Ben Cruachan Blog #2

A new home.

2005-12-05T20:06:00.000+11:00

Please note that the Ben Cruachan Blog has moved to www.bencruachan.org/blog
This blog will carry all the posts that were lost when the original blog died.

Return to the hills.

2005-12-04T13:54:00.000+11:00

Ben Cruachan, Green Hill, The Round Hill, Pearson's Point, Mount Hedrick, blue profiles on the skyline, first pointed out to me by my uncle sixty years ago, as familiar to me as my face in the mirror. Perhaps more familiar, they don't change with the passing of the years, whereas I sometimes see a stranger reflected in the glass. They may be insignificant in terms of height, but certainly not in the wealth of flowering plants that cling to their rocky slopes.
I realized the other day that it was over twenty five years since I last stood on Mount Hedrick, my wife and I hiked up through the bush in spring time and marveled at the beauty of the Grevillea, Olearia, Parrot Pea, Speedwell, Heath Myrtle, and Hovea, to name a few. With the last month of Spring here, and the temperature starting to climb, I took advantage of a calm clear day after a little rain, and headed up the old cattle trail, with the scent of flowering Black Wattle heavy in the air. At Bulldog Junction I turned right, and with four wheel drive engaged, climbed the rocky track to Pearson's Point. There is a north facing shelf there, and I dropped down on to it to see a wonderful display of the Olearia, or Scented Daisy Bush, which is virtually restricted to these hills, and even better, that beautiful, delicate mint, Prostanthera saxicola, variety bracteolata, doesn't that roll off the tongue nicely. Parrot Pea and Rock Isotome were flowering too, and although the Heath Myrtle was past its best, the reddish tint of the massed old flowers was still attractive.

Back on the road with pictures in the camera, I pushed on to the start of the walk up to Mount Hedrick, and started hiking up through bush still moist from the recent showers. Years ago there was no track, and we had to push through the spiny Kangaroo Thorn to reach the ridge top, there is a foot track now, and I stayed prickle free. It won't be long before this northern slope will be hot, dry, and crackling underfoot, but now it was pleasant walking, with the incessant calling of Wonga Pigeons to keep me company. As I gained height the Olearia appeared again, and its musky perfume mingled with the curry-like scent of the Cassinia. The track veered over to the south side of the ridge, and as I knelt down to photograph a native violet in a shady damp nook, a Superb Lyrebird burst into song not far away. We tend to think of these birds as denizens of damp forest, but I was soon passing display mounds on the hot northern side of the ridge, and I remembered my wife and I creeping up on a dancing male, on that trip so long ago.

Hedrick has three peaks, rocky, and covered with flowering shrubs, I particularly wanted to renew acquaintances with a tall Hovea we saw there, but unfortunately there was no sign of it. It may have died out, or perhaps was not in flower and I missed it, an excuse for another visit. From a high point I could see out across the plains towards home, and called my wife to tell her what I was seeing, something I always do now that she is unable to accompany me. While clambering around the rock stacks looking for the Hovea, I disturbed a Black Crevice-skink which slipped into a cleft and kept a close eye on me as I took its picture, they have to be wary to avoid being a meal for a Kookaburra.
The ledges and shelves where the best flowers grow are on the hot northern side of the ridge, and although they were now moist, when summer is at its height they will be baking in shade temperatures in the forties, how wonderfully adapted the plants are to survive. Although they seem to be growing in the barest cover of humus, their roots find moisture deep down in cracks in the conglomerate, or pudding stone, which makes up these old hills. In another shady spot I found some Necklace Fern trailing, and what should be growing up from the centre of it but a Bearded Orchid, the same species I had seen a week before on the trip to Candlewood.
Standing on the edge of a rock shelf, I looked out over the rolling hills to Ben Cruachan, and beyond on the far skyline, the pale blue shapes of the Razorback, Mount Hump, and the Gable End, prompting memories of the hardest trek I ever did in the mountains.

Turning, I scrambled back to the track, to make the easy downhill return to the vehicle, with the never ending whoop, whoop, whoop of the Wongas, echoing my footsteps.

A grand day out.

2005-12-04T13:53:00.001+11:00

The Australian Painted-snipe is a rare and enigmatic bird, and P and I spent Saturday in the wetlands, taking part in the survey arranged by the Threatened Bird Network. These birds are quite particular regarding habitat, so we went to three places that looked promising, the Heart Morass, a swampy area at Longford near Sale, and Dowd's Morass, all associated with the Latrobe River.
We started at the Heart, scanning the shoreline of the first site through the scope, as it's a no go private farm, no luck, so we moved on to the next, which looked good, and with rubber boots on paddled through several hundred metres of ideal territory. This was also disappointing, with no snipe, crakes, rails, or even a dotterel to be seen. The best bird we saw was a Common Greenshank, flying through with its characteristic ringing call. The third site at the Heart was not far away, along the access road, but before we covered it we went for a walk to see how far it extended, and on the way back heard the call of a Fan-tailed Cuckoo. It was easy to find in a low Redgum, and a few feet away in the same tree, a Bronze-cuckoo showed up. I expected a Horsfield's, but as we got a better look, the facial pattern, iridescent green on the back, and lack of rufous tail feathers identified it as a Shining Bronze-cuckoo. Interestingly though, although it was a strikingly marked adult, the barring on its lower breast and belly was interrupted by a sharply defined clear stripe. My latest guide shows the adult S B-c with unbroken barring right to the vent, and we chewed this over with our biscuits while we had morning tea, looking out over the moist flats carpeted with yellow Water Buttons and pink Noon Flower.

The third site was a repeat of the first two, however we did see four Hardhead ducks, which were a welcome change to the run of the mill water birds we'd been seeing. Mating season for the introduced European Carp must be here, pairs of huge fish were sending the water flying as they got together in the shallow weedy water.
It was mid-day by now, so we moved on to the swamp at Longford, and saw a pair of Sacred Kingfishers before we set up the scope on a high point. It wasn't possible to walk this swamp, so we spent quite some time scoping thoroughly, once again seeing the usual birds, but with the added bonus of a Great Egret, and a Yellow, and two Royal Spoonbills, scything their bills from side to side in the shallow water. P had his new camera, and got as close as he could for this shot of one of the Royals, complete with breeding plumes. A few pairs of Black Swans had grey cygnets in tow, feeding on the lush water vegetation.

We had lunch on the bank of the river at Dowd's, leaning back in our folding chairs to watch skeins of Ibis soaring upwards in the thermals, then heading out to the irrigated pastures to feed. I knew of only one suitable site here, so we spent an hour or two after lunch checking out other birding spots. One was a wooded levee that separates two water bodies, and within a few yards we had a text book Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo in front of us. Then, while we were discussing the differing markings, a Shining Bronze started calling loudly from within a few metres of the Horsfield! We didn't see it, but the rising “whistling the dog” call was unmistakable. Our general species tally was approaching 60 by the time we checked the last site, once again drawing a blank after paddling around what seemed to be perfect habitat.
The rest of the afternoon was now our own, P hadn't seen the Ibis and Cormorant breeding rookeries, and we managed to wade in without topping our boots. The main rookeries were deserted by now, but Little Black Cormorants and a few White Ibis were still breeding in one area. While we were looking, a Little Black flew past, heading for its nest with a stick about two feet long in its bill.
In the private property at the end of the track, there are a few old Redgums complete with Whistling Kite's nests, and on a previous visit I'd found the remains of prey on the ground under one of them. We walked over to have a look, and found eight Ibis skulls with bills attached, plus the head of a very young carrion lamb.

The length of some of the bills told us that they were young birds, snatched from the breeding colonies, virtual Ibis supermarkets! We finished the day's birding with some of our little favourites, White-fronted Chats, flitting along the fence line. We'd ticked no Painted-snipe, but like Wallace and Gromit we'd had A Grand Day Out.

A day in the bush.

2005-12-04T13:53:00.000+11:00

The owner of a large bush property, Candlewood, kindly gave a friend and myself permission to drive around it, with birdwatching in mind. A year ago, my friend's son saw Rainbow Bee-eaters feeding on Gambusia, or Mosquito Fish, in a dam, and we were hopeful of seeing them again. On the way to the dam we saw a Nankeen Kestrel hunting, dropping from the hover into the grass, and then perching in a dead tree to eat its catch. At another spot, after searching for the Golden Whistlers we could hear calling in the stringbarks, we finally tracked down a brilliant male, singing with the feathers at the back of his head raised in a semi crest, something I hadn't seen before.
At the dam we scanned the trees in vain for Bee-eaters, but there were other attractions there. The dam was formed by blocking a creek, and upstream from the wall, Crimson Bottlebrush is growing in a dense continuous strip for several hundred metres. The bushes are just starting to come into flower, and honeyeaters are gathering for the feast of nectar. Red and Little Wattlebirds, New Holland, and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were filling the air with their calls as they zipped around the flower spikes. In a week or ten days this place will be absolutely spectacular, and we hope to return to photograph what will be a riot of colour and bird activity.
Unfortunately the weather had turned rough with a storm front passing through, so we left the property, and continued east along the bush road which parallels the railway line, stopping occasionally to look at the many sun orchids and other wildflowers growing on the railway reserve. Soon we left the hilly terrain and entered the flat country, and the reserve started to delight us with a wonderful display of the grassland flora, large numbers of tall Tiger Orchids being outstanding. We wanted to go into the Providence Ponds Flora and Fauna Reserve, which lies over the Perry River from Candlewood, so after reaching the main road, we crossed the rails and turned west on to the track which runs back to the Ponds. The display along here was mind blowing, with hundreds of Purple Doubletail orchids, Showy Podolepis, Tiger Orchids, many other species in the daisy family, Grevillea lanigera, and small lilies of many kinds.
We stopped several times to check out promising spots, and at one were pleased to find a number of Bearded Orchids, Calochilus robertsonii, growing out of a tussock on the other side of the line. They are fairly inconspicuous and easily missed, but are fascinating in close up.

Once on to the west boundary track in the Ponds Reserve, we continued to see many more Sun Orchids, including this outstanding pink form of the normally blue Dotted Sun Orchid.

Recent posts have mentioned the number of Goannas I've been seeing recently, well, we saw another one here, a strikingly marked individual, and unusually, it allowed me to approach quite close to take its portrait. While I was sneaking up, its long forked tongue was flicking out, probably sampling the aroma of insect repellent accompanying me!

The wind was really starting to get up again by this time, so after getting out to within sight of the highway, we decided to call it a day, and it had been a good one, despite missing out on the Bee-eaters, maybe another time. I have put up another gallery with some more pictures of our outing, you can access it here.

Nectar plants.

2005-12-04T13:52:00.000+11:00

There has been a gathering of the clan at the Ben Cruachan Blog, with October birthdays being celebrated, and grandchildren the only wildlife being photographed! This morning started with fog, which soon cleared to a bright spring day, and while walking the dog I found a couple of nice subjects for the photos below. A few years ago we were impressed with the Red-flowered Mallee which we saw growing at Waikerie in South Australia, I collected seed and grew some, and they are now coming into flower in the back plantation. The mallee eucalypts are great producers of nectar for the honeyeaters, as are the grevilleas, the one pictured being Robyn Gordon, a great favourite of the New Hollands in our garden.

Three days of birding.

2005-12-04T13:51:00.001+11:00

The TFN bird surveys at the Bush Family and Frair Reserves are over for another year or two, and I'm sitting here with my legs gently tingling from the myriad of small scratches collected during three days of pushing through scrub in shorts. Memo, buy a pair of gaiters for the next outing. P and I arrived early on Friday, and started surveying in the north east corner as requested, and our best birds were a Leaden Flycatcher, and a pair of Scarlet Robins, unusually, flying fast through the tree tops. After two surveys we went back to the access road and did one more before L arrived, and we then did three more down to the main road. More good birds included Olive-backed Oriole, Noisy Friarbird, Jacky Winter, Dusky Woodswallow, and male Rufous Whistlers competing for mates and territory.
This was just about as good as it got for P and me, L went on to bigger and better things with another crew, but when the C. O. arrived, P, myself, and S, were allocated sites mainly on the perimeter of the two reserves. This meant we were in Noisy Miner territory, they are aggressive birds which tend to drive off other species, and our site species counts were well down on what some of the others were getting deeper into the reserves. A bright spot late on the first day was a flock of 25 White-fronted Chats at one of the few dams in this dry country.
The next day saw the three of us driving to the southern boundary track, and we had just turned onto it when P said to stop and reverse. He'd spotted two Goannas on a dry tree, these large Monitor lizards are fearsome predators of eggs and nestlings, and it was out cameras and over to the tree for photos. Unusually, they didn't move, even when we were directly underneath them, S suggested they were warming up in the early morning sun, they were probably well fed also, the largest had down from a nest sticking to its claws. There is a collection of pictures of them at this gallery.

After lunch we drove across country to the Frair Reserve for 6 surveys on the northern boundary track, where the story was the same, heaps of Noisy Miners and a scarcity of other species. A highlight though, was a wonderful display of Tiger Orchids, Diuris sulphurea, in colonies along the 2 kilometres of track.

At our last survey for the day things changed for the better, S found 3 Gang-gang Cockatoos, a Mistletoebird flew over pursued by a Miner, and we ended with the best variety for the afternoon. Another floral highlight on this section of track was a good number of blue Sun Orchids, a Thelymitra species which I am still trying to identify to my satisfaction.

On the final morning we had to repeat the six surveys in Frair, and the results were generally similar to the previous day, the last being the best, with one exception. On the fourth survey I was walking along the edge through fallen timber, looking for a kangaroo track to take me in through the scrub, when the sixth sense kicked in and I looked down to see a very large annoyed Red-bellied Black Snake about five feet in front of my bare legs. Its neck was flattened, giving the head the characteristic threatening triangular appearance, I stepped back quietly and it was happy to slide under a log, leaving me to continue on showing the whites of my eyes.
I told S about it, and it led to the only record of a Tawny Frogmouth in the two reserves for the three days. In the next site she was keeping a close eye on the ground, and sighted a patch of whitewash. She looked up and there it was above her, a great sighting. At our last site the Gang-gangs were still feeding in the Eucalypts, and we at last got a look at the Lorikeets that we'd been seeing zipping over from time to time, they were as we suspected, Musk Lorikeets, and we finished our thirtieth and final survey watching them feeding quietly in the top of a Stringybark.

Lizards plus.

2005-12-04T13:51:00.000+11:00

After three days in dry plains woodland I felt like a change of scenery, so a friend and I went into the foothills to look for wildflowers along the Avon River. On the way, two Common Bluetongue Lizards crossed the road in front of us, and we were hardly into the bush when a large Goanna went up the bank away from the track. Prior to the weekend I hadn't seen any for quite some time, and that made the fourth in three days, funny how things like that happen . The particular orchid I was looking for didn't show up, but there were some nice peas flowering, the Rock Waxflower was out, and the banks of the river were like a garden, with Calytrix lighting up the red rocks.

It was nice to just sit in the sunshine amongst the flowers and listen to the sound of the crystal clear water tumbling down the small rapids, it doesn't come much better.
At another spot on the river we met up with this little fellow, a Jacky Lashtail. These small dragons usually get out of the way as quickly as possible, but this one was very co-operative and let me follow it around taking pictures. The light was poor, but eventually it moved into the sun and I got a couple of reasonable shots.

There are two bigger pictures here.
This morning before I started this blog I happened to think of other lizards I've met over the years, so it was out with the slide boxes and the results are in this gallery

Bee-eaters plus.

2005-12-04T13:50:00.000+11:00

The weather cleared this afternoon after morning showers, so I went out to the river to see if the Rainbow Bee-eaters had arrived. Quite a brisk breeze was blowing, and big white cumulus clouds were piled up high in the sky. I hadn't walked far before I heard the distinctive call, and then one flew and perched out of sight below the edge of the bank. While sneaking up to get a closer look, I saw a movement on a fallen tree trunk down below me, and there was an Eastern Water Dragon sunning itself.

These large Dragons are sometimes whimsically called Gippsland crocodiles. After getting a few photos I pushed on to the the river junction and found more Bee-eaters, and managed to get one passable shot for the record.

They are newly arrived and a bit flighty, and try as I might I couldn't get close enough for a detailed shot. On the way back I saw quite a few Mistletoebirds, zipping round a big old infested Manna Gum, and a nice patch of Calytrix was in flower in what was once the river bed. Calytrix tetragona is a most attractive shrub in the Myrtaceae, the flower colour can vary from white to deep pink and the one I photographed was a nice in between colour.

Not far away a Bronzewing Pigeon was picking up seed on the stony ground, there is a picture of it here with a few more from the outing.

Yellow and blue.

2005-12-04T13:49:00.000+11:00

A taste of early summer today, bright sunshine and just a light breeze. Took the camera out again and got two more flowers which have just showed up, a small cluster flower everlasting, and a small grass lily.

Personal history meme.

2005-12-04T13:48:00.000+11:00

The wind is up again today, a good excuse to stay inside and get this done clearing the way for something more interesting.

10 years ago. I was ten months into “retirement” after 43 years in the building industry, the last 33 with a local firm, working at various times as carpenter, joiner, tiler, welder, and general troubleshooter. They call it multi skilled. I had just finished catching up on all of the jobs around home, and was trying to psych. myself up to start a 12 month building project I had agreed to in a moment of madness. You can see why the word retirement is in quotes.
5 years ago. My wife and I were probably in the South Australian outback, seeing exciting new birds, plants, reptiles, and scenery. Wonderful arid country, so different from our forested south eastern home territory, it calls us back whenever we smell a warm north west wind coming from the inland.
1 year ago. Waiting for our third grandchild to arrive, which she did on the 13th .
Yesterday. Measured up for a security door, and routed out the tread housings in two sets of steps I'm making. See what I mean about retirement?
5 songs I know all the words to. Sorry, melodies speak louder to me than words and that is what is filed away in my brain.
5 snacks.
Preserved ginger.
Crackers and matured cheese.
Macadamia nuts.
Roma tomato on Savoy crackers with salt, pepper, and a touch of sugar.
Chocolate.
5 things I'd do with $100 million.
Give to family.
Donate to conservation appeals.
Buy the best photographic equipment available.
Buy the best binoculars available.
Buy a motor home and go birding around Australia.
5 places I'd run away to.
Broome, W A, when the migratory waders arrive.
The Scottish Highlands, land of my ancestors.
North Queensland.
Macquarie Island.
The Coongie Lakes.
5 things I'd never wear.
Flared jeans.
Baggy jeans.
A beret.
A cardigan.
Long Johns.
5 favourite TV shows. (All funnies, I like a laugh)
The League of Gentlemen.
Little Britain.
Porridge.
Open all hours (vale Ronnie Barker)
Get Smart (vale Don Adams)
5 favourite toys.
Digital camera.
Binoculars.
Spotting scope.
Computer.
GPS.
5 greatest joys.
Our grandchildren.
Sharing a new bird sighting with my wife.
Finishing a job I've been putting off.
Immersing myself in a place remote from civilization.
Smelling the perfume of flowers.
5 people I'm tagging.
Nobody, I wouldn't want to put them through it!

A book meme.

2005-12-04T13:47:00.001+11:00

Well, I didn't think it would happen to me, but it has, I've been tagged twice, by Cindy at Woodsong, for a book meme, and Pamela at Thomasburg Walks, for the personal meme. I have a shrewd idea that I am quite a bit older than the general run of bloggers, and my memes will reflect that.
I can't remember not being able to read, so that makes it 65 years plus of reading, of course when I was young we didn't have the diversions young people have nowadays, and reading was my preoccupation.

Total number of books I own/owned.

The count stands now at about 700, plus a large number of natural history magazines. A great number are reference books, plus a few favourite novels and biographical works. Some time ago several boxes full of unwanted titles went to the recycling bin, leaving me with the ones I really value.

5 books that have influenced me a lot.

1. The first book I remember reading was The Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann David Wyss, 1812. I read it and re-read it till the covers fell off, very far fetched, but made to order for a small boy born with an interest in nature and a love of the bush.

2. Satchmo, My Life in New Orleans, by Louis Armstrong. An introduction into the world of the early jazz musicians, and the first of many books on my favourite music.

3. Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, by Graham Pizzey, my birding bible.

4. A Key to the Eucalypts, by W F Blakely, first published 1934, updated 1965, an early work on the identification of the members of the genus Eucalyptus, and one that continues to surprise with the accuracy of the author's observations. The book that led me into my first botanical study.

5. A Handbook to Plants in Victoria, Vols. 1 & 2, by James Hamlyn Willis, 1972. The books that took me further into the study of the flora of my home state, now looking "well used"!

The last book I bought.

Eagles Hawks and Falcons of Australia, by Dr. David Hollands. The 2003 updated edition of his wonderful 1984 book on Australia's birds of prey.

The last book I read for the first time.

Meetings with Remarkable Trees, by Thomas Pakenham, a celebration of the UK's ancient trees.

Wildflowers.

2005-12-04T13:47:00.000+11:00

The strong winds of yesterday moderated this morning, so I put the camera into the car and went out to Stockdale to see if the Flying Duck orchids had appeared yet. They certainly had, I found a colony with some in flower, and some in bud, so they will be on show for a while yet. There were also plenty of Dotted Sun Orchids, Pink Fingers, and Waxlips, as well as a good show of the other familiar spring flowers. After taking heaps of pictures I went to the old cemetery, and found Purple Doubletails and a variety of lilies, which had me snapping again. I finished up with 18 images, they are in this gallery.

The bush paddock,

2005-12-04T13:46:00.000+11:00

I have been determined to enjoy this spring as much as possible, but the price of fuel has made that resolve a bit hard to accomplish! Anyway, I've still been getting out, often to places close to home which tend to be neglected in favour of hotspots further afield. Like intensively farmed areas anywhere, it can be hard to find somewhere that retains some of the original flora and fauna. Luckily, one spot out to the north west comes into this category, a turnout paddock remaining in a fairly natural state. It is usually lightly stocked, and has good patches of native grassland, plus lovely tree cover along the creek and up on the rises. I went out there yesterday with bins and camera, and after getting through the fence walked north through the open woodland between the creek and the road. Bulbine and Chocolate Lilies were still flowering, and overhead a flock of Noisy Miners were voicing their displeasure at a preening White-winged Chough.
The Miners are aggressive fringe dwellers, and I wasn't too hopeful of seeing a good variety of birds, but after hearing a Grey Thrush singing, I dropped down to some low scrub at a creek crossing and the scene changed. Blue Wrens and Red-browed Finches were flitting everywhere, a pair of Brown Thornbills were putting on a real show, and then I saw a White-browed Scrubwren with a bill full of food watching me intently. It was obviously close to its nest, so I stood quietly until it eventually dropped into the bushes and disappeared. I had a look for the nest, hoping for a photo, but as I'd left my close up specs back in the car it was just a blur! I pushed on through the scrub, and flushed a hawk from low down, which zig-zagged back through the trees. Judging from the size, it was either a Collared Sparrowhawk or a male Brown Goshawk, impossible to tell from the brief look.
Thinking back to a good spring a few years ago, I walked up onto a gravel hill, and sure enough, it was as I remembered, a great show of orange-yellow everlastings, or paper daisies, possibly the last survivors in this grazing country. I turned back then and returned on the other side of the creek, walking through wonderful redgum woodland, picturesque old trees, and healthy young regeneration. While taking a few pictures I ticked Rufous and Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail, Grey Butcherbird, Striated Pardalote, Eastern and Crimson Rosellas, and a handsome Olive-backed Oriole which was calling from a branch just above me.
I was back opposite the car by now, but went on to have a look where I had seen Golden Moth orchids a fortnight before. They had finished flowering, but in their place there were some of my favourite grassland orchids, Diuris punctata, or Purple Doubletails. These are also on a knife edge as their habitat disappears, an all too familiar story being told all over the world. The previous day's strong winds had taken the shine off them, but I got some reasonable photos, this is one of them.

There were a few other wildflowers out, including this prostrate Bossiaea, and Common Riceflower. Driving home I passed a great display of Bluebells on the side of the road, unfortunately they were moving too much in the wind to get a photo. If you would like to see some more pictures, I have uploaded some of the woodland and other wildflowers to this gallery.
The old fence may be of interest, in the early days the fences were morticed post and rail, and very few survive. The rails have gone from here, but the posts are still standing and have been strung with wire.

Spring migrants.

2005-12-04T13:45:00.001+11:00

Out along the Avon, the Sacred Kingfishers are back, but as yet there's still no sign of the Bee-eaters, can't be long though. The Rufous Whistlers have been back and singing for over a week now, and I also caught up with a Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo, calling from the top of a dead tree. Lots of nice song from Grey Shrike Thrushes and Golden Whistlers, and colour from a surprising number of European Goldfinches. Saw a lot of birds in a dead, mistletoe infested Manna Gum in the distance, and on closer inspection found they were House Sparrows building nests in the mistletoe clumps.

Big mother.

2005-12-04T13:45:00.000+11:00

Circus of the Spineless has got me going through the old slide boxes in search of pictures taken in the days of Kodachrome, and these are three of a female wolf spider. These very mobile hunting spiders are common on our piece of land in the warmer months, I generally see them lurking at the mouths of their vertical burrows, and as soon as they spot me they disappear downwards in an instant. This big female had her burrow at the edge of a garden bed, and got quite used to me looking at her, and taking her portrait. I never saw her male friend, but you can see the result of their friendship in the third picture, her back is covered with tiny spiderlings which she protected until they were big enough to leave home.

More caterpillars.

2005-12-04T13:42:00.000+11:00

I don't think I'd like to be reincarnated as a caterpillar, and have to spend a short life avoiding being skewered by a bird's beak! Caterpillars of course use a variety of means to minimize that risk, some, like the larvae of the Sawfly, commonly called Spitfires, exude a fluid reeking of eucalyptus, hoping to make themselves too obnoxious for any bird to fancy them. It doesn't always work however, as Gang Gang Cockatoos snack on them occasionally despite the pungent sauce. These creatures defoliate eucalypts at night, and spend the daylight hours huddled together in tight groups.

Others take on a bizarre appearance and obviously hope they won't be recognised as food items. These hairy ones must think they look as if they haven't any meat on their bodies.

The cleverest ones of all in my opinion, are the ones which camouflage themselves to blend in with their surroundings, sometimes being virtually unrecognisable.

Lastly, there are the loopers, I don't know what their angle is, perhaps they think that the birds will be so interested watching them looping along that they'll forget they're hungry!

A caterpillar tale.

2005-12-04T13:41:00.000+11:00

Spring is wildflower time, and it's now well under way. One of the stand out wildflowers in our area is the Grass Trigger-plant, Stylidium graminifolium, which grows from the coast, right up into the alpine country, and it is indeed a very tricky customer. The flower has an irritable column which is held reflexed back out of the way, and when an unsuspecting insect lands on the flower, it triggers the column, which flicks forward rapping the insect on the back, depositing or receiving pollen in the process. It has always been a time honoured pastime for children and adults alike to tickle the flowers with a finger or stem of grass, making the plant do its clever little trick.
Many years ago, thirty seven come November to be exact, some mates and I were walking along the Great Dividing Range, somewhere between Hell's Window and King Billy, when we met a young fellow wandering happily along with pack on his back and compass in his hand, and of course we stopped for a rest and a yarn. We were sitting in a garden of flowering Trigger-plants, and of course yours truly started tickling the flowers with a grass stem, they do say the devil finds mischief for idle hands! That's when I saw something that has intrigued me ever since, my eyes were young and sharp in those days, and I noticed the column on one flower moving in an odd way. I should mention perhaps that the column is about 6 - 7 mm long and barely 1 mm thick, and on closer inspection of this particular one I discovered that it wasn't the flower's column at all, but a tiny caterpillar, which had eaten the column and installed itself in its place. A check of more flowers on this plant revealed another of the little impostors, and I remember thinking, what a neat way to get a meal and then assume a clever disguise in order to avoid becoming in turn, a very small snack for a bird.
The other thing that intrigued me about this clever piece of insect adaptation was whether it had ever been recorded before, or was I the first to see it. I never have been able to find out. The picture below, scanned from an old slide, is an alpine meadow of Trigger-plants at Mount Buffalo in N E Victoria. For a larger image click here.

Dowd's Morass.

2005-12-04T13:40:00.000+11:00

On the day after the OBP count, I spent an interesting day at Dowd's Morass with Waterwatch, G and J did the water testing, and I checked out the bird life. After the previous day's bleak conditions it was good to have sunshine, blue skies, and spectacular cloud formations. The first three sites were just across the water from the Ibis breeding colonies, and what activity there was! After wading out to the sampling sites, the rookeries were about seventy five yards away across the water in the Swamp Paperbarks, the first seemed to be mainly White Ibis, the second mainly Straw-necked, plus a few Little Black Cormorants, and the third once again mainly Whites. It was quite an experience to stand and take in the sights and sounds, as skeins of Ibis were constantly coming and going, and the never ending cacophony of their calls filled the air. I was also interested to see solitary male Superb Blue Wrens in isolated paperbarks well out in the water, I couldn't work out their reason for being there, maybe they were just patrolling the boundaries of their respective territories.
We saw and heard quite a good selection of birds as we moved from site to site, Crimson and Eastern Rosellas, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Whipbird, Grey Thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Grey Currawong, White-eared Honeyeater etc, and overhead, Whistling Kites were always floating in the air currents.
The last site in this section was at a large lagoon, where we counted well over one hundred Black Swans, some Chestnut Teal and Wood Duck in the distance, and a pair of Black-fronted Plovers feeding along the edge. I was surprised at the general scarcity of ducks right across Dowd's, the water level was very high, maybe this has interfered with their food supply and they have moved elsewhere. This lagoon adjoins private grazing land, and there are some old Redgums still surviving on the higher ground up from the water's edge. After morning tea I looked around and counted six Whistling Kites' nests in the nearest trees, underneath one I found several bird's breastbones, and a Magpie's skull, broken open to extract the brains. There were plenty of black feathers showing up over the sides of the nest, it seemed that birds were the main prey, and I wondered if perhaps a Goshawk had taken over this nest. I couldn't find any fish frames under the nest, you'd think that carp would be one of the main food items for Kites down there. A good number of Tree Martins were busy carrying nesting material to one of the trees, there were plenty of suitable nesting hollows in the old veteran.
While driving back to the next sampling sites we passed a gap in the waterside vegetation, and I spotted a bird on the muddy margin. Backing up, I stopped and focused the glasses on an immaculate Buff-banded Rail, less than twenty feet away. It completely ignored the vehicle and casually pecked its way along the shore, giving me just the best view of this elegant and beautiful species. It just goes to show how much luck is involved in birding, if we'd spent five more minutes at morning tea we'd have missed it completely!
To get to the water at the next sites we had to walk through tall Phragmites, or Common Reed, and at last we heard Australian Reed Warblers, a summer breeding migrant to S E Australia. I was also pleased to hear the plaintive three note call of the Little Grassbird, these days my hearing is not good enough to pick up this type of call unless it is very close. Out on the water we at last saw some nice ducks, about thirty five Chestnut-breasted Shelduck taking it easy on the calm water.
Looking out across the morass to the north we saw a Sea Eagle, and then the best raptor sighting for the day, a pair of Swamp Harriers, with the male performing the mating season aerobatics so well described by the late Graham Pizzey in his indispensable Field Guide. After a while they came over our way, and the male started to spiral upwards with something that looked like a stick in his talons, and when we drove off he was just a speck up in the sky.
The final testing location for the day was at the Latrobe River. When I was there twelve months ago there were Common Greenshanks in the lagoons on the private property on the other side, and it didn't take long to find some there again on this occasion. Last year I also saw Whiskered Terns dipping and diving in the distance, but this time there was no sign of them. Lagoons like these are numerous in the country on that side of the river, and are favourite places for Greenshanks, and other waders including Pacific Golden Plovers. When G arrived that morning, he told me he had seen what he described as a short legged black and white wader, roughly the size of a Magpie Lark. Pied Oystercatcher wasn't an option for the location, and you certainly couldn't call Black-winged Stilt short legged!
I remembered that a few years ago I had seen a Pacific Golden Plover in breeding plumage at Victoria Lagoon, and I thought that this was possibly what he had seen. Another possibility would be Grey Plover in breeding plumage, less likely, but you couldn't rule it out.
After G and J finished testing and writing up the data it was time to leave, I'd had a good day and that Buff-banded Rail was the icing on the cake. On the way out we stopped briefly while G waded out to check on the success of a paperbark planting project, the shallow water was absolutely teeming with mosquito larvae, I must remember to buy another king sized can of mosquito repellent before I go down there again!

Wildflower time.

2005-11-26T13:40:00.000+11:00

Now that we are getting into Spring the grassland wildflowers are starting to show up in the few places where they survive. In Gippsland the old cemeteries are some of the last strongholds, and Maffra has one of them. Went up there today to find the Golden Moth orchids in flower, with Chocolate Lilies, Billy Buttons, and the first wildflower I remember as a child, the Early Nancy. In the next few weeks the beautiful Purple Doubletail orchids, Milkmaids, and small Grass Lilies will come into flower. It's a nice time of the year.

Blue-wings and waders.

2005-11-26T13:39:00.000+11:00

The weather forecast for the last Orange-bellied Parrot count for the year couldn't have been much worse, with strong winds, rain, and hail predicted. However the job had to be done, and two of us got away at 8.30 am for the drive down to Jack Smith Lake. While driving into the reserve we saw our first Calamanthus, then it was around the corner to park, and pull on jackets for the walk into biting wind and drizzle to the first location. On the way we saw movement out on the flats, and detoured to find Red-capped Plovers pottering about on the moist mud between clumps of glasswort, the males nicely coloured in their breeding plumage. Masked Lapwings were foraging further out, and Calamanthus continued to flush from the tall tussocks. That was it however, when we arrived there was no sign of parrots, and we retraced our steps to the car to drive on down to the permanent water for the next stage of the survey.
Two Black Swans were on the water, and over on the sand spit some terns were huddled down with their heads under their wings, making the best of the miserable conditions. Although rain on our binoculars was partially obscuring our vision, we could see that most were Crested Terns, while two bigger birds were probably Caspians, but until we could get a better look we couldn't be sure. We also thought that there was a smaller tern with them, but once again we couldn't see well enough through our misted glasses. A couple of pairs of Chestnut Teal were also sheltering in the lee of the low vegetation, and they and a White-faced Heron were ticked before we went on to jump over the drain and start the walk along the water to the next location. As we came abreast of the sand spit we got a better look at the terns, and could see the rosy bills on the two Caspians, and then a little further on a small tern came into view, hovering and diving. Although we couldn't get a clear look at the distinguishing marks, the colour of the flight feathers suggested Fairy Tern, and we followed it along until we spotted a small flock of waders in the shallows. No trouble identifying these, Red-necked Stints, with a smattering of Red-capped Plovers feeding amongst them.
Once again we had seen no parrots along this stretch, so turning left we started to follow the fence line to the third of the favoured locations. In the distance a big Wedge-tailed Eagle was being harassed by a Magpie, and we saw our first Chat, a female White-fronted, sitting on a fence wire. Backing a hunch we started to walk through the tussocks in case parrots were sheltering from the wind and rain, and sure enough, up jumped two Blue-winged, and as we kept moving along we saw more and more until we had a count of twenty five. The birds stayed ahead of us, landing from time to time on the fence wires, until they got sick of the game and flew off, leaving us to check out the last of the good habitat before getting through the fence to make a bee line back through the freehold to where we saw the waders.
They were still there, but this time they had been joined by two heavy-set waders in the deeper water. They were either Great or Red Knot, and then we saw the last vestiges of richly coloured breeding plumage on the belly of one, which gave us the clue, Red Knot, and in the middle of the flock, a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper also showed up. A few nice male White-fronted Chats were along the water's edge, and then we were jumping over the drain again and heading to the top of the dunes for a look out to sea. The last time I was here I saw nothing, but today there were diving Gannets as far as we could see, and Crested Terns cruising closer inshore. Back in the car we had lunch with a heavy rain band sweeping over, things weren't looking too good for our next search around Lamb Lake, but then the rain passed over and we saw the first blue sky and sunshine for the day.
After driving back and parking the car again, we headed off on the walk around Lamb Lake in welcome sunshine, but the hour's walk only gave us Masked Lapwings, Skylarks, White-fronted Chats, and the usual black and white birds, with no parrots to be seen. A Swamp Harrier was good to watch, using the wind to its advantage as it ranged over the tussock and grassland looking for a meal. Once again this large area of salt marsh, once very productive, proved a disappointment, possibly the prolonged dry conditions have made it unattractive as a feeding location. It is long overdue for inundation, and perhaps after that happens we may see the Blue-wings and perhaps even Orange-bellied Parrots return to feed in the rejuvenated glasswort.

Feathered friends.

2005-11-26T13:38:00.001+11:00

Birding is a rewarding pastime, observing birds in their natural environment takes a lot of beating, but having wild birds trust you enough to allow you to take part in their lives for a time is something else. I was reminded of one occasion this morning, when I saw a Grey Shrike-thrush in the garden just outside the kitchen window.
One winter quite a few years ago, I had firewood that was riddled with the larvae of longicorn beetles, meaty grubs that are also called witchetty grubs, and were a favourite food of the first Australians. While splitting logs one day, I noticed a Grey Thrush watching me, so I threw it a grub which it ate with relish, and from then on we became firm friends. Every time I split wood it was there, perched just a couple of feet from the chopping block, ready to pounce, all the while playing chicken with the flying chips. If there was a grub visible in its tunnel in a freshly split log, I would hold it out for Thrush to extract, it must have been without doubt the best fed Grey Thrush in Australia! If by chance it missed seeing me go to the wood heap, I just had to whistle, and if it was within earshot it soon joined me.
Sometimes I would take a handful of grubs to the house, and C would take video footage of Thrush flying up to perch on my wrist while selecting the most tempting grub. The food supply lasted until Spring, when my feathered friend headed back to the bush for the breeding season. I'm not naïve enough to think the bird saw me as anything else than the source of an easy meal, but that doesn't lessen my pleasure in having a wild bird trust me to the extent it did.

Another occasion I remember was back in the eighties when we had a weekender on the coast. While mowing the grass on the Sunday morning prior to returning home, I spotted a young Welcome Swallow on the ground right in the path of the mower. Stopping the mower I reached down to it, and was surprised to see it open its bill and start begging for food. It was only too happy for me to pick it up and take it inside, where we gave it some morsels of ham which it happily accepted.
I knew that friends down the road had a swallow's nest in their porch, but when I checked with them, they counted the youngsters and pronounced them all present and correct. There were no other swallows to be seen, so after much deliberation we decided to take it home with us to look after until it was independent. It covered the one hundred miles with us quite happily, sometimes sitting on my head, sometimes on the steering wheel, and went inside the house perched on my finger. I now had the time to collect insects for it, and it made itself quite at home, even flying through the house to sit on the typewriter while C was preparing work for the next day's classes.

Late that afternoon I took it outside, where it flew around, coming down from time to time to rest on my finger, and that was where we parted company. There were swallow's nests in our neighbour's shed next door, and the adults, seeing the little one flying around, came over to investigate. After a few minutes of twittering inspection, they gathered up the orphan and took it away to join their family.

The third story is about Duck, a newly hatched Shelduck which our son found wandering alone on a back road, and brought into us to look after. This we did for thirteen weeks, watching it grow from tiny duckling, to gangling adolescent, to young adult. We were a bit worried that being strongly imprinted on us, it would not be able to return to the wild, but that did not turn out to be the case.
Duck used to like squatting down close to the pot-bellied stove at night, or when he wanted company would walk up my outstretched legs, then on to my shoulder where he would snuggle down close to my neck. To his credit he didn't once blot his copybook, or my shoulder. As he grew older, he would follow me as I dug the vegetable garden, and no worm was safe. His first swimming lessons were in an old water tank, where he would circle round, upending and diving, then bobbing to the surface like a feathered cork.
As he approached full size he moved into a coop outside, but was still free during the day, until at thirteen weeks old he made his move.

It was a day of very strong winds, and Duck was out on the gravel drive. Suddenly, after a short run he took off, climbed strongly, and did a couple of circuits out over the road before coming back to land. You could almost see him thinking “Hey, that was pretty good!” and the next minute he took off again, this time heading east with the wind up his tail feathers, and that was the last we saw of Duck!

Lake Kakydra.

2005-11-26T13:38:00.000+11:00

I took advantage of another perfect Spring day on Monday, and went down to Lake Kakydra, which I have neglected for a while. The Kakydra reserve consists of salt marsh, a main water body, and many lagoons, which take the drainage from the Macalister Irrigation District. At times it can be a real hot spot for birds, including migratory waders if the water level is low.
A male White-fronted Chat was the first bird to show, sitting on the fence beside the gate, and after going through I started to follow a narrow drain which runs into a lagoon beside the main lake. Two Stubble Quail flushed, a Nankeen Kestrel was hovering, and then two flocks of birds did a quick circuit before dropping into the glasswort in the distance, on the other side of the drain. I couldn't get any detail on them as I was looking into the sun, and my first thought was that they were Blue-winged Parrots, the size was about right, but they dropped immediately out of sight beside some tussocks, and the glasses showed up water, which didn't seem right for parrots.
Leaving them for later investigation, I continued walking into shallow water, and heard a crake calling in the dense vegetation of reeds and tussocks. This place has been good for Spotted Crake, but there was no hope of seeing it, so it was on to the lake to see a Great Egret at the edge, and a pair of Calamanthus flying low and diving into cover. Turning left I headed towards the first lagoon, and saw the first of about fifty Golden-headed Cisticolas I spotted during the next couple of hours, the most I've ever seen in one area. Reaching the lagoon I saw the other small bird of the swamps, a Little Grassbird, which flew low over the water and disappeared into the base of a tussock growing in the water.
The water level was very high with no mud flats showing, which rather narrowed my options, and strangely there were no ducks, and just one pair of Black Swans. There were plenty of Masked Lapwings, Welcome Swallows, and Skylarks, but nothing else apart from the Cisticolas which were flushing every now and then, the males in breeding plumage.
Turning, I headed for the other end of the reserve, sloshing through four inches of water the whole time. Getting close to the main inlet drain I could see a few Pelicans on the far bank, and then an immature White-breasted Sea Eagle flew over, dipping down a few times but not catching anything. After it circled around and came back over me, it started to spiral upwards, eventually reaching a great height, and it was still up there half an hour later. On the drain I finally found some ducks, Pacific Black, quite a few pairs, also one pair of Shelduck, and Magpie Larks.
Back on dry land I decided to follow the fence back to the gate, and halfway there found a pair of Blue-winged Parrots sitting quietly on the fence, and a small flock of Chats. Back at the gate I crossed the drain with the water perilously close to the top of my rubber boots, and started to circle around the spot where the two flocks had gone to ground earlier. Nothing showed up, so I continued on towards the lagoons in the distance, and walked on to a gathering of over fifty White-faced Herons feeding in the flooded glasswort. There were heaps of Masked Lapwings there too, also a couple of Swamphens on the water's edge, and after doing a count I turned back, walking through the tussocks fringing the drain.
Over to the left, two Swamp Harriers were flying low over the reeds, with a Whistling Kite not far behind, and then a small flock of birds jumped up in front of me, flew for twenty metres and hit the deck again in the waterlogged glasswort. No, not Blue-wings, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, my first waders for the season. Walking up on them quietly, I saw more and more, and the final count of about forty five matched the numbers in the two flocks I saw when I first arrived, mystery solved. The plumage of these newly arrived birds was still strikingly marked, and when they finally got sick of me sneaking up on them, they took off in a tight flock, showing the speed that carries them over thousands of kilometres of land and sea on their migratory flights.
After negotiating the drain again I was back at the car, with a species count only in the low twenties, if conditions had been different with lower water levels, I could perhaps have doubled that, but still, a good outing full of interest.

Two snippets.

2005-11-26T13:37:00.000+11:00

A Pallid Cuckoo has been calling for a few days now, and while in Sale this afternoon, I looked up to see about 200 Cattle Egrets flying in a northerly direction. Had an interesting outing at Lake Kakydra yesterday, saw my first waders for the season, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, will blog it soon.

Pelicans and other people.

2005-11-26T13:36:00.000+11:00

For weeks I had been wanting to have another trip to Crescent Island on the Gippsland Lakes, to check on the progress of the pelican breeding colony, and yesterday was the day. The rough weather we'd been having had passed, and we were under the influence of a large high pressure system which promised fine weather and light winds, so after teeing up a keen birdo friend for company, I hit the road and arrived at the boat ramp at Paynesville just before 9.30. We got our first good sighting as we were preparing to launch the boat, a pair of Black Swans had built their nest between the ramp and the jetty, and one was sitting on 4 eggs, reasonably unconcerned about us walking around it while sliding the boat into the water.

After firing up the motor we eased out of the bay, and headed southwest across the glassy lake with the cold air biting into our faces. Here and there over the shallow banks we saw pairs of swans with small cygnets, and after picking up the first pile, we followed the Aurora Channel in towards Ocean Grange, with an immature White-breasted Sea Eagle parallelling our course for a short time. The first low island on our port side was pretty well covered by swans sitting on nests, and about a dozen Royal Spoonbills were loafing on the edge with their heads under their wings. As we started the run along Crescent Island, pelicans were conspicuous by their absence, and we started to think we had drawn a blank. On the shallow banks we saw plenty of Crested Terns, a few Caspian Terns, and quite a few Pied Oystercatchers, as well as the ever present three species of cormorant. We passed the end of the island and continued up Bunga Arm until we could cut across and get into the Steamer Channel to start our return run.
Then, as we reached the island again, we saw the colony, which had been hidden by the scrub when we were on the other side, and after drawing abreast, we cut the motor and got the binoculars and camera to work. There were possibly in excess of 400 birds, with over 100 of them this season's young. The young birds were in creches, and it was easy to see the difference in ages by the varying length of their bills. Many of the adult birds were still displaying the spectacular reddish bill sacs and this photo shows them returning to land to feed the young.
After watching them for 10 minutes, and taking plenty of pictures for the record, we started the motor and left them behind as we ran through to the end of the channel and cut back to the Aurora, which we followed into the lake until we could clear Radford Bank and head towards Rotamah Island for some bush birding. As we came abreast of Trapper Point, we saw a white shape in a dead tree on the water's edge, and drifted in to get a great look at an adult Sea Eagle, which took off while I was getting the camera ready, so I had to be content with a picture of it on the wing.
The jetty at Rotamah had its usual encrustation of digested fish whitewash, deposited by the rows of Crested Terns and Little Pied Cormorants lining the railings, and the atmosphere was decidedly interesting as we headed on to dry land to follow the track through the bush towards the ocean beach. Fan-tailed Cuckoos were calling, and we saw the usual birds, Rainbow Lorikeets, Noisy Miners, Grey Butcherbirds, Red and Little Wattlebirds, Yellow Robins, Grey Shrike-thrushes, Grey Fantails, White-browed Scrubwrens, and Brown Thornbills to name a few. Just off the track a wombat moved away as we walked past, it's not often they are about in daylight, and the ones that are seen often are sick or badly affected by mange or ticks.
A causeway crosses a section of salt marsh, and the track was well marked with the hoof prints of Hog Deer which are plentiful here. Everywhere, Chestnut Teal were sitting in pairs in the glasswort with their heads protruding, a somewhat unusual sight, and we saw one Great Egret fly over as we continued into the bush for the rest of the walk to the ocean beach, where we saw nothing! The sea was completely innocent of birds right to the horizon, so we turned and headed back for some lunch, hearing Eastern Whipbirds calling, and seeing a nice flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos on the way.

After sharing our lunch with two Noisy Miners and a Magpie, it was back into the boat for the run across the lake to Duck Arm, where we hoped to see more Sea Eagles, as there is a nest in the general area. However, we only added a few more common species to the list, before turning back towards to the boat ramp, then halfway across, saw the immature cruising past again. Back at the ramp the swan was still sitting tight, here's hoping the local citizens do the right thing and allow the birds to complete the job.

Lake Guyatt.

2005-11-26T13:35:00.000+11:00

While in Sale yesterday I took the opportunity to visit Lake Guyatt, the man made lake next to Lake Guthridge. The water level was high, meaning there was virtually no habitat for the Latham's Snipe that have been a feature for the last few years. There were however sixty Freckled Duck on the two small mud islands, and more tucked away on the fringes of the main island and in the patch of willows. I guess there was a total of about one hundred and thirty, well down on the four to five hundred that have been there in the recent past, nevertheless great views of this rare duck.
Also on the mud were a pair of Black-fronted Plovers and Silver Gulls, while the rest of the water held Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Eurasian Coots, Little Black and Great Cormorants, Royal Spoonbill, and on the grass a pair of Black Swans were guarding five well grown cygnets.
On nearby Flooding Creek, Swamphens and Dusky Moorhens were added to the list, with Blue Wrens, White-browed Scrubwrens and New Holland Honeyeaters. The Azure Kingfishers which were nesting in the bank were absent, it's possible their nest tunnel was flooded out in the last rain when water from Guthridge came through into the creek.

Sunday morning by the river.

2005-11-26T13:34:00.001+11:00

With another planting day coming up next Saturday, I needed to go down to Bellbird Corner to mark and spot spray in readiness. Once again it was calm and warm, the Silver Wattles were in full bloom along the river, and the air was heavy with the perfume of the Tree Violets. The Tree Violet, Hymenanthera dentata, couldn't by any stretch of the imagination be called an attractive shrub, and when we were kids on the farm we just called them "prickly bushes", but they make up for it when Spring arrives and they come into flower. The tiny 3 - 4 mm creamy bells are massed along every twig, and give off the gorgeous perfume that has been a lifelong favourite of mine.

After putting in the stakes and spraying, I was walking back to the car, and looked up to see three black birds fly into a big redgum across the river. Although there were Little Ravens in the area, the flight of these birds was quite different. Grabbing the glasses I watched them in the distance until they flew off, and although I couldn't get a detailed look, I came to the conclusion that they had to be three mature male Satin Bowerbirds. I have only ever seen single mature males, but maybe what I saw was a casual association of three birds making their way back to the hills to breed, after spending the winter in gardens in the town. Interesting!
Having some spray left over I wandered along the track hitting a few boxthorns, and was kept company by flocks of Blue Wrens and Red-browed Finches. A Grey Shrike-thrush entertained me with its song while I took a few photos, a nice end to a pleasant morning by the river.

Out by the Blue Gums.

2005-11-26T13:34:00.000+11:00

Took advantage of a warm calm day, and went out to a new location for some long overdue birding. A thickly vegetated creek bed is sandwiched between a eucalypt plantation and some relatively undisturbed natural bush, and I was interested to see if the bird life utilises the plantation as habitat. The plantation is a eucalypt monoculture, comprising a bluegum strain specifically bred for the paper pulp industry, an understory of Burgan has developed and there is the odd Black Wattle scattered throughout, but little else.
After parking the vehicle I walked down to the creek through the bluegums without seeing a bird, but as soon as I hit the creek I heard the machine gun rattle of a White-eared Honeyeater, and the sweet song of a Golden Whistler. There is a big Bell Miner colony here, and their clear bell like notes were ringing out all around me. Looking up I saw a Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring overhead, and switched on the Nikon to get a tele shot, but when I looked through the viewfinder all I saw was a message in red, "no card present"! Yes, I'd left it in the card reader this morning after downloading some pictures of our grandsons, so was saddled with a useless dead weight for the next hour or two.
I wandered along the track between the creek and bluegums for a few minutes, and then a Grey Fantail led me a few metres into the gums. Small birds were moving quickly from tree to tree, but try as I might I couldn't get the glasses on to one for several minutes, however I did see some White-browed Scrubwrens down low in the Burgan. Finally one of the speedsters stopped briefly and I was somewhat surprised to see a Red-browed Finch. With little in the way of grass seed about they must have been on a protein diet. It was noticable that these birds only went about twenty metres into the plantation, and this was the picture for the rest of the walk.
Back out on the track Yellow Robins were feeding actively in the creek vegetation, and a flutter of wingbeats gave me an Eastern Spinebill up in a clump of flowering mistletoe. I could hear Red Wattlebirds and Pied Currawongs from the direction of the road, and Eastern Whipbirds were calling from further up the creek, but I didn't see anything different for the next few hundred metres, until I went down a 'dozed track to the creek and scrambled up over fallen timber to the far side. Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters were over there, and I had great views of a pair of Golden Whistlers gathering food in the outer canopy of a big White Stringbark. They were eating all they caught, so haven't started breeding yet.
While walking back in the direction of my starting point on that side of the creek, I passed a stand of the best White Stringy I've seen, I just hope it survives the 'dozer's blade. It's on a fairly steep slope so it should be safe unless they decide to log it. A few Crimson Rosellas flew over, and when I heard the Bell Miners again I followed a deer trail down through the thick scrub and over the creek to hit the track near my starting point. Walking in the opposite direction I neared the end of the plantation, and ticked White-naped Honeyeater just inside the gums. The Bell Miners were also in the edge of the gums here, and were scolding me unmercifully, they may already have nests on the go. The White-naped flew over the track to join some more in a big old Redgum growing in the creek, and I could also hear a Spotted Pardalote calling. This tree is probably centuries old, and has plenty of hollows for nest sites for pardalotes and parrots. Heading back, I heard but didn't see Yellow-faced Honeyeater, and as I started to walk back up the slope to the car, a Grey Shrike-thrush flew through the gums, the only bird I saw that went more than a few metres into the plantation. I know I shouldn't come to a conclusion on the basis of one visit, but the bluegum plantation did seem quiet and sterile as far as birds are concerned. I'll be a regular visitor as spring and summer progress and maybe the picture will change, you'll read about it here!

Spring weather.

2005-11-26T13:33:00.000+11:00

I think today could be called the first day of Spring, even though it doesn't arrive officially for another fifteen days. Sunny and mild, with the river banks clothed in the yellow of the flowering Silver Wattle. I had to collect seed from local trees and shrubs for the revegetation of the Macalister Wetland Reserve, so went down there and got out of the car to hear the downward trill of a Fan-tailed Cuckoo These mid sized cuckoos often choose a small species like the Brown Thornbill to host their offspring, and what a job they have keeping the hungry monster fed. I've seen them at it, and heard the young Cuckoo giving a good approximation of the thornbill call while begging for food.
The wetland drains to the river through a three foot diameter concrete pipe under the road, and while I was standing looking for the cuckoo, I noticed a pair of Striated Pardalotes just a few feet away near the upstream entrance. The pipe joint is out of line about halfway in, and the Pards have nested in the cavity for years, which is fine unless there is a flood, when the river backs up through the pipe and drowns the nest.
There were plenty of Blue Wrens, Yellow Robins, and New Holland Honeyeaters about, but little on the water. Latham's Snipe is down to mid New South Wales, and it shouldn't be long before they reach the Reserve, another week to ten days should do it. There are plenty of mature seed capsules on the Redgums, but they're fairly high, so I'll have to take a long pole with a hook on the end to pull some down. The propagated plants should do well in their native soil.
Then it was out to Bellbird Corner to get seed off the Woolly Teatree, River Bottlebrush, and the ancient Manna Gum. Once this is posted I'll get all the seed capsules into containers, and they can sit in a warm place until the seed is released and ready for propagating. Swamp Gum and Swamp Paperbark are also on the list for collection, the former I can get from one old survivor at Bellbird, which is hanging on grimly beside a billabong, and flowering every year on the few remaining live branches. There are plenty of paperbarks about, and although they haven't been setting much seed lately, I should be able to find some if I search for long enough.

Incubation's under way.

2005-11-26T13:32:00.001+11:00

Both Magpies have finished their nests in trees 12 metres apart, and one is already sitting. Once again wire has been a favoured building material, with fencing wire, tie wire, and green plastic covered wire plant ties visible through the glasses. The architecture will get a good test over the next day or so, with strong cold winds buffeting the tree tops. One of the males was on his powerline lookout yesterday as I was walking round checking out the nests, but he took no notice of me so hopefully we'll have a peaceful breeding season. The wind reminded me of an occasion a few years ago, when we had gale force winds sweeping across the paddock and a young Magpie was perched on the stockyard rail hanging on for dear life. I was able to walk up, lift him off and put him down in a sheltered spot, a good deed for the day.

A Redcap day.

2005-11-26T13:32:00.000+11:00

The old nose has been applied to the grindstone for the last fortnight, and today started out much the same, with a working bee at Bellbird Corner. We had a good crew, which cleaned up one track and cut another along the last stretch of river in the Reserve, so you can now follow the stream from end to end, enjoying the sight and smell of the Silver Wattle which is just coming into flower as Spring approaches.
While we were sitting at the picnic table having a drink after finishing the morning's work, the birds came out. Blue Wrens hopped around us, Brown and Yellow Thornbills moved through, Grey Shrike Thrushes gave us a few bursts of song, and Magpies yodelled while performing aerobatics. I could hear Eastern Spine-bills and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters calling, and of course the ever present Grey Fantails flitted round our ears.
After returning home I unhooked the trailer, had a bite to eat, and thought, I've had enough of work, I'm going birding. With binoculars and Jock the Whippet in the car, I went out to one of my favourite patches on the Avon River and started walking. A fairly fresh breeze had sprung up, but it was bright and sunny, and Jock had a few rabbits to chase through the scrub. Birds were fairly scarce at first, but then I started to see pairs of New Holland Honeyeaters catching insects. One bird had wings and legs sticking out of the full length of its bill. There was plenty of nectar available in the Drooping Mistletoe, so I guessed that they had started breeding and had dependent young in nests. This was confirmed when I saw one pair seeing off a Grey Shrike Thrush, a beautiful bird with a melodious song, but also a predator of nestlings.
For three of the last four years I have seen a pair of Red-capped Robins here, last year they were absent, but the year before they bred and raised two young. These Robins are normally found further inland, but occasionally a very few come over the Dividing Range to spend time in our area. This area used to be part of the river before it changed course, and is rough and dry, and in some ways very reminiscent of the mallee country which is normally home to this bird. Jock was still away chasing rabbits when I reached the boundary of the private property, and after giving him a few whistles I turned left, to walk through the small open areas sheltered by thick Tree Violet and Burgan. I'd only gone a few metres, when I caught out of the corner of my eye, a movement near the ground, slightly ahead to the left. I lifted the bins, and there was a Robin perched with its back to me, was it a Scarlet? Five seconds later it turned, and there was a magnificent male Red-capped Robin. I've seen a few of these brilliant small Robins, but this was one out of the box, gleaming jet black back, snowy white wing flashes, and breast and cap of indescribable red. For the next five minutes I followed it quietly as it flitted from perch, to ground, to perch, feeding on insects , giving me the best views ever. Then, swinging the bins to the left, I spotted its small plain mate, with just a hint of red on her cap. Focusing on the male again, I saw him spread his wings in a territorial display, maybe they'll nest here again this season, you can bet that I'll be keeping an eye on them!
Jock appeared at my side again and I headed for home, seeing Red-browed Finches, Blue wrens, Yellow Thornbills, and hearing Whipbirds down on the river, but they were all something of an anticlimax after the Red-cap. I had one more good sighting however, as I turned the Cruiser on to the main road, a Black-shouldered Kite took off from a fence post with half eaten prey in its talons, too big for a mouse, perhaps a small rat. Jock looked up at me with a wag of his tail as we drove off, a good afternoon for man and dog.

Bandits at 12'oclock high.

2005-11-26T13:31:00.000+11:00

Well, spring is certainly in the air although we still have a month of winter to go. The Snowy River Wattle is lighting up the garden with masses of lemon yellow flowers, and for the past week we have been watching two Magpies building their nests in trees in front of the house. One has been making good progress and the nest is well advanced, but the other has exotic tastes when it comes to building materials and is lagging behind. Somewhere she has found a deposit of white 6mm pvc tubing, and has been trying to weave pieces into the fabric without much success, as they are too straight and slippery, and keep dropping to the ground.
Two years ago I had a surprise when looking at an old nest that had been blown out of a tree. In the garden I have a watering system, using 12 mm poly tubing, which I had pegged down with 200 mm pieces of wire, hooked on top. Noticing one poking out of the nest, I pulled it to pieces, and retrieved thirteen of my pegs, which the enterprising Magpie had pulled out of the soil and inserted to reinforce the construction. They had worked very well too, as the nest had withstood the weather for two seasons, and held together even after the six metre fall to the ground.
These birds are notorious for the males' aggressive behaviour during the breeding season, swooping and attacking anyone in the vicinity of their nest site. I still have a vivid memory of the blood running down my head after being mugged when I was a ten year old lad, unaware of the ways of Magpies. Normally we don't have a problem with the birds which nest in our garden, being ignored as just part of the landscape, but one year we were briefly away for what must have been a crucial time in the breeding cycle, and they gave us hell! Two males took up the challenge, and would sit on the power lines waiting for us to venture into the front garden. Down they would swoop, levelling off and coming across the paddock flat out at eye level, then realising we were watching, would pull back on the stick and go into a vertical climb, ready to press home their attack from another angle. It was a relief when the young were out of the nest, and the adults were fully occupied stuffing food into the hungry bills.
When one of our sons was young, he used to put on his full face motorbike helmet and parade up and down, sending the testosterone charged males into an attacking frenzy. Inevitably they tired of the fray, and he'd come into the house with a triumphant smirk on his face!
The Magpie's caroling song is perhaps the pre-eminent voice in the Australian bush soundscape, and never fails to give me pleasure when I hear their exuberant serenade. Their subsong however is a different matter, starting at first light in the spring and summer, with the identical phrase being repeated ad infinitum, while the long suffering mortals in bed a few feet away are trying to get another couple of hours sleep. In the middle of the tennis season a few years ago I syllabised one subsong as "my name's kafelnikov", and after listening to this hundreds of times, every seven seconds, morning after morning, a certain Russian sportsman was well and truly out of favour in our house. I must concede though that the harmonics are sometimes quite unique, I wonder if copyright applies?

Jewels of the bush.

2005-11-26T13:30:00.000+11:00

Peter's comment on a previous post has prompted this one about Spotted Pardalotes, fantastic little birds which have given me a lot of birding pleasure over the years. The first time I had a close encounter with them was over twenty years ago, when I was photographing wildflowers near Marlo in Far East Gippsland. As I was kneeling down beside a bank getting shots of a particularly nice Correa reflexa, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, a Spotted Pard. sitting on a low branch only four or five feet away, watching me intently. After I backed away to get the tele lens for the SLR, it dropped down to an exposed root, and then disappeared into its tunnel, which was just beside the spot where I had been kneeling. After fitting the tele lens I knelt down and waited, and was rewarded by great views of the two birds taking food into their nest. The picture is a shot scanned from one of those old slides, the bird has food in its bill, and the tunnel is in the top left of the frame.
In later years when birding took precedence over native plants, I had many similar encounters while moving quietly through the bush. I would see the birds sitting close by, and it wouldn't take much searching to find the little tunnel in the ground. On one occasion a group of us sat beside a bank next to the Tambo River, and watched the earth flying out of a tunnel in the process of being excavated.
The most unusual encounter occurred when I was working on extensions to St. Mary's Cathedral in the heart of Sale. The concreters had been digging out and putting down screeds for paths, and a pair of Pardalotes decided that this was an ideal site for a nesting tunnel. They had drilled in about a foot when I found it, and knowing that it was doomed to failure I blocked the entrance, expecting them to take the hint and go elsewhere. No way! They were straight down to open it up again, and I think this happened three or four times before they finally agreed with me that another site would be a better option.
On a birding trip to the Pilliga Scrub in New South Wales, C. and I were going into a dam which is a good location for Glossy Black Cockatoos. The road had been repeatedly graded into the red soil, forming banks on each side, one to two feet high. These were made to order for the Pardalotes, and there seemed to be a tunnel every twenty or thirty yards along a stretch of the road.
Yes, we saw the Glossy Blacks too, they came into the dam just before dusk, flock after flock, calling loudly and wheeling around, before dropping down to the trees to roost for the night. We sat there as the colours of the sunset filtered through the trees, and night fell, listening to these unique cockatoos grumbling and jostling for position on the branches.
Keep your ears open if you're are out in the Aussie bush this spring, and if you hear the three note "sleep bab-ee" call, have a look for these jewels of the bush.
The picture below is the Correa reflexa I was photographing at the beginning of this post!

Parrot arithmetic.

2005-11-26T13:29:00.000+11:00

The Orange-bellied Parrot is one of Australia's rarest parrots, with a total population of between 150 and 200 birds, they breed in south west Tasmania, and every year make the hazardous crossing of Bass Strait to winter along the Victorian and South Australian coastline. Three times a year, volunteers carry out a survey of these small parrots, also checking numbers of two other Neophemas, the Blue-winged and Elegant Parrots. Blue-winged Parrots also make the Strait crossing, and for some years I've counted them at the Jack Smith Lake State Game Reserve, on the coast south of Sale. Orange-bellied were seen here in 1980 and 1983, but so far I haven't managed to record any.
July 23 dawned cold and overcast, with a light drizzle, which persisted as I made the long drive to the Reserve. After parking at my first spot, which we christened Calamanthus Corner after the Striated Fieldwrens which are numerous there, I pulled on my parka and hiked around to where Warrigal Creek enters the Reserve. As I reached the creek two parrots flew over, and after I crossed and circled around, more jumped up from the glasswort and landed on the fence wires. I moved up quietly, and soon the entire flock was on the wires with their backs to me, all showing the dull olive green/grey plumage of Blue-winged Parrots. While I was counting, a Calamanthus was sitting on a tussock, singing sweetly as they do when the breeding season's nigh. The count was 34, a good start.
Back to the Cruiser and on to the permanent water, passing hovering Nankeen Kestrels on the way. Two Grey Thrushes greeted me with their beautiful song, then three Crested Terns, a couple of Silver Gulls, four Chestnut Teal, and a White-faced Heron were ticked as I crossed the outlet drain and started the walk along the shore to the first of two more spots which have been good in the past. As I reached the first I again saw Blue-wings, and after repeating my tactics this flock was also sitting on the fence wires. The count was again 34.... hell! Was this a coincidence or had the first flock moved while I was driving down! Ah well leave it for now and move on. I jumped the fence to enjoy easier walking in the neighbouring sheep property, and ticked a pair of White-fronted Chats, the male was putting on the old broken wing trick, so I had a brief look for the nest, but with a million tussocks to check I soon gave up.
At the second location another flock of Blue-wings flew over to be counted on the wing, 21 this time. Taking a beeline back to the vehicle, I crossed over a low hill which still has some ancient Saw and Coast Banksias surviving and flowering, Red and Little Wattlebirds were getting a feed of nectar from the flower spikes. Hitting the shore again I saw the previous flock flying, and then two more small flocks of about 15 joined them, the numbers were looking good. Eight Australian Shellduck came honking in to land, and then scanning the sand spit over the water, I saw 16 Red-capped Plovers sheltering from the wind in the low glasswort. If they have a good breeding season down here they flock in very big numbers, great little birds.
I still had to resolve the problem with the first two sightings, so it was into the Cruiser and back to Calamanthus Corner. On the way I saw a hovering Kestrel drop to the ground, and as it rose and moved away I could see through the glasses a mouse in its talons. Once again as I crossed Warrigal Creek, parrots flew over, and soon there was a flock of over 50 Blue-wings wheeling around, so it was a coincidence after all, and the count sheet won't be a problem to fill in.
I still had Lamb Lake to check, it's been fairly dry down here so I did it the easy way, driving, and saving the left hip joint which had been starting to grumble. This saline wetland can be treacherous even with a four wheel drive, the mud sticks to the wheels and you can soon find yourself stationary with the wheels spinning. No more parrots however, just Masked Lapwings, Magpies, Crimson Rosellas, and heaps of English Skylarks which love this place. That was just about it, but as I neared the road on the way out, a flock of Starlings whistled across the track and dived into the tops of the wattle trees. Close behind, the sickle-winged dark form of an Australian Hobby sliced through the air, unsuccessful this time, but a great sighting to finish the day. Once again no Orange-bellied Parrots, but a count of around 135 Blue-wings, the best for quite a few years.

An afternoon off.

2005-11-26T13:28:00.000+11:00

It was a perfect winter’s day today, calm and sunny, so after finishing a job in the workshop, I took the bins and camera to the Stratford Highway Park. This is an oasis of redgum woodland in the surrounding grazing land, and it’s always worth a visit. The vegetation is typical of the species mix which used to cover this alluvial country, Forest Redgum with a main understory of Lightwood, plus Cherry Ballart and Sheoak, with Burgan and Swamp Paperbark in the damper areas. Red Box and But But are also here, and the ground flora is still quite rich.
Once through the fence I disturbed the resident Eastern Greys, which hopped off and kept just ahead of me during the visit. This mob of kangaroos have kept the grass mown, and it’s easy walking from end to end of the park, with the added bonus of defined tracks through the denser scrub. The first birds were of course Superb Blue Wrens, we usually think of them as ground frequenters, but sometimes they feed higher up, and these were foraging 25 to 30 feet up in the trees. The Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were making an unholy row, they were probably sussing out the hollows in readiness for breeding, and high above, a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles were soaring upwards in a weak thermal.
I heard a Red Wattlebird in the distance, and then the machine gun rattle of a White-eared Honeyeater calling as I walked through to the boundary fence. While watching some Crimson Rosellas I got one clear look at some Thornbills moving fast through the canopy, the streaked breast tagging them as Striated. The fence line is often a good place to see Scarlet Robins, but this time there were Jacky Winters, dropping down from their perches to grab insects, and returning with the characteristic tail switching showing off the white outer feathers. Heading towards the dam I heard unfamiliar calls, and on tracking them down found they came from several pairs of White-eared Honeyeaters engaged in courtship behaviour, spring must be in the air.
As usual, Noisy Miners were at the dam, a pair of Masked Lapwings were feeding along the shoreline, and on the water, four Pacific Black Duck and three Hoary-headed Grebes were taking it easy. Brown Treefrogs were making plenty of noise with their cricket like calls, and as I walked along the shore, scattering Gambusia, or Mosquito Fish, dappled the surface of the shallow water. On the dam wall you could be excused for thinking the shrubs were covered with white flowers, but the Cockies roost and preen in the trees above, and the downy feathers float down to catch in the foliage. Below the wall the dense Burgan is ideal habitat for Yellow Robins, and sure enough there were a pair, clinging to the tree trunks and eyeing the ground with that sideways tilt of the head. A White-throated Treecreeper was the next tick, followed by a small party of that fierce-eyed little bird, the White-browed Scrub Wren. If they were any bigger I’d be afraid of them!
On the way back to the car I followed a ‘roo track around the dam, seeing more Yellow Robins, White-eared Honeyeaters, umpteen Grey Fantails, Willie Wagtail, Welcome Swallows, and a Swamp Wallaby, which took off from under a Cherry into the Burgan. This was a pleasant surprise, the first time I’ve seen one here. Last summer there was a report of a Forest Kingfisher in the park, I’ll certainly be keeping an eye open during the next few months.

George's Creek.

2005-11-26T13:27:00.001+11:00

After being tied down for days by the wintry weather, I took advantage of some sunshine today to visit an old stamping ground I've been neglecting. Georges Creek runs through some beautiful mixed species forest shortly before it hits the cleared country. Lofty Yellow Box, But But, Red Gum, Red Stringybark, and Manna Gum, shade an understory of Burgan, Dogwood, Black Wattle, and Hazel Pomaderris, and the area supports a rich bird population throughout the seasons. I was greeted by an exuberant concert performed by four or five Kookaburras, and I always get the feeling I'm being laughed at for wasting my time on what may turn out to be a less than successful outing.
After putting on rubber boots I waded through the creek and headed up a track with the ringing notes of the Bell Miners in my ears. Their tenor chimes are so different to the mellow cowbell "plonk" of the Crested Bellbird of the Mallee country. There were plenty of Superb Blue Wrens about, but not much else until I came back down to the creek, to see Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters working through the canopy, striking birds with their olive, black, and bright yellow plumage. The water wasn't very deep so I waded and walked down the creek, seeing Grey Shrike Thrush, female Golden Whistler, and a large flock of Red-browed Firetails which were bathing and preening. There has been a good flood down the creek with the recent rain, flood rubbish was hanging up in the scrub 10 feet above the creek bed.
Plenty of tracks were showing in the wet sand, Wallaby, Wombat, and then very fresh Sambur deer, leading up on to the creek flat where there were also fresh droppings. The flat has not been burnt for a long time, and the Burgan is 20 feet tall, some of the trunks are over 4 inches thick, a rarity nowadays. A White-throated Treecreeper was working them over, going spirally up the trunk to the branches, then dropping to the base of the next and up again. The same bird kept me company as I worked my way back upstream along the flat, and I had a great view as it checked out a stump in bright sunlight only 15 feet in front of me, with the spread and grip of its claws on the rough surface showing up beautifully in the glasses.
Eastern Yellow Robins and Crimson Rosellas were ticked as I went further upstream, but a detour back to the car along the dry ridge gave me nothing more.
Heading home, there must have been well over 500 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos feeding in a paddock beside a milking shed, spilt grain attracts them, and they also pull up grass tufts to feed on tender shoots and bulbs. The last sightings for the day were a hovering Black-shouldered Kite, and a dozen or so White-faced Herons on a pasture paddock, sneaking up on prey with stealthy tread. Did the Kookaburras have the last laugh? you be the judge!

After the rainbow.

2005-11-26T13:27:00.000+11:00

Over 50 mm of rain has fallen, the best drop we've had for six months. It's still overcast and cold, with the temperature sitting on 8 degrees C at the moment. While brewing coffee a while ago, I looked out through the kitchen window to see the White-winged Choughs in our neighbour's garden. Jan mulches her plants with coarse straw, and with vigorous left and right sideways movements of their bills, the Choughs were sending it flying everywhere. Couldn't help but smile.
These bird are great characters, full of personality, and when a flock diminishes, they have the nefarious habit of kidnapping youngsters from a neighbouring group to build up their numbers. Sometimes all the flocks in a district will get together for a jamboree, I once counted roughly 150 in a bush paddock to the north of the town, and other birders have reported similar gatherings.

It's party time.

2005-11-05T13:55:00.000+11:00

In an hour and a half I'll be popping in next door to attend our neighbour Ian's sixtieth birthday party. We never know what he will get up to next, the latest is the new toy he bought for the occasion, an MG B sports car. He's a generous soul, drove into our carport to let us sit in it, doesn't trust us to drive it though!!

Impossible to keep up with the neighbours nowadays.

Happy sixtieth mate.

Jassids.

2005-10-26T13:26:00.000+10:00

Some more winged creatures in the garden, but not birds. They're Leafhoppers, or Common Jassids, and go by the name of Eurymela fenestrata. These sapsuckers seem to like to cuddle up together, and the sugar ants keep a close watch on them so that they can harvest the honey dew the hoppers excrete. They are common on Eucalypts, but I haven't seen them do any damage in my garden. Leafhoppers are also associated with sooty mould, but in my open windy situation that hasn't been a problem. It's pouring rain today with over 25 mm recorded so far and more to come. Magpies and Currawongs are wandering around soaked to the skin, but getting a good feed from the creatures flooded out of their tunnels. The newly planted trees at Bellbird will be appreciating the drink, it should give them a good start.

The Superb Lyrebird.

2005-10-26T13:25:00.000+10:00

The stand out bird in our local bush has to be the Superb Lyrebird, a vocalist extraordinaire. I recently attended the 40th birthday of the Ben Cruachan Walking Club, and it brought back memories of a walk along the Dividing Range in the 1970s. We meant to do a loop around Mount Sunday, Son of a Bitch Spur, and Mountain Ash Spur, but went astray. After we got going the weather closed in, and we found ourselves walking in thick fog. When we got to the top of Mount Sunday we missed the sharp right turn down to Son of a Bitch Spur, and kept walking north along the ridge, and it was there that we saw a sight that I'll never forget. Every couple of hundred yards or so a male Lyrebird came out of the fog on the left, and crossed in front of us with its spectacular tail streaming out behind, to disappear into the murky depths on the right hand side of the ridge. I always regretted not counting them, and have never seen anything like it again. We eventually hit a logging road on the Jamieson River to camp overnight in the rain, and several times in the night we heard in the near distance a sighing sound, followed by an almighty crumpppp! as a forest giant lost its grip on the sodden soil and came to earth. A nervous night!
In more recent times C and I were up near Mount Moornapa, and stopped to investigate an old excavation where some hopeful had been scratching for gold. We disturbed a female Lyrebird which had a nest up on the bank, and as we sat quietly she got used to us, continuing to gather food in the scrub just a few metres away, pausing every so often to have a good look at her visitors. That's her in the picture, and her nest which contained a big fat chick can be seen here.

Greenhoods.

2005-10-26T13:24:00.000+10:00

Today, three of us went for a walk along a track where Greenhoods, one of the terrestrial orchid genera, are usually plentiful at this time of the year. As we have had a bit of rain I was hopeful, and sure enough, we found two Pterostylis grandiflora, or Superb Greenhoods. They were only about 100 mm high, whereas in a year of normal rainfall they would have been twice that. I took a photo of one of them, a rear view, due to the direction of the light coming through the understory. Further along the pad we found lots of Trim Greenhoods, dainty little orchids which can grow in large colonies, but unfortunately the light was too dim to get a presentable photograph. Birds were very quiet in the bush today, but we did see several of those jewels of the bush, Spotted Pardalotes. They were busy working through the upper canopy collecting food, pausing from time to time to give their "sleep bab-ee" call to keep in contact. The bush smelt great, moist, and redolent with the perfumes of the oil rich foliage of the understory.

Planting day.

2005-10-26T13:23:00.000+10:00

Well, we've had 22 mm of rain which has moistened the ground nicely, and this morning our planting at Bellbird Corner went off without a hitch. I got there at 8.30 with the plants and gear, and spent the next hour and a half putting out the different species of plant where they would do best, and look natural when they get a bit of size. I had one tray of Eucalyptus viminalis which I have been wanting to get into the ground to restore a bit of the original landscape which existed before clearing and grazing destroyed it. These tall white trunked trees are a feature of our waterways, and we only had two remaining. The others were River Bottlebrush, and two species of Teatree which grow along our local rivers. Didn't have time to look for birds, but the Magpies' constant caroling was music to my ears. I'm sure they sing just for the joy of it. The rest of the crew arrived, and got into it, and we had them all planted, watered in, and guarded from rabbits by noon. My mate Ian lent me a Honda powered fire pump to get the water from the river up to the planting sites, and the only mishap for the morning was when I tried to connect another length of 100 mm hose while the water was flowing. Soaked to the skin before we cut the motor to accomplish it. Amazing the pressure those things generate! It's been interesting to note the change in bird distribution since we started revegetating the Reserve. Birds like the Eastern Yellow Robin which were formerly confined to a blackberry and weed infested corner, are now moving along the river using the regrowth for cover and habitat. If this morning's planting succeeds, they should have another area of suitable habitat to colonise and hopefully be living right along our stretch of river. If you'd like to see the crew, go here That's yours truly in the yellow shirt by the way.

Detective work.

2005-10-26T13:19:00.001+10:00

After I finished taking photos of the Boobook yesterday, I had a thought and went back for a look under the tree. Sure enough, there was a good sized pellet of fur and bone, the bones looked too big for a mouse, so perhaps it had dined on a rat. This morning C saw a large grey bird swoop past the window, I said it may have been a Grey Currawong, as the odd one comes in with the Pied. Later on I went out into the garden to get some kindling for the fire, and gathered heaps of bark flakes from under the Manna and Sydney Grey Gums. Didn't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out that there had in fact been a Grey Currawong working through the trees.

It's raining.

2005-10-26T13:19:00.000+10:00

Yes, it started raining first thing this morning and hasn't let up, best rain we've had for months. Just had a look at the gauge and it's showing nearly 20 mm. Only trouble is I can't remember if I emptied it after the last spit. Think I did. Have spent the day typing and Photoshopping, helping to put together an entry for the National Landcare Awards, Nature Conservation category, featuring Bellbird Corner. Outside, the Rainbow Lorikeets are nibbling and staying dry under the roof of the seed tray, Pied Currawongs are getting a feed from the wet ground, as are Common Blackbirds, which appear in the garden as if by magic whenever the ground is moist. Be sure to read the latest on Aurora Borealis interesting stuff. That's enough typing for today, off to sit by the fire.

Owling birds.

2005-10-26T13:18:00.000+10:00

I was doing some long overdue planting in the garden late this afternoon, listening to a Grey Butcherbird singing, when suddenly all hell broke loose in the tree where the Choughs were this morning. I wandered over and looked up, and there were two Grey Butchers and a Red Wattlebird harassing a beautiful little Boobook Owl. It wasn't too concerned however, just ducked its head when they came too close, and calmly regarded me as I looked up. Yelled out to C who had come out to see what the commotion was, and she came over and kept watch while I dashed inside for bins and the Nikon digital. The aggressors eventually tired of the game and flew off, and I took about 15 shots, with the owl's eyes showing up blood red in the flash light. Hope to get one or two good ones out of them, auto focus is always a bit dodgy when shooting through sparse foliage. Obviously the Choughs were complaining about the owl this morning when I thought they were just mouthing off at each other! A good tick for our home bird list, we hear them at night, and have picked up a road kill outside, but this is the first sighting on the place. Must do the garden more often.

Visitors.

2005-10-26T13:16:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of showing a keen birder from Melbourne around two local spots, Bellbird Corner, and the Wetland Reserve. As most birders will know, it's always a worry taking visitors out, for fear the birds won't show, and you are left trying to make excuses for your lack of guiding skills! However we were barely out of the car before my companion spotted a Little Eagle gliding away to the north, and then down in the trees she soon picked up the calls of Yellow Thornbills working through the upper foliage. A short distance along the Wombat Trail we stood under a group of mistletoe covered Blackwoods, which were alive with Eastern Spinebills feeding on the mistletoe nectar. Brown Thornbills were here too, as well as Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Grey Thrush, and a bird which looked like a Whistler, but eluded us. Then as we stood looking, a brilliant male Mistletoebird, Australia's representative of the flowerpecker family, was singing in full view, only three metres from our binoculars, magic. We checked out the rest of the Reserve, seeing a few more of the usual residents before returning to the Maffra end, where we caught up with a pair of Eastern Yellow Robins and a small flock of Red-browed Finches, and on the track out to the car spotted a Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike flying over.
Back at the town we had a look at the wetland, which was fairly quiet, although a Royal Spoonbill preening, and a Great Egret stalking through the shallows were worthy of note. As we walked towards the river side of the Reserve, a flock of King Parrots flew over, males, females, and immatures, with the low winter sun lighting up their plumage, a spectacular sight. Satin Bowerbirds were flying over too, and in the mistletoe beside the path, heaps of New Holland Honeyeaters were feeding with Spinebills. My purpose in going along the river was to try and produce the Brown Gerygones, which have lived here in the tangle of exotic vegetation for a few years. This bird which is normally at home in East Gippsland temperate rainforest, is quite at home here, and suspends it's beautiful elongated nest, with side entrance complete with verandah, from the common woodbine which twines through the understory. Thirty metres in along the bank we saw small birds working through the wattles, and moving to one side my friend got a brief but clear look at a Gerygone, a tick for her, and a feeling of satisfaction for me as we headed home for a coffee.
Next morning at home there was a commotion outside, and I went out into the frost to see a flock of 12 White-winged Choughs up in the Ironbark, belying their name of Happy Family, as they squabbled with harsh cries. They soon got over it though, and I heard a few of their mellow whistles before they dropped down to the ground and started to move through the garden fossicking for food.

Freckles.

2005-10-26T13:04:00.001+10:00

Freckled Duck are one of Australia's rarest wildfowl, and are normally seen in the inland areas of Australia, however at the moment we have a large flock locally. Lake Guyatt ia a man made lake in Sale, Victoria, and a couple of years ago a flock of about 80 arrived to take up residence. This swelled to about 200 earlier this year, and last night I got an email from a birding friend to say that there were now 400 - 500 Freckled Duck on this small water body. This is a fantastic event, and they are so easy to see, just sit on the grass and observe to your heart's content. An added bonus acording to my friend is that within 50 metres there is a pair of nesting Azure Kingfishers, great birding indeed.I don't know what it is about Lake Guyatt, but a few years ago a small party of Wandering Whistling-duck made the lake their home for some time, a long way from their usual northern home. In Spring and Summer, if the water level is low, it's also a good place to see Latham's Snipe, they are easily seen sitting in the low grasses, or pottering about on the mud banks in broad daylight.

Raptors.

2005-10-26T13:04:00.000+10:00

Just got a phone call from another friend who'd been down to the mouth of the Latrobe River, where he saw 25 Whistling Kites, and 5 immature Sea Eagles. Most unusual numbers, and it shows that they must be doing well in that locality, especially pleasing to see the young Sea Eagles. Another interesting sighting was large rafts of Hardhead ducks on Lake Wellington.

This 'n that.

2005-10-26T12:58:00.001+10:00

Last year the Pied Currawongs which are normally down from the hills in numbers, were noticeably scarce. Not this winter though, yesterday evening they were coming over from the direction of the town in a seemingly unbroken stream. I reckon they are the most laid back flyers we have, extremely economical with wing beats. On the Macalister river flats this afternoon I saw a bull and a couple of cows, each surrounded by a solid carpet of white birds. Not Cattle Egrets however, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, struck me as an odd association. I guess the Cockies were just digging up onion grass bulbs, and they and the cattle were quite relaxed in each other's company.

Gossie.

2005-10-26T12:58:00.000+10:00

Must do more of this fencing, seems to attract raptors. Was up on the loading ramp connecting the electric fence wire, when a Brown Goshawk floated past on the stiff westerly, just a few metres above my head. I didn't have much time to watch it though, one of the resident Magpies spotted it and saw it off into the pines next door. Goshawks are quite capable of killing a bird as big and strong as a Magpie, once when I was walking on a bush lane I came on one mantling over a freshly killed Maggie. I also seem to remember one polishing off my last remaining Bantam hen, after foxes had spirited away the rest of the flock one night a few weeks before!

Gang-gangs.

2005-10-26T12:12:00.000+10:00

The door bell rang today, it was our neighbour, to tell us about some grey birds with red heads which had dropped "gumnuts" on her when she walked under a Yellow Gum. Wandered over with her, and we stood underneath the tree watching six Gang-gangs sitting a couple of metres above us, quietly dissecting the eucalypt fruit for the minute seeds. Took me down memory lane again to a time nearly fifty years ago when I was working in a remote clearing in the foothills. Times were tough, and I was stripping wattle bark for the tanning industry, and while I was standing under a Black Wattle, a very confiding male Gang-gang sat on a branch only a few feet away from me. One foot gripped the branch, while the other held a spray of wattle seeds to his beak, and while he ate, he kept up a quiet little conversation in his creaky voice, eyeing me all the while. Just enchanting. It's amazing how dexterous this type of bird is, we watched a mallee Ringneck parrot up in the Sunset Country extracting seed from mallee fruit capsules measuring about 5 mm in diameter. When you consider that each capsule may contain hundreds of seeds, it just goes to show how good they are. While I'm typing this, there is a flock of Blue Wrens at the tall birdbath, and a Grey Fantail and an Eastern Spinebill at the two low ones, there's water going everywhere. The male wren is starting to colour up, won't be long before the fun begins.

High flyer.

2005-10-26T12:10:00.001+10:00

Looked out the kitchen window first thing this morning, and saw five King Parrots having a drink at the birdbath. They were immature birds, but one was starting to move into adult plumage with the lime green flash on its side showing up. Have been busy for two days doing fence repairs before we get a herd of cattle in the paddock, and my constant companions have been Willie Wagtails, waiting for me to disturb insects from the grass, also had a Grey Thrush in the plantation entertaining me with its song. This morning I heard a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo in the top of our neighbour's Blue Gum, and later on when I was further up the fence line, it took to the air with loud calls. Its behaviour was a bit unusual, in that it didn't move off, but kept screeching, circling, and returning to the top of the tree. Then I looked up a bit higher and all became clear, there was a Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring in lazy circles, and the Cockatoo didn't settle down until the Eagle had drifted away to the east on the westerly breeze.

The Freestone.

2005-10-26T12:10:00.000+10:00

A calm sunny winter's day saw me walking in the Freestone country with my son and grandson. Heading down to the creek, the air was heavy with the curry-like scent of Cassinia, and then we were over, and climbing steeply through Hazel Pomaderris to the crest of the dry ridge. As we walked, the ridge flattened out, and the low understory of Nodding Blue Lily will reward a return visit in the spring. Red Ironbarks joined the Red Box and Yertchuk, and then we made the obligatory stop at the mine shaft, to drop rocks down and wait for the thud at the bottom. A bit further on a familiar sound had us looking at a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo carefully checking out a dead sapling for witchetty grubs, after an unsuccessful search it was joined by its mate and they flew off. Although it was dead calm in the bush, overhead the clouds were moving at a fair clip, perhaps pointing to the next change. Small birds had been non existent so far, but then one zipped over the track and landed, a White-throated Tree Creeper, and just past it a pair of Striated Pardalotes were working through the foliage. Along the sides of the track we started to see Lyrebird scratchings, and soon we heard one of these supreme vocalists doing its stuff. No mimicry on this occasion, just its own song. After a stop at the Peregrine Lookout, we turned and took another track back, zigzagging down the side of the ridge towards the creek, pulling up to watch a brilliant male Golden Whistler singing. The track took us across the fern gully where the Olearia lirata was growing densely, and Scrub Wrens and Brown Thornbills were flitting furtively and denying us a decent look. It got shady and moister as we neared the creek, the track was lined with Rock Fern, and we saw a few Everlastings and Victoria's floral emblem, the Common Heath in flower. At the creek a Yellow Robin was piping, and after climbing over the Bluff we were soon brushing through the fragrant foliage of Round Leaf Mintbush, and walking past banks of pink heath as we neared the carpark. Not many birds, but still a nice way to spend the afternoon.

Rain.

2005-10-26T12:09:00.000+10:00

Well, we have had a little bit of rain, just over 6 mm. The rain band has passed now, and the stars are shining. They have forecast more on Tuesday, hope they're right. It will have moistened the soil a little for our planting at the end of the month, picked up the tube stock this morning. The plant farm is situated in the bush where the Valencia Creek meets the cleared land, there is a great outlook from the house deck, down through tall Manna and Red Gums to the creek. In the tree next to the deck, about 20 King Parrots were perched waiting for a handout of sunflower seeds. On the way out saw Scarlet Robins and Yellow-rumped Thornbills, and the ever present Eastern and Crimson Rosellas. Spent part of the wet afternoon installing Ubuntu Linux "Hoary Hedgehog" on to a spare computer, looks good, and that's where this post is coming from. Apt name for an OS posting to a nature blog!

Winter?

2005-10-26T12:07:00.000+10:00

It's hard to believe it's winter, with the ground bone dry, and temperatures in the state up to 25 C plus. Here's hoping this next low coming through finally gives us some useful rain. Have been too busy to get out birding, retirement is like a mirage, you can see it in the distance, but you never quite manage to reach it! Have had to make do with the garden birds for my daily fix, still, Gang Gangs, King Parrots, and Crimson Rosellas are not too bad to go on with. I have been looking at Willie Wagtails for most of my life, but today, for the first time, noticed a shining iridescence in the plumage of one sitting on the fence with its back to me. May be the time of year, a friend remarked how striking the Red Wattlebirds are at the moment, with their plumage in absolute peak condition, and their wattles bright red.

On the fourth day of winter.

2005-10-26T12:05:00.000+10:00

We had a working bee. Went out into the frost this AM to load up for the working bee at Bellbird Corner, and looked up into the bare Claret Ash next door to see half a dozen Rainbow Lorikeets preening in the early light. They're aggressive towards other birds, but beautiful none the less, in their purple, orange, and green livery. While opening the gate at Bellbird, I sighted a Grey Thrush, two Eastern Rosellas, and a Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, but it was all downhill from there. We had our heads down for two and a half hours preparing 175 planting holes, and the only bird to show was a Yellow-faced Honeyeater calling by the river. Took the binoculars back after lunch to do some birding and work out what species to plant, and hardly saw a bird. It was dead calm and quiet, with only a pair of Grey Fantails to relieve the monotony. Came home a bit peeved, and after a drink, took the bins out into the garden. By the bird pool the Bronzewing was picking up wattle seed, and then saw two small birds cutting laps around the tree tops. Finally they settled in the big Yellow Box, and on closer inspection I noticed the whole crown moving, as a small flock of about ten Striated Pardalotes worked through the foliage. Reminded me of a time in the Rushworth State Forest, when we saw a mixed flock of over 50 Striated and Spotted Pardalotes feeding on the ground. A sight never to be forgotten, they really are the jewels of the forest. Back to the garden, and in the next tree a male Golden Whistler showed up, and at the feeder the Lorikeets were in possession while some Crimson Rosellas waited patiently. Was just about to go inside after putting the gear away, when The Management pointed out a pair of King Parrots at the feeder. The male, a magnificent bird in his prime, was sitting on a low branch of the Rose She-oak, and sat trustingly while I approached to within two metres. What a way to finish the day.

Macalister Wetland Reserve.

2005-09-26T12:04:00.001+10:00

Had a tour round the Reserve this morning, getting a broad picture of how the Envirofund rejuvenation project will kick off, with regard to removal of exotics, and revegetation with indigenous native species. Things fell into place readily, leaving me free to check out the birds. What a magnificent bird is the male Chestnut-breasted Shelduck, three pairs were floating serenely on the calm sunlit water with two pairs of Black Swans. Along the muddy edge a good sized flock of Grey Teal were loafing, and a few Swamphens were checking out the reedbed margins. The old Silver Wattles are heavily festooned with flowering mistletoe, with New Holland Honeyeaters and Eastern Spinebills taking advantage of the plentiful nectar. Although much maligned, it is a great winter nectar resource for these birds. Superb Blue Wrens and White-browed Scrubwrens are still working through the recently burnt areas, and Eastern Yellow Robins are also dropping down from low branches to feed there. Along the river in the tangle of exotic vegetation, a pair of Brown Gerygones which have adapted to this habitat were working busily. They build their charming nest in the common Woodbine, whereas in their traditional cool temperate rainforest habitat, Dusky Coral Pea would probably be a favoured location. Goes to show that weeds are not always bad.

Friday frost.

2005-09-26T12:04:00.000+10:00

First real frost for the new winter, with crisp ice on the car windscreen, and sure enough , as I noted previously, there was a Brown Thornbill in the low birdbath. It bathed and bathed until its feathers were soggy and it was drenched through to the skin, what do they see in it! The Correa decumbens is flowering heavily and Eastern Spinebills are really working it over. A welcome visitor to the garden this morning was a Common Bronzewing Pigeon, these birds have increased with the decline of the old shooting culture, and with people's gardens along our road forming a corridor, former bush birds like the Bronzewings and White-winged Choughs come right in to the edge of the town. The poor old Choughs though, have no road sense, and their numbers decline one by one, as they are hit by lead footed drivers who won't ease off for a moment to let them get clear.

Ablutions plus.

2005-09-26T12:03:00.000+10:00

The bird baths have been getting a workout today with the two White-plumed Honeyeaters and two chestnut flanked Silvereyes in the back one, and Grey Fantails in the front. It's always intrigued me why birds love bathing in cold weather, even on frosty mornings. There are more Pied Currawongs about this year, every morning there are a few wandering around under the trees looking for breakfast. Forgot one good sighting which should have been included in yesterday's post, while watching the Golden Whistlers, a flock of about 10 Gang Gang Cockatoos came up the creek and noisily wheeled about the treetops before settling quietly to feed.

Mount Angus Creek.

2005-09-26T12:02:00.000+10:00

The last day of Autumn, so went for a walk in the bush on Mt. Angus Creek. On the way, noticed the spray irrigation going flat out, with White and Straw-necked Ibis feeding in the rain. Close to the bush two flocks of White-winged Choughs were working along the roadside and Eastern Rosellas flew from tree to tree.
Parked the car in the usual spot, and hadn't walked more than a few paces before a female Rose Robin popped up. We've seen them here before, seems to be a favourite post breeding location. While looking for a male, a raptor circled over, hoped for a Sparrowhawk but the rounded tail told me Brown Goshawk. A few metres further on, Armillaris, the Honey Fungus, was thick round a dead Grey Gum, one of many victims of last Spring's "fuel reduction burn". The bush was pretty quiet, with only the odd Grey Fantail flitting around me, until I walked on to a flock of immature Crimson Rosellas which kept moving ahead as I followed the narrow pad. Pulled up to look at them, and spotted a lovely male Rose Robin high in a White Stringybark, then further over saw another female in the tree tops. Normally, at this time of year the bush is moist and smelling sweetly of earth and humus, but the continuing dry conditions in this part of Gippsland saw me crunching over dry ground, leaves and bark.
When I dropped down to the little creek flat there was a flash of colour, a male Golden Whistler, very elusive, and then I heard the soft contact calls and realised there was a family party, finally counted two adults and two immatures. While standing quietly in the Burgan, the female came as close as 2 metres, collecting caterpillars, and I also saw Brown and Striated Thornbills and an Eastern Yellow Robin.
Walking down the creek bed I caught up with Yellow-tufted and White-naped Honeyeaters, and when I hit the track leading back to the car, added Grey Shrike Thrush, Red Wattlebird, Grey Butcherbird, and Superb Blue Wrens to the list. The best was yet to come however, after I crossed the river and headed for home, a movement on the fence pulled me up, and a scan of the paddock revealed Flame Robins everywhere. Brown birds and full coloured adults seemed to be sitting on every second cowpat, a great finish to the trip.

Magpies.

2005-09-26T12:01:00.001+10:00

While at Bellbird Corner this afternoon I scanned the neighbouring paddock and counted 43 Magpies. Sometimes it's possible to see many more than this in the paddocks after breeding has finished and the young males flock together. It would be interesting to know what weight of insects and grubs they eat in a day, a great natural pest control.

White-plumed Honeyeaters.

2005-09-26T12:01:00.000+10:00

Two green backed birds flew from the direction of the birdbath to the top of an Ironbark and started preening. Sure enough, a pair of White-plumed Honeyeaters, we have only had the odd individual here during the past few years. A pair nested at Boisdale last Spring, so perhaps the species is moving into the district. It would be nice to have another resident honeyeater in the garden to challenge the New Holland's dominance. They're an attractive bird, with a nice song, we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Wintry weather.

2005-09-26T12:00:00.000+10:00

Cold, drizzling rain, and blowing a gale. Brown Thornbills moving through the garden close to the ground, an Eastern Spinebill investigating the Correa flowers, and a Pied Currawong having a drink from the birdbath. A pair of Turtle Doves also feeding on the ground in the shelter of the shrubs.

King and Queen.

2005-09-26T11:59:00.000+10:00

Autumn is the time when the King Parrots come in to the town area to spend the colder months before going bush again in Spring to breed. We have a pair hanging about at the moment, a beautiful male and his consort. Went to water some plants at the front of the house this afternoon, and immediately heard the male calling loudly with the characteristic whistling note. Guessing he was talking to me, I went and got some sunflower seed and put it in the feeder on the other side of the house, knowing they would see me from their lofty perch in the Ironbark. Sure enough, as soon as I returned to the house, they were both down eating seed, magnificent birds.

Big flocks.

2005-09-26T11:58:00.000+10:00

Not much happening during the last two days, however a big flock of Little Corellas, and one of Galahs flew over very low with the rush of wings clearly audible. A White-plumed Honeyeater continues to visit the garden, feeding in the red flowers on the small Ironbark. This species is only an occasional visitor, being rarely seen in the district.

The first OBP count.

2005-09-26T11:57:00.000+10:00

The first Orange-bellied Parrot count for the year, so it was off to Jack Smith Lake. First bird to be seen was a Wedgie being harrassed by a mob of Little Ravens. No parrots at the first location, but a nice lot of wintering Flame Robins flying from the fence wires to the ground and back again. On to the permanent water, and 200 metres towards the Omega tower a flock of 45 Blue-winged Parrots were feeding in the samphire and sitting on the fence. A big circle round the private land and back to the car produced more Flames but no more parrots. Checked out the salt flats near the big midden without luck, saw one more Wedgie, and then did the big walk around Lake Lamb. Once again no parrots, but plenty of Calamanthus in the tussocks, and Eastern Grey Kangaroos hopping off in front of me. Another count without OBPs, but as always, the Blue-wings were nice to see.

Is it Autumn or Spring on the Gippsland Lakes?

2005-09-26T11:56:00.001+10:00

Seems as if the birds aren't quite sure. Saw three Sea Eagles fly over Duck Arm today, two adults and last season's youngster, one of the adults was carrying a large stick for the nest. Many of the Pelicans at the rookery on Crescent Island have deep pink bill sacs and are commencing mating displays, and on sand spits nearby, Black Swans are already sitting on nests. At nine this morning, huge skeins of Little Black Cormorants were coming from The Newlands Arm area and heading in the direction of Metung. Many thousands of birds had passed overhead by the time the last stragglers appeared.

Flooding Creek rocks!

2005-09-26T11:55:00.001+10:00

Beautiful day after the rain, so I went for a walk on the Flooding Creek track at Sale. Just over the stile, the first bird was a Grey Butcherbird, a very black and white individual, and it was soon followed by a juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle soaring in circles over my head. Walking on, I put up clouds of Red-browed Finches, the commonest bird for the walk. Plenty of Superb Blue Wrens, and Brown Thornbills, but a surprising lack of waterbirds on the Common, the total was three Black Swans, two Darters, and a small flock of Chestut Teal.
Things hotted up at a favourite corner, with Silvereyes, sporting rich chestnut flanks, Eastern Spinebills working through the flowering Mistletoe covering the older Wattles, White-eared Honeyeaters, a striking Crescent Honeyeater, a brilliant male Scarlet Robin, an equally brilliant male Mistletoebird, and a party of about six Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes, which moved ahead of me as I kept walking.
Grey Shrike Thrushes called occasionally, a Brown Falcon took off from a tree beside the track, Crimson Rosellas provided splashes of colour, and the occasional Kookaburra gurgled and chuckled. Grey Fantails were occasional sightings, and White-browed Scrubwrens fossicked through the low scrub and fallen branches. There were not many birds on the lagoons on the south side of the track either, some Silver Gulls, two Masked Lapwings, and a few Black Swans, in all a puzzling lack of waterbirds for the whole area.
On the way back another male Mistletoebird popped up, a Wedge-tailed Eagle cruised over, a few Little Ravens were preening in a Redgum, and a clinking call advertised the presence of a Grey Currawong. This bird allowed me to stand right below it and watch, while it levered off flakes and sheets of bark, garnering a rich harvest of spiders and insects. While all this was going on, huge carp in the Common were leaping out of the water and falling back with big splashes. In Flooding Creek I saw a nice little flock of about six Dusky Moorhen, some more Swans, two Black Duck, and the odd Swamphen, and then I was back at the stile and the walk was finished.
A quick call at Lake Guyatt on the way home confirmed that there were still plenty of Freckled Duck in residence, also noted were some Royal Spoonbills, and a pair of Black-fronted Dotterels.

In the evening.

2005-09-26T11:55:00.000+10:00

Went outside with the sun just above the western horizon, and looked up to see a Brown Goshawk glide over about five metres above my head. Every detail of the barred plumage on its breast and belly was visible in the evening light. There's a lovely perfume in the front garden with the flowering Acacia iteaphylla by the bird pool giving out its sweet spicy fragrance.

Dry, dry, dry.

2005-09-26T11:53:00.000+10:00

Another warm, calm, dry day. Only 150 mm of rain for the year so far, the district is as dry as dust. We badly need a deluge so that we can get our autumn revegetation planting done at the Wetland Reserve and Bellbird Corner.

Ambling along the Avon.

2005-09-26T11:52:00.000+10:00

Beautiful autumn day today, so I went for a walk along the Avon River, one of my favourite birding spots. When I got out of the car, the first thing that struck me was the silence, not a bird calling, however it is autumn, when a lot of them become silent once breeding is done with for the season. There were plenty of Superb Blue Wrens about for a start, but little else, until I looked up and saw a large raptor cruising down the river towards me. The binoculars confirmed it as a magnificent adult White-bellied Sea Eagle. Propping in the shade of a tree I watched, and as it approached it went up and started to soar higher and higher in lazy circles. It was great to watch, and then about a hundred metres higher I spotted its mate, also soaring upwards on the updraught. I watched for a few more minutes, and then they broke off into a glide and disappeared south down the river.
Continuing on, New Holland Honeyeaters were everywhere. The Black Wattles and isolated Manna Gums are heavily infested with mistletoe which is coming into flower, a great nectar resource for these birds over the winter months. The only other small honeyeater I saw was an Eastern Spinebill, which was given short shrift by the New Hollands. Shortly after, three Mistletoebirds zipped past into an infested tree to continue their work spreading this controversial parasitic plant.
The rest of the walk gave me more species including Red-browed Finches, White-browed Scrubwrens, Grey Shrike Thrush, Red Wattlebirds, Whistling Kite, and Brown Goshawk. Since the Catchment Management Authority moved along the river last Spring, clearing the exotic willows and blackberries, the bird population of this two kilometre stretch has plummeted. They have stakes in marking planting points for the planned native revegetation process, but I fear it will be a long time before this area returns to its former birding glory.

Willing wombat workers.

2005-09-26T11:51:00.000+10:00

Great workers those wombats, along the Avon River where they have been disturbed by clearing operations, they are busy excavating new homes. One that I noticed had shovelled earth seven metres from the entrance to his burrow.

Feeding frenzy.

2005-09-26T11:50:00.000+10:00

Doesn't take the birds long to home in on a fresh food supply. We have had an excavator doing some work down at the Maffra Wetland Reserve, and the birds are having a field day. Eastern Yellow Robins, Superb Blue Wrens, White-browed Scrub Wrens and Purple Swamphens are just some that are working over the disturbed ground feeding on all sorts of tasty titbits uncovered by the Komatsu. Interesting to see the Yellow Robins out in the open away from their usual leafy haunts, competing with the others for the best morsels.

Little Eagles.

2005-09-26T11:49:00.000+10:00

Once a very rare sighting in this district, Little Eagles are now quite often seen. During the last week, I have made four sightings, and of those four, probably two were the same bird. I first saw it soaring lazily over the house, and the binoculars revealed a beautifully marked light phase bird. A couple of days later I was out at Bellbird Corner on the Macalister River, and the three note call alerted me to probably the same individual cruising low over the trees. Yesterday I was out there again and got another brief glimpse of a Little Eagle but didn't have enough time to get any details. The fourth sighting was of a dark bird heading south, in a long unbroken glide, which seems to be characteristic of the species at least in this district. The increase in sightings of this wonderful bird probably has something to do with the upsurge in rabbit numbers providing a plentiful food supply.