HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL

Summer is here and the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee is open at last!  What more could a birder want?  A twitch, that's what!

It seems a very long time since I've been on a twitch.  In fact, it's not that long really.  In January, 2020, I travelled to Sydney for the Kentish Plover.  With all these enforced lockdowns, it seems much longer ago than 22 months.

With great excitement I learnt that a Hudsonian Whimbrel had turned up at Toora in Gippsland.  This bird has recently been granted species status by the IOC and this is the first record for Australia.   I simply had to go and see it.   I read that it is a large dark whimbrel with an obvious white supercilium.  The illustration from the 'HBW and Birdlife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World' is the best I can do.

It was two days after my cataract surgery and my sight could have been better, but I decided I'd be satisfied if I saw a large, dark whimbrel.

Toora is about two and a quarter hours drive from Melbourne.  There are lots of mangroves and a well positioned bird hide.  As we drove into the carpark, we met the local farmer who'd discovered the bird.  He said he'd found it last July, but he didn't know what it was.  

We went straight to the bird hide to learn that the bird had been seen earlier in the day, but was no longer visible anywhere.  We could see some godwits and some very handsome Royal Spoonbills.  The tide looked about as far in as it was possible to be, so there were no mudflats to inspect.

Disappointed that we'd had a long, fruitless drive, we went for a walk to the boat jetty.  There, unmistakably, perched on top of a mangrove, was a large, dark whimbrel.  With the scope, others could see the obvious white supercilium.  I was satisfied with my big dark whimbrel.  Obligingly, a group of other, noticeably smaller, whimbrels sat nearby.  That made sense.  Our bird had been reported as being a loner.  So we hadn't had a fruitless drive at all.

Toora, where we saw the Hudsonian Whimbrel

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.

HERITAGE

Yesterday my friend Ken took me to Heritage.  This is an area of bushland adjacent to the Heritage Golf and Country Club in Chirnside Park.  It is also adjacent to the Yarra River, and is popular with fisherfolk and canoeists.  The sun was shining.  The birds were singing.  It was a glorious morning.  The grass was long and Ken had seen a very large red-bellied black snake here the day before, so we trod carefully.

We recorded 46 species.  That is to say, Ken saw or heard 46 species, and managed to show me most of them, although I was too slow or too deaf to get on to the call of the Pallid Cuckoo or (worse!) the Lewin's Rail.  In my defence I should say that I was first to see the flock of over 100 Straw-necked Ibis flying overhead (quite a feat that! you could hardly miss them!)  and it was little me who first noticed the Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo sitting up high quite visibly and calling incessantly.  Admittedly, I did not immediately identify it correctly, but I did see it first. 

I also saw a New Holland Honeyeater, which Ken said were not common at Heritage.  We did see some great birds, but there were very few honeyeaters.  In fact, my list includes just four:  Red Wattlebird, Noisy Miner, Yellow-faced and the aforementioned New Holland.

The best birds were two kingfishers:  Sacred and Azure, and two cuckoos:  Fan-tailed and the Horsfield's Bronze that I've already mentioned.  We had an opportunity to admire both male and female Rufous Whistlers (my first for 2021!) and had an excellent, if fleeting, view of an Australian Reed Warbler.

Of course, we saw all the bushbirds you'd expect:  Eastern Yellow Robin, Red-browed Finch, and Grey Shrikethrush.  Superb Fairywrens and White-browed Scrubwrens played in the undergrowth and ubiquitous Brown Thornbills and Grey Fantails seemed to accompany us wherever we went.  One sole pelican soared overhead, while colourful Australian King Parrots, Galahs and Crimson Rosellas flew by.  Of course we couldn't escape noisy Rainbow Lorikeets, or corellas or white cockies.  Add some waterbirds (ducks, cormorants, coots and moorhen) and that's about it.  Apart from the Mistletoebird that sharp-eyed Ken saw and the Shining Bronze Cuckoo that he heard.

But I should not overlook my favourite bird:  the Willie Wagtail.  One came to say hello, then flew off over the golf course.  Ken said that they too were not common at Heritage.  Altogether a good spot for birding.  Thanks, Ken.

SIX MONTHS IN KEW

 It is now six months since I returned to live in Kew - actually I now live in Kew East, a little closer to Hay's Paddock, Willsmere Billabong and Burke Road Billabong.  With the addition of a Silver Gull last week, my house list is now 24 species.  Perhaps the most remarkable bird on it is a Whistling Kite, that visited my back yard one afternoon this month.  Another contender might be the pair of Maned Duck that sat on a neighbour's chimney for about twenty minutes one morning in September.

I walk every day - either north, south, east or west.  The north walk is the best as that incorporates Hay's Paddock.  Needless to say, the birds are not as numerous as they once were.  It is hard to believe that Regent Honeyeaters were seen in Hay's Paddock in my life time.  There are no honeyeaters there today, apart from the ubiquitous Red Wattlebirds and Noisy Miners.  I reckon I had New Hollands there in the 90's, but that's just my (often faulty) memory - I have not checked my records.  My walk list now numbers 41 species.

Perhaps most interesting in my bird sightings are the comings and goings and the differences between living in Kew and living in Kew East.  My new home is roughly 2 kilometres from where I used to live and I did not expect the birds to be any different.  But they are.  When I arrived in late April, I often saw Crimson Rosellas.  I haven't seen one here for months, and I look forward to their return.  Eastern Rosellas remain however, and I see them more often than I did at my former home in Kew.  In April, May and June I saw black cockies, but I haven't seen one since.  Welcome Swallows, which were here when I arrived, soon disappeared and re-appeared in September.  Musk Lorikeets were here in big numbers when I arrived.  When the eucalypts finished flowering profusely, the Musk Lorikeets disappeared.  I hope they come back.

Crested Pigeons are present, but not common here.  When I lived in Kew, Crested Pigeons arrived in the 1990's and I saw them every day.  I have not seen an Eastern Spinebill since I've returned.  They were never common, but, with effort, could be seen.  Little Wattlebirds are more common here than in Kew; I could see them there, but I never had them at home.  Here they are in my yard every day.  I'm sorry to say that Common Starlings live up to their name here.  They were not common at my previous address.  Silvereyes are not present here.  They used to be common in Kew, but were becoming rarer when I left.

This beautiful photo of a Spotted Pardalote was taken by my mate Ken Haines.  I missed them when I moved here, and first heard them in August.  With effort, I've seen them a few times, but they are rare.  When I used to live in Kew, I saw them often.

Surprisingly, neither corellas nor white cockies are as common here as they used to be in Kew.  Even more surprisingly, Galahs are much more common here.  I regularly see ducks, swamphens and moorhens on my north walk and irregularly Australian White Ibis and sometimes Eurasian Coots.

I found a Tawny Frogmouth in a street tree in September and he was present when I checked again in October.  I was surprised and delighted to see a Great Cormorant flying overhead in June, but I've seen them a few times since.  It was not as rare a sighting as I thought at the time.

If I want to add House Sparrow to my list (why would I?) I walk to the Kew Junction, where they like to hang around in the supermarket carpark.

The lack of small birds is the most disappointing thing.  No honeyeaters (apart from the aforementioned wattlebirds and Noisy Miners), no Silvereyes, no Willie Wagtails.  The only common small bird we have is the Brown Thornbill. If everyone would plant more dense undergrowth and we could have a concerted culling of Noisy Miners, and make sure cats were always indoors, some small birds might be able to return.

I can't pretend I don't miss the birds of North Warrandyte.  I particularly miss the fairywrens and the Grey Shrikethrush - now I must walk to Burke Road Billabong for these birds instead of enjoying them in my own yard. But at least I know they are there, within walking distance, and at home I have my own Brown Thornbills and Little Wattlebirds.  I am thankful for that.