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