Having left Greensborough, I've spent the last couple of weeks in Eltham
There were three species I saw in Greensborough which I haven't seen in Eltham. They are Common Bronzewing, Dusky Moorhen and Rock Dove. There were six species I saw in Eltham that I did not see in Greensborough. They were Laughing Kookaburra, Little Corella, Spotted Pardalote, Crimson Roselle, Gang Gang Cockatoo and (disappointingly) Common Starling.
The number of Noisy Miners in Eltham is quite disturbing, and the lack of Silvereyes, thornbills and Eastern Spinebills is sad. Having said that I should point out that only twice did I actually go birding: most of my observations were made walking along Main Road, so I do not pretend that my list is in any way comprehensive.
Saturday 5 October 2019
Tuesday 24 September 2019
MRS MOREAU'S WARBLER
I've just finished reading 'Mrs Moreau's Warbler, How Birds Got Their Names' by Stephen Moss. I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I found the constant interruption of the narrative with footnotes in tiny print was a minor irritant.
Many ornithologists are mentioned and I am somewhat bemused at the omission of John Gould. Australia is mentioned fleetingly; the book is predominantly Anglocentric. Only on page 263 did I learn that the book was supposed to be about English bird names.
'The Times' is quoted on the cover: 'Stephen Moss unlocks a trove of folk history. . .Not a page goes by without at least one diverting fact.'
The 'diverting fact on page 115 is one that I have written about elsewhere. It concerns the derivation of the name storm petrol. Moss quotes the late Professor W.B
Lockwood who wrote 'The Oxford Book of British Bird NamesLondon, 1984) as saying that these tiny birds 'tap the water with their feet as they fly low over the surface of the sea. He (Lockwood) suggested that this "pitter-patter" action led to the name, though the OED. . . Demurs, suggesting that although the origins are now long lost, it may come from the sounds these bird(s) make while mating, or even their smell.'
I found this fascinating as I'd always believed patrels were named after Peter, because they walked on water like St Peter on the Sea of Galilee.
Moss goes on to attribute this theory to William Dampier in 'A voyage to New Holland, etc, in the year 1699.' Moss asserts this is entirely spurious. He does say that this derivation has been accepted in many other European countries, namely Germany, Norway and Spain. Id love to know why Moss is so sure of his grounds.
This quibble notwithstanding, I'd happily recommend 'Mrs Moreau's Warbler to anyone with an interest in the history of ornithology and the naming of birds.
Many ornithologists are mentioned and I am somewhat bemused at the omission of John Gould. Australia is mentioned fleetingly; the book is predominantly Anglocentric. Only on page 263 did I learn that the book was supposed to be about English bird names.
'The Times' is quoted on the cover: 'Stephen Moss unlocks a trove of folk history. . .Not a page goes by without at least one diverting fact.'
The 'diverting fact on page 115 is one that I have written about elsewhere. It concerns the derivation of the name storm petrol. Moss quotes the late Professor W.B
Lockwood who wrote 'The Oxford Book of British Bird NamesLondon, 1984) as saying that these tiny birds 'tap the water with their feet as they fly low over the surface of the sea. He (Lockwood) suggested that this "pitter-patter" action led to the name, though the OED. . . Demurs, suggesting that although the origins are now long lost, it may come from the sounds these bird(s) make while mating, or even their smell.'
I found this fascinating as I'd always believed patrels were named after Peter, because they walked on water like St Peter on the Sea of Galilee.
Moss goes on to attribute this theory to William Dampier in 'A voyage to New Holland, etc, in the year 1699.' Moss asserts this is entirely spurious. He does say that this derivation has been accepted in many other European countries, namely Germany, Norway and Spain. Id love to know why Moss is so sure of his grounds.
This quibble notwithstanding, I'd happily recommend 'Mrs Moreau's Warbler to anyone with an interest in the history of ornithology and the naming of birds.
Saturday 21 September 2019
A WEEK IN GREENSBOROUGH
I've just spent a week in Greensborough. I didn't go birding, yet on my walks I saw 21
species of birds and heard another three.
Greensborough is a very pleasant leafy suburb with lots of flowering eucalyptus. There are even more Noisy Miners and Rainbow Lorikeets than in Kew. Surprisingly there are significantly fewer Red Wattlebirds, and no Little Wattlebirds.
There are fewer exotics: no sparrows, no starlings, no blackbirds and very few Common Mynas. Rock Doves and Spotted Doves are in about the same numbers as Kew.
Little Ravens and magpie are as common as in Kew, Grey Butcherbirds are less common, Galahs are more common. I saw two species I've never seen on my walks in Kew: Dusky Moorhen and Common Bronzewing. White-faced Herons and Australian King Parrots are far more common in Greensborough. I heard many Eastern Rosellas, but perhaps surprisingly, I didn't see one. I saw just a couple of Musk Lorikeets.
Now it will be interesting to see what birds I can see in Eltham.
species of birds and heard another three.
Greensborough is a very pleasant leafy suburb with lots of flowering eucalyptus. There are even more Noisy Miners and Rainbow Lorikeets than in Kew. Surprisingly there are significantly fewer Red Wattlebirds, and no Little Wattlebirds.
There are fewer exotics: no sparrows, no starlings, no blackbirds and very few Common Mynas. Rock Doves and Spotted Doves are in about the same numbers as Kew.
Now it will be interesting to see what birds I can see in Eltham.
Sunday 1 September 2019
GOODBYE TO KEW
After 26 years living in Kew, I'm off to leafy North Warrandyte. I've done well over 1,000 daily walks from my Kew home (I only started in recent years) and my bird total for these walks is 54 species. My house birdlist had another six species: Kookaburra, Rufous and Golden Whistler, Rufous Fantail and (most exciting!) Tawny Frogmouth - all seen just once, and Song Thrush, which used to be a common resident over twenty years ago, but which hasn't been seen here this century.
One sad loss is the Willie Wagtail, which I used to be able to rely on on my north walk, but which hasn't put in an appearance for some years. Another bird I used to see, but haven't seen since the invasion of Noisy Miners is the White-plumed Honeyeater. They were common here in the 1990's. Another 'new' bird to the district is the Crested Pigeon - not here when we moved in. Silvereyes are now rare; they used to be common.
Just last week I added a new bird to my walk list: a pair of Maned Ducks flew into a tree above my head on my south walk. I had seen them years ago at the neighbours' pool, but never had they graced one of my walks.
Gang Gangs are always a favourite. I see them on north walks, most often in April, but also in June and August.
Perhaps the most exciting bird on my walks was the Wedge-tailed Eagle - always a joy to see. Although the Little Button-quail deserves a mention. I'm sure the Budgerigar on a west walk was an escaped pet. The Australian King Parrots were exciting and I hoped they'd stay around, but they did not.
So, it's goodbye to Kew. I will miss the daily walks. The terrain and footpaths around North Warrandyte are not quite so friendly. However, I'm sure my birdlist will be longer. I know there are Powerful Owls and Scarlet Honeyeaters on my property. It will be interesting to see how long it takes me to get a total over 60 species. I am confident it will not take 26 years.
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| Tawny Frogmouths - a lousy photo, but proof that they came. |
One sad loss is the Willie Wagtail, which I used to be able to rely on on my north walk, but which hasn't put in an appearance for some years. Another bird I used to see, but haven't seen since the invasion of Noisy Miners is the White-plumed Honeyeater. They were common here in the 1990's. Another 'new' bird to the district is the Crested Pigeon - not here when we moved in. Silvereyes are now rare; they used to be common.
Just last week I added a new bird to my walk list: a pair of Maned Ducks flew into a tree above my head on my south walk. I had seen them years ago at the neighbours' pool, but never had they graced one of my walks.
Gang Gangs are always a favourite. I see them on north walks, most often in April, but also in June and August.
 |
| Gang Gang photo by Ken Haines |
Perhaps the most exciting bird on my walks was the Wedge-tailed Eagle - always a joy to see. Although the Little Button-quail deserves a mention. I'm sure the Budgerigar on a west walk was an escaped pet. The Australian King Parrots were exciting and I hoped they'd stay around, but they did not.
So, it's goodbye to Kew. I will miss the daily walks. The terrain and footpaths around North Warrandyte are not quite so friendly. However, I'm sure my birdlist will be longer. I know there are Powerful Owls and Scarlet Honeyeaters on my property. It will be interesting to see how long it takes me to get a total over 60 species. I am confident it will not take 26 years.
Monday 5 August 2019
BIRDING AUSTRALIA'S ISLANDS
My latest book, 'Birding Australia's Islands,' has just hit the bookshops.
This tells the story of my birding adventures on 22 of Australia's islands, from Macquarie in the south, to Boigu and Saibai in the north, Lord Howe and Norfolk in the east, and Cocos (Keeling) in the west. The island I've visited most (apart from Phillip Island in my home state, Victoria) is Christmas Island, where the birds are magnificent.
Three islands in this book I haven't actually stepped foot on. They are Raine Island in far north Queensland, Cabbage Tree Island in New South Wales and Browse Island in northern Western Australia. The first two are nature reserves where the public is not permitted to land. The seas were too rough for me to disembark on the third.
This book is beautifully illustrated with superb photos by some of Australia's best photographers. Here are a couple of examples:
White-breasted Waterhens are now common on Cocos. They weren't there on my first visit.
I've seen kestrels on many islands; they have a very widespread distribution. The bird I saw most on my island adventures is the Sacred Kingfisher.
I really enjoyed writing about Australia's islands. I could relive all the wonderful trips I've enjoyed over the years.
Link to my Guardian Article
Three islands in this book I haven't actually stepped foot on. They are Raine Island in far north Queensland, Cabbage Tree Island in New South Wales and Browse Island in northern Western Australia. The first two are nature reserves where the public is not permitted to land. The seas were too rough for me to disembark on the third.
This book is beautifully illustrated with superb photos by some of Australia's best photographers. Here are a couple of examples:
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| White-breasted Waterhen by Steve Reynolds |
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| Nankeen Kestrel by Brook Whylie |
I really enjoyed writing about Australia's islands. I could relive all the wonderful trips I've enjoyed over the years.
Link to my Guardian Article
Tuesday 25 June 2019
WERRIBEE IN WINTER
Yesterday I spent a beautiful sunny winter's day at Werribee. There were plenty of birds, if not plenty of species. We saw unusually large numbers of Pied Cormorants, and both Royal and Yellow-billed Spoonbills. Also a small flock of female Flame Robins.
We saw lots of swans, lots of Pink-eared Ducks and lots of Swamp Harrriers and several Brown Falcons.
I was with birding friends from New South Wales, Janine and Stan Jones. We saw just 53 species. We would have seen more, but our birding activities were curtailed when their car, a new Honda, refused to change gear. We were denied the use of park or reverse. Stan managed to drive to the Honda dealership in Hopper's Crossing, where the magnificent staff solved the problem in minutes. No hassles. All done on warranty. If only every car dealership were as helpful as the Hopper's Crossing Honda dealership.
From my point of view, the bird of the day was a single Baillon's Crake wandering around on the mud in the T Section. Other contenders were a handsome Spotted Harrier, a very confiding Little Grassbird, and a pair of parrots we strongly suspected were OBP's. They were silhouetted, perched on low vegetation, in very poor light. Before we could get the scope onto them, they flew. Unfortunately they did not call. We will never know for sure, but I suspect they were OBP's.
My New South Wales friends thought the Golden-headed Cisticolas were strong contenders for bird of the day, reminding me not to take these common (but very beautiful) birds for granted.
Beach Road was closed, because of an 'event.' This was mildly annoying. We must notify Melbourne Water before we visit the WTP, so it seems only fair to me that Melbourne Water should notify us when we are denied access to a major thoroughfare.
It was a great day, road closures and car breakdowns notwithstanding. The birds were beautiful, the sun was shining and the company was magnificent.
We saw lots of swans, lots of Pink-eared Ducks and lots of Swamp Harrriers and several Brown Falcons.
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| Brown Falcon (not taken yesterday) photo by Ken Haines |
I was with birding friends from New South Wales, Janine and Stan Jones. We saw just 53 species. We would have seen more, but our birding activities were curtailed when their car, a new Honda, refused to change gear. We were denied the use of park or reverse. Stan managed to drive to the Honda dealership in Hopper's Crossing, where the magnificent staff solved the problem in minutes. No hassles. All done on warranty. If only every car dealership were as helpful as the Hopper's Crossing Honda dealership.
From my point of view, the bird of the day was a single Baillon's Crake wandering around on the mud in the T Section. Other contenders were a handsome Spotted Harrier, a very confiding Little Grassbird, and a pair of parrots we strongly suspected were OBP's. They were silhouetted, perched on low vegetation, in very poor light. Before we could get the scope onto them, they flew. Unfortunately they did not call. We will never know for sure, but I suspect they were OBP's.
My New South Wales friends thought the Golden-headed Cisticolas were strong contenders for bird of the day, reminding me not to take these common (but very beautiful) birds for granted.
Beach Road was closed, because of an 'event.' This was mildly annoying. We must notify Melbourne Water before we visit the WTP, so it seems only fair to me that Melbourne Water should notify us when we are denied access to a major thoroughfare.
It was a great day, road closures and car breakdowns notwithstanding. The birds were beautiful, the sun was shining and the company was magnificent.
Monday 20 May 2019
EAGLEHAWK NECK - MY 823RD AUSTRALIAN BIRD
I'm just back from Tasmania where I saw my 823rd Australian bird.
On Saturday and Sunday I enjoyed pelagics out of Eaglehawk Neck on the Pauletta. I went in May because this is the best month to see Southern Fulmar. I've done 14 trips out of Eaglehawk Neck, but only once before had I travelled to Tasmania with the single target of seeing Southern Fulmar. I confess that I didn't really expect to see it, but I felt sure that if I remained home in Melbourne the lucky people on the boat would be sure to enjoy lengthy, perfect views of fulmars.
The weather was kind. There was no rain, little wind, 1.5 metre swells on Saturday, less on Sunday and temperatures not nearly as cold as an autumn in Tasmania is entitled to be. I saw 29 species on Saturday and 32 on Sunday. Nine of these 32 I had not seen on Saturday, making a total of 38 species for the two trips. That's my count. Others saw more. I am inhibited both by my lack of mobility and my very poor eyesight. And probably most importantly, by my ignorance!
As regular readers of this blog will know, I am quite incapable of moving around on mobile boats. I get on board (with difficulty and with assistance), find myself a seat out of the way and stay there until my quarry is sighted. Then, invariably, the entire boatload of people always helps me to my feet and ensures that I get good looks at my target bird. This certainly happened on this occasion: both on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday we set off with enthusiasm. There were 12 of us on board plus John, the captain, and Adam, the deckie. We enjoyed smooth seas and saw many Black-faced Cormorants and Short-tailed Shearwaters. There were lots of Shy and Buller's Albatross and a sprinkling of Common Diving Petrels, Cape Petrels and Fairy Prions. We also saw several Soft-plumaged Petrels, normal light phase birds. Later, we saw a dark phase bird, which was considered to be a first for Tasmania. (Some experts thought this bird was in fact an intermediate phase.) On Sunday we again saw darker Soft-plumaged Petrels. We saw Grey-backed Storm Petrels on both days and on Saturday, one of my favourite seabirds, a White-headed Petrel. (This photo was not taken on this trip.)
At 10.20 a.m. on Saturday, I could barely believe it when someone called 'Southern Fulmar.' Initially I thought it was a joke. But it was real. With assistance I staggered to my feet. I was helped to the front of the boat where the fulmar had landed on the water amongst a group of albatrosses. It gave me excellent views. I staggered back to my seat and sat, glowing in satisfaction at seeing my quarry. In fact I felt quite smug. The bird flew in front of me, just to make sure a had another look. On Sunday, I saw it again, flying right past me. I could not have had better views.
Sunday was overall an even better day. We saw Sooty Albatross, then another bird which was initially called as a Light-mantled Albatross. Indeed that's what I thought it was. It had a pale mantle, which, I was informed was worn feathers. It was in fact another Sooty Albatross. Traps for beginners. There weren't as many Buller's Albatrosses on Sunday as on Saturday, but there were plenty of Royal Albatross, both Northern and Southern. There were several wandering types. I saw just one Black-browed and one Campbell Albatross.
We had prions on both days, mainly Fairy, but also (according to the experts) at least one Slender-billed and one Antarctic.
If I initially doubted the Southern Fulmar call, I was quite incredulous on Sunday when someone called 'White-necked Petrel.' I look for these birds in summer in New South Wales and southern Queensland. Late autumn in Tasmania seemed a bit odd. But there was the bird, clearly sporting a white neck. I didn't even have to stand up as it flew right in front of me. This bird I'd looked for twenty times. Two ticks in two days. It was unbelievable. And very soon, a clever South African birder on board broke the news: the bird was not a White-necked Petrel. It was a Great Shearwater. This made more sense. Many people were delighted. It was a lifer for them. Not for me. I'd seen Great Shearwaters off Port Fairy in 2011.
I didn't mind. I'd seen my Southern Fulmar. That's the reason I travelled to Tasmania. I came home very happy.
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| Pauletta, photo by Steve Reynolds |
On Saturday and Sunday I enjoyed pelagics out of Eaglehawk Neck on the Pauletta. I went in May because this is the best month to see Southern Fulmar. I've done 14 trips out of Eaglehawk Neck, but only once before had I travelled to Tasmania with the single target of seeing Southern Fulmar. I confess that I didn't really expect to see it, but I felt sure that if I remained home in Melbourne the lucky people on the boat would be sure to enjoy lengthy, perfect views of fulmars.
The weather was kind. There was no rain, little wind, 1.5 metre swells on Saturday, less on Sunday and temperatures not nearly as cold as an autumn in Tasmania is entitled to be. I saw 29 species on Saturday and 32 on Sunday. Nine of these 32 I had not seen on Saturday, making a total of 38 species for the two trips. That's my count. Others saw more. I am inhibited both by my lack of mobility and my very poor eyesight. And probably most importantly, by my ignorance!
As regular readers of this blog will know, I am quite incapable of moving around on mobile boats. I get on board (with difficulty and with assistance), find myself a seat out of the way and stay there until my quarry is sighted. Then, invariably, the entire boatload of people always helps me to my feet and ensures that I get good looks at my target bird. This certainly happened on this occasion: both on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday we set off with enthusiasm. There were 12 of us on board plus John, the captain, and Adam, the deckie. We enjoyed smooth seas and saw many Black-faced Cormorants and Short-tailed Shearwaters. There were lots of Shy and Buller's Albatross and a sprinkling of Common Diving Petrels, Cape Petrels and Fairy Prions. We also saw several Soft-plumaged Petrels, normal light phase birds. Later, we saw a dark phase bird, which was considered to be a first for Tasmania. (Some experts thought this bird was in fact an intermediate phase.) On Sunday we again saw darker Soft-plumaged Petrels. We saw Grey-backed Storm Petrels on both days and on Saturday, one of my favourite seabirds, a White-headed Petrel. (This photo was not taken on this trip.)
At 10.20 a.m. on Saturday, I could barely believe it when someone called 'Southern Fulmar.' Initially I thought it was a joke. But it was real. With assistance I staggered to my feet. I was helped to the front of the boat where the fulmar had landed on the water amongst a group of albatrosses. It gave me excellent views. I staggered back to my seat and sat, glowing in satisfaction at seeing my quarry. In fact I felt quite smug. The bird flew in front of me, just to make sure a had another look. On Sunday, I saw it again, flying right past me. I could not have had better views.
 |
| Southern Fulmar, my 823rd Australian bird, photo by Steve Reynolds |
Sunday was overall an even better day. We saw Sooty Albatross, then another bird which was initially called as a Light-mantled Albatross. Indeed that's what I thought it was. It had a pale mantle, which, I was informed was worn feathers. It was in fact another Sooty Albatross. Traps for beginners. There weren't as many Buller's Albatrosses on Sunday as on Saturday, but there were plenty of Royal Albatross, both Northern and Southern. There were several wandering types. I saw just one Black-browed and one Campbell Albatross.
We had prions on both days, mainly Fairy, but also (according to the experts) at least one Slender-billed and one Antarctic.
If I initially doubted the Southern Fulmar call, I was quite incredulous on Sunday when someone called 'White-necked Petrel.' I look for these birds in summer in New South Wales and southern Queensland. Late autumn in Tasmania seemed a bit odd. But there was the bird, clearly sporting a white neck. I didn't even have to stand up as it flew right in front of me. This bird I'd looked for twenty times. Two ticks in two days. It was unbelievable. And very soon, a clever South African birder on board broke the news: the bird was not a White-necked Petrel. It was a Great Shearwater. This made more sense. Many people were delighted. It was a lifer for them. Not for me. I'd seen Great Shearwaters off Port Fairy in 2011.
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| Great Shearwater, masquerading as a White-necked Petrel, photo by Steve Reynolds |
I didn't mind. I'd seen my Southern Fulmar. That's the reason I travelled to Tasmania. I came home very happy.
Saturday 6 April 2019
A NEW BIRD FOR MY WALK LIST
Yesterday was my 1,061st walk. I do try to walk every day, regardless of weather. I walk north or south or east or west. I always like to record more than ten species of birds on each walk. Today I recorded ten; yesterday I had eleven.
Yesterday was a south walk, not usually a record-breaking occasion. (I do much better on north walks, where I walk through a large park.) Yesterday, I was on my way home, thinking of other things, when a small bird darted out from a bush in front of me. My first thought was 'Eastern Spinebill.' Spinebills are not common here and I always love to see them. I tried to identify the bird, but he was most uncooperative, flitting in and out behind the foliage. Finally, I got him. It was a Grey Fantail, a new bird for my walk list.
I have seen Grey Fantails near home before, but never on a walk. Alas, I don't know the date when I first saw one. The second occasion was in October 2004 and the third in April 2005. This bird was my fourth sighting in suburban Kew and it had been almost exactly 14 years since I'd last seen one. (I say suburban Kew because I'm sure Grey Fantails are frequently seen near the Yarra River in Kew. This is nowhere near where I live.)
There were two things noteworthy about this morning's walk: (1) I did not see or hear a Noisy Miner (Hooray!) and (2) I heard a Spotted Pardalote (not rare, but unusual).
Tomorrow is a west walk. Clearly, too much to hope for another new bird.
Yesterday was a south walk, not usually a record-breaking occasion. (I do much better on north walks, where I walk through a large park.) Yesterday, I was on my way home, thinking of other things, when a small bird darted out from a bush in front of me. My first thought was 'Eastern Spinebill.' Spinebills are not common here and I always love to see them. I tried to identify the bird, but he was most uncooperative, flitting in and out behind the foliage. Finally, I got him. It was a Grey Fantail, a new bird for my walk list.
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| Grey Fantail, photo by Ken Haines. Not my Kew bird but hopefully the same race. |
I have seen Grey Fantails near home before, but never on a walk. Alas, I don't know the date when I first saw one. The second occasion was in October 2004 and the third in April 2005. This bird was my fourth sighting in suburban Kew and it had been almost exactly 14 years since I'd last seen one. (I say suburban Kew because I'm sure Grey Fantails are frequently seen near the Yarra River in Kew. This is nowhere near where I live.)
There were two things noteworthy about this morning's walk: (1) I did not see or hear a Noisy Miner (Hooray!) and (2) I heard a Spotted Pardalote (not rare, but unusual).
Tomorrow is a west walk. Clearly, too much to hope for another new bird.
Tuesday 2 April 2019
VALE ROGER TAYLOR
In the early hours of Saturday 23 March 2019 my darling husband, Roger, died. He was in Box Hill Hospital. No one knows why he died. He was a diabetic with a bad heart. Nevertheless his death was sudden and unexpected. The coroner has performed a partial postmortem but no conclusions have yet been reached.
Roger was not a birder, but for the 46 years of our marriage, he drove me to countless birding spots. He also drove me to the airport so I could fly off on various birding adventures. We enjoyed sherry from Rutherglen (or recently Wahgunyah) so several times each year, after we'd collected our bulk sherry, Rog drove me around the birding spots of Rutherglen and nearby Chiltern.
As Roger's health deteriorated, I did more and more trips alone. Four of my five trips to Christmas Island were done without Rog. He didn't accompany me to the Torres Strait or to the Coral Sea. I felt guilty leaving him and decided that my recent Christmas Island trip would be my last.
So I was home alone when he made his last trip to hospital. He'd been there four nights and was scheduled to come home on Friday. I rang to arrange picking him up and the doctor said that Rog wasn't quite right and they'd keep him in one more night. That night he died.
I should thank all my dear family and friends for their wonderful support in recent days and particular mention must be made of my favourite (and only) brother, Richard.
Life will never be the same again.
Roger was not a birder, but for the 46 years of our marriage, he drove me to countless birding spots. He also drove me to the airport so I could fly off on various birding adventures. We enjoyed sherry from Rutherglen (or recently Wahgunyah) so several times each year, after we'd collected our bulk sherry, Rog drove me around the birding spots of Rutherglen and nearby Chiltern.
As Roger's health deteriorated, I did more and more trips alone. Four of my five trips to Christmas Island were done without Rog. He didn't accompany me to the Torres Strait or to the Coral Sea. I felt guilty leaving him and decided that my recent Christmas Island trip would be my last.
So I was home alone when he made his last trip to hospital. He'd been there four nights and was scheduled to come home on Friday. I rang to arrange picking him up and the doctor said that Rog wasn't quite right and they'd keep him in one more night. That night he died.
I should thank all my dear family and friends for their wonderful support in recent days and particular mention must be made of my favourite (and only) brother, Richard.
Life will never be the same again.
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| Roger as I will remember him, photo by Michael Seyfort |
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| Christmas Day, 2013 when Rog took me to Werribee |
Wednesday 6 March 2019
MY TWENTIETH ATTEMPT AT SEEING A WHITE-NECKED PETREL
I probably should not bother writing a blog about my aborted twentieth attempt to see a White-necked Petrel. There's not much to say. The boat did not go. I did not see the bird.
My Graves Disease had returned with a vengeance. I had no energy at all. Walking was difficult; stairs almost impossible. I had booked to fly to Sydney to do the February pelagic out of Kiama, supposedly my best chance of seeing a White-necked Petrel. I asked the doctor if it would be okay to go. He asked me how long I'd be away, and when I said 'one night' he agreed I could go.
The month out of Kiama (or previously Wollongong) with most sightings of White-necked Petrels is February. Of my twenty attempts, five previous attempts have been in February (2008, 2011, 2016, 2017 [cancelled] and 2018). I've also been told that April out of Port Stephens is good for White-necked Petrels. I have attempted to do this trip on four occasions (2012, 2013 [cancelled], 2014 [cancelled] and 2016).
So, in February 2019, I flew to Sydney and managed very cleverly to get on the right train, then to change trains at Woolli Creek to Kiama. Well done, I thought. With difficulty, I walked to the motel. I stayed in my room until it was time to leave in the morning.
I had arranged to be picked up and driven to the jetty, so there was no walking on Saturday. My lift arrived, (thank you, Graham!) and, with great expectations, we drove to the wharf. A small crowd of people stood by the boat. Immediately we learnt that the trip had been cancelled. Weather was too bad. Seas were too rough.
Several Victorians who had made the trip as I had, just for the elusive White-necked Petrel, stood, trying to grasp the fact that their interstate journey had been in vain. After a little miserable discussion, we dispersed. I felt cheated.
Brook drove me to the airport and I arranged an early flight home, feeling the world was against me.
If I took a minute to stop feeling sorry for myself, I would thank Graham and Brook for their invaluable assistance. What would I do without the help of these wonderful friends? Alas, they cannot make the bird materialise.
Am I never going to see this bird?
My Graves Disease had returned with a vengeance. I had no energy at all. Walking was difficult; stairs almost impossible. I had booked to fly to Sydney to do the February pelagic out of Kiama, supposedly my best chance of seeing a White-necked Petrel. I asked the doctor if it would be okay to go. He asked me how long I'd be away, and when I said 'one night' he agreed I could go.
The month out of Kiama (or previously Wollongong) with most sightings of White-necked Petrels is February. Of my twenty attempts, five previous attempts have been in February (2008, 2011, 2016, 2017 [cancelled] and 2018). I've also been told that April out of Port Stephens is good for White-necked Petrels. I have attempted to do this trip on four occasions (2012, 2013 [cancelled], 2014 [cancelled] and 2016).
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| White-necked Petrel by Paul Wallbridge, a bird I've tried to see 20 times |
So, in February 2019, I flew to Sydney and managed very cleverly to get on the right train, then to change trains at Woolli Creek to Kiama. Well done, I thought. With difficulty, I walked to the motel. I stayed in my room until it was time to leave in the morning.
I had arranged to be picked up and driven to the jetty, so there was no walking on Saturday. My lift arrived, (thank you, Graham!) and, with great expectations, we drove to the wharf. A small crowd of people stood by the boat. Immediately we learnt that the trip had been cancelled. Weather was too bad. Seas were too rough.
Several Victorians who had made the trip as I had, just for the elusive White-necked Petrel, stood, trying to grasp the fact that their interstate journey had been in vain. After a little miserable discussion, we dispersed. I felt cheated.
Brook drove me to the airport and I arranged an early flight home, feeling the world was against me.
If I took a minute to stop feeling sorry for myself, I would thank Graham and Brook for their invaluable assistance. What would I do without the help of these wonderful friends? Alas, they cannot make the bird materialise.
Am I never going to see this bird?
MY NINETEENTH ATTEMPT AT A WHITE-NECKED PETREL
I celebrated Australia Day 2019 with my nineteenth attempt to see a White-necked Petrel. These birds are supposedly seen in January, February and March in New South Wales and southern Queensland waters. That's what the books say, but I cannot confirm this from my own experience. I have never seen a White-necked Petrel.
On Friday, I flew from Melbourne to Sydney and took the train to Kiama where I stayed overnight. Altogether, the trip cost around $2,000. This is becoming an expensive bird.
For me, the White-necked Petrel really is a bogey bird. People use this term loosely. I often hear birders referring to a bird they happen to have dipped on once or twice as a 'bogey bird.' I reckon a bogey bird is a bird that all your friends have seen, but you have not, despite trying very hard several times. And, in my book, travelling interstate on nineteen occasions to see a White-necked Petrel and failing every time certainly qualifies.
Apart from the lack of White-necked Petrels, our day at sea last Saturday was pretty good. It was sunny, but not too hot and we had a boatful of happy people. We saw hundreds of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and almost as many Grey-faced Petrels. A magnificent Mottled Petrel caused much celebration and was a lifer for many people on board. I was happy for them of course, but their success seemed to underline my failure.
The Mottled Petrel was undoubtedly the Bird of the Day. We had fleeting views of both Wilson's and White-faced Storm Petrels and a couple of Sooty Terns. We saw one or two Pomarine Skuas and had great views of a couple of Long-tailed Jaegers. There were a few Flesh-footed Shearwaters and just a couple of Short-tailed. Some people saw Sooty Shearwaters but I did not. Nor did I see any Hutton's or Fluttering Shearwaters. I had hoped for a Streaked Shearwater, but it was not to be. We did see a Gould's Petrel, and I was pleased it was not a lifer, because the view was not satisfactory.
We saw one Shy Albatross, one Australasian Gannet, a Greater Crested Tern and some Silver Gulls, giving me a total birdlist for the day of 13 species.
It was a very nice Mottled Petrel, to be sure. But it was not worth $2,000. And it was not worth travelling all that way.
Now I look forward to doing it all again in February!
On Friday, I flew from Melbourne to Sydney and took the train to Kiama where I stayed overnight. Altogether, the trip cost around $2,000. This is becoming an expensive bird.
For me, the White-necked Petrel really is a bogey bird. People use this term loosely. I often hear birders referring to a bird they happen to have dipped on once or twice as a 'bogey bird.' I reckon a bogey bird is a bird that all your friends have seen, but you have not, despite trying very hard several times. And, in my book, travelling interstate on nineteen occasions to see a White-necked Petrel and failing every time certainly qualifies.
Apart from the lack of White-necked Petrels, our day at sea last Saturday was pretty good. It was sunny, but not too hot and we had a boatful of happy people. We saw hundreds of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and almost as many Grey-faced Petrels. A magnificent Mottled Petrel caused much celebration and was a lifer for many people on board. I was happy for them of course, but their success seemed to underline my failure.
 |
| Mottled Petrel by Brook Whylie |
The Mottled Petrel was undoubtedly the Bird of the Day. We had fleeting views of both Wilson's and White-faced Storm Petrels and a couple of Sooty Terns. We saw one or two Pomarine Skuas and had great views of a couple of Long-tailed Jaegers. There were a few Flesh-footed Shearwaters and just a couple of Short-tailed. Some people saw Sooty Shearwaters but I did not. Nor did I see any Hutton's or Fluttering Shearwaters. I had hoped for a Streaked Shearwater, but it was not to be. We did see a Gould's Petrel, and I was pleased it was not a lifer, because the view was not satisfactory.
We saw one Shy Albatross, one Australasian Gannet, a Greater Crested Tern and some Silver Gulls, giving me a total birdlist for the day of 13 species.
It was a very nice Mottled Petrel, to be sure. But it was not worth $2,000. And it was not worth travelling all that way.
Now I look forward to doing it all again in February!
Wednesday 9 January 2019
WHYALLA'S WAGTAIL
I was hurting. There was a Citrine Wagtail at the Whyalla Wetlands and I hadn't seen it. Of course I was delighted to see the Tufted Duck at Werribee on 3 January. Of course I was. But the duck's presence did not make up for the wagtail's absence.
Citrine Wagtails have turned up in Australia before. Notably, in my memory, one turned up in Mudgee in New South Wales in September 2014, when I did not see it. I visited the Putta Bucca wetlands in Mudgee on 10 October 2014 and the bird had flown. So I particularly wanted to see this bird in South Australia in 2019. But I did not want to travel to Whyalla alone. I emailed everyone I could think of: did they know anyone who'd like to twitch the wagtail with me? No one did. In desperation, I put a note on Birding Aus. This paid off immediately. Ken Haines phoned. Ken is a bird photographer I'd met while boneseeding at the You Yangs. He takes great photos which he has contributed generously to my last book (Best 100 Birdwatching Sites in Australia) as well as my forthcoming book (Birding Australia's Islands). Ken said we could drive to Whyalla, leaving on Monday and returning on Wednesday. It sounded good to me.
And that's what we did. Ken picked me up at 4.45 a.m. on Monday and we drove directly to Whyalla, arriving at 5.15 p.m. We went straight to the wetlands. We knew which pond the wagtail had been seen in and we stood at the edge expectantly. There were over a hundred Black-tailed Nativehens. There were avocets, stilts and sandpipers. There were ducks, both domestic and wild. There were grebes and cormorants and dotterels. But there was no wagtail. We walked around the pond. We searched every muddy inch of the water's edge. There was an island in the centre of the pond, where Silver Gulls were roosting, but it did not look particularly inviting. We looked, we waited, we walked around. We began to feel that we'd driven 1100 kilometres for nothing. Neither of us dared to articulate our fears. The light began to fade, but we persisted. And, at 6.25 we were rewarded! The wagtail appeared.
It was very active and very obvious. I don't believe we could have missed it, had it been present for the previous hour and ten minutes. I believe it was hidden in the vegetation, perhaps amongst the reeds, perhaps under the bushes.
I was delighted, of course. As far as I was concerned, it was mission accomplished. But a photographer requires photos. Ken had lovely shots of Wood Sandpipers, but that wasn't what we'd come for. So we returned on Tuesday morning at 6.15. The scenario was much as the day before. Lots of waterbirds, but no wagtail. We'd talked of reassessing the situation at noon. I feared we'd be there all day. If the wagtail didn't appear again until 6.25 p.m., when the light was not optimum for photos, would we have to stay another night in Whyalla?
We walked around the pond, again neither of us daring to say what we were thinking. The hours ticked by and there was still no wagtail. What was a little surprising was that there were no other birders there either. We were the only people looking for the wagtail. Lots of joggers and dog walkers passed by, but no birders.
Then, just as suddenly as it had yesterday evening, at 11 a.m. the bird appeared! Not only did it put in an appearance, it was coming towards us! It wanted its photo taken. It hopped onto a dead tree in the water and made its way along the log, in jerky wagtail fashion. At the end of the log, it stopped to preen and give us a good look. Not that Ken was looking. He was too busy taking photos to enjoy the spectacle. His camera was clicking away with excited machine-gun repetition.
That's the story really. Ken got his photos and I got my bird. We drove home in a leisurely fashion, each of us feeling that we'd just achieved something special. And we had. We'd driven 1100 kilometres to see a vagrant wagtail. And a very beautiful wagtail it was. Thank you, Ken.
Citrine Wagtails have turned up in Australia before. Notably, in my memory, one turned up in Mudgee in New South Wales in September 2014, when I did not see it. I visited the Putta Bucca wetlands in Mudgee on 10 October 2014 and the bird had flown. So I particularly wanted to see this bird in South Australia in 2019. But I did not want to travel to Whyalla alone. I emailed everyone I could think of: did they know anyone who'd like to twitch the wagtail with me? No one did. In desperation, I put a note on Birding Aus. This paid off immediately. Ken Haines phoned. Ken is a bird photographer I'd met while boneseeding at the You Yangs. He takes great photos which he has contributed generously to my last book (Best 100 Birdwatching Sites in Australia) as well as my forthcoming book (Birding Australia's Islands). Ken said we could drive to Whyalla, leaving on Monday and returning on Wednesday. It sounded good to me.
And that's what we did. Ken picked me up at 4.45 a.m. on Monday and we drove directly to Whyalla, arriving at 5.15 p.m. We went straight to the wetlands. We knew which pond the wagtail had been seen in and we stood at the edge expectantly. There were over a hundred Black-tailed Nativehens. There were avocets, stilts and sandpipers. There were ducks, both domestic and wild. There were grebes and cormorants and dotterels. But there was no wagtail. We walked around the pond. We searched every muddy inch of the water's edge. There was an island in the centre of the pond, where Silver Gulls were roosting, but it did not look particularly inviting. We looked, we waited, we walked around. We began to feel that we'd driven 1100 kilometres for nothing. Neither of us dared to articulate our fears. The light began to fade, but we persisted. And, at 6.25 we were rewarded! The wagtail appeared.
It was very active and very obvious. I don't believe we could have missed it, had it been present for the previous hour and ten minutes. I believe it was hidden in the vegetation, perhaps amongst the reeds, perhaps under the bushes.
I was delighted, of course. As far as I was concerned, it was mission accomplished. But a photographer requires photos. Ken had lovely shots of Wood Sandpipers, but that wasn't what we'd come for. So we returned on Tuesday morning at 6.15. The scenario was much as the day before. Lots of waterbirds, but no wagtail. We'd talked of reassessing the situation at noon. I feared we'd be there all day. If the wagtail didn't appear again until 6.25 p.m., when the light was not optimum for photos, would we have to stay another night in Whyalla?
We walked around the pond, again neither of us daring to say what we were thinking. The hours ticked by and there was still no wagtail. What was a little surprising was that there were no other birders there either. We were the only people looking for the wagtail. Lots of joggers and dog walkers passed by, but no birders.
 |
| Citrine Wagtail, photo by Ken Haines |
Then, just as suddenly as it had yesterday evening, at 11 a.m. the bird appeared! Not only did it put in an appearance, it was coming towards us! It wanted its photo taken. It hopped onto a dead tree in the water and made its way along the log, in jerky wagtail fashion. At the end of the log, it stopped to preen and give us a good look. Not that Ken was looking. He was too busy taking photos to enjoy the spectacle. His camera was clicking away with excited machine-gun repetition.
 |
| Citrine Wagtail, photo by Ken Haines |
That's the story really. Ken got his photos and I got my bird. We drove home in a leisurely fashion, each of us feeling that we'd just achieved something special. And we had. We'd driven 1100 kilometres to see a vagrant wagtail. And a very beautiful wagtail it was. Thank you, Ken.
Friday 4 January 2019
A WHOLE NEW YEAR OF BIRDING
Here we are in 2019. A whole new year ahead of us, in which I plan to see lots of birds. A new year with renewed enthusiasm and heightened expectations.
I'm hoping I might see five new lifers in 2019: a modest enough target I hope. Most years I achieve more than that. The last couple of years, I've managed 11 ticks each year, including a couple of splits last year. But, as my total grows, the possibilities for new birds diminishes. Funny that.
Surely, if there is any justice in the world, I'll see my White-necked Petrel this year. Another bird quickly gaining the status of bogey bird for me is the Black-eared Catbird. I've spent more money looking for that than I care to calculate.
Only once have I managed to see a lifer on the first of January. That was in 2008 on the Abrolhos, when I saw my first Lesser Noddy. Other January lifers include the White-throated Nightjar in Bunyip State Park in 2004, a whole host of Bamega specialties in 2006, the Hudsonian Godwit at Werribee in 2009, the White-rumped Sandpiper at Lake Wollumboola in 2015, and the Paradise Shelduck at the same spot a year later, the South Island Oystercatcher at Broadwater in 2017 (my 800th bird), the Lesser Black-backed Gull at Buffalo Creek the same year and the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Lake Murdeduke also in 2017.
And then: the Tufted Duck at Werribee's Western Treatment Plant on 3 January 2019!
This makes my hopes of five lifers for the year seem eminently achievable. Who would have thought that a Tufted Duck would turn up in Victoria? I've seen them in the UK, but that didn't give me anything like the excitement of getting them on my Australian list.
Let's hope some more exciting vagrants get lost somewhere near here some time soon!
I'm hoping I might see five new lifers in 2019: a modest enough target I hope. Most years I achieve more than that. The last couple of years, I've managed 11 ticks each year, including a couple of splits last year. But, as my total grows, the possibilities for new birds diminishes. Funny that.
Surely, if there is any justice in the world, I'll see my White-necked Petrel this year. Another bird quickly gaining the status of bogey bird for me is the Black-eared Catbird. I've spent more money looking for that than I care to calculate.
Only once have I managed to see a lifer on the first of January. That was in 2008 on the Abrolhos, when I saw my first Lesser Noddy. Other January lifers include the White-throated Nightjar in Bunyip State Park in 2004, a whole host of Bamega specialties in 2006, the Hudsonian Godwit at Werribee in 2009, the White-rumped Sandpiper at Lake Wollumboola in 2015, and the Paradise Shelduck at the same spot a year later, the South Island Oystercatcher at Broadwater in 2017 (my 800th bird), the Lesser Black-backed Gull at Buffalo Creek the same year and the Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Lake Murdeduke also in 2017.
And then: the Tufted Duck at Werribee's Western Treatment Plant on 3 January 2019!
 |
| Tufted Duck, photo by James Mustafa |
Let's hope some more exciting vagrants get lost somewhere near here some time soon!
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