FEBRUARY 2016 W erribeewag-tales Meandering in Melton Susan Myers The Werribee Wagtails first outing for 2016, led by Geraldine was to the Melton area including the attractive Toolern Creek Trail, Melton Botanic Gardens and Eynesbury Lake which provided some good birding spots on this pleasant summer s day. Whilst waiting at our first stop for the convoy from Werribee, some birders spotted Guinea Fowl in a front yard, while other members tried hard to find reasons for calling an executive meeting of the group. As no ideas were forthcoming, all meetings were called off in the short term. The convoy arrived proclaiming once again that travelling in convoy at peak hour is not a good idea. Perhaps it s time for each driver to come prepared with the directions that are forwarded before each trip. Walking north along the creek we observed Long-billed Corellas, Galahs, Red-browed Finches, Red Wattlebirds and Dusky Woodswallows. This is creekline grassy woodlands with remnant Blackwoods and large River Redgums in the creek bed. Eastern Grey Kangaroos were spotted enjoying the grassy areas. It was beautiful to watch three Wedge-tailed Eagles gliding over the area and to observe them roost in a tree together. Disturbed by the birders they took off with slow powerful wing beats until they were aloft where they gracefully disappeared on the thermals. Maned Duck Photos:Dieter Bosnjakovic We wandered along chatting and watching Red-rumped Parrots, Grey Count for the Day: 59 Species Fantails, Tree Martins, White-plumed Honeyeaters, New Holland Honeyeaters and Rainbow Lorikeets displaying their colours in a dead Winner: Blackwood. A Jacky Winter atop a large stump stayed for a while, as the Len Towerzey photographers clicked away. After negotiating our way through the township of Melton we parked at the Melton Botanic Gardens ready for morning tea and Mark s cake - an aptly named Hummingbird Cake. It was time to catch up with friends for the first time this year, next to a lake on the creek refreshed by recent rains. We observed Chestnut Teals, Eurasian Coots, Magpie-larks and some very vocal Australian Reed Warblers. The Melton Botanic Gardens have developed significantly since our last visit and the work of the Friends Group is evident in the condition of the garden plantings, mulching and the range of plants Dusky Woodswallow, juvenile including some from Western Australia like the attractive Fuchsia Gum (Eucalyptus forrestiana). These plants tolerate a dry climate and low water conditions. The wide variety of plants attracts a wide variety of birds in this oasis on the dry grassy plains of western Melbourne. The Friends have installed boxes for microbats to keep the mosquito populations down. Like the birds, the microbats are losing their habitats. They can eat up to 600 mosquitos an hour. On our way to the Friends nursery and shed we saw a variety of honeyeaters, Musk Lorikeets, native bees, House Sparrows, Willie Wagtails and Common Mynas PAGE 1
MEANDERING IN MELTON: CONT. Geraldine donned her gumboots with Jill from the Friends group and waded through the rush-filled creek for the Latham s Snipe Count. As well as flushing 11-12 Snipe we saw Purple Swamphen and a Kookaburra. Thanks to the Friends members who helped with this activity. The snipe numbers have increased since the last survey. Lunch was back by the lake where we had earlier enjoyed morning tea. After lunch we motored on to see the birds of Eynesbury Grey Box Forest and lake. The level in the lake was very low but there were plenty of birds. The weather was warming up and a group of Maned Ducks were snoozing in the shade. Little Pied Cormorants had two nests with young. Masked Lapwings, Straw-necked Ibis, Chestnut Teals, Australasian Grebes, Eurasian Coots, Black-fronted Dotterels and White-fronted Chats were all present. An Australian Crake came down to the water s edge as did a Little Grassbird often heard, rarely seen. Also rarely seen was a Freckled Duck swimming! Red-rumped Parrots and Superb Fairy-wrens flitted about. We gathered for the birdcount, the temperature was 31 deg and we were ready for home. The species count was 59, and Len who provided the chocolates also has the job for next month. Many thanks to Brian and Geraldine for the organisation and for donning her gumboots to walk through the snake-infested swamp. Jacky Winter BIRD LIST: MELTON AREA FEBRUARY 2016 Wedge-tailed Eagles Photos:Dorothy Jenkins Freckled Duck Maned Duck Pacific Black Duck Grey Teal Chestnut Teal Australasian Grebe Australian White Ibis Straw-necked Ibis White-faced Heron Little Pied Cormorant Australasian Darter Wedge-tailed Eagle Australian Crake Purple Swamphen Dusky Moorhen Eurasian Coot Masked Lapwing Black-fronted Dotterel Latham's Snipe Rock Dove Spotted Dove Crested Pigeon Laughing Kookaburra Galah Long-billed Corella Little Corella Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Rainbow Lorikeet Musk Lorikeet Crimson Rosella Eastern Rosella Red-rumped Parrot Superb Fairywren New Holland Honeyeater White-fronted Chat Red Wattlebird Noisy Miner White-plumed Honeyeater Striated Pardalote Yellow-rumped Thornbill Dusky Woodswallow Australian Magpie Black-faced Cuckooshrike Rufous Whistler Willie Wagtail Grey Fantail Magpie-lark Little Raven Jacky Winter Welcome Swallow Tree Martin Australian Reed Warbler Little Grassbird Common Myna Common Starling Common Blackbird House Sparrow Red-browed Finch European Greenfinch PAGE 2
FROM OUR PATAGONIAN CORRESPONDENT Some Amazing Birds of Patagonia The Brown Hooded Gull has a very long scien0fic name meaning spo5ed wings. It appeared outside our hotel a>er a heavy sleet and snow storm. It was fossicking in the rubbish bin for food. The endemic Chilean Flamingo is large, 110-130 cms, has grey legs with pink joints and a bill that s 50% black. The bright plumage was pinker than greater flamingos and contrasted to the salt lake where they were feeding on algae and plankton. The Magellanic Penguins we saw had their own island, Magdalene Island. Amongst other birds there is a breeding colony of about 63,000 pairs, although the species is categorised as Near Threatened due to their vulnerability to habitat and food source loss, tourism and climate change. The Southern Crested Caracara is a majes0c bird that is the second largest species of falcon in the world. It was quite tame as it looked at its reflec0on on different parts of our vehicle as we were having lunch. Words and Photo: Susan Myers PAGE 3
WAGTAILS HELP SMASH A WORLD RECORD There are around 10,500 species of bird in the world. In 2008 a British couple, Ruth Miller and Alan Davies, managed to see 4,341 species in a single year - a record that lasted until 2015. Noah Stryker - a 28 year old (well he was at the start of the year) set out on the 1st of January to try to see 5,000 species in a single year. His plan was to start with a few days in Antarctica, three and a half months in South America, two months in Central and North America, a week and a half in Europe, two and a half months in Africa, three months in Asia and some Pacific islands, and three weeks in Australia at the end of the year - quite exhausting! Bird number 6000 (a Yellow-throated Honeyguide) came on Dec 29th, and the year ended with 6042 species On the 26th Oct in the Philippines Noah saw Flame-crowned Woodpecker - his 5,000th bird and mission accomplished. However - there was still lots to be seen so the target now became 6,000! In mid Dec Noah spent four days in Melbourne. After two days birding in the You Yangs, WTP, Great Ocean Rd and Brisbane Ranges with other birders he spent the night with me before we set off early on the morning of the 18th for Kamarooka (north of Bendigo). Iian and Mark had done a recce. a couple of days before and had seen some of the birds on Noah's list but today was forecast to be 40C (it got to 41 according to the car's thermometer) not an ideal birding day. We all met up at Mark's place and at our first stop - the Railway Dam in Elphinstone, had a brief look at the first target bird for the day - Little Eagle. On then to Kamarooka where we almost immediately found a male Gilbert's Whister - this was too easy! And then reality struck - in the heat nothing was moving and calling and the honeyeaters we needed were nowhere to be seen. We did manage to get Shy Heathwren and White-browed Babblers without too much difficulty, and at our morning tea stop we had good views of a male Red-capped Robin. We scanned many Woodswallows looking in vain for the Black-faced that Noah needed, before finally getting bird number six - Chestnutrumped Thornbill - around noon. And then it got harder as the heat built - the next new bird was to be a Crested Bellbird around 1530 at the Mia Mia track in Newstead. Normally these birds call a lot but are hard to see - we had spent a lot of time listening without luck and finally Iian spotted one panting on a tree branch - and not calling. Next target was the Powerful Owl - we had looked in vain by the Loddon River at the October Camp but this time we found it very easily perched very low down. Over to the plains then hoping for Black Falcon, but raptors were in short supply - however we did manage to track down the 9th new bird for the day - Brown Songlark. And that was to be it - we searched Macedon in vain for Flame Robin and Bassian Thrush (both of which were seen on our December outing) and had a quick search for Lewin's Rail in Gisborne, but alas we could not even raise a call from that. Noah finished the day on 5,886 birds and was off to Gippsland in the morning of what was supposed to be an even hotter day. Dave Torr UPDATE: MISSION FULFILLED After Melbourne Noah went to Tasmania, New Zealand and WA. He left WA on the morning of Dec 27th (after spending 19 hours birding on Christmas Day!) with his list up to 5,985. After a brief stop in Singapore Noah finished the year in NE India. Bird number 6,000 (a Yellowthroated Honeyguide) came on Dec 29th, and the year ended with 6,042 species. And someone is already trying to beat that total... A short video of the epic search is on Noah s website. http://noahstrycker.com Part way in (5:05) see the starring role of three gregarious local birders. Video Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9cvedjxaxc PAGE 4
FEBRUARY 2016 PHOTOS FROM MELTON OUTING Photos: Helen Rowley, Dorothy Jenkins TAILFUL TIMMY When we last left Timmy in the December Newsletter, he was just beginning to develop a new set of tail feathers. We took the time to revisit him recently and found that not only does he now have a fine respectable tail. But. He also has a family of little wrens to look after. Good on you, Timmy. Words and Photo: David Jenkins PAGE 5
YOU CLEVER LITTLE BIRD: WHITE-PLUMED HONEYEATER At the Werribee River Park, I was watching a pair of White-plumed Honeyeaters. Something about the extra intensity of their actions said, They have a nest somewhere. Finally I glimpsed them moving back and forth from a branch stretching over the river. Down at the end of some branchlets over the water, tightly fitted in among the leaves was their deliciously wound, spider web and grass globe. Far out over the water it was very safe from most prying eyes., and being in the leaves, it was nearly impossible to get a good view. So, I waited. And as the pair moved back and forth with food, I was able to get at least a look at the opening and occasionally as it all swung back and forth in the breeze a glimpse, of little heads inside. Words and Photos: David Jenkins Next, I discovered, or more accurately my observations became more detailed, and was amazed to see the clever bird had set the nest entrance in such a way that a leaf was being used as a trapdoor to conceal the opening. Here was a bird with a super sense of security. The older leaf lay perfectly over the nest opening and made it almost impossible to see there was a nest among the clump of leaves. She would fly in, push the leaf to one side, feed the young, and then on leaving she would pick the leaf up and place it back over the hole! Now you see me. Now you don t. Several days later the first of the brood had clambered out of the nest and was clinging tightly atop the nest. And while we were watching a second one also made its first tentative ventures out of the nest. PAGE 6
MEMBERS AMBLINGS AND ANECDOTES Sacred Kingfisher at the Creek. Len Towerzey has been following a pair of Sacred Kingfishers that have taken up summer residence in the Kororoit Creek. Here is a shot of one of them with a substantial meal. Balyang: With Geelong Field Naturalists Club Bird Group On the 28th of Jan - the day after severe storms and floods in Geelong - around ten Wagtails joined a similar number of members of the Geelong Field Naturalists Club Bird Group for their monthly outing. We met at Balyang - a familiar place for many of us from past Wagtails outings. Just as we gathered an incredibly close lightning strike sent us scurrying for our cars, where we sheltered for a few minutes until the storm passed over. We then set off under the expert leadership of Craig Morley along the side of the main lake, which had apparently been very low (and dry in parts) a couple of days earlier. As usual there were good numbers of cormorants in the trees and ducks on the lake. Highlights of the pre-morning tea walk included a couple of Nankeen Night Herons, three Latham's Snipe, a Collared Sparrowhawk and a pair of Blackfronted Dotterels with a small chick. After morning tea we walked down to the river, where as usual there were good numbers of Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants nesting alongside Australasian Darters. A small flock of Whitethroated Needletails were a highlight for the sharpeyed, whilst some of us glimpsed three Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flying over, and we also had distant views of a Brown Goshawk - alas no sign of the Grey Goshawk that was seen a couple of days previously. We finished at lunchtime as the rain started and I for one certainly enjoyed going out with this group and encourage all of you to try and get to some of their activities in future. Dave Torr PAGE 7
NEXT OUTING: WESTERN TREATMENT PLANT MARCH 1 2016 March is our Treatment Plant trip. Bookings are essential and we will try to car-pool as much as possible. Contact Dave Torr if you are going as a driver or passenger. Leave 8:30am from the usual Watton Street address. NOTE ON EDITORIAL POLICY The views and opinions expressed in the articles in the Werribee Wag-tales are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the editor, the editorial board or the publisher. Masthead Photo. Enjoy the Masthead photo of our signature bird: the Willie Wagtail courtesy of Dorothy Jenkins WHAT BIRD IS THAT? Recently spotted at an outing in the Cheetham Wetlands There are no prizes for correct naming, just the satisfaction of knowing your birds. Good luck. BIRDLIFE WERRIBEE CONTACTS Email 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 Photo: Dave Torr Events Coordinator Position Vacant Newsletter David Jenkins E: birdsaspoetry@icloud.com PAGE 8