On Sunday, it was my intention to go weeding beside the Yarra with the Friends of Burke Road Billabong, but when I was invited to go looking for Swift Parrots at Plenty Gorge, there was no contest. I didn't have to consider my options. I was going looking for Swift Parrots. (Sorry, Stan.) I've only been to Plenty Gorge a couple of times, and I don't know the best birding spots, so I was very pleased to be shown. This is a huge area of beautiful bush, very close to Melbourne, and I was extremely happy for the opportunity to explore a bit of it. The first bird we saw on arrival was a Kookaburra, always a good start. It was cold and grey as we set off, but there were several species of eucalypt flowering profusely, so I thought we'd see some good honeyeaters if nothing else. The trees were covered in blossom, but the only birds loudly making their presence felt were Rainbow Lorikeets and Red Wattlebirds. My birdlist grew slowly as we wandered along. It was very pleasant, but there were no Swift Parrots. There were Galahs and Magpies and Eastern Rosellas, some white cockies and a few Maned Duck. Then we saw a gorgeous Spotted Pardalote and Peter Petinatos took this beautiful photo.
Suddenly I didn't care quite so much whether or not we saw any Swift Parrots. The pardalote was absolutely breathtaking. We saw a female Australian Golden Whistler and a Black-faced Cuckooshrike, but my birdlist was growing very slowly. Contrary to my expectations, the only honeyeater we saw (apart from the wattlebirds) was Yellow-faced. With so much blossom, that was a bit surprising. We walked quite a way (I'd done 22,000 steps at the end of the morning). Then, suddenly, there they were: Swift Parrots. About 20 of them, I reckon, high in the canopy. I'm not sure now who saw them first - it certainly wasn't me! They were in the top of the canopy, making photographers and birdwatchers alike crane their necks uncomfortably. Here's proof, again from Pete Petinatos.
There's no doubt they are very pretty parrots. We'd love them even if they weren't rare and endangered. Their annual migration across Bass Strait is impressive and they are always exciting to see. I had a great day and I didn't miss weeding at all!
