoing the weather.
Photos kindly provided by Steve Hoptroff and Rob Sinclair.
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