| Tue 10 | | Scarlet HoneyeaterLiverpool Road Retarding Basin |
| The highlight of my monthly Birdlife survey for Melbourne Water was a pair of Scarlet Honeyeaters calling from the shrub near the car park. I thought I had heard them here during last months survey, but I couldn't clearly hear their calls due to road traffic, however on this occasion traffic was far lighter and I was able to clearly hear their calls Full list |
| Tim Nickholds 10/12 #209682 |
| | Hooded RobinMangalore Flora and Fauna Reserve |
| Pair perched in dead tree; not reported here since 2010. Full list |
| Val La May 10/12 #209619 |
|  | Pectoral sandpiperWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
|
| A juvenile Pectoral sandpiper located on the small pond next to Beach rd. A nice day at WTP with Hedley Earl including good sightings of the an Arctic Jaeger and Lewins Rail, both at the Birdhide but both not giving us sufficient photography opportunities to get great photos. |
| Bernie OKeefe 10/12 #209694 |
| Mon 9 | | Australian KoelBurnley Gardens |
| I received a phone call from the Burnley Gardens manager to identify a bird that he had not heard before in the gardens. It was unmistakably a Common Koel. Recording available if further verification is required
Australian Koel (1) heard calling by Gardens Manager. Audio recording no photos Full list |
| Megan Griffith 10/12 #209602 |
| | White-headed PigeonMallacoota Inlet |
| Seen flying along road near Betka Beach entrance. |
| Arthur & Denise Carew 9/12 #209571 |
| | White-throated NeedletailMallacoota Inlet |
| App 30 WTN moving east around 10am today. Follows report on 5th. Very unsettled weather in area. |
| Arthur & Denise Carew 9/12 #209479 |
| Sun 8 | | White-winged Trillers, Brush Bronzewings, Southern EmuwrensWonthaggi Heathland & Coastal Reserve |
| Male Triller displaying and singing his heart out with female foraging nearby; pair of bronzewings watched for several minutes from only 10m away. |
| Mike Tesch 9/12 #209584 |
| | Freckled DuckBalwyn North/Bulleen |
| A pair of Freckled Duck sited on the water hazard besides the 6th hole of Freeway Golf Course. Settled with Black Duck. Looked comfortable, despite my drive, very approachable. |
| Matt Wakefield 9/12 #209497 |
| | Lewin's RailWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
|
| Approx 1/2 way down access road to bird hide. Bird darted across track 4 times, once with chick in tow |
| John Daniels 9/12 #209465 |
| | White-winged TrillerThe Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve |
| Had some spectacular sightings for me on a 25m stretch of a short walk close to dusk. On the Heathland Track 50m East of Panorama Track heard calls of White-Winged Triller. Two birds soon seen flying across track. Male bird seen constantly calling and making short flights from tree to tree. Also observed the male calling and displaying to female bird whish he ushered or followed to do so. (NB- I have seen WWT within 500m of this location in 2009, see link) Not 10m from there a Brush Bronzewing was calling from an area of dense vegetation. Just as I settled down to listen and perhaps catch a glimpse the strident call of a Goshawk pierced the air. I made a slow approach to it and an adult Brown Goshawk made a pass over me. It continued to call and keep a close look at me as I got stunning views of it with my Bino's. Further information |
| James Peake 8/12 #209429 |
| | Peaceful Dove & RuffWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
| Peaceful Dove seen about 4:00 pm, on post, boundary fence with Avalon Airport. Ruff where seen previously, about 100 m south of hide on pond between road and beach. |
| Adriana Bianchi & Bill Ramsay 8/12 #209419 |
| | Latham's Snipe. Heathdale Glen Orden Wetlands, Werribee 3030. |
| At 1400 hours observed and/or flushed twenty one (21) Latham's Snipe at the Wetlands. This is the best number of Snipe I have observed at this reliable site. |
| Peter Gibbons. 8/12 #209397 |
| Sat 7 | | Australian Koel, Rufous Whistler, Rufous FantailRoyal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne |
| Beauteous conditions today in the gardens, truly a top shelf location. Not only was the koel seen but we had some other unusual birds for here in the shape of a Rufous Fantail and a Rufous Whistler. Sacred Kingfisher also still in situ. Full list |
| Steven Davidson - The Melbourne Birder 7/12 #209261 |
| | Rufous SonglarkWoodlands Historic Park (Greenvale) |
|
| Rufous Songlark perched in dead tree near dam at southern end of the park. Full list |
| Richard Arnold 7/12 #209267 |
| | Ruff, Brown Songlark, Grey PloverWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
|
| Ruff seen in pond just south of hide, as reported previously. 1 unfortunate female/immature Brown Songlark found hit by a car on Beach Rd. Bird still alive, but eventually died. It's pretty sad with the number of roadkill animals around this area. 4-5 Grey Plovers on the Spit. 1 heavily moulting adult Spotted Harrier at the end of 29 mile Rd. 10 or so Turnstone and 1 Golden Plover on beach a few hundred metres north of 85W outlet on coast. Heaps of waders everywhere! |
| Kevin Bartram, Scott Baker, Merv Marsh 8/12 #209354 |
| | Rufous Fantail, Leaden Flycatcher, Sacred KingfisherShepherds Bush, Glen Waverley |
| Shepherds Bush Conservation Area has been very productive suburban birding for the last few months. Recent arrivals include Rufous Fantail and Leaden Flycatcher, and Sacred Kingfishers, Shining Bronze-cuckoo and Olive Backed Oriole have all been present for a few months. There is also a pair of Tawny Frogmouths that have recently fledged and often roost close the to carpark out the front of the tennis club. The reserve is excessively overgrown and a number of snakes have been sighted over the last month, so watch your step! Further information |
| Luke Shelley 8/12 #209342 |
| | Gang-gang CockatooEynesbury Forest and Grasslands |
| 1 male Gang-gang by the homestead. Nice surprise during lunch. Full list |
| Chris Lunardi 7/12 #209279 |
| | Bar-tailed GodwitBarwon River Mouth |
|
| 84 Godwits accompanied by upwards of 200 Red-Necked Stints. Also 3 Fairy Terns arrived as I was leaving. |
| Denis Sleep 7/12 #209275 |
| | White-winged TrillerMerri Creek, Fitzroy |
| Single, male Triller singing his lungs out in the Peppercorn trees immediately north of the St George's Rd bridge. An uncommon visitor to these parts. |
| Stuart Dashper 7/12 #209258 |
| Fri 6 | | Scarlet HoneyeaterDoongalla Pony Club Sheffield Rd Montrose |
| At least 6 Scarlet Honeyeaters feeding along the Dandenong Creek. Also saw Rufous Fantail. First time I've seen either of these species in over 15 years of birdwatching at this beautiful spot. |
| Des Palmer 9/12 #209501 |
| | Ruff, Cox's Sandpiper and Grey PloversWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
|
| Finally found the elusive Ruff! Found it feeding alongside the coast road 100 metres south of bird hide. Cox's sandpiper feeding next to it and in the background on the shore 2 Grey Plovers. |
| Hedley Earl & Irena Earl 6/12 #209138 |
| Thu 5 | | Arctic Jaeger (18)Western Treatment Plant, Werribee |
| Amazing sight of large number of skuas of various phases moving south-west along coast during foul weather. Watched from The Spit, the Hide and at east end of plant near 15E outlet. A few flew right past the front of the Hide and we could clearly see pointed tail streamers, although all looked to be this species. Also past the Hide in a south-westerly direction went 4 Sanderling and over 3000 other small waders during a 40 minute watch, a Ruff was in South Borrie Pond 26(near Beach Rd) and there were 2 Grey Plover on the North Spit. Could only find 3 Blue-billed Duck, and White-browed Woodswallow look to be nesting along Pt Wilson Rd near Paradise Rd entrance. Full list |
| Steven Davidson - The Melbourne Birder 5/12 #209037 |
| | Pomarine JaegerPoint Addis |
| 2 pale phase skuas, possibly immatures, seen flying past the point early this morning. Heavy-set and barrel-chested with broad wings, one of the birds clearly showed double pale patches on the underside of the primaries and underwing coverts, with large white flashes on uppersurface/base of primaries. Wingbeats were slow and deep. The other bird was further out and not seen well enough to note features, but looked a similar build. Full list |
| Steven Davidson - The Melbourne Birder 5/12 #209028 |
| | Wood SandpiperMcDonalds Swamp, Cohuna |
| 2 Woodies at McDonalds swamp near Cohuna. Seems to be a favoured site for them. Seen down the east side. Also adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle trying to catch ducks, and lots of BTNativehens and Red-kneed Dotts. |
| Simon Starr with Trevor and Jennie Franks 7/12 #209284 |
| | Beach Stone Curlew Nooramunga Marine Park (McLoughlins Beach) |
|
| Seen in McLoughlins Beach boat ramp carpark by Parks Victoria Ranger David Farrar. Probably same bird seen at Pt Albert last week. Report listed by Jonathon Stevenson. |
| Listed by Jonathon Stevenson 6/12 #209165 |
| | White-throated NeedletailMallacoota - Township |
| 10-12 White-throated Needletails preceding storm at 7.30 p.m. Eastern Koel also calling along Foreshore Caravan Park. Single Hooded Plover seen foraging yesterday. |
| Arthur Carew 5/12 #209018 |
| Wed 4 | | White-throated NeedletailGreater Bendigo National Park |
| A small party of 3 White-throated Needletail was seen early this afternoon heading south-east over Campbells Rd, with a loose flock of Fairy Martin. Full list |
| Steven Davidson - The Melbourne Birder 4/12 #208952 |
| | Common Koel, Little Tern.Marlo |
| We seem to be encountering Koels everywhere we go on our three week trip to East Gippsland. There we three at Mallacoota two weeks ago, one at Cann River all of last week & two over the past five days at Marlo. Little Terns busy feeding their young at the sandspit near the Snowy River entrance. |
| Keith & Judy Humphreys 5/12 #208974 |
| | Nankeen Night -HeronReed Vessel sculpture, Docklands |
|
| This morning as I crossed the bridge over the Reed Vessel pond about 7am, there was a Nankeen Night-Heron sitting on the other end of the bridge. As I approached, it didn't fly off, but stepped down onto the concrete edge of the pond and walked a couple of metres down it. Never seen one here before, never seen one so approachable. Photo taken with phone. White-plumed Honeyeaters giving warning calls, maybe because of its presence. |
| Peter Shute 4/12 #208927 |
| Tue 3 | | Unusual wader - Cox's SandpiperWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
|
| Highlight of the day was the discovery of an unusual wader whilst searching for the Ruff. With some help from Steve Davidson in reviewing our photos we determined the bird was a Cox Sandpiper. Distinctive features of the bird were the uniform grey brown colouring of its head and neck, slightly larger than sharpies around and it had a decurved bill like that of a curlew sandpiper. Photos taken of rear view plus side shots of head and neck.
White-bellied Sea-Eagle (1) Very large specimen seen roosting on a post along South Rd
Latham's Snipe Flushed 2 just inside Beach Rd gate Full list |
| Hedley and Irena Earl 4/12 #208934 |
| | Common KoelBaranduda (Wodonga) |
| A friend of mine has been mystified by a loud and annoying bird - his rendition sounded Koel - his sound bite confirmed this. Koels have been in the Wodonga/Albury region for the last 3 summers. |
| Derek Bowey (per Matt Weeks) 3/12 #208882 |
| | Australian Common KoelOcean Grove, south of Thacker St |
| Heard calling about 4.35am and is probably the same bird Barry Lingham heard last Sunday evening. |
| Tom Fletcher 3/12 #208785 |
| Mon 2 | | Brush CuckooWarrandyte State Park |
| Bird calling in the afternoon. Would consider this an unusual record but second consecutive year have recorded this species at this location so perhaps becoming regular. |
| Scott Baker 3/12 #208786 |
| Sun 1 | | Masked & White-browed Woodswallow pair?Little Desert National Park (Kiata campground) |
|
| It didn't occur to me at the time but after looking at my photos I have since realised that this is probably a cross breeding pair. The female White-browed had two eggs in a fallen down log found towards the south-eastern end of the Red-gum Loop walk. The male Masked was never far away from the female and usually sitting together when she wasn't on the nest. The male Masked would chase away other woodswallows that entered the area. |
| Nick Bradsworth 10/12 #209617 |
| | White-browed WoodswallowLicola Road , Glenmaggie North |
| 50+ birds in burnt out bush alongside road - very active and vocal. Also present several Rufous Songlarks , 2 White-winged Trillers , Varied Sittella and a group of 5 Brown Treecreepers. Bush is re-generating well. |
| Colin Mulvogue 3/12 #208876 |
| | Nankeen Night-HeronLake Colac Bird Sanctuary |
| 5 Nankeen night-heron, otherwise pretty standard evening. I thought I saw a 6th but could only count 5. Full list |
| Adam Fry 1/12 #208643 |
| | Silver GullBanyule Flats Swamp |
|
| For several years a single pair of Silver Gulls have made attempts to nest at Banyule Flats Swamp - usually in a lidless duck-box out in the water, once in the fork of a large dead Red Gum standing in the water. This year they squeezed into the mouth of a duck-box attached to the dead tree; it had been blocked from Common Mynahs and other pests with a large plastic jar. Today a young bird was resting on the log beneath the nest-box, with its parents in attendance. Two other adult Silver Gulls were also present -this is unusual.
I have only once before seen a young Silver Gull here, some years ago.
[Moderator: An interesting breeding report.] |
| Anthea Fleming 1/12 #208637 |
| | Pacific Golden PloverWestern end of 13th beach,(42w) Black Rock. |
|
| 29 Plovers observed today on the rocks at waters edge, with 6 or 7 Turnstones thrown in! |
| Denis Sleep 1/12 #208531 |
| | Australian KoelBay st, Golden Square. |
| Heard by 3 0bservers on bird challenge . Calling from pine tree in church carpark. |
| K & M Dredge & D Jackson. 1/12 #208491 |
| Sat 30 | | Latham's SnipeOld Port Albert (Nooramunga Marine Park) |
|
| Unable to locate Beach stone-curlew despite thoroughly searching the beach from the caravan park to as far as we could walk toward the town. Crabs in abundance as were oystercatchers etc. we also took a short walk along a path that was beside the mangroves at the back of the Hotel. It was here we found the snipe.
Latham's Snipe (4) Flushed 4 separate birds from a drain one street south west of the hotel. All 4 dropped into the mangroves alongside the walking path. Full list |
| Hedley and Irena Earl 1/12 #208494 |
| | Australian KoelRoyal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne |
| Twas a lovelorn Oz Koel that sang out across the gardens this morning from up on high in ye olde elm overlooking Long Island, assuming it's the same bird as first reported in early November. Also present was a very vocal Sacred Kingfisher near the restaurant. Full list |
| Steven Davidson - The Melbourne Birder 30/11 #208397 |
| | OspreyPoint Nepean National Park |
| Osprey (1) travelling westwards along north side of peninsular about 12pm Full list |
| Peter Bennet 30/11 #208391 |
| | White-throated NeedletailParadise Camp, Glenmaggie North |
| 6 birds over ridge behind camp , at times just above tree tops. Joined by a large group of White-browed Woodswallows ( 50+) . Also at camp, Juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle , 1 Black-fronted Dotterel, family group of Jacky Winters, Rainbow Bee-Eaters and 1 White-throated Nightjar at dusk. |
| Colin Mulvogue 3/12 #208874 |
| Fri 29 | | White-winged Fairywren, Orange ChatLake Tutchewop |
| White-winged Fairywren (20) 3 mature males with their families and a number of other sightings where a male was not seen
Orange Chat (14) one 'flock' of 8 and some others. Superb views. Full list |
| Angus Hartshorn 3/12 #208533 |
| | Bassian ThrushSomers Trail (Mitcham) |
| Somers Trail is native bushland beside Heatherdale Creek Mitcham.
To my surprise there 2 metres in front of me was a Bassian Thrush . Of course had left camera at home . Thrush stood and looked for 10 secs then scuttled off through the undergrowth. |
| Robert Scholes 1/12 #208501 |
| | Satin FlycatcherWestgate Park, Port Melbourne |
|
| A single male bird in the trees between the Friends work area and the road. First record for Westgate Park. |
| Andrew McCutcheon, Ann Williamson, Euan Moore 29/11 #208340 |
| Thu 28 | | Black KiteLearmonth Road, Ballarat |
| At least 26 Black Kites circling over tall pines on the boundary of the Ballarat North treatment plant. An unprecedented number for the Ballarat region. |
| Murray Grant 30/11 #208461 |
| | Beach Stone-curlewOld Port Albert (Nooramunga Marine Park) |
| Previously reported Beach-curlew seen about a km north of where Old Port Foreshore Rd hits the beach. Bird is very skittish not allowing approach closer than about 200 meters. |
| Scott Baker and Max Power 29/11 #208263 |
| Wed 27 | | White-winged Triller, Horsfield's & Shining-Bronze Cuckoos, White-browed Woodswallow. Point Cook Coastal Park. |
| Heard and observed three male White-winged Trillers at various locations in the Park. Observed a young Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo and heard a Shining Bronze Cuckoo, White-browed Woodswallows observed near the Spectacle Lake Car Park. |
| Peter Gibbons, Andre Dreyfus and Len Towerzey. 28/11 #208140 |
| | Eastern KoelReservoir |
| Koel heard calling overnight 26/27 November |
| Steve Leonard 27/11 #208090 |
| Tue 26 | | Beach Stone-curlewOld Port Albert (Nooramunga Marine Park) |
|
| Seen briefly today at 3.30PM, at low tide where the Old Port Foreshore Rd hits the beach. This was not where the caravan park is, that is the similarly named Old Port Rd, which is further north. You take right hand turn at the roundabout as you reach the town & go to the beach. The bird was on the sandy beach directly south of the Nooramunga Marine Park sign, seen about 2-300 m away. I attempted to as subtly as I could to get closer to get better photos, but the bird had already gone. According to fellow birdwatcher Geoff Price the bird was probably flushed by someone who was walking their dog. I couldn't find the bird anywhere after this. |
| Kevin Bartram 27/11 #208049 |
| | Black HoneyeaterWilby |
| At least two birds (one an immature male) feeding off fuchsia gum flowers in the back garden. This is the 7th Black Honeyeater record I have had in the last month, definitely an irruption happening in NE Victoria at present. Further information |
| Michael Ramsey 26/11 #208024 |
| | White winged TrillerCrusoe Reservoir, Bendgo |
|
| High up in dead pine tree a long way off sorry for the poor photo |
| Janice McKay 26/11 #208009 |
| | Sacred Kingfisher, Satin Flycatcher, Grey Shrike-thrushValley Reserve, Mount Waverley |
| All three birds spotted along creek line at Valley Reserve.(Flycatcher was female) |
| Chris Gittins 26/11 #208005 |
| | Crimson/Eastern Rosella cross, KoelAllingham Street Kangaroo Flat |
|
| Managed to get a photo of this bird today after sighting him/her about 4 times over the past month. It has paired with an eastern Rosella and produced 1 young that was seen today with it on the tree with hollows in it where they nested. The young looks like pure Eastern Rosella.
Tree is cut off about 10' high opposite 209 Allingham St Station side of the street.
The Koel is still in the big Fig tree Peel street Quarry Hill and there are now suspicions a second one is calling in the area as well. |
| Greg McKay 26/11 #207941 |
| Mon 25 | | Regent ParrotBaker Road near Bronzewing |
| An awe inspiring moment witnessing a flock of over 200 (possibly 250) Regent Parrots in roadside trees and feeding in a wheat crop. Many more green birds than yellow suggesting many juveniles. Seen during an 8 day Victoria wide tour with a birding group from Taiwan. |
| Simon Starr 28/11 #208231 |
| | White-throated Gerygone, Diamond FiretailCrusoe Reservoir, Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo |
| One adult bird of both species. Gerygone seen & heard at close range. |
| Ken & Maureen Dredge 25/11 #207866 |
| | Eastern KoelHighton, Geelong |
| Koel calling 0830 from top of Highton hill near Montpellier water basins. Koel now regular spring-summer visitor to Geelong for several consecutive years. It has been interesting to watch the Birdline records plot the southward and now westward movement over recent weeks. |
| John Newman 25/11 #207830 |
| Sun 24 | | Plumed Whistling DuckMajors Rd, Cohuna |
| Over two hundred birds hanging around a dairy and adjacent wetlands along Majors Rd SW of Cohuna. |
| Simon Starr 28/11 #208235 |
| | Eastern KoelMyrtleford (near Tennis Courts - town centre) |
| Heard calling. |
| Scott Jessup 28/11 #208155 |
| | White-throated NightjarChiltern Mt Pilot National Park |
| 3 White-throated Nightjars found up on ironbark stony ridge while looking for Barking Owls two of them photographed. I was very excited as I have looked for this species on several occasions without luck.
Just a note to say they were photographed using very long lenses as we did not want to disturb the birds Further information |
| Geoff Jones & Peter Merritt 28/11 #208137 |
| | Fork-tailed SwiftElwood Foreshore |
| Very similar situation to the other FTS report today - alarm calls from other birds as the swift rocketed past quite low (around 30m above ground). It circled once and headed west. First record of the species for the Elster Creek area. |
| Gio Fitzpatrick 25/11 #207861 |
| | Baillon's Crake, Latham's Snipe, Australian Spotted CrakeWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
| Looks like the T-section crake city is back open for business - 8 Baillon's Crake seen at the reedy pond at T-section. 1 Latham's Snipe seen on the edge of the pond beside the reedy pond. And 4 Australian Spotted Crake in the bird hide ponds. Full list |
| Jackson Airey 25/11 #207832 |
| | Fork-tailed SwiftAnglesea, Weir St |
| Alarm calls from honeyeaters caused me to look skywards - like me, they initially mistook an approaching bird as a Hobby. The Fork-tailed Swift circled and was joined by 4 others that descended from at least 200m altitude before moving off to the south. 12:20pm, overcast, moderate S wind. |
| Barry & Bernie Lingham 24/11 #207816 |
| | Crimson ChatsSwan Hill Sea Lake road on corner of Brydon Rd |
|
| 10 seen at any one time. In the corner of a canola crop, so only visible when they rose out of the crop onto fence and trees along the Swan Hill/Sea Lake Road. Could be many many more than 10. Also present were many White-browed Wood Swallows ( at least 50) , Australasian Pipits and Martins. Possibly other species but difficult to identify because of the extreme activity of all birds in and out of the crop. At one point I could see a flock further out into the crop which would have been at least 150, of mixed sized birds. Also saw a feral cat run into the crop! The crop was dry and unusual to be still standing at this time of the year. Most canola crops have been cut , and now drying before being harvested. We first saw them on Friday on our way to Wyperfeld, then again today, 10.30am. |
| Anne Thompson 24/11 #207778 |
| | Eastern KoelBayswater |
| Male Eastern Koel heard and seen at the top of a large pine tree on Myrtle St at the corner of Maple St, Bayswater. I had heard it clearly two days ago from the station, 600m away. |
| Richard Case 24/11 #207647 |
| Sat 23 | | Black Honeyeater, Diamond FiretailGoschen Bushland Reserve |
|
| Black Honeyeater (4)
Diamond Firetail (2) Full list |
| Ian Mayo 26/11 #207944 |
| | Peregrine FalconKow Swamp |
| Whilst coming from Terrick Terrick three Peregrine Falcons perched on dead trees over Kow Swamp just near Piggery were observed. Have never seen 3 adult birds together before.
Moderators note: Although to be expected in the area, 3 adults in the same vicinity is certainly unusual. |
| Peter Merritt & Geoff Jones 28/11 #208138 |
| | White-winged TrillerCoalmine Road, Anglesea Heath |
|
| |
| Ian Wilson 24/11 #207777 |
| | Beach Stone-curlew Port Albert, Shire of Wellington. South Gippsland. |
|
| Rohan Bugg located a Beach Stone-curlew at Port Albert.
The bird was seen and photographed at Port Albert (14 km south of Yarram). To find the bird, you will need to turn right in to Old Port Foreshore Rd, at Port Albert, proceed to the end of the road where the caravan park is situated, walk on the beach towards the south. The bird was seen approximately a half to a kilometre away. I think it would be wise not to disturb the bird by approaching it too closely, so that it will hopefully stay for some time to be admired by many. |
| Rohan Bugg, per Maarten Hulzebosch 24/11 #207698 |
| | Noisy Friarbird Rear of Wyndham City Council Civic Centre, Princes Highway.,Werribee 3030. |
| Heard and observed a small group of Noisy Friarbirds feeding with a large number of Red Wattlebirds in the profuse flowering Spotted Gums and Lemon- Scented Gums, in the grounds at the rear of the Civic Centre. This is my first observation of this species in Werribee. |
| Peter Gibbons 24/11 #207653 |
| | Cox's SandpiperWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
|
| Seen on South Rd, west of 85W pond just the west side of the cattle grid. With the initial view I thought it was a Pectoral Sandpiper because of its longer bill & when it flew it gave a Budgie-like call. It later landed on the road in front of the car and provided excellent views & photos in which it was revealed as a Cox's Sandpiper. It's bill was much longer and more decurved than in a Pectoral Sandpiper & mostly black with a faintly paler olive base to the lower mandible. The plumage was marked much like a Pectoral, but with less heavily defined dark streaking. Breast band was strongly at the sides, but lacked the V at bottom of the band. Head pattern much like Pectoral. Legs were pale olive-yellow, not bright at all. When it flew it had a black line through the rump, and wingbar was broader than in Pectoral Sandpiper. The features probably closer to Pectoral Sandpiper, but bill shape, length colour, less strongly marked patterning and lack of V at apex of breast all point to a hybrid between Pectoral & Curlew Sandpiper. More photos can be provided if needed. |
| Kevin Bartram, Merv Marsh 23/11 #207616 |
| | Grey Goshawk (white morph)Apollo Bay |
| Found a goshawk nest late this afternoon, at least 3 birds, 2 on nest, initially the nest was empty but as parent called 2 white blobs popped up. got photos of one adult and the nest. |
| Philip Peel 23/11 #207579 |
| | Cox's SandpiperWestern Treatment Plnat, Werribee |
| Bird photographed along south road just west of 85w pond. Will post photos later. [Published so that others at WTP can look for the bird and confirm the report.] |
| Kevin Bartram, Merv Marsh 23/11 #207535 |
| Fri 22 | | White-throated GerygoneDonelly's Weir |
| White-throated Gerygone - an adult bird heard singing then seen well along track in to weir. Unusual occurence here south of the Divide. Full list |
| Steven Davidson - The Melbourne Birder 22/11 #207366 |
| | Pink Robinnear Enochs Point |
| Taken to an old gold mine on the road to Enochs point (between Marysville and Eildon). Brief view. no time for photo, scrub too thick. |
| Bob Tate 23/11 #207550 |
| | BrolgaWillaura-Powells Lane |
|
| 17 Brolga - adults and juvenile - feeding in paddocks and wetland area. Earlier in the day a work colleague had seen 6, later when I was out those six had been joined by another 11. All feeding with the occasional dancing thrown in, one bird seen trying to offer another dried grasses. Attached image |
| Deidre Andrews 23/11 #207450 |
| | Australian Koel, Scarlet Honeyeater.Mallacoota & surrounds |
| Three Koels sighted, calling simultaneously at times in the Township, Foreshore Holiday Park area. Scarlet Honeyeater on the walking track adjacent to Devlin's Inlet. Black-faced Monarch & Rufous Fantail at Double Creek Arm Rainforest. Many hundreds of dead Short-tailed Shearwaters along the ocean beaches. eg. 200+ at Quarry Beach. |
| Keith & Judy Humphreys 22/11 #207288 |
| Thu 21 | | Latham's SnipeBarham River estuary, Apollo Bay |
| At least 20 flushed, first saw 4 as I flushed them from the flooded Barham River, watched them fly over a small clump of vegetation into a flooded paddock, followed across the river and then flushed at least 20 birds in a 100 metre square block...could well have been many more as this paddock was partially covered in maize which the birds retreated too as I flushed! All but 20 metres from the Great Ocean Road. |
| Philip Peel 21/11 #207161 |
| | Grey PloverWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
|
| Following a report yesterday by Dave Torr and his group, Hedley Earl headed out this afternoon and located the bird. He contacted me immediately so after work I ventured down to WTP and using Hedley's precise directions, I was able to find and photograph the bird. It was on the beach about 2 km past the little bridge at 145W outlet heading towards 15E outlet. Thanks Dave and Hedley! |
| Bernie OKeefe 21/11 #207158 |
| | Australian KoelCoath Street Ironbark Victoria |
| 9.30am today. Male. Second visit this week to large peppercorn tree.
Difficult to see because of dense foliage but managed with assistance of binoculars.
Have heard regularly calling (starts about 2-3am but may be heard late in the day also) from a large Moreton Bay Fig tree in the grounds of Fortuna Village. This tree is readily visible from Booth Street. |
| George Shearer 21/11 #206972 |
| | Australian KoelMerri Creek valley Clifton Hill, near Yarra River junction |
| Merri Creek near footbridge at end of Roseneath St.
I did not observe the bird but clearly heard call several times at around 7.30am. |
| Terry Jones 21/11 #206960 |
| Wed 20 | | White-browed WoodswallowsMount Cottrell |
| Flock of up to 100 White-browed Woodswallows milling about a small eucalypt plantation & a row of pine trees on eastern slopes of Mt Cottrell near Melton. Seemed to be hawking for insects , circling around & settling in trees; generally quite restless looking. |
| Daryl Akers 22/11 #207396 |
| | White-throated Nightjar, Large-billed Scrubwren, Rose Robin, Brush CuckooBunyip State Park |
| Rose Robin and Large-billed Scrubwren observed at the creek crossing on Link Road. At the helipad later in the evening, several Brush Cuckoos were seen and heard just before dusk. We were rewarded with a brief sighting of the White-throated Nightjar just before the light faded. No owls seen or heard, apart from a Southern Boobook around 9pm. In all, 39 species seen for the day, including nesting King Parrots and Red-browed Treecreeper, both along Ash Landing Road. |
| Ian Miles, John Hill, Roger Macaulay, Mal McKinty 22/11 #207256 |
| | White-necked HeronBarham River Rd, Apollo Bay |
| The most I have seen, without getting out of the car at least 28 were seen in one paddock with another 6 seen on an adjacent paddock. Not sure if it's a common occurrence to see such large numbers? |
| Philip Peel 20/11 #206883 |
| | Grey Plover, Black-faced Cormorant, Arctic Jaeger, Sacred KingfisherWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
| Grey Plover on beach near 85WB lagoons (by the rock jetty), Black-faced Cormorant and Jaeger at 15E outlet, Sacred Kingfisher on 280S Rd.1 Brolga flying west along the beach east of Little RIver, and two seen later at Kirk Pt. |
| Dave Torr, Christine Shelley, Mark Buckby, Michael Scobie 20/11 #206800 |
| Tue 19 | | Common Diving-PetrelWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
|
| Common Diving-Petrel - a partly dessicated specimen along Coast Track near South Borrie Ponds. Examination of the bill showed a straight edge along the latericorn parallel to the ramicorn, confirming it as this species. See photo. Also a Pectoral Sandpiper in ponds nearby, and a possible Lesser Sand-plover on the mudflats at Little River mouth, seen for a few seconds before the entire flock spooked. Full list |
| Steven Davidson - The Melbourne Birder 21/11 #206980 |
| | Bassian ThrushYou Yangs Regional Park |
| Single bird seen briefly in a gully with a small pond on the south side of Branding Yard Rd about 100 metres west of the Bunjil geoglyph. |
| Richard Nowotny with George Gerdts, Mary Anne Rossing and Nancy Dagle (USA) 20/11 #206890 |
| | Australian KoelNewport |
| Packing the car for work at 0520hrs I heard a Koel calling nearby, continuing to call for ten minutes until I left at 0530. The 3rd time I've heard the species from my backyard in 5 years of living here. |
| Steve Davidson 19/11 #206623 |
| | Satin Flycatcher (male)345 The Esplanade, Indented Head 3223 |
| In a Eucalypt at the rear of above address I was first alerted by the call then got excellent views of it over the next few minutes. Managed a couple of poor photos with phone |
| Peter Bright 19/11 #206543 |
| Mon 18 | | Whiskered TernHollands Landing Road Gippsland Lakes |
|
| BirdLife East Gippsland members observed an estimated 1,000 Whiskered Terns feeding over paddocks adjacent to the Hollands Landing Road near Woodpile Road on Monday morning. The Terns have been in the area since the 4th of November (date advised by the property owner). It was exciting to watch these dainty terns flying low over the paddocks and diving into the long grass, or to the ground in paddocks where the grass was short, to catch insects. Small flocks of this species have been recorded in many wetlands around the Lakes over the past month. |
| John Hutchison 19/11 #206627 |
| | Turquoise ParrotPrince's Highway, Wombat Creek |
| A Turquoise Parrot was sighted flying along the recently slashed powerline access tracks adjacent to the Prince's Highway opposite the Wombat Track junction. Another observation highlighting the gradual expansion of this species west of the Orbost-Marlo where they are regularly recorded. |
| Jacquie and Len Axen 19/11 #206547 |
| | CicadabirdTrestle Bridge, Colquhoun State Forest |
| While enjoying a lunchtime stopover a Cicadabird was heard continuously calling from a forested ridge above the Trestle Bridge car park today. |
| Jacquie and Len Axen 19/11 #206546 |
| | Scarlet HoneyeaterLake Bunga Beach Reserve |
| Numerous Scarlet Honeyeater were heard calling from the coastal dunes and riparian vegetation at the mouth of Lake Bunga early this morning. |
| Jacquie and Len Axen 19/11 #206545 |
| | Cicadabird McGees Rd, Wombat State Forest |
| Male and female seen this morning. This is only the second record from this area. The first was in January this year. |
| Ian Ashton, Murray Grant and Helen O'Donnell 18/11 #206421 |
| Sun 17 | | White-headed PetrelPort Fairy Pelagic |
|
| 1 White-headed Petrel flew around the boat for few minutes once we reached the shelf break. Also saw 6 or so White-chinned Petrels, around 100 Fairy Prions, 20-30 Great-winged Petrels (all seemed to be gouldii), 3-4 White-faced Storm Petrels, & 1 Sooty Shearwater. Around 500 very hungry Short-tailed Shearwaters followed the boat. Albatrosses were very down, only around 20 whole day; nearly all birds adult nominate Shy with 1 immature bird. |
| Kevin Bartram, Neil McCumber and the rest of the people on board. 19/11 #206593 |
| | Long-tailed JaegerPort Fairy Pelagic |
|
| 2 seen, mainly identified from photos. First on the shelf, flew around the boat briefly. Initially thought it was an Arctic, which is a bit unusual for the shelf. Photos show a second year bird going into non-breeding plumage with brown upperparts, and heavily barred underwing coverts. Upperwing primaries all dark with pale shafts; old underwing primaries show pale bases to feathers, characteristic of a first year bird, but newer feathers almost totally dark. Tail has 1 blunt broad feather, projecting about 3cm past tail tip, like a first year bird, & the other was an extended wiry pin (diagnostic of this species) about 5cm past the tail tip. Also small bill, small head, lack of deep chest & long tail all characteristic of this species. Second bird in inshore waters, more advanced, probably a bird moulting into 3rd non-breeding plumage. Still has brownish upperparts with distinct pale shafts to outer primaries; no white bases to under primaries (diagnostic off this species); white head and neck apart from the blackish cap. Very sleek bird, not deep chested, long winged, long tailed (without any visible streamers). |
| Kevin Bartram, Neil McCumber et al 19/11 #206592 |
| | Arctic JaegerWestern Treatment Plant, Werribee |
| Species observed during 2013 Twitchathon with Sean Fitzgerald.
Arctic Jaeger (1) Single bird powering along coast. Full list |
| Paul Rose 19/11 #206565 |
| | Dollarbird, CockatielWilby |
| Wilby Bushland Reserve - species recorded before and during the 2013 Twitchathon event with Sean Fitzgerald
Dollarbird (2) Pair investigating nest hollow
Cockatiel (16) Flock roadside opposite small dam at front of reserve Full list |
| Paul Rose 19/11 #206552 |
| | Painted Buttonquail, Brush Bronzewing, Brush Cuckoo, Sooty Owl, White-throated Nightjar, Red-browed Bunyip State Park |
| Species recorded during the 2013 Vic Twitchathon event with Sean Fitzgerald
Painted Buttonquail (1)
Brush Bronzewing
Brush Cuckoo
Sooty Owl (3) Birds bomb and cricket calling along Link Rd - observed single bird
White-throated Nightjar
Red-browed Treecreeper
Southern Emuwren
Cicadabird
Black-faced Monarch
Satin Flycatcher Full list |
| Paul Rose 19/11 #206540 |
| | Spotted HarrierWestern Treatment Plant (Pt Wilson Rd) |
|
| Picture taken yesterday of one of a pair of Spotted harriers flying on Pt Wilson Road between Paradise and Beach Rds. |
| Mel Mitchell and Joy Sanderson 18/11 #206394 |
| | Painted ButtonquailPoint Addis |
| About a dozen Blue-winged Parrots seen on the nature walk including pairs feeding. Also seen - one male Painted Button Quail, several White-throated Treecreepers and a female Rufous Whistler. |
| David Spicer 18/11 #206384 |
| | Australian KoelRosalind Park, Bendigo |
| Koel heard calling around 1pm within the fernery section of Rosalind Park where the flying fox colony roosts. |
| Adrian Martins 18/11 #206237 |
| | Superb ParrotBlackburn |
|
| Has been sighted over the last few weeks in suburban Blackburn.
Finally got a verifiable photo. [Moderator: This bird is probably an aviary escapee.] |
| Martyn Dickie 17/11 #206190 |
| | Spotted HarrierNear Lake Lorne, Drysdale |
| Spotted Harrier (1) Nearby (c. 1.5km) at corner of Grubb and Belchers Road. Adult. Superb views. Flew low beside road then across farmland towards Lake Lorne. Full list |
| Russell Woodford 17/11 #206157 |
| | Freckled DuckDam adjacent to Balbirooroo Wetland, Balnarring |
| 3 Freckled Duck |
| Brian Thomas 17/11 #206150 |
| | Swift Parrot,Ocean Grove, east end of Woodlands Drive. |
| First heard calling at 0915 then seen flying between the trees for at least the next half hour.. Possibly the same bird recorded by Dennis Sleep not far from Woodlands, on 1/11/13. |
| Tom Fletcher 17/11 #206076 |
| Sat 16 | | Short-tailed Shearwater Fielder Road,Cockatoo, Dandenong Ranges |
| A late report ,but interesting.
My daughter, who is very familiar with birds in the hills here, came across an unusual bird in the middle of the road while she was driving.She stopped and moved it to the side of the road.
She thought that it was a seabird. It was in a bad way like it had been "hit by a car already" ! When I showed her Short- tailed Shearwater in a field guide she didn't hesitate to say that is what it was! |
| Francesca Beal per Graham Beal 24/11 #207802 |
| | Black HoneyeaterChiltern-Mt Pilot National Park |
| Black Honeyeater (2) Birds feeding in blossom along entrance road to No 1 Dam during Twitchathon - real bonus!
Full list |
| Paul Rose 19/11 #206558 |
| | Painted HoneyeaterWarby-Ovens National Park (Killawarra Forest) |
| Painted Honeyeater (1) Singe bird calling loudly and showing well in and around mistletoe near Camp Oval
Full list |
| Paul Rose 19/11 #206554 |
| | Crimson ChatYaapeet |
|
| Attached photo of one of the reported birds. |
| Greg Hunt 18/11 #206392 |
| | Crimson ChatYaapeet |
| Male Crimson chat at the entrance to the now-dry Yaapeet reservoir, watched for 5 minutes on Saturday afternoon - a great early sighting in out team's Twitchathon effort. |
| Greg Hunt, Max Arney plus three 18/11 #206248 |
| | Powerful Owl & offspring?Blue Tongue Bend Track Warrandyte |
|
| I was surprised to see the bird only 4mts? above ground, in a native cherry. In between the branches as they meet the trunk, you might discern a (presumably) a fledgling, roughly 60% the size of the pictured bird. Sorry only an Iphone image! Located at a slight bend, north side of track, about half way down from top of the ridge to the river edge. |
| Jim Lord 17/11 #206129 |
| | Glossy IbisFishers Wetland Phillip Island |
| The Glossy Ibis are still at Fishers Wetland . Three of us saw 18 today. A local told me the birds have been there for about a month and 30 were sighted one day. |
| Geoff Russell, Robert Wright & Roger Needham 17/11 #206126 |
| | Scarlet Honeyeater, Crescent HoneyeaterBaluk Willam Nature Conservation Reserve |
| Quite a few Scarlet Honeyeaters near the Southern carpark with more calling from nearby gullies in farmland and the north of Lysterfield Park. Crescent Honeyeater and nesting Satin Flycatcher and Scared Kingfisher of interest this close to SE Suburbs. Full list |
| Tim Bawden 16/11 #206026 |
| Fri 15 | | Short-tailed ShearwaterBarham River estuary, Apollo Bay |
| At least 40 Short-tailed Shearwaters scattered along 1 km of beach and 1 Little Penguin also beach wrecked. At least one Rufous Bristlebird calling strongly behind caravan, able to get some nice views and pics. Full list |
| Philip Peel 16/11 #205927 |
| | Black-eared CuckooRise and Shine Bushland Reserve, Clydesdale |
|
| Black-eared Cuckoo (1) Amazed to see one in bush north-west of the clearing near intersection of Zumpies Road and Drury/Milne Lane. Nice views, sometimes calling and photographed as well. Full list |
| Owen Lishmund 15/11 #205869 |
| Thu 14 | | CicadabirdSilvertop Track by Yalmy Rd, Yalmy, East Gippsland |
| Cicadabird (1) heard - very distinctive, very loud and moving quickly.
Sighting from junction of Mt Watt tk with Yalmy Rd, just south of Silvertop tk. Full list |
| Janine Duffy 23/11 #207607 |
| | White-breasted WoodswallowSeymour River Walk |
| Three calling, flying and roosting in tall tree. Downriver section of walk from Bolton St. to the mouth of Whiteheads Creek. Full list |
| Val La May 14/11 #205752 |
| | White-browed WoodswallowMarlo-Cabbage Tree Rd |
|
| White-browed Woodswallow (4) or more, several clearly seen. Photographs taken (awful ones though! It was very dark, and it was only later I realised how special this sighting was).
This little strip of cleared land surrounded by bush was absolutely pulsing with birdsong and life that morning, many drier-country species: male Rufous Songlarks, male White-winged Trillers, Jacky Winters, Pallid Cuckoo, Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo, Dusky Woodswallows, Tree Martins and others. Amazing considering the warm temperate rainforest just up the road at Cabbage Tree Palms. Full list |
| Janine Duffy 2/12 #208723 |
| | Orange ChatLake Tyrrell |
| Orange Chat (2) M&F. On the left, 200m along the left hand track from the 'parking area' Full list |
| Terry Gourley 16/11 #206047 |
| Wed 13 | | Australian KoelFlora Hill, Beebe Street |
| Calling loudly from the large Blue Gum behind our house this evening. Have been hearing calls along back creek adjacent to Rowcliffe Street Quarry Hill which is just down the road and consistent with earlier reports from other observers. Last week, whilst driving past the Queens Arms Hotel mid morning I heard it en route to Golden Square and about two hours later a call was heard near Pallet street Golden Square. Same bird maybe? |
| Adrian Martins 13/11 #205676 |
| Tue 12 | | Black-tailed Native-henMill Park Lakes |
| Black-tailed Native-hen breeding ( 1 medium size downy chick).. few breeding records in southern Victoria. No sign of Freckled Duck which have been here for some time. Full list |
| Andrew Corrick 12/11 #205451 |
| | OspreyPhillip Island Cemetery Phillip Island Victoria |
|
| When we drove in I am sure there were 2 but I only got a photo of 1 though. |
| Diana van Eck 13/11 #205630 |
| | Short tailed ShearwaterPoint Cook |
|
| 25+ dead Shearwaters on the beach. From the Point to the Homestead. |
| Raoul Symons 12/11 #205512 |
| | Eastern x Crimson Rosella hybridBendigo [Our backyard] |
|
| Photo shows 3 of 6 chicks from an Eastern and Crimson Rosella pair in birdbox in our backyard. |
| John & Margaret McInerney 12/11 #205465 |