DAREBIN PARKLANDS

Every time I drive up Grange Road in Alphington, I see a sign to Darebin Parklands and think 'I must go there one day.'  Today I did.  I walked via Willsmere Billabong.  And what a pleasant walk it was.

There were no small birds (always a disappointment) but there were Australasian Grebes in gorgeous breeding plumage, Chestnut Teal, many Maned Duck, a few Red-rumped Parrots (which seem to be getting rarer) and lots and lots of Grey Butcherbirds.  Perhaps the large number of butcherbirds explains the lack of small birds.  But perhaps not.  I put it down to Noisy Miners which are taking over and displacing all passerines smaller than themselves.

All the usual suspects were present.  There were both Red and Little Wattlebirds, Welcome Swallows, a few Musk Lorikeets, several Pacific Black Duck and a single Crested Pigeon.  

My most interesting sighting was on the way:  I saw a Little Raven consuming nectar from a Silky Oak.  The Silky Oaks around here are having a very good year, flowering prolifically.  I know that Little Ravens are omnivorous, but I could find no record of them eating nectar.  The late great Graham Pizzey told me that when you see Little Ravens at road kill, they are eating the flies attracted to the carrion, not the carrion itself.  Graham told me that Little Ravens only eat live prey and that may well have been true at the time.  But I believe they are now opportunistic.  I have seen them enjoying people's discarded pizza.  The National Photographic Index states they are 'mainly insectivorous.'  HANZAB says the Little Raven is 'omnivorous but considered specialist insectivore.'   And now we can add nectar to the long list of foods they will eat.

Darebin Parklands

WEST GATE PARK

West Gate Park

Wednesday was the only day this week when the sun promised to shine, so I decided it would be a good day to visit West Gate Park, a little oasis of greenery hiding under the West Gate Bridge in Port Melbourne. 

I'm not sure when I last visited this park.  I know I was there in May 2009; perhaps that was the last time.   I used to go there looking for crakes.  There were always several species of honeyeaters and lots of waterbirds.  I remember being bombed by Pied Stilts (that we used to call Black-winged Stilts).  And I remember seeing Singing Honeyeaters and (Roger's favourite) New Holland Honeyeaters. 

The carpark was almost empty when I arrived.  I was delighted to have the park almost to myself, and even more delighted when Superb Fairywrens came to greet me.  They certainly seemed to want to make friends.  The lake was full.  There were no muddy verges for crakes, so I reconciled myself to the fact that I'd be going home without them on my list.  I saw several White-plumed Honeyeaters but few Noisy Miners and Red Wattlebirds, putting me in a good mood as I set off to walk around the lake.  A Willie Wagtail chattered happily.  I saw only one pair of Black Swans, but they had six teenage cygnets.

I could hear Australian Reed Warblers.  Why did we change their name?  Clamorous Reed Warbler was so appropriate.  There were at least four or five reed warblers, calling from different patches of reeds.  I stood for several minutes in various different spots trying to see one, but had no luck.  I saw moorhen and coots and Chestnut Teal.  One Little Pied Cormorant flew when I thought of approaching him.

Halfway around the lake, I saw my first New Holland Honeyeater and stood to admire him.  I don't see them in Kew any more.  I heard, then saw, one Grey Fantail, like me, enjoying the sunshine.

In a short visit, I had clocked up twenty species - more than I achieved on my most recent visit to Banyule.  When I returned, there were a few more cars in the carpark, but I'd hardly been aware of any other people on my walk.  I was about to leave, when suddenly a bright green bird flew remarkably fast overhead.  Was it a Musk Lorikeet?  I tried to locate where it had gone.  Then I found it, looping around the sky.  It wasn't a bird at all.  It was a small green drone.  Can't put that on my bird list!

I can recommend West Gate Park, a pleasant spot on a weekday.  I don't think you'll see a crake, but you might luck on to an Australian Reed Warbler.  If not, like me, you'll have to be satisfied with a New Holland Honeyeater.

A WEEK OF BIRDING

Today I had intended to go to the Maranoa Gardens, hoping for an Eastern Spinebill or perhaps a Grey Currawong.  But it is too wet.

I have had a busy week of birding until today.  On Monday I visited Wilson Reserve, on Tuesday I drove to Jells Park, on Wednesday I went to Trin-Warren Tam-Boore in Royal Park and yesterday I drove to Karkarook.

There's not much to see at Wilson Reserve that I can't see at Burke Road Billabong.  I walk to Burke Road Billabong, but Wilson Reserve, on the other side of the Yarra, is a little further, and I must drive.  I haven't seen the Powerful Owls there for a long time, and I've never seen any crakes, although others have reported them there.  I have seen frogmouths in the past, and an occasional Azure Kingfisher.  The two species I see reliably at Wilson Reserve (but not at Burke Road Billabong) are Willie Wagtails (my favourite bird) and Bell Miners.

Jell's Park

I go to Jell's Park to see Australasian Darters.  There are usually quite a few there.  On Tuesday I struggled to find one, but I did eventually.  I also found a pair of Pink-eared Ducks, which I haven't seen there before, and one very vocal Fan-tailed Cuckoo, which I admired at my leisure.  I'm not sure why, but several people stopped to ask me what I was looking at.  That one little cuckoo has never been the centre of so much attention!  I had a pleasant walk and clocked up 27 species in about an hour.

Wednesday was wet and I would have reconsidered my planned trip to Trin Warren Tam-Boore, except that I'd agreed to meet my sister-in-law, who lives nearby.  Despite the inclement weather, we managed 23 species, most notably a White-plumed Honeyeater, my first for the year.  Most numerous were Silver Gulls and Australian White Ibis.  My hoped-for Eastern Great Egret did not eventuate and I had to make do with a couple of swans.  I did see a Red-rumped Parrot, which I think are becoming rarer around Melbourne.

I don't know why, Karkarook always seems a long drive.  I'm sure it's no further than Jells Park, but with slow progress down Warrigal Road, it always seems a long trip.  I recorded 26 species in less than an hour, but could not see some very noisy, I might say clamorous, Australian Reed Warblers, which I spent some minutes trying to locate.  I've given up looking for Blue-billed Ducks (who am I kidding?  I always look!) which used to be reliable here.  And I fear that both Greenfinches and Goldfinches are no longer to be found at Karkarook.  I had great views of a very handsome pair of Hoary-headed Grebes and the best bird of the morning was one Little Grassbird that was determined to get onto my list and kept hopping out of the reeds into sight.

Eastern Spinebill, photo by Ken Haines

So I've had a good week of birding and I mustn't complain that I missed out on my trip to Maranoa Gardens.  I'll bet there were dozens of spinebills dancing in the rain and Grey Currawongs waiting for me in the carpark.  We will never know what I missed!

BURKE ROAD BILLABONG

 I can't believe it is November already.  I welcome every new month, as each bird I see on the first of the month is a new bird for that month.  Melbourne's lockdowns did seem interminable, however, counterintuitively, November seems to be here very quickly.

Today I visited the Burke Road Billabong.  On the way there I saw a Masked Lapwing, and on the way home I saw a Black-faced Cuckooshrike.  Neither of these birds is common in Kew East.

Track at Burke Road Billabong

Burke Road Billabong attracts lots of cyclists and a few joggers, but the big advantage is that there are no dog walkers.  For some reason best known to themselves, they are all on the north side of the river.  And of course, the bigger advantage is that it is great for birds.

I always see fairywrens, scrubwrens and grey fantails. I usually see Brown Thornbills and hear Spotted Pardalotes.  I often see spinebills and yellow robins.  I sometimes see a Grey Shrikethrush or a White-faced Heron.  I have yet to see a kingfisher of any sort.  This morning I heard, then finally saw, an Olive-backed Oriole.  What a beautiful song!

Last time I was here, I was accompanied on part of my walk by two male Red-rumped Parrots.  Eastern Rosellas are often around, and ubiquitous Rainbow Lorikeets make their presence felt.

Although the track is beside the Yarra River, I do not often add waterbirds to my list.  I come here for the bush birds.

Sometimes the Eastern Yellow Robin comes to say hello, sometimes he remains aloof high in the canopy, calling just to make sure I know he is there.

Eastern Yellow Robin, photo by Ken Haines

I haven't mentioned the common birds:  Red Wattlebirds and Noisy Miners (of course!), Little Ravens, Pied Currawongs, Magpies and Magpie-larks.  There are raucous calls from white cockies and beautiful music from Grey Butcherbirds.  The only exotics I've seen (so far) are Spotted Doves and Common Blackbirds.  In years gone by, I'm sure there would have been Red-whiskered Bulbuls.  It is hard to regret the passing of an exotic!

Burke Road Billabong is a lovely spot for bush birds.  I only discovered it recently and I'm sure it has many treasures in store for me.  Meanwhile, I'm happy with my fairywrens and yellow robins.