210303_Willung and Rosedale

Our first site was just below the Willung Hall on the Merrimans Creek where 11 of us gathered and, despite a tiny bit of mist, split into 3 groups and birded the three roads out from the intersection. It was a pretty good site with 29 species being noted. There were heaps of Red Wattlebirds and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters plus a flyby of a flock of about 20 Musk Lorikeets. One group had an involved discussion on cataracts and bird identification by eye and ear. We headed off to Rosedale and had morning tea at the park with the statue of Patrobus on the main street. (What year did Patrobus win the Melbourne Cup?)

We then walked across town to Mill Lane and took the footpath to Willow Park crossing the Latrobe River by the footbridge. Lots of blackberries meant lots of small birds. A Brown Goshawk was seeing off a Wedge-tailed Eagle at 500 metres high (eventually gave up and glided away) and a White-necked Heron was trying to see off a European Carp in a rapidly drying pool (we left before the result). Back in town, after indulging in a bit of apple scrumping, we had lunch and that was it for the day. 39 species, a good bag.

Merton Vale Road

White-bellied Sea-Eagle  1
Laughing Kookaburra  4
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo  4
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo  21
Australian King-Parrot  10
Crimson Rosella  11
Eastern Rosella  1
Musk Lorikeet  12
Rainbow Lorikeet  6
White-throated Treecreeper  1
Superb Fairywren  14
Eastern Spinebill  1
Yellow-faced Honeyeater  21
Red Wattlebird  43
Spotted Pardalote  3
Striated Pardalote  1
Brown Thornbill  6
Yellow-rumped Thornbill  12
Black-faced Cuckooshrike  3
Grey Shrikethrush  3
Rufous Whistler  3
Olive-backed Oriole  1
Grey Butcherbird  1
Australian Magpie (White-backed)  5
Pied Currawong  1
Grey Fantail  3
Little Raven  6
Eastern Yellow Robin  1
Silvereye  10
Common Myna  2
Red-browed Finch  12

Willow Park

White-necked Heron  1
Straw-necked Ibis  5
Wedge-tailed Eagle  2
Brown Goshawk  1
Whistling Kite  1
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo  1
Rainbow Lorikeet  2
Superb Fairywren  8
Yellow-faced Honeyeater  4
Spotted Pardalote  1
Brown Thornbill  2
Yellow Thornbill  5
Grey Shrikethrush  1
Australian Magpie (White-backed)  5
Silvereye  20
Common Starling  30
Common Myna  2
Red-browed Finch  2
European Goldfinch  1

210203_Strathfieldsaye Estate _BLEG Birds on Farms

Nine HBWers met at the main agte at the Strathfieldsaye Estate and assisted BirdLife East Gippsland do a Birds on Farms survey on 7 sites across the estate. The weather was dull, dull enough to drive some folks away as the rain fell lightly for the first 2 hectare, 20 minute survey after which it cleared up into a very nice day. We split into two groups with each group doing three surveys on different parts of the estate and then meeting for all to do the final survey before lunch at Lake Tiny, almost aptly named but large enough for a family of Black Swans. The survey sites varied from bush blocks to plantation to grasslands and the lake. After completing the surveys we gathered at the Strathfieldsaye Homestead for lunch followed by a walk down to the shore of Lake Wellington. The bird list was pretty good. Stubble Quail and 5 raptors were the standout birds. 

4 Black Swan 

2 Chestnut Teal 

2 Australian Wood Duck 

1 Stubble Quail 

1 Common Bronzewing 

1+ Crested Pigeon 

1 White-faced Heron 

12 Straw-necked Ibis 

1 Australasian Grebe 

1 Australian Pelican 

3 Wedge-tailed Eagle 

1 Swamp Harrier 

1 White-bellied Sea-Eagle -- Juvenile in serious moult. No fingers and half a tail

1 Whistling Kite 

1 Laughing Kookaburra 

2 Nankeen Kestrel 

5 Galah 

1+ Little Corella 

2 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 

1+ Crimson Rosella 

5 Eastern Rosella 

2 Musk Lorikeet 

1+ Rainbow Lorikeet 

1 White-throated Treecreeper 

4 Superb Fairywren 

1+ Red Wattlebird 

1+ Yellow-faced Honeyeater 

1+ Noisy Miner 

1 Striated Pardalote 

1+ Yellow-rumped Thornbill 

1+ Brown Thornbill 

1 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike 

X Grey Shrikethrush 

1 Rufous Whistler 

1 Grey Currawong 

12 Australian Magpie (White-backed) 

1 Grey Butcherbird 

1 Willie Wagtail 

1+ Grey Fantail 

2 Magpie-lark 

2+ Little Raven 

1 Australian Raven 

1+ White-winged Chough 

2+ Welcome Swallow 

1 Australasian Pipit 

1 Australian Reed-Warbler 

5 Tree Martin 

1+ Common Starling 

1+ Common Myna