TWITCHING THE FOREST WAGTAIL

The Forest Wagtail is a very pretty little bird.  It breeds in southern China, then migrates to Asia.  Last week one turned up in a suburban back yard in Alice Springs.  Of course I had to go and see it.

Forest Wagtail, Alice Springs, May 2013

Yes, I know it's a lousy photo, but at least it proves I saw the bird!

This is the first time I've ever jumped on a plane to go to see a vagrant.  Yes, I drove to Paynesville for the Franklin's Gull last November, and I just happened to be near Sydney when the American Golden Plover was sighted at Kurnell in March 2009.  But I've never before flown interstate to twitch some hapless vagrant.  Now I can count myself a fully fledged twitcher.

I heard about the bird on Monday, but was busy indexing my next book and couldn't get away until Wednesday.  I arrived in The Alice just after 11 on Wednesday morning.  Within a couple of hours, I'd had great views of this dear little Asian bird and added another tick to my life total.  Mike Carter (Australia's best birder) and his charming wife, Patricia, were on the same plane from Melbourne and kindly gave me a lift to the b & b where the bird had been seen.  A small group of avid twitchers had arrived to witness this special little bird.  The Forest Wagtail obediently put on quite a show, walking around the garden, splashing in some water, eating an enormous caterpillar in rather spectacular fashion and living up to its name by wagging its tail, which in fact was more like moving all of its lower body, not just its tail.

I thought it was much prettier than the photos on the web had shown, and more colourful.  I'd expected a black and white bird, but it had a warm pale brown back and some pale lemon on its throat.  Of course I thought it was pretty.  It was a beautiful, unexpected tick.

WOLLONGONG AND GIPSY POINT

On the way back to Melbourne from our trip to Port Stephens and Barrington Tops National Park, I planned two stops:  Wollongong for a pelagic, then a couple of relaxing days birding at Gipsy Point.  Both these spots feature in my top 100 Australian birding sites.

This was the third pelagic I'd booked in 2013, but the first to actually go.  The weather was perfect.  I was delighted that the boat was only half full, so I had excellent, unblocked views all day.  We did not see a lot of species (I recorded 17) but we certainly saw a lot of albatrosses.  At one point there were over 50 surrounding the boat.  They were mainly Black-browed and Shy, but there were also Campbell's, Yellow-nosed and Buller's.

Banding a Yellow-nosed Albatross

Wollongong pelagics are run by SOSSA - the Southern Ocean Seabird Study Association.  On this trip they banded shearwaters (Flesh-footed and Wedge-tailed) and Yellow-nosed Albatrosses.  We saw both Pomarine and Arctic Jaegers, the latter identified by its aggressive behaviour.  The only petrel we saw was a Providence (that the New South Welshmen insist on calling 'Solander's') and the only Storm-Petrel was a Wilson's.  I think everyone on board would agree that it was a very pleasant day at sea - not something you can often say about a pelagic.

And then it was off to Gipsy Point in far east Gippsland.  The best bird I saw on the way was a Brahminy Kite.  I've never seen one so far south before.

At Gipsy Point we stay in the (modestly named) Luxury Lakeside Apartments.  The name may not be humble, but neither is the accommodation.  This is one of my very favourite places.  They feed the birds each evening and afternoon.  Galahs, King-Parrots and Little and Red Wattlebirds screech overhead.  Eastern Whipbirds play on the lawn, quite unafraid of people.  A Buff-banded Rail was on the lawn right out in the open when we arrived.  Sometimes there are frogmouths roosting in the eucalypts, and sometimes White-headed Pigeons.  There are always Bell Miners and Red-browed Finches, kangaroos and swamp rats.  I always take some blue treasures as offerings for the Satin Bowerbird.  He accepts my gifts, I like to think gratefully.

We always drive into Mallacoota to see what we can see at Captain Stevenson's Point (on this occasion, there were teal, terns, godwits, oystercatchers and Eastern Curlews).  I do as many walks as I can.  I was delighted to see that a new coastal walk has been constructed for me to add to my list.  I usually do Double Creek (looking for Wonga Pigeons and lyrebirds); Heathland (hoping for Ground Parrots, which I have never seen here); and Casuarina Walk for bush birds.  In Mallacoota, we saw a pair of Glossy Black-Cockatoos sitting on the electricity wires.  They did not hang around for a photo, but we were happy to have seen them.  We had thought that April may have been too late, and they may have left on their northern migration.  Sadly I could not find any Hooded Plovers on Betka Beach, usually a reliable sighting.

We often drive to Shipwreck Creek to look for Southern Emu-wren, Ground Parrots and Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters.  I've heard the parrots here, but not seen them.  I figure if I keep on going, one day I'll luck onto them.  I see emu-wren more often than not, and I don't think I've ever dipped on the TC honeyeaters - until this trip.  On this occasion, I did not see any of my target species.  I did see a lyrebird (they featured in this holiday - I saw lots!) and a Bassian Thrush, but that was all that was noteworthy.

Outside of school holidays, there are not many better birding spots than Gipsy Point and Mallacoota.

Little Black Cormorants at Mallacoota

A TICK THANKS TO MICK

I've just returned from my annual trip north looking for White-necked Petrels.  This bird (so beautifully depicted on the masthead of this blog by photographer Brook Whylie) is becoming a real jinx bird for me.  Each year since 2008 I have driven north to Wollongong to do a pelagic either in February or March, when White-necked Petrels are supposed to be present.  Or, more accurately, each year since 2008 Roger has driven me to Wollongong.  Last year, we visited Wollongong in March, then went further north to Port Stephens to try again in April.  I joined the pelagic from Nelson Bay on a Saturday.  As usual, I came home disappointed.  The boat went out the following day and got the bird!

This encouraged me to try again this year.  I booked the trip months ago and waited impatiently for April to arrive.  I emailed Mick Roderick (who arranges the Port Stephens pelagics) asking rather cheekily if anyone local might help me to see their local grass owl while I was in the vicinity.  This grass owl was another bogie bird of mine.  I've spent many evenings looking for it in various parts of Queensland.  Then, just to make sure that the trip had every chance of success, I decided to spend a few days looking for the Rufous Scrub-bird at Barrington Tops.

On the way to Port Stephens, I birded at Wonga Wetlands (too little water, too few birds), The Rock outside Wagga Wagga and Migurra Walk near Cootamundra.  We also did some touristy things - photographing Henry Lawson's birthplace at Grenfell, visiting The Dish at Parkes and spending some time at the Dubbo open plains zoo.

The Rock is one of my top 100 birding spots.  I'm surprised that it's not better known.  The birding is usually pretty good.  This was the first time I've ever been there without seeing Speckled Warblers.  To make up for this omission, I did see lots of Scarlet Robins.  I was impressed with a sign in the car park.

One interesting observation I made on the Migurra Walk outside Cootamundra, was of female Golden Whistlers.  According to the field guides, this bird should be the same race as the one I'm familiar with from my parents' property in north central Victoria.  However, the Cootamundra birds had much more lemon on their undertail coverts.  Nothing as dramatic as the Queensland females, but certainly more yellow than I'm used to.

The best bird I saw on the drive from Dubbo to Port Stephens was an impressive Grey Goshawk, very white and very beautiful, sitting on the electricity wires.

When I arrived at Port Stephens, Mick rang to say that the weather was unfavourable and the trip was cancelled!  Taking pity on my having done such a long drive for nothing, Mick kindly offered to take me out owling.  I was delighted.

We went to Hexham Swamp, Mick fully prepared with spotlight and owl recordings.  We waited until dusk, then Mick played his tape.  Almost immediately an owl flew overhead.  I couldn't see its dangling legs (the diagnostic feature of grass owls) and Mick cautioned that Eastern Barn Owls were also in the area.  I was surprised at how dark the bird was.  I'd been expecting a large white owl.  Before I had time to regret that I hadn't had a better look, another beautiful owl appeared, this one with obvious dangling legs.  Seen in the spotlight, it was indeed a large white owl.  No doubting its identity:  it was an Eastern Grass Owl.  Yippee!  A lifer!  Thank you, Mick!

Of course I regretted the absence of White-necked Petrels, but the grass owl more than made up for it.  I know I will see the petrel one day.

Rog and I then drove to Gloucester.  Several members of the Hunter Bird Observers Club (Mick is the president) had been extremely helpful in giving me information about where to see Rufous Scrub-birds in the Barrington Tops National Park, and, more importantly, how to see them.  I've looked for them several times before, both at Lamington National Park and at Barrington Tops.  I've heard them on many occasions, but have never come close to seeing them.  I knew April was not the best month to look (October is best, when they are singing most territorially) but I figured seeing these birds is simply a matter of luck, and the more time I spent looking, the more likely I was to be lucky.

Thanks to the Hunter experts, I knew of seven territories, and over three days, visited each of them at least three times, some sites up to five times.  In all this time, I heard one bird call.  It was about 25 metres away in very dense scrub.  (They're not called 'scrub-birds' for nothing.)  I tried to go closer, but the scrub was too dense for me.  So then I tried to encourage the bird to come nearer to me, with various (I thought endearing) noises - whistling, pishing and so on.  The bird remained quite indifferent to my pleas, and did not move one millimetre closer.  After 45 minutes I was all pished out and gave up.  This may sound as if I gave up too easily, and, if the bird had moved a metre or so nearer, I would certainly have kept trying.  But he didn't move at all, and I could see no point in continuing.  I will try again in October in Lamington National Park.  I should have more luck then (especially as I have already arranged a professional guide to show me).

Ticks are becoming harder and harder to come by.  I came home, not disappointed at the lack of White-necked Petrels and Rufous Scrub-birds, but absolutely thrilled to have seen an Eastern Grass Owl.

To be continued.

GREY FANTAIL

Recently some Victorian birders expressed surprise at seeing a Grey Fantail at sea.  I think it was 5 or 6 kilometres from shore not far from Lakes Entrance.  I have seen Grey Fantails in Bass Strait when I've been out on pelagics and I'm sure that they travel between Tasmania and the mainland.

However, yesterday I was most surprised to see one in the very heart of Melbourne, in Bourke Street!  That I had not expected to see.  I don't have a photo of a Grey Fantail, but here's the very similar and much rarer, Norfolk Island Fantail.

I am about to set off north, in the hope of seeing my jinx bird, the White-necked Petrel.  I'm going to Port Stephens, and I hope the birds will perform for me.  Keep your fingers crossed.

HAY'S PADDOCK

This morning I was evicted from my own home by window cleaners.  Every room I entered, there was a man with a ladder and a drop cloth.  I couldn't possibly work in those conditions, so I decided to go birding.  I went to Hay's Paddock.  This is not far from Willsmere Park where I often go birding.  There is a small lake, a couple of footy ovals surrounded by parkland and a very interesting adventure playground for children of all abilities, intellectually and physically.  It's a while since I've been to Hay's Paddock and I found the reeds around the lake had grown enormously.

Lake at Hay's Paddock

The place was full of lorikeets and corellas.  I had a lovely view of a Musk Lorikeet in a flowering eucalypt.  All the usual suspects were on the water and I scanned the muddy banks for crakes.  I've never seen a crake or a rail, or even a dotterel here, but the conditions seem ideal and I live in hope that I will one day.

But perhaps I am wrong.  Perhaps the conditions are not ideal.  Hay's Paddock is a popular place for the locals to exercise their dogs, which is fine, if only they could control their pets.  The first dog to attack me this morning was a border collie - one of my favourite dogs.  He ran straight at me.  I turned away, but this didn't put him off.  He jumped up at me.  I'm sure he meant no harm, but he was not welcome.  He gaily ignored his owner yelling at him to leave me alone.  The second dog to invade my personal space was a doberman.  Poor thing had had his tail docked.  What sort of a dog owner does that?  He barked and was most intimidating.  He jumped all over me.  I don't suppose he had any intention other than making friends, but I found it a very frightening experience.  He also happily ignored his owner's instructions.  The third dog was a small brown curly haired bitser.  I saw it coming and deliberately walked off the track into the bush, a long way out of his way.  He was not to be put off.  He ran to greet me and took much delight in jumping all over me.  The thing about these unwelcome dogs is that not one of their extremely rude owners spoke to me.  I didn't expect them to offer to pay for my dry cleaning, but I thought an apology was in order.  It wouldn't have hurt them to ask if I was all right.  I was never paranoid about dogs before I started going birding alone.  It is absurd that I cannot walk freely in a local park without having dogs jump all over me.  I was quite furious and cut my birding short and returned to my car.  Who knows what birding delights I missed out on?

Because of the window cleaners, I didn't think I could return home quite so soon, so I sat in my car and read my book.  It is about Scott's expedition to the South Pole, using ponies.  The chapter I read was about the unmanageable dogs pulling the sleds.  A pony fell down in the snow, and the dogs immediately turned into an uncontrollable wolf pack, viciously attacking the fallen horse.  Just what I felt like reading.

If anyone reading this has any useful hints about how to avoid contact with dogs in the local park I'd be most grateful to hear them.

FAIRFIELD BOATHOUSE

My nephew and I finally found a mutally convenient time to go birding and we met this morning at the Fairfield Boathouse.  By 8 o'clock the fog was lifting, the lorikeets were squawking and it was turning into a lovely autumn day.

Yarra River

We walked over the pipe bridge and along a narrow track beside the Yarra River, dodging joggers, dogs and cyclists.  Grey Butcherbirds serenaded us and Willie Wagtails sang their pretty song.  Not to be outdone, Red Wattlebirds filled the air with their raucous shouts, Noisy Miners mewed and always the ubiquitous Rainbow Lorikeets squawked.  My nephew is a musician and I'm sure his ear will be very helpful with bird song identifcation.

Red-rumped Parrots played quietly on the path in front of us and Long-billed Corellas played noisily high in a gum tree.  Still the lorikeets squawked.

We saw very few small birds this morning (in fact the only one was a White-browed Scrubwren) but we had managed 21 species when we stopped for coffee at the boathouse.  An Australasian Darter flew overhead as we made our way back to the car park, giving us a total of 22 for the morning.  We are lucky to have this wonderful bush so close to Melbourne.

SEAFORD SWAMP

This morning I visited Seaford Swamp.  I'd never been there before, so I consulted the Melways carefully.  With my sense of direction, I knew I was bound to get lost.  I'd been tempted to go there because Sean Dooley reported that there were Freckled Duck present.  Admittedly, that was a couple of weeks ago, but I can hope.  Freckled Duck often hang around for a while.

The sky was grey and I feared it would rain, so I grabbed my waterproof jacket and threw it into the car.  Of course I was right:  I did get lost.  Eventually I found the road and could see the swamp.  However the parking area promised in the Melways simply did not exist.  I pulled over to the side of the road and set off on foot, bravely leaving my jacket in the car.

After a kilometre of admittedly very easy walking, I had a bird list of 19 species, but there was no sign of waterfowl or indeed a bird hide.  The "swamp" appeared to be an empty paddock.

I saw a gate with a couple of elderly codgers walking along a poorly defined track.  I hurried after them through the stubble.  They were charming and very helpful.  They told me that the bird hide had been demolished, however, there was a viewing platform in Austin Road.  They advised me to go back to my car and drive there.  And so I did.  When I reached the car, thanking the weather gods that it hadn't rained, the car was quite wet.  It must have been a very localised shower.  How lucky was that.

I drove directly to the viewing platform, and from the base, admired teal, ducks, swans, coots and swamphens.  Then I walked onto the elevated platform and saw, three beautiful Freckled Duck!  I looked further and found three more.  Not the numbers that Dooley had seen, but one will do to get onto my list. 

I was ridiculously pleased with myself.  I'd got lost, and wasted over an hour walking along the wrong track, but I'd dodged the rain, and I'd seen my target species.  That's a success in my language.