| Wed 20 | | Pink-eared Duck
Banyule Flats Reserve |
| 2 Pink-eared Ducks with at least 3 chicks seen at Banyule Swamp. eBird checklist |
| Nick Koutoulis 20/2 #236892 |
| Tue 19 | | Australasian Figbird
Marlo |
| Australasian Figbirds continue their occupation of quiet suburban gardens in the vicinity of Willis Avenue. At least 3 birds were seen and or heard continually calling early this afternoon. |
| Len and Jacquie Axen 19/2 #236856 |
| Mon 18 |  | Gull-billed Tern Asian ssp affinis
Stockyard Point |
|
| At high tide this morning,two Asian Gull-billed terns flew in, accompanied by eight Gull-billed Terns.This sub species has been a regular visitor to this site for several years. |
| Derek & Sally Whitehead 18/2 #236840 |
| Sun 17 | | Peaceful Dove
Eynesbury Forest and Grasslands |
| Single distant call heard during quarterly BirdLife survey |
| Dave Torr 19/2 #236852 |
| | Pacific Swift and White-throated Needletail
Pinkerton Forest (restricted access) |
| Small mixed flock observed during quarterly BirdLife survey. |
| Dave Torr 19/2 #236851 |
| | Fork-tailed Swift
Newstead township |
| Small, loose flock ... perhaps a dozen individuals at 8pm |
| Geoff Park 17/2 #236834 |
| | Black-faced Monarch
Warburton |
| Black-faced Monarch seen on the river trail about 300m from the caravan park entrance. No previous reports on eBird. |
| Jason Camilleri 17/2 #236829 |
| Fri 15 | | Powerful Owl
Black Rock |
| Seen on an electricity wire to our domestic house at around 9.45 pm.
Definitely adult and aorihd. 50cm in height.
We have lots of possums in our area but very unusual sighting as we are in Bayside Melbourne |
| Robin Meusemann 15/2 #236821 |
| | Blue-winged Parrot, Baillon's Crake, Australian Spotted Crake
Point Cook Coastal Park--Homestead and Beach |
| 6 B/W Parrots seen well at 10am in the Homestead Garden Pine trees,
both Crakes seen at 1pm at the pond behind the Airbase car park |
| Nick Portlock 15/2 #236816 |
| Wed 13 | | Pink-eared Duck
Banyule Flats Reserve |
|
| A pair with 7 newly hatched ducklings on main wetland. Three other fully grown birds present. This is the second brood produced here by this species this season, remarkable for a wetland south of the Divide. Wonderful matching of head pattern on ducklings with flank pattern on adults, great camouflage and the ducklings often hug the parent's flanks (co-evolution of behaviour & plumage!). |
| Richard Loyn 14/2 #236807 |
| | Red-whiskered Bulbul
Weyburn Place, Avondale Heights |
|
| Heard the Red-whiskered Bulbul calling after searching for about an hour near the entry to Weyburn Place and the Song Thrush visited the plum tree at the east end of the place as previously reported. |
| Ron Sawyer 13/2 #236798 |
| Tue 12 | | Blue faced honeyeater
Montmorency secondary school |
| Family group of 8 blue faced honeyeaters near the basketball centre at montmorency secondary school. First time seen in the area having lived here for 40+ years. Group of mixed juveniles and adults having lots of fun. Noisy minors watching on bemused. |
| Paul brown 14/2 #236808 |
| Mon 11 | | Cape Barren Goose.
Public open space in ‘Harpley’ new housing estate, Werribee 3030. |
| At 2030hours, I observed two Cape Barren Geese browsing on the grass area adjoining the extensive lower Lollipop Creek Wetland area in Werribee. The Geese appeared undisturbed by pedestrians and motorists. This is my first sighting of this species in a built up area. Previous sightings have been at Werribee Park and the Werribee - Western Treatment Plant. |
| Peter Gibbons. 11/2 #236794 |
| Sat 9 | | Square tailed Kite
Enfield State Park |
|
| Gliding low over a clearing in high winds. Rushed to get camera and captured it seconds before it disappeared over the trees. |
| Indra Bone 9/2 #236774 |
| Thu 7 | | Intermediate Egret
Wilton Vale Wetlands South Morang |
|
| Found an Intermediate Egret today at 3 PM in Wilton Vale Wetlands South Morang at -37.621747,145.105365 |
| Steven Ashdown 7/2 #236764 |
| Wed 6 | | Sooty Tern
Bullock Island Lakes Entrance |
|
| On the 6/02/18 a member of the public picked up a juvenile Sooty Tern on Bullock Island and delivered it to a Lakes Entrance Veterinary Clinic. Photos of the bird were referred to me for identification. The very weak bird has since died. It is likely that this tropical pelagic tern, particularly a weak and inexperienced juvenile, has been pushed south by the massive depression that has brought record flooding rains to Townsville. I could find no Victorian records for Sooty Terns in the Atlas of Australian Birds, both old and new or in Birdlife Australia’s Birdata database. My copy of Viridans Biological Database 2007 Wild Animals of Victoria shows 2 records for Sooty Tern in Victoria, one near Portland for 1900-1949 period and one in East Gippsland for the 1970-79 period.
This bird is way outside of its normal range and a very rare visitor to Victoria. |
| per John Hutchison 8/2 #236766 |
| | Sooty Tern
Marlo |
| A live young tern was picked up on the road at the Marlo playground this morning and transported to the Orbost Veterinary Clinic where it later died. Tony Mitchell ( DELWP ) received the bird which was subsequently identified as a juvenile Sooty Tern. Relevant details of this significant find have been placed on the VBA and the specimen has been prepared for the museum. |
| Tony Mitchell ( DELWP ) per Len Axen 7/2 #236765 |
| | White-fronted Honeyeater
Marengo Nature Conservation Reserve, Apollo Bay |
|
| Following up on yesterday`s sighting, Adam Fry and myself were able to locate at least 2 White-fronted Honeyeaters. Thanks to Chris Dubar for his initial reports. |
| Ian Davies and Adam Fry 6/2 #236759 |
| Tue 5 | | Spotless Crake
Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary |
| Single bird seen in from the bird hide during Birdlife Ballarat survey.
The lagoon is dry with just a small patch of damp mud
Just the second record for the reserve. |
| Ian Ashton Emily Noble Jenny Garley Annette Ferguson Paul Hammond 5/2 #236756 |
| | Red-whiskered Bulbul, Song Thrush
Weyburn Place, Avondale Heights. |
| Bulbul was present around midday today at site previously reported at Weyburn Place Avondale Heights. In 2 hours I saw it once and was alerted to it presence by its short twu-chip type call when it was perched on an ariel.
The previously reported Song Thrush also appeared in the plum tree at the east end of Weyburn Place. |
| Jim Caine 5/2 #236755 |
| | White-fronted Honeyeater
Marengo Nature Conservation Reserve |
|
| White-fronted HE's still there this morning in the mixed heathland/woodland next to the airstrip - at least 4 or 5 individuals. I had my camera with me this time and got this photo. Also good numbers of blue-winged parrots in the reserve and surrounding areas. |
| Chris Dubar 5/2 #236754 |
| Mon 4 | | Grey Goshawk (White morph)
Queen Street, Preston. |
| A White Goshawk flew south over Queen St in Preston at 5.40pm. I thought it was going to be a corella or a cocky until I realised it had a long tail and was goshawk shaped! Had that typical cruisey flight, low, just over the tops of buildings, no doubt wanting to catch some hapless small bird unaware, The first I've ever seen in metropolitan Melbourne. |
| Kevin Bartram 5/2 #236753 |
| | Southern Whiteface
Upper King Parrot Creek Rd, Strath Creek |
| First sighting since October 2000 on our property |
| David Wakefield, Laurie Macmillan 4/2 #236749 |
| | White-fronted Honeyeater
Marengo Nature Conservation Reserve |
| On my regular walk in the reserve I heard an unfamiliar call and discovered a small group of white-fronted HE's. First time I have seen them here and seem to be a long way south of normal range? |
| Chris Dubar 4/2 #236747 |
| Sun 3 | | Square-tailed Kite
Heathcote-Graytown National Park--Graytown |
|
| A pair observed at Sanguine estate vineyard 10 km north of Heathcote on the Heathcote Rochester/ Echuca road.
Hot conditions, 40 C day.
Area adjacent to Heathcote-Graytown NP. |
| Alan Clark 15/2 #236814 |
| | Eastern Osprey
K Road Werribee River |
| Late morning, Osprey moving between top of river bank below golf club carpark and perch on west side of river. |
| Dominique Dybala 4/2 #236745 |
| | Budgerigar
Calder Hwy South of Gisborne |
| 8 Budgies observed flying across the Calder Hwy west to east 2km south of Gisborne. Presumed wild birds due to consistent wild green color of all birds and swift strong flight not associated with escaped cage birds. |
| Greg and Janice McKay 3/2 #236739 |
| | Black Falcon
Boronia |
|
| Des and Adrienne Palmer 3/2 #236738 |
| | Swift Parrot
Manrico Court, Sunbury |
|
| Single bird heard and sighted yesterday. This morning a single swift parrot flew into a backyard tree and perched. This is the earliest I've seen them is Sunbury or it may be an over summer mainland bird? No sightings of other Swifties. Other parrots/cockatoos present in area this morning are Rainbow Lorrikeet, Musk Lorrikeet, Eastern Rosella, Red rumpled Parrot, Galah and Long billed Corella. Habitat is Yellow Gum woodland riparian Manna Gum. Numerous photos taken. |
| Gerard O’Neill 3/2 #236732 |
| Sat 2 | | Black Falcon
Kiewa Valley Hwy at Kergunyah |
|
|
| Brett Roberts 3/2 #236743 |
| | Spotless Crake
Wooragee |
| Adult and juvenile seen in revegetated farm wetland by Swamp Rivers and Ranges bird survey group. |
| John Kelly, Colin Payne, Sue Brunskill, Jack & Ali Pockley, Gerri Boland 2/2 #236729 |
| | Red-whiskered Bulbul, Song Thrush
Avondale Heights |
|
| Bulbul was occupying area on south side of Weyburn Place, within 100 metres of where the shared cycle/pedestrian path crosses. Seen between 08:30 and 10:30 this morning, calling from prominent perches every 20-30 minutes on average; at other times presumed foraging in shrubbery. Thanks to Brett Macdonald who first reported the bird on 28th January. Song Thrush unexpectedly appeared in a plum tree at the top of the street (east end). Moderators note : quite likely an escape but status in Melb still point of discussion SB |
| P S Lansley 2/2 #236722 |
| Fri 1 | | Purple-crowned Lorikeet
Ventnor Common |
|
| Many Sugar Gums are flowering in and around Ventnor Common at present, attracting large numbers of Musk Lorikeets. Amongst them we spotted two smaller birds which were readily identified as Purple-crowned Lorikeets, an uncommon species for the Island. |
| Alan and Hazel Veevers 2/2 #236730 |
| | White-winged Black Tern
Heart Morass State Game Reserve |
|
| Seen intermixed with Whiskered Tern, could've of been more individuals but hard to judge. eBird checklist |
| Ethan Perry 2/2 #236723 |
| | Double-banded Plover
Lake Tyers |
|
| Two birds seen in company with Red-capped Plovers on exposed sand/mud flats on Lake just east of the Lake Tyers township. A Double-banded Plover in non-breeding plumage at this time of year seems unusual as it is very early to have migrated post breeding season from NZ. |
| John and Pam Hutchison 1/2 #236720 |
| | Eastern Osprey
Lake Tyers |
|
| One Osprey flew by and on its second lap of one of the islands just east of the township I managed a rough flight shot as it came by us again. Saw the bird plunge into the water once so it was hunting for fish. |
| John and Pam Hutchison 1/2 #236714 |
| Thu 31 | | Glossy Ibis
Hospital Swamp, Connewarre |
| 19 Glossy Ibis, Royal Spoonbills, Little Egrets as well as waders in the distance |
| Rodney Long 31/1 #236708 |
| Wed 30 | | Common Sandpiper
Marlo |
| seen on wall next to jetty at 1245pm eBird checklist |
| Martin Maderthaner 31/1 #236706 |
| Tue 29 | | Eastern Curlew
Lake Tyers |
| Two birds sited on sandflats east of the Lake Tyers township. |
| Gary Cousens 29/1 #236701 |
| | Sanderling
Albifrons Island Gippsland Lakes |
|
| Sited a single Sanderling with a number of Red-necked Stints feeding among sea grass by the shore of Albifrons Island - near Crescent Is on the Gippsland Lakes. Sanderling are an unusual visitor to the Gippsland Lakes - the habitat is not the usual surf zone ocean beach habitat mostly used by this species - that said the 90 Mile Beach is close to Albifrons Is. |
| Deb Sullivan and John Hutchison 29/1 #236700 |
| Mon 28 | | Square-tailed Kite
Raymond Island |
| Seen around1pm. Flew over picnic area near ferry terminal. Familiar with the species and was seen very well. First time I've seen it at this site eBird checklist |
| Martin Maderthaner 29/1 #236696 |
| | Black Honeyeater
Greater Bendigo National Park--Kamarooka |
| Male and female Black Honeyeater feeding on flowering mallee. Many White-fronted Honeyeaters present too. eBird checklist |
| Scott Eaton 28/1 #236692 |
| | Little Friarbird
Avoca |
| A single bird seen and heard in flowering garden callistemons in Napier Street Avoca. |
| Micah Kawalek 28/1 #236688 |
| Sun 27 | | Crested Bellbird
Kara Kara National Park - Moyreisk |
| A very vocal bird was heard but remained elusive at first light at the junction of Cherry Tree Creek and Mount Separation Roads at Moyreisk in the southern part of the Kara Kara National Park. |
| Micah Kawalek 28/1 #236686 |
| | Osprey
Werribee River at K Rd |
| While waiting for the Osprey to return to its favourite perch today we saw 5 other species of raptors - Wedge-tailed Eagle, Black Kite, Whistling Kite, Australian Hobby and Brown Goshawk. eBird checklist |
| Richard and Margaret Alcorn 27/1 #236681 |
| | Grey Currawong
Maribyrnong |
| Grey Currawong seen in Maribyrnong this morning |
| Anne Palamountain 27/1 #236679 |
| Sat 26 | | White-throated needletail
Seacombe Gippsland |
|
| i observed a flock of 150+ from 12.30 pm to 1 pm mostly circling high overhead sky overcast |
| mark broomhall 27/1 #236682 |
| | Square-tailed Kite
Earlston |
| 2 birds foraging over property this morning. |
| Doug Robinson 26/1 #236670 |
| Fri 25 | | Osprey, Pacific Swift (150+)
Werribee River mouth |
| A flock of Pacific Swifts approached from the bay heading roughly north-west at about 7 am. The birds flew very low (some down to 2 m) and numbers remained in the area for the whole hour we were present. An incredible spectacle! The regular Osprey was also seen at K Road. |
| Oakley Germech, Deb Oliver 26/1 #236671 |
| | Pacific Swift
Warrnambool |
| c. 30 birds seen over Lake Pertobe, c. 15 at Point Ritchie, and c. 30 at Logan's Beach carpark eBird checklist |
| Tristan Kennedy 25/1 #236669 |
| | Scarlet Honeyeater
Brisbane Ranges National Park |
|
| I was sitting by a water point for a couple of hours this morning. A lot of birds came to drink in the extreme heat, including a couple of male Scarlet Honeyeaters. Flowering mistletoes are in the area, which this species seems to like. eBird checklist |
| Bernie McRitchie 25/1 #236667 |
| | Tawny Frogmouth
Black Rock |
|
| A stressed bird, apparently seeking relief from today's oppressive 41 degree midday heat in the shade of our back verandah. It tolerated a very close (1 metre) approach. |
| John & Christine Eichler 25/1 #236666 |
| | Fork-tailed Swift
Lorne |
| About 250 birds over the town as the welcome cool change started arriving. No needletails detected among them. |
| Sean Dooley 25/1 #236663 |
| | Grey-tailed Tattler
Lake Tyers |
|
| Single Grey-tailed Tattler found alone on shoreline of one of the islands in the Lake east of the Lake Tyers township. Lake level is very low at present due to the drought with large areas of sand and sandy mud flats exposed just north of the closed entrance. Sue Grima spotted the lone shorebird, Deb Sullivan made the first tentative ID from a distance looking into the late afternoon sun and John Hutchison photographed the bird - the photos confirmed the ID. |
| Deb Sullivan and John Hutchison 25/1 #236662 |
| Thu 24 | | Australasian Figbird
Lakes Entrance |
| An Australasian Figbird was again heard calling from a quiet suburban area of Lakes Entrance adjacent to the carpark behind the post office. |
| Len and jacquie Axen 2/2 #236731 |