W erribeewag-tales. A Fine Day at Royal Botanic Gardens SEPTEMBER 2016 PAGE 1

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1 SEPTEMBER 2016 A Fine Day at Royal Botanic Gardens Red Wattlebird Count for the Day: 41 Species Eastern Spinebill Winner Michele Mayne Photos: Dieter Bosnjakovic W erribeewag-tales Today our leader, Christine Shelley, treated us not only to warm, sunny spring weather but also to the interaction of three generations of Wagtails; herself, daughter Chloe and 10 week old baby Henry quite the perfect species! Some of the Melbourne based Wagtails met the Werribee bus at Gate A and everyone quickly slipped into the calm coolness, beneath tall trees. The atmosphere of this city oasis was thus relaxed and conducive to a good chat (Whitefronted). Interest was sparked when some Silvereyes were spotted feeding in a large, leafy tree from nectar dripping crimson flowers. Then the familiar calls of the Red Wattlebird and Grey Butcherbird were heard. Water birds were seen on the lake and later were found to be so familiar with humans that they were literally underfoot! The usually secretive Bell Miners showed themselves, so it was delightful to see their flashes of olive, orange and yellow amongst the eucalypts. We talked with a botanist who had grown and transplanted a lovely cluster of greenhood orchids. She had just removed the wire cage as the plant was now hardy enough to survive the waterbirds, who are known to nip off the young flowers. The wonders of the Royal Botanic Gardens continued at Guilfoyle's Volcano which had previously been constructed in 1876 as water storage for the Gardens. The varied colours, textures and careful planning of drought tolerant plants was impressive. My favourite was a South American Spiky Bottle Tree, whose trunk was covered in large spikes and the branches held pendulous avocado-like fruit. Lance spotted a distant Australian Hobby soaring high above us. It was suggested that it may be a Peregrine Falcon but after consideration, Iian decide that wings weren't broad enough and so, an Australian Hobby it was. I know that many of you will be keen to hear my culinary report, particularly as we were dining at the Lakeside Restaurant. The eel was served fresh and chilled in the outdoor area whilst an American visitor couldn't resist the club sandwiches AND the Devonshire Tea!! David and Dorothy were quick to photograph two Little Wattlebirds dining on the remains of the jam. Dieter's favourite was the raspberry tarts better ask him to elaborate! After a wonderful day, the bird count totalled 41. Congratulations to our winner, Michele. Many thanks Christine! Sue Seagull PAGE 1

2 BIRD LIST: ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, 6 SEPTEMBER 2016 Black Swan Maned Duck Pacific Black Duck Chestnut Teal Little Black Cormorant Great Cormorant Australasian Swamphen Dusky Moorhen Eurasian Coot Silver Gull Rock Dove Spotted Dove Shining Bronze Cuckoo Laughing Kookaburra Australian Hobby Galah Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Rainbow Lorikeet Superb Fairywren Eastern Spinebill Little Wattlebird Red Wattlebird Bell Miner Noisy Miner Spotted Pardalote White-browed Scrubwren Brown Thornbill Grey Butcherbird Australian Magpie Pied Currawong Willie Wagtail Grey Fantail Magpie-lark Little Raven Welcome Swallow Tree Martin Silvereye Common Myna Common Starling Common Blackbird House Sparrow IN-CAMERA: ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, 6 SEPTEMBER 2016 Photos: Helen Rowley Photo: Sue Boekel Thank you to those intrepid leaders who have volunteered their services to take outings next year. We still have a couple of months without outings so please consider stepping forward to lead us to a favourite birding spot. Bookings for the Council bus open next month, so it will be prudent to have our dates prepared in readiness to snaffle the luxury of a bus and driver. If you can help, please contact me at sueboekel@ hotmail.com BIRDLIFE WERRIBEE OUTINGS 2017 PAGE 2

3 ROVING WAGTAILS: BRITAIN AND IRELAND EXPLORER PART 3 Geraldine Kelly We woke to find ourselves at Stornaway, the main town on the Isle of Lewis, where we boarded coaches for our tour of ancient Lewis. We first visited the Callanish Standing Stones (Scotland s Stonehenge) followed by Dun Carloway Broch, a ruined, 100 BC fortification of Pict origin. Next we visited the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, a reconstructed settlement of traditional blackhouses.[ed. note: On Lewis, the term blackhouse, seems to have been used to distinguish the older blackhouses from some of the newer white-houses. They are a double wall dry-stone construction that is packed with earth and covered with a thatch roof.] Back to the ship for lunch and on to our next port, Shiant Islands, where we did another zodiac cruise watching thousands of seabirds while keeping our eyes open for White-tailed Sea-eagles but did not see any. Our next port of call was Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye for a visit to the Clan MacLeod castle and gardens. We had a guided tour of the castle before going out into the extensive gardens where we saw a mother Chaffinch feeding a fledgling. Late in the afternoon we walked up to Loch Scavaig. Then a zodiac cruise around the shoreline looking for wildlife but there was not much around. The next day we arrived at Canna Island where we had local guides show us around and explain how they lived on the almost treeless island. The only trees are in a protected woodland in the inland area. Here we saw a Common Sandpiper foraging on the rocky shore. We were also listening again for Corncrakes but all was quiet. In the afternoon we arrived at Tobermory on the Isle of Mull where we could visit a whisky distillery but we preferred the option of a strenuous walk through Aros Park, a natural wet forest, followed by a walk around Loch Ghurrabain. A wonderful day to finish off our adventure cruise. The next day we disembarked in Oban, Scotland and boarded a coach to Glasgow Airport to pick up our hire car to go across and down to Northumberland in England passing Loch Lomond on the way. Razorbill, Lunga Island Guillemot foreground, Razorbill behind Lunga Island Puffins, Lunga Island Stak Lee and Stak Amin. Home to the largest North Atlantic Guillemot colony PAGE 3

4 We have been on the road for four weeks now and feel that we have some news that may interest you birdos back home. However first things first we have been through the centre, spending some time in the MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs. Here we struck some very cold weather but we are now near Darwin where the temperature hovers between 28 to 32º C, which means we are now happier campers. Now for the birds; I won't bore you by listing everything I have seen but I will tell you about the highlights. My first significant find has been four Dusky Grasswrens in a gully off a ridge walk in Trephina Gorge in the eastern MacDonnells. I had been searching for them for days, so I was quite excited to finally find them. At Longreach Waterhole (north of Tennant Creek) we camped by the water's edge where for three days we lazed around with plenty of action right on our doorstep. Once a day, hundreds of pelicans would gather for their communal fishing by forming a tight knit group to herd the fish. Egrets, darters, bee-eaters and cormorants were also abundant At Elsey National Park I spotted my first new bird, a Pacific Baza. It was circling above the camp ground and I was able to get some reasonable photos. Our next stop was Edith Falls (part of Nitmiluk National Park otherwise known as Katherine Gorge). A short stroll from camp we spotted Masked Finch and then... Gouldian Finches! There was a colourful mix of males, females and juveniles. This was also a new bird for me. But sadly I missed out on Hooded Parrots in Pine Creek by about ten minutes. Just as we got out of the car with binoculars around our necks, a fellow birdwatcher spotted us and informed us that they had seen the parrots in a tree outside the post office in the water-gardens as advised by the book Where To Find Birds In Australia. Naturally we hurried over to find them gone. We spent about an hour in Pine Creek searching all the suggested places but to no avail. Oh well, maybe next time. We have just driven through the Litchfield National Park (just south of Darwin) on a remote 4 wheel drive track where we enjoyed escaping the tourists and school holiday crowds. We didn't see any new or special birds but we enjoyed the noisy Red-collared Lorikeets, Spangled Drongos and fruit bats all feasting on the blossoms above our camp site. We went to sleep at night listening to the screeching of Bush Stonecurlew and the howling of dingos. We will be heading to Kakadu next where I hope to find some key species but as Karen reminds me, it is not just about the birds we are also here to enjoy the bush and stunning scenery of Australia. OUR ROVING REPORTER: MADDIGAN TOUR Karen and Kevin Maddigan Pacific Bazza Dusky Grasswren Gouldian Finch Eastern Great Egrets PAGE 4

5 SRI LANKA REPORT JULY 2016 Openbill Stork Malabar Pied Hornbill Purple Heron It will not come as a surprise to many that Anna & I enjoy world travel. This year s major excursion was to Sri Lanka. We departed Melbourne mid July and travelled to Colombo via Kuala Lumpur. We didn t have any specific plans, just a few places on a piece of paper, and hoped the trip would evolve organically. Within 48 hours we had agreed to participate in our own tailored tour with our own car and driver. All the hotels were booked and park entrance fees paid, all we had to do was sit back and enjoy*. From Colombo we travelled south to Galle, where along the way we went on a boating safari, and started to see some significant birds like Purple Heron, and Green Imperial Pigeon. This excursion also showed us fish that clean your feet, and how cinnamon is harvested. After Galle we travelled to Bundala and Yala National Parks. Bundala gave us our first views of Asian Elephant plus many water birds. Yala gave us animals such as Boar, Jackal, Water Buffalo, and Mongoose, along with a list of over 50 birds. After the lowlands we headed into the mountains and went on an excursion at Horton Plains. This plateau is almost 2,000 metres high, and an area where we started to get Sri Lankan endemic species such as the Sri Lankan Scimitarbabbler, and Sri Lankan White-eye. The next destination was Adam s Peak where a Buddhist monastery sits atop a 2,000 metre peak. At this place I was happy to tick off Dull-blue Flycatcher and Orange Minivet. Anna got up at 2am to ascend to the monastery and see the sun rise. I was happy to sleep on, then bird around our lodgings. The final destination in part one was Sinharaja National Park, a place where 90% of the country s endemic species can be found. However due to wet weather we had to be happy with a much lower percentage. Our lodgings were birder friendly and we saw Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot, Layards Parakeet, and Sri Lankan Drongo amongst many other wonderful birds and reptiles. Part two will feature our time in Malaysia. *NB. The tour through Journey Escapes Colombo cost $300 per day for two persons. Most organised tours anywhere in the world can cost $350-$500 per day, per person, so we think this was very good value. Words and Photos: Iian Denham PAGE 5

6 Photo: David Jenkins Featured bird Dusky Woodswallow The Dusky Woodswallows have recently returned to the YouYangs Regional Park for their summer nesting season. We found them hunting for insects over the open paddocks near the Toynes Road entrance. This one stopped for a quick rest and a wing comfort stretch. THERE IS NO OCTOBER OUTING. NEXT OUTING IS: WESTERN TREATMENT PLANT IN NOVEMBER Due to the October Camp in the Swan Hill area there will be no organised October Outing for BirdLife Werribee. OCTOBER CAMP SWAN HILL AREA The dates for the camp this year will be: Sunday 9 October and conclude on Wednesday 12 October [3 nights]. The camp will be based at the Big 4 Riverside Swan Hill, 1 Monash Drive Swan Hill. Website: Contact Iian Denham for details. iidenham@yahoo.com 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 PAGE 6