W erribeewag-tales. You Yangs Excursion DECEMBER 2016

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1 W erribeewag-tales You Yangs Excursion The morning was cool and overcast as 28 birdos gathered at the You Yangs Visitor Centre carpark for the final outing of There were even a few blow-ins from the Geelong Field Naturalists Club Bird Group who were silly enough to endure a day with the Wagtails. With high hopes we set out for an amble around the tracks that lead from the carpark. Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo was heard but not seen, White-winged Chough were seen and heard and a Pied Currawong was spotted feeding its young. Returning to the carpark, an attempt was made to minimise the use of cars, so we set off in a convoy of 13 vehicles. The next highlight was the pair of at the morning tea stop, which thanks to Dave Torr pointing the way, were easily spotted. During much feasting on various home-made goodies some pretty serious discussion about the evils of sugar in the diet took place, while other more observant people spotted Buff-rumped Thornbill, Weebill and Brownheaded Honeyeater. Energised with sugar and caffeine, the convoy set off around the Great Circle Drive where our noble leader promised sightings of Mistletoebird and Scarlet Robin which we did indeed spot at our first stop. The male Scarlet Robin was observed in all his splendour, calling incessantly, perched in the top of a dead tree. Eastern Spinebill and a Nankeen Kestrel were also seen here. Driving on a bit further, a short walk in the eastern paddock revealed a Wedge-tailed Eagle (in the distance) and a Shining Bronze Cuckoo. However we did not spot any Diamond Firetail that our wise leader assured us were a possibility here. Common Bronzewing Photos: Len Towerzey Werribee Wag-tales Page 1

2 After lunch our convoy wound its way to the Western Plantation Kevin had obtained permission from the ranger to enter this area. After traversing some rough terrain and walking on to private property (thanks to Craig Morley for obtaining permission), the main bird we observed was the Rainbow Bee-eater. By now the afternoon was quite warm and so it was with some relief that we made our way back to the cars for the bird count and we had spotted 63 species. The correct guess was Christine s who in the time honoured Wagtail tradition gave all her chocolates away. Karen Maddigan Rufous Whistler: Female Buff-rumped Thornbill Red-capped Robin: Male Photos: Dieter Bosnjakovic Werribee Wag-tales Page 2

3 You Yangs Excursion: Bird List Maned Duck Pacific Black Duck Wedge-tailed Eagle Brown Goshawk Whistling Kite Common Bronzewing Brush Bronzewing Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo Shining Bronze Cuckoo Fan-tailed Cuckoo Laughing Kookaburra Rainbow Bee-eater Nankeen Kestrel Galah Long-billed Corella Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Red-rumped Parrot Crimson Rosella Eastern Rosella Purple-crowned Lorikeet Musk Lorikeet White-throated Treecreeper Superb Fairywren Eastern Spinebill New Holland Honeyeater Brown-headed Honeyeater Bird Count: 63 Species Winner: Christine Shelley White-naped Honeyeater Little Wattlebird Red Wattlebird Yellow-faced Honeyeater White-plumed Honeyeater Spotted Pardalote Striated Pardalote Speckled Warbler Weebill Brown Thornbill Buff-rumped Thornbill Yellow-rumped Thornbill Yellow Thornbill Striated Thornbill Australian Magpie Pied Currawong Black-faced Cuckooshrike Varied Sittella Rufous Whistler Grey Shrikethrush Olive-backed Oriole Willie Wagtail Grey Fantail Magpie-lark Little Raven Australian Raven White-winged Chough Eastern Yellow Robin Jacky Winter Scarlet Robin Red-capped Robin Welcome Swallow Silvereye Common Myna Common Blackbird Mistletoebird Best Wishes for the Festive Season To all Wagtails Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a very happy new year from the team of BirdLife Werribee Have a Good un! Werribee Wag-tales Page 3

4 You Yangs Excursion: Photos Photos: Helen Rowley Werribee Wag-tales Page 4

5 You Yangs Excursion: Photos Photo: Mike Pratt Pied Currawong Photo: Kevin Maddigan Nankeen Kestrel Werribee Wag-tales Page 5

6 The Wonders of Wagtails Len Towerzey sent these images of our favourite little bird hard at work down around his patch in the Kororoit Creek. Four young Wagtails in a nest is an awesome effort. Thanks for sharing Len. Werribee Wag-tales Page 6

7 Featured bird Black-shouldered Kite Young Black-shouldered Kite in training. Learning to take an offered mouse from an adult bird. Photo: David Jenkins Hard Work Rewarded with Recognition Friends of Lower Kororoit Creek has been recognised by Melbourne Water for its efforts to bring the bush into the city at Altona North. It received best community group award in recognition of its transformative efforts along the creek banks over the past 15 years. Our tireless worker, Len Towerzey is part of the group. Here is a link to the Star Weekly article. Well done to Len and the group. BIRDLIFE WERRIBEE CONTACTS werribee@birdlife.org.au Website: birdlife.org.au/locations/ birdlife-werribee President Dave Torr E: werribee@birdlife.org.au Secretary/Membership Helen Rowley E: blw.committee@gmail.com Treasurer Iian Denham E: iidenham@yahoo.com Bird Surveys Geraldine Kelly E: g-kelly2009@live.com Events Coordinator Sue Boekel E: sueboekel@hotmail.com Newsletter David Jenkins E: birdsaspoetry@icloud.com Werribee Wag-tales Page 7