Weekday outing to Jells Park, Wheelers Hill

6 December 2023
Leader: Robert Grosvenor

The last outing for the year and ideal weather…again! We have been fortunate this year to get our outings in without any serious weather disruption. Let us hope 2024 is as kind. We had twenty-five attendees who managed to navigate a late road closure and meet up in an alternate car park along with all the picnickers. This parking area sat a little bit deeper into the manicured environment and provided our initial birding habitat…plenty of large trees but open canopy and tracts of grassland and playground areas.  At the end of the day this turned out to be the best spot for the Psittaciformes. This is the taxonomic order including parrots and lorikeets. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Musk Lorikeets were noted regularly as the group members gradually parked up.

Musk Lorikeet. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

First things first though. Our leader for the day, Robert, bravely announced that we would see Australian White Ibis; and so it was…more Ibis than a Pollies promises, beginning with a fly past of 20 or so birds in a neat V formation.

Grey Butcherbird. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Jells Park sits in Melbourne’s outer East and provides mixed habitat. Moving away from the car park area the path Eastward leads toward a Riparian ribbon next to the Dandenong creek, and next to this a pathway skirts the trees and runs near the edge of the large Lake. So, providing plenty of scope for water birds and some bush birds. The path closest to the creek was closed for management, so we used the lakeside path. For more information about the park please see the links below.

https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/jells- park

Jells Park (Wheelers Hill) – Nature – (melbourneplaygrounds.com.au)

Great Egret. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Soon after 10.00am we began by heading from the Stringybark Car Park to the Dandenong Creek path. Noisy miners were common near the parking area, and Australian Magpie were using the more open grassy area. Red Wattlebirds were heard calling and Galahs were spotted flying over. Nearer the creek the trees and shrubs grow closer together and provide cover for some of the smaller birds, while the creek itself held a couple of Wood Duck. The smaller birds are harder to spot but Silvereyes were heard chattering in the upper canopy, and a couple of Spotted Pardalote were heard calling. Following the path away from the creek and alongside the lake we had activity on both sides. A Brown Thornbill was spotted in the woodland, and a Rainbow lorikeet presented well as it perched at eye level.

Brown Thornbill. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Lakeside revealed Plenty of Eurasian Coot, a few Purple Swamphen, one or two Dusky Moorhen and a Pacific Black Duck.

Dusky Moorhen. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Four Pelican were spotted flying overhead and not long after that an Australasian Darter was seen circling above. These overhead sightings provide excellent opportunities for picking up the “Jizz” of a species which can often be the best clue to a distant bird.

Australasian Darter. Photos by Loh Kat Mun (left) and Steve Hoptroff (right)

At several points along the way the vegetation lakeside provided gaps where one could stop and peruse the water. Australian White Ibis seemed to be present everywhere and probably masked the presence of other species. Careful scanning failed to find any spoonbills though. Little Pied Cormorants and Great Cormorants were present in small numbers. 

Great Cormorant (left) and Australasian Darter (right). Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Australian White Ibis (left) and Great Cormorant (right). Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Little Black Cormorants were more numerous and were noted to be breeding with one nest located.

Little Black Cormorants. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Australasian Darters were also nesting with young birds present.

Australasian Darters on nest. Photos by Steve Hoptroff (left) and Loh Kat Mun (right)

A few different duck species were noted but none in large numbers…Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Wood Duck, Chestnut Teal, Grey Teal, and Blue-billed Duck.

Hardhead. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

By the time we reached the hide we had noticed Grey Fantail, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike on the wooded side and Australasian Grebe and Hoary-headed Grebe on the lake. 

Yellow-faced Honeyeater. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. Photos by Steve Hoptroff

Hoary-headed Grebes. Photos by Steve Hoptroff

A White-faced Heron flew by, and a Pelican struck a beautiful pose as it seemed to stretch itself upward.

White-faced Heron. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Further around, birdsong from the reed bed revealed the presence of Australian Reed-Warbler; Not in large numbers, although these birds are probably in a less vocal period of their summer stay.  Superb Fairy-wrens were noted from time to time, a Little Grassbird was heard calling, and a single Dusky Woodswallow was observed circling overhead.

Circling the lake, we turned and headed back Westward. Suddenly a large raptor, quite high on the opposite side of the lake created excitement, especially as we had a guest birder from Germany in the group. This bird proved to be a Wedge-tailed Eagle and it was being bravely harassed by a much smaller raptor that took some time and effort to identify as a Brown Goshawk.

Wedge-tailed Eagle. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

The shrubs around this section held more Yellow-face Honeyeater, Superb Fairy-wren, Willie Wagtail, and a single Red-browed Finch. We had come almost full circle before getting nice views of 2 Blue-billed Ducks.

Blue-billed Duck (female). Photos by Clancy Benson (left) and Steve Hoptroff (right)

Blue-billed Duck (male). Photos by Steve Hoptroff (left) and Clancy Benson (right)

Taking a shortcut across the grassy area we headed back to the car park to find a shady spot for lunch…noting more Ibis, Australian Magpies, and Magpie Larks.

The lunchtime interlude turned up Crimson and Eastern Rosellas and as we were preparing for a short afternoon walk Australian King-Parrot males provided some excellent close-up views.

Australian King Parrot. Photos by Loh Kat Mun (top); Clancy Benson (middle); Steve Hoptroff (bottom) – see juvenile bottom left.

Our afternoon walk took us back to the Dandenong Creek Trail, which we followed North over the creek for about five hundred metres on and out and back walk. Not much new along here although some in the group were lucky enough to see Golden-headed Cisticola in the grassland to the East of the track.

As we crossed back into the park one keen observer spotted a family of Tawny Frogmouths perched quite close to the path, to the delight, once more, of our German guest.

Because you can never get enough photos of Tawny Frogmouth …
Family of Tawny Frogmouth. Photos by Clancy Benson (top 1 and 2 lines); Steve Hoptroff (middle 3 and 4 lines) and Loh Kat Mun (bottom line)

Another enjoyable day birding to end the year. There is always something interesting, challenging, delightful or even awe inspiring in the sightings on the day and the masses of waterbirds were a spectacle in their own way. The photographers in the group have again captured the delights on offer.

Our bird list for the day totalled 58 species and has been entered into Bird Data as a survey which is viewable via the link below.

http://birdata.birdlife.org.au/survey?id=9417677&h=ac2fe26e

Many thanks to Robert for leading. Photos kindly provided by Clancy Benson, Loh Kat Mun and Steve Hoptroff.

Best wishes for the Christmas break and for a bountiful 2024!

Phillip.

Weekdays outing to Darebin Parklands

11 July 2023
Leader: Phillip West
Photographs: Steve Hoptroff

Aaaah…what a balmy day for winter…some cloud but plenty of sunshine and a mild North-westerly breeze. Sixteen of us filed into the administration block to begin the outing with a talk from Head Ranger Peter Wiltshire. Peter explained the topography of the park and gave details of its past as a quarry and then a rubbish tip. He then explained the treatment system, developed by him and his team, for dealing with leachate from the buried waste. Contaminated ground water had been seeping into the creek and posed a major threat to plants and animals. The poisonous leachate is now filtered through a series of ponds on the Alphington side of the park and is recycled within a closed system. 

Peter then explained the efforts made over many years to control the Common Myna. We gained insights into the behaviour of this introduced pest. We saw many examples of nest box design, made to thwart their predatory nature. Unfortunately, as well as being vicious, the Myna is a smart operator with a devastating team approach to emptying nests it wants to use. The population has been reduced by trapping, but ongoing vigilance of nesting sites is required, as a preventative measure. The following link provides information about the park:

Darebin Parklands & Creek Flora & Fauna

I should add that the parklands have a long history for one Birdlife Member, Anthea Fleming. Anthea, along with her neighbours back in the 1970s, was instrumental in keeping the area as Urban greenspace.

https://dcmc.org.au/darebin-parklands-creek-history/

The birding part of our outing began near the BBQ area at the North end of the park. A row of flowering Eucalypts lines the parking area between Separation Street and Smith Street. These provide plenty of feed and cover for Rainbow Lorikeets, Musk Lorikeets, and Noisy Miners. We spent some time in this area trying to get some decent views of the smaller Musk Lorikeet.  

Rainbow Lorikeet

Musk Lorikeet

We then made our way along the Healing Trail, past the grassland habitat and descended toward the Darebin creek. We were greeted by the sound of a Little Raven, more Rainbow Lorikeets, a Pied Currawong, a Magpie Lark, and a pair of Grey Butcherbirds.

Magpie-lark

While the front section of the group moved South along the creek, the rear part of the group happened upon the assistant ranger. They enjoyed some further insights into the park management and were able to observe the camera mechanism used in Nest monitoring.

Here, the creek flows below a steep rockface on the Ivanhoe side and forms a few pools which are often used enthusiastically by dogs as this is in the off-leash area of the park. As such, it is not often busy with smaller birds. We got two Pacific Black Ducks in one of the pools, and as we moved forward a keen observer spotted a Grey Fantail.

Pacific Black Duck

Grey Fantail

Closer inspection of this area yielded two Brown Thornbills, two Spotted Pardalotes, Common Mynas, Spotted Dove, and a Common Blackbird. It was nice to get some of the small birds that are known to frequent the area as they can be elusive and often confined to a few favoured zones.

Spotted Dove

Spotted Pardalote

Moving around the perimeter of the off-leash dog area, we took a path through the trees that skirts the creek and comes out near the Sidney Clifton Bridge. We got some nice views of Pied Currawongs that were foraging at the base of the creek-side vegetation, and we kept hearing Rosellas but did not get any good sightings. A known Tawny Frogmouth roost is near the bridge but Phillip was unable to locate one on this occasion. Disappointment was soon overcome, however, with some lovely views of Australian King Parrots on the far side of the creek. Four birds foraging in shrubby foliage and two more flyovers. A Golden Whistler female or immature was also seen in this area.

Australian King Parrot

We then moved on through the cleared area on the Ivanhoe side of the creek to the small natural wetland that sits here. It seemed streaked with algae and not particularly healthy, but we did see 4 Dusky Moorhen foraging in the water. Wood Duck were spotted on the creek bank, and we managed at last to sight two Eastern Rosellas in a Wattle. Pied Currawongs were also busy in this area, and a Red Wattlebird finally showed. Near the treetops Phillip spotted a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike to round off the Ivanhoe side.

Eastern Rosella

Red Wattlebird

We crossed back over the creek on the steppingstones at the top of the fish ladder, as you will see from Steve’s photo. From here we made our way up the main Darebin Trail to the ponds that form part of the leachate treatment system. These ponds always have waterbirds in attendance.

Group crossing the creek on stepping stones

Today we noted Chestnut Teal, Dusky Moorhen, Pacific Black Duck and Australasian Grebe. The ridge on the Eastern side of these ponds is a known small bird haunt, but after a short exploratory expedition we could only find Common Mynas. So, we had been lucky earlier down near the creek.

Chestnut Teal

Australasian Grebe

We made our way up to the next Pond and then up to the top of Mount Puffalo. By now we had added Purple Swamphen and Common Starling. Mount Puffalo offers a commanding view of the area, just a little constrained as the size of the nearby trees has increased. Although one might hope for a few interesting flyovers all we got was a single Silver Gull, and quite a good view of the Welcome Swallows hawking the nearby grassland.

Back down near the filtration pond we spotted more Dusky Moorhen, Australian Magpies, and over near the bike path a group of 11 Crested Pigeons.

Crested Pigeon

All in all, a pleasant morning walking and birdwatching. After lunch at the BBQ Area, a smaller group did an out and back walk down the main trail to Sparkes Reserve. We added Eurasian Coot, Superb Fairy-wren, Rock Dove, and Red-rumped Parrot, and while calling the list back at the BBQ area we were joined by two Long-billed Corellas on the nearby grass.

It’s always difficult to pick highlights but special mentions go to…

• Peter for his engaging and informative talk.
• The King Parrots for showing so well.
• The two bathing Eastern Rosellas we saw as a small reward at the furthest point of our after-lunch walk.

The full list for the day can be found in the Bird data survey accessible by the link below.

http://birdata.birdlife.org.au/survey?id=9196074&h=49d82667

Many thanks to all attendees for your brilliant eyes and ears, and for helping to make leading on the day a pleasure. Our total of 35 species was pretty good even if it did include 5 non-native species.

Photos kindly provided by Steve Hoptroff.

Phillip.

Beginners Outing to Yan Yean Reservoir

22 April 2023
Leaders: Hazel and Alan Veevers
Species count: 46

Photographs by Eleanor Dilley

Twenty-nine beginners assembled at Yan Yean Reservoir Park on a beautiful sunny autumn day. They were greeted by several noisy Australian King Parrots flying around the nearby trees. The walk started on the path along the top of the reservoir dam, where good sightings, aided by a spotting scope, were had. 

Australasian Darter

Great Cormorants

First, a female Australasian Darter gave everyone a good view as it remained perched on the roof of the nearby control building. Great and Little Pied Cormorants were resting on the breakwater, and a few Blue-billed Ducks could be seen swimming in the distance. Eurasian Coots were plentiful, though the numbers of other water birds were noticeably smaller than in previous years.  A Whistling Kite flew overhead whilst a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles were circling serenely in the distance.

Whistling Kite

Wedge-tailed Eagle

The wetlands walk began after moving the cars to the parking area at the far end of the dam wall. Two pairs of Chestnut Teal were the only duck species seen, though there were many Dusky Moorhens and yet more Eurasian Coots. Crossing the vehicle track to the large ponds proved much more productive. There were lots of Australasian Grebes, Hardheads, Pacific Black Ducks, Australian Wood Ducks, Chestnut Teal, Purple Swamphens and a lone Masked Lapwing.

Pacific Black Ducks and a pair of Hard Heads

Chestnut Teal

A pair of Red-rumped Parrots bathing at the edge of the second pond provided good photographic opportunities as did a pair of Musk Lorikeets feeding in a waterside tree. Both Eastern and Crimson Rosellas were also seen in this area. 

Red-rumped Parrots

Musk Lorikeet

Lunch was eaten at the top of the hill, with a magnificent view over the reservoir to the hills beyond. Not far away, a pair of Fan-tailed Cuckoos, which had been calling earlier in the day, were finally located sunning themselves in tall eucalypts. 

Crimson Rosella

Fan-tailed Cuckoo

It was pleasing to see that six Nankeen Night-Herons were roosting in their usual tree beside the old Caretaker’s Cottage. Nearby there was a good sighting of a Striated Pardalote perched on a bare branch. Whilst walking down the hill to the reservoir fence a male Musk Duck could be seen close to shore. 

Nankeen Night-Heron

Musk Duck (male)

The final location for the day was at the lookout at the entry end of the park. No new species were added there, but the pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles seen earlier flew low overhead providing a fitting finale to a most enjoyable outing. A total of 46 species was obtained for the day.

Our thanks to Eleanor Dilley who provided all the photographs for this report.

Beginners Outing to Hawkestowe Park

24 September 2022

Species count: 62

Leaders: Hazel and Alan Veevers

Seventeen members gathered at Le Page Homestead carpark and enjoyed watching the many birds which were around. One person recorded 24 species before the walk even started! The deciduous trees, bare of leaves, enabled small birds such as Striated Pardalotes to be seen and photographed.

Striated Pardalote. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

Purple Swamphens. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

At the lake just below the homestead a pair of Purple Swamphens on a nest were busy feeding 2 very young chicks. On the larger pond were, Eurasian Coots, Grey Teal, Australian Wood Ducks, and a pair of Australasian Grebes. Near the parterre garden several small birds were foraging, including Red-browed Finches, Grey Fantails and Superb Fairy-wrens.

Red-browed Finch. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

Superb Fairy-wren. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

Members then took the Wonga Walk Track, alongside the river, and saw several new species including Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Musk Lorikeet and Long-billed Corella.

Long-billed Corella. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

Musk Lorikeet. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Lunch was eaten back near the carpark after which most of the group drove the short distance to Morang Wetlands. There was a lot of water in the lakes and a good variety of birds. A lone Black-fronted Dotterel was feeding on the shore and several Australian Reed-Warblers could be heard but not seen.

Blue-billed Duck. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Black-fronted Dotterel. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

A pair of Blue-billed Ducks, Hardheads, Grey and Chestnut Teal were on the water along with Great and Little Pied Cormorants. Fairy Martins and Welcome Swallows were skimming over the surface feeding on insects. On the ridge track Dusky Woodswallows were seen, and Bell Miners were heard.

Dusky Woodswallow. Photo by Steve Hoptroff

Great Cormorant

Unfortunately, the pair of rare (for this site) Square-tailed Kites, which had been seen on the recce just three days earlier, did not appear. Photos from the recce are included here so that those who return to try and find them can look out for the diagnostic patterns shown on the upper and lower sides of the wings.

Recce photos of Square-tailed Kites by Steve Hoptroff

However, a gratifying total of 62 species was recorded for the day and everyone agreed that it had been a most enjoyable excursion. Thanks to Eleanor Dilley and Steve Hoptroff for providing the above excellent photographs.

See bird list for the day: bm-sep-2022-bird-list-hawkstowe-parkDownload

Beginners Outing to Banyule Flats

22 June 2019

Leaders: Hazel and Alan Veevers; Species count: 48

Tawny Frogmouths (second pair sighted). Photo by Bevan Hood

There was a chaotic start to this excursion as the intended carpark was full of baseball players’ cars and the beginners had to find parking spaces in the surrounding streets.  However, this was soon forgotten when a pair of Tawny Frogmouths were located in one of their usual trees to the left of the carpark.  In overcast conditions the 29 members then walked to the lagoon which was full of water from the recent rains. Pairs of Long-billed Corellas and Red-rumped Parrots, along with numerous Silver Gulls, were perched in the old dead trees on the far side. Two Pink-eared Ducks were seen swimming across the lagoon and then resting on partially submerged logs.

Pink-eared Ducks. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

Grey and Chestnut Teals, Pacific Black Ducks, a Eurasian Coot, a Dusky Moorhen and a Hoary-headed Grebe could be seen in the distance. After leaving the lagoon on a track towards the river, Pied Currawongs were noisy and plentiful.

Pied Currawong. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

A huge River Red Gum hosted a mixed flock of smaller birds, including a pair of Golden Whistlers, Grey Fantails, Spotted Pardalotes and Brown Thornbills.

Golden Whistler (f). Photo by Eleanor Dilley

Near the river a male Common Bronzewing was perched high on a branch and several White-browed Scrubwrens were seen foraging in shrubs on the riverbank. Returning along the track from the windmill, a few Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were seen and this proved to be the only honeyeater species recorded for the day, apart from the ever present Noisy Miners. Near to the Main Yarra Trail a Gang-gang Cockatoo was heard giving its “creaky gate” call and was soon located and identified as an immature male.

Gang-gang Cockatoo. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

A small flock of Silvereyes fluttered around nearby and more Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were seen in a profusely flowering eucalyptus tree. Magpie-larks could readily be seen and heard on the ground.

Magpie-lark. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

On returning to the now empty carpark the members retrieved their vehicles from the surrounding streets and then had lunch beside the oval where they watched a mixed feeding flock of Galahs, Long-billed and Little Corellas. A short walk was then taken along the main trail towards the ‘grotty ponds’.

Tawny Frogmouths. Photo by Bevan Hood

The sun finally put in a brief appearance, shining onto a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets feeding in a flowering ironbark. Nearby a second pair of Tawny Frogmouths was located and then a pair of Crested Pigeons was seen giving a courtship display.

Crested Pigeons. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

From the raised level of the track an Australasian Grebe could be seen on the lagoon – an unusual sighting for Banyule Flats. The ‘grotty ponds’ had been cleared of vegetation, so disappointingly there was no sign of any crakes or rails. In a nearby flowering gum a mixed flock of Rainbow and Musk Lorikeets could be seen noisily feeding.

Rainbow Lorikeet. Photo by Bevan Hood

At this point dark clouds were approaching, threatening very heavy rain, and so all the members hurried back to their cars.

Musk Lorikeet. Photo by Eleanor Dilley

A pleasing total of 48 species was recorded for the day which was a good result for mid-winter in mainly dull and overcast conditions.

View the complete bird list: BM Jun 2019 Bird List Banyule Flats

 

Weekdays outing to Pipemakers Park, Maribyrnong

10 June 2019

Photographer: Katmun Loh

Little Pied Cormorant

The overnight weather was not reassuring as wind and rain had been widespread and our first arrivals needed to shelter during a brief fall. However the rain radar showed the band of showers passing and we drew reassurance from that, especially when the clouds occasionally broke and bright sunshine resulted. When all had assembled we numbered 17 with Pat Bingham leading the group. Some had visited Pipemakers in the past and some were quite new to birding so we were a happily mixed group.

The group

The car park area was the domain of White-plumed Honeyeaters and Red Wattlebirds but there were also several Willie Wagtails, Australian Magpies and Common Blackbirds.

White-plumed Honeyeater

Little Ravens called overhead and the honeyeaters were augmented by New Holland Honeyeaters and those purveyors of ‘false news’, the frequently alarm-calling Noisy Miners. Not far from the car park a few House Sparrows interested those whose local birds had disappeared. This commensal species seems to be in worldwide decline without a single definitive cause.

New Holland Honeyeater

Superb Fairy-wrens were common, flying low, foraging in the understory and dashing across the paths. Many were males in eclipse plumage. The well-grown lignin plantings provide such smaller birds with shelter. We set off toward the river which is vastly improved from its past as an industrial dump. Now fish have returned and Hoary-headed and Australasian Grebes, Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants and Eurasian Coots plus an Australasian Darter were joined by Silver Gulls and a few humans with rods taking advantage of the piscine possibilities.

Superb Fairy-wren, adult female

The flock of gulls was an indicator of the weather along the coast today and this was confirmed by a Crested Tern using the river rather than the coast. Musk Lorikeets in a tree beside the path delighted us and at least one watcher was very happy to have clear, close and prolonged views showing the birds’ markings.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Red-rumped Parrots foraging in the grass beside the path also gave good, close views but also challenged photographers to clearly record the differences between the brilliant male and the drabber female.

Female and male Red-rumped Parrots

 

Our path took us beside the golf course, where a magpie’s nest had been made with the usual sticks plus bright green plastic string (human refuse recycled in a good avian cause). Across to the Sanctuary Walk where the ponds supported Pacific Black Ducks (swimming in tandem as if mating season was starting) plus Dusky Moorhen and a lone Hardhead which was considered the best bird today.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The riverbank Australasian Darter was a young female, perching inconspicuously on a ‘whitewashed’ rock not far away from a White-faced Heron. Fallen boughs must not be allowed to menace the public and the maintenance tractor drivers were working despite the holiday when we visited. They expressed interest in our sightings in their area.

Chestnut Teal, male

We lunched and after walked further along the riverside but added only a few species to the morning’s tally. By day’s end our bird list totalled 40 species and we thanked Pat wholeheartedly for her preparation which resulted in such a satisfactory day’s birding.

Diane Tweeddale, Coordinator BirdLife Melbourne weekdays outings

Beginners Outing to Braeside Park

24 March 2018

Photographs by Eleanor Dilley

The Beginners’ outing to Braeside Park coincided with the end of a two-month dry spell in the Melbourne area! The rain began in earnest soon after the start and it poured down relentlessly for the rest of the excursion!

Musk Lorikeet

Setting off down Cypress Drive there were good views of Eastern Rosellas feeding in the grass, and of Musk and Rainbow Lorikeets feeding in eucalypts. Walking anticlockwise around the back of the wetlands two fluffy, cream-coloured, Australasian Darter chicks were seen on a nest in a tree on an island.

Australasian Darter chicks on nest

Eurasian Coots were plentiful, as were Grey and Chestnut Teal. Australian Pelicans, Black Swans, Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants

Australian Pelican

White-faced Herons, a lone Royal Spoonbill, Hardheads and Blue-billed Ducks could all be seen without the aid of binoculars, which by that time had steamed up. Harder to distinguish were Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels on mud flats at the back of the ponds. Noisy Miners were present in huge numbers and did not seem deterred by the soggy conditions but other bushbirds were harder to find.

Black Swan

The only raptors seen were Swamp Harrier and Whistling Kite. It was a very bedraggled group that returned to the car park with many deciding to head straight for home and hot showers. Others stayed for lunch in the welcome shelter of the visitor centre. After a short discussion it was unanimously agreed that the planned afternoon walk be cancelled.

It had been a commendable effort for all those involved, and especially for our photographer, Eleanor Dilley, whose battle with the elements produced the above photographs. A tally of 52 species was recorded, a creditable total given the conditions. Although very wet, everyone was really glad to see the rain falling on the parched bushland. The homeward journey for most was no doubt filled with thoughts and hopes that rain had also fallen on their own backyards!

View the full bird list: BM Mar 2018 Bird List Braeside Park

 

Beginners Outing to Jells Park

27 August 2016

Leaders: Hazel and Alan Veevers; Species count: 50

All photographs by Eleanor Dilley

Forty-six members set off from the Eastern Carpark in fine weather conditions to begin the walk around the lake. After entering the wildlife enclosure a few small birds were seen including Striated Pardalotes and Superb Fairy-wrens.

Immature Grey Butcherbird

Grey Butcherbirds and Laughing Kookaburras were plentiful but Noisy Miners were very much the most numerous species.

Laughing Kookaburra

At the lake there were only a few ducks but these included a Freckled Duck, an Australasian Shoveler and Chestnut and Grey Teals.

Male (left) and female (right) Chestnut Teal

Of great interest were the birds nesting on a small treed island where there was much activity. Many Australian White Ibis were nesting at ground level, while higher up in the bare trees several pairs of Little Pied Cormorants, Great Cormorants and Australian Darters tended their nests. Sticks were still being brought in to build some nests, but many birds were clearly incubating eggs.

Australian White Ibis

An Eastern Great Egret looked dazzling in its beautiful white breeding plumage contrasting with a few dirty-looking Ibis perched on the same log. On completing the lake circuit a short return walk was taken along the track towards Norton Park and a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and White-faced Heron were added to the morning tally.

Great Egret

Lunch was taken near the carpark, after which about half the group drove to the top of the hill where a second shorter walk was taken.

Purple Swamphen

Highlights of this included a well camouflaged Tawny Frogmouth and great views of Musk Lorikeets in the flowering Ironbark trees.

Tawny Frogmouth

Musk Lorikeet

Those at the rear of the group were fortunate to witness a Peregrine Falcon flying rapidly overhead – the only raptor spotted during the day. Eight Parrot species added a wonderful range of colours to the sightings, making up for the near zero contribution from the few Honeyeaters that were around.

Galah

Eastern Rosella

A total of 50 species were recorded on a most interesting and enjoyable excursion.

See the bird list for the outing: BM Aug 2016 Bird List Jells Park

Weekdays outing to Merri Creek

30 March 2016

Photographs by Marilyn Ellis (BirdLife Member)

Trucks and occasional drizzle challenged the drivers as 28 people assembled for the walk. The rain never really materialised as Elsmaree Baxter led us near the site of the former Pentridge prison (now a residential development). Initial expectations were low as a couple of hundred feral pigeons and a crowd of Silver Gulls filled the ground by the car park. Clearly people were ignoring the signs exhorting them not to feed birds. Things improved as we watched and recorded Pacific Black and Australian Wood Ducks, Chestnut Teal and a lone Hardhead. Other waterbirds included Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants.

Little Pied Cormorant

Then on the weir we found a female Australasian Darter not far from a Black Swan on a nest which had incorporated lots of plastic litter.

Australasian Darter (female)

The swan was tagged and later we watched at least one untagged swan (the mate?) grazing on the clipped grass beside the creek.

Banded Black Swan (female) on nest of litter

The usual triumvirate of Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen and Eurasian Coot were common and at least one individual each of Australasian and Hoary–headed Grebe was diving near the banks.

Dusky Moorhen

Today registered no egrets but both Australian White and Straw-necked Ibis were present and at least one White-faced Heron kept a wary eye on our group.

Australian White Ibis

Walking on added bush birds to the list of waterbirds. Red Wattlebirds were common and Welcome Swallows dipped over the lake surface and soared above the canopy. White-plumed Honeyeaters were the most common of the smaller honeyeaters but later sightings added Eastern Spinebill, New Holland Honeyeater and, unwantedly, Noisy Miner.

Musk Lorikeet

Parrots were dominated by Rainbow Lorikeets, with a few Little Corellas, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Musk Lorikeets and Red-rumped Parrots.

Red-rumped Parrot (male)

Some flowering eucalypts lined the nearby streets and the parrots and miners foraged in them enthusiastically. Further along the track we encountered a “purple patch” where a mixed feeding flock of Silvereyes, Brown Thornbills, Grey Fantails and Spotted Pardalotes kept everyone on their toes. A single female Golden Whistler proved elusive for many.

Golden Whistler

Turning back for lunch was a relief as a seat looked like a very good idea. An interim birdcall brought the species total first to 48 and then to 50 with a couple of late additions. Hmm, what would we see in the post-lunch walk? Not many more as it turned out but it was quality, not quantity when three Tawny Frogmouths were detected in a eucalypt.

Two Tawny Frogmouths

The final bird list totalled 53 species. There were visitors among us and we hope that today will have whetted the appetites of those from Melbourne for bird watching. Certainly we all thanked Elsmaree whole-heartedly for introducing us to a part of Melbourne few of us suspected existed.

Tawny Frogmouth

 

Diane Tweeddale, coordinator BirdLife Melbourne Weekdays Outings