Birds in Ballarat 2013

Birds in Ballarat 2013 Volume1 Number 1 2014 Ian Ashton and Murray Grant Contents The Big Ballarat Bird Bash Ian Ashton & Murray Grant Top ten Ballarat birds for 2013 Helen O Donnell & Roger Thomas Bird List of all accepted records for 2013 100 species Every Month Roger Thomas Where to Watch Birds in Ballarat This report is aimed at increasing the knowledge of our districts birds and where best to see them. The first section covers an attempt to see as many bird species in the region in just one year. It all started after the 2012 Challenge Bird Count Day when the club collectively recorded 155 species. How many birds beyond that number could be found if you spent more time, this was the question posed by Ian Ashton & Murray Grant. They believed that around 200 species might be possible with some effort. Tim Hunt had completed very detailed surveys for the whole region using the Bird Atlas and some of his own methods, but this data was not easily accessed and not in a form that was readily available for bird watchers. Our aim is to give as much information about our local birds and in no way competes with Tim s extraordinary body of surveys. Many people have helped with information and records over the year and we would not have reached such a total without them. Firstly a special thanks to Roger Thomas for his enthusiasm for the project and his ability to know when and where to look. Helen O Donnell joined us on many outings and was with us when we added Cicadabird to the Ballarat list. Reliable reports of species some of which we missed entirely! Came from, in no particular order Ed Dunan, Barb Williams, Barb and David Kinlock, Ken Hammond John Gregurke Roger Macaulay, Monty Kirby, Gary Oliver, Wayne McGuire, David Coutts, Peter and Jenny Sedgwick, Allan Krzempek, Tim Hunt, Amanda Ashton, Trevor Hunt and the members of BirdLife Ballarat s monthly Field reports. A total of 222 Species were recorded during 2013 including one new species for the district and many rare and or elusive species All photographs and Artwork by Ian Ashton and Murray Grant except one photo of a Cicadabird by Jen Spry

Our recording area is centred at the Ballarat Airport and covers 40kms in every direction. At the extremity of the district we have Lake Goldsmith to the west The Wombat State Forest to the east. Talbot and Clunes, with swamps and forest lie to the North while The BirdLife Clarkesdale reserve and The Enfield forest lie towards the southern boundary. Lake Wendouree is close to the centre and it was here that we started our 2013 bird list. Among the first birds recorded was a very welcome Spotless Crake this is not a common species and was soon in first position of our top ten. Spotted Crake, Black-tailed Native Hens and two Intermediate Egrets again a very uncommon species were added before we moved to Winter Swamp. 5rtBaillon s Crake was our target and along with Red-kneed Dotterels and some more common species gave us a total of 67 species. We started to think about, what our ten best birds might be! Spotted Crake Baillon s Crake The next day we visited the Clunes swamps, Merin Merin and Middle swamp, Brown Quail were soon found but three Wood Sandpipers that we found before the New Year had gone from the fast drying swamp. We moved to Middle swamp and soon found a Pectoral Sandpiper (our new number 1!) and a good flock of Glossy Ibis. January was an amazing month as we added to our fast growing total, Murray recorded Two Square-tailed Kites from his house, an uncommon but regular visitor and many more common species lined up to be ticked off. Square-tailed Kite Bassian Thrush

There is a private block near the town of Clunes that has a very impressive bird list and we visited many times during the year. On the 14 th I visited the block with Iian Denham and Trevor Hunt and discovered a small flock of Budgerigars another candidate for the top ten! But it was while looking for Red-browed Treecreeper in the Wombat State Forest on the 16 th that we really hit the jackpot when we heard what we believed was a Cicadabird. We had very poor views of a possible female and intermittent calls of a male but it was all very frustrating. We were forced to wait until the 19 th before we could get back for a second look. This time in company with Helen and Amanda we got good views of both a male and female Cicadabird. After posting the sighting on Bird line a few birders made the trip on the 20 th & 21 st It was on the 21 st When eight birders gathered that not one but two males were seen 50 meters apart at the same time. This was a very unexpected record and to have three individuals recorded was fantastic. Sadly the few photos are not the best, the birds stayed high in the canopy and only showed for short spells. Male Cicadabird photo by Jen Spry photo Ian Ashton Clunes once again featured with a Red-capped Robin on the 30 th. Then in Talbot on the same day we recorded Peaceful Dove, Crested Bellbird Diamond Firetail and Square-tailed Kite. One bird we did miss was a male Satin Bowerbird. It had arrived during December 2012 in a private Invermay garden and was last seen in early march 2013 but having failed to find it early in January we heard no more reports until it was too late and had left! You can t get them all. By the end of January we had recorded a combined total of 160 species Rather than give a blow by blow account of every field trip and every bird we saw I will now concentrate on the rare or difficult species. Little Corella is an uncommon bird in the district although probably under recorded, Lake Learmonth had a mixed roost of both Corellas throughout February and also a massive flock of Pink-eared Ducks. For some time Learmonth was our Lake of choice as we added Black Falcon, Spotted Harrier and an immature White-bellied Sea Eagle. Roger Thomas saw a lone Banded Stilt and Murray Grant recorded our only Double-banded Plover for the year (Aprill14th). Learmonth also held Freckled Duck for most if not all of 2013 The Clunes Swamps were almost dry and it was not long before we ran out of wader spots. Banded Stilts were also reported from an almost dry Lake Goldsmith, Murray and I missed them entirely. As the year proceeded our list of What s left to see got ever smaller. We knew that some species are now extinct in the district and that some had only been recorded once or twice and deciding what to look for next became harder. For most of the year Birds seen by other observers numbered about 10 species, and as we clawed each one back others would appear! And so we constantly played catch up. As summer turned to autumn and the farmers burned their stubble, Raptors could be found looking for a precooked feed. The surprise return of Black Kites to the district was a welcome one.

On May2nd Murray, Helen and I watched a newly lighted stubble fire near Ulina and as if by magic Black Falcons, Black and Whistling Kites appeared from nowhere and put on a spectacular show. While we are on the subject of Raptors it has been a fantastic year. We recorded every species of Raptor on the Ballarat list except Letter-winged Kite. What was most interesting was that Black Kites and Spotted Harrier have been recorded regularly this year and in the case of the Kites in increasing numbers. During the early part of the year Square-tailed Kites were recorded from several locations and for a short time the same applied to Black Falcon. These four species are our most uncommon Raptors. As winter approached we had a limited number of species to chase. On the 10 th May Murray and I called into the Clunes Block and once again it came up trumps, White-fronted and Tawney Crowned Honeyeaters were both present. Tawney crowned had been reported from Mt Beckworth by Roger Thomas and latter we had them in Talbot. They stayed for some time feeding on the flowering Yellow Gums. Night birds are not commonly seen and we failed to put enough effort into finding them. We recorded Owlet nightjar in Barb & David Kinlocks Clunes Garden. We also recorded Swift Parrot there. A Tawny Frogmouth was delivered to our front door by friends and stayed around for some time. We recorded our only Powerful Owl at Clarkesdale during a mid-winter evening with David Coutts. Around this time Murray thought he saw Yellow Plumed Honeyeater at Mt Beckworth but did not count it. It was just one of those years and on the 12 th Sep we had our Yellow-plumed in Barb & David Kinlocks garden. Noisy Friarbirds have been recorded a few times but a two week old report of one at Sorenson s Rd Talbot was a little old. Barb Williams had given us the report but she could find no trace, sight or sound. Murray and I thought it was worth a quick look and as we got out of the car on the 9 th Sep it was calling constantly and gave good views. Having ticked it off we strolled down the road, on our return the bird had stopped calling and was not seen again. It just goes to show if you don t look you won t find and even then there might only be a small window of opportunity. Roger Thomas reported a Black-eared Cuckoo at Mt Beckworth on Sept 21 st but it was not until the 27 th that Murray and I eventually saw it. It led us on a merry dance for some time but we were very happy to get this species in the district. Tawny Frogmouth Niosey Friarbird Black-eared Cuckoo White-eared Honeyeater Reports of Gull-billed and Caspian Terns from Burrumbeet led to several visits and on the 17 th Sept both were on the list Lake Goldsmith and the possibility of migratory waders was high on our list of places to visit and on the 4 th Oct we recorded Curlew Sandpiper and a Ruddy Turnstone, only the second record of this species in the recording area. It was drying out fast and as the Clunes swamps were failing to fill and attract waders this was our last hope and in fact our last new waders. November and we seemed to be running out of time and so the Wombat called once again for our attention. Olive Whistler was a priority, Rose robin according to Roger was a given! But are attention was drawn to the return of the Cicadabird and most excitingly a nest. It was not until Jan2014 that we saw young but they had gone from being a new bird for the district to becoming a new breeding species for our district. Rose Robin was seen eventually but the Olive Whistler remained elusive until Jan2014! Blue-faced Honeyeater are pretty much resident in the Clunes /Talbot area but we failed to find them until December after a tip off from David and Barb Kinlock, This was our last species our combined 210 th.

In the end I saw 208 species, Murray 209 and a combined total of 210. 12 species seen by others gave us 222 for 2013. Murray saw Double-banded Plover and Scarlet Honeyeater that I missed by being out of the district, in fact I was watching Scarlet Honeyeaters in Queensland when I read about the Clarkesdale bird on Birdline! I saw a Barn Owl on my way home from Ballarat one night, a lucky sighting the only one I saw that Murray missed. Murray and Ian s Top Ten Best Birds At the start of this quest it was always our aim to not only record as many bird species as is possible but also find those more elusive and uncommon species. We decided to have a top ten of those species we observed. The species that we only heard i.e. Powerful Owl have not made this list. The words rare or uncommon in this instance mean for our district and not Victoria or Australia as a whole. The candidates as seen by Ian and Murray Brown Quail, Fork-tailed Swift, Pied Cormorant, Intermediate Egret, Square-tailed Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Black Kite, Grey Goshawk, Spotted Harrier, Black Falcon, Spotless Crake, Ruddy Turnstone, Pectoral Sandpiper, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Budgerigar, Black-eared Cuckoo, Red-browed Treecreeper, Striated Fieldwren, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, White-fronted Honeyeater Scarlet Honeyeater, Tawny-crowned honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Cicadabird, Crested Bellbird and Rose Robin. Species seen by other Observers but again not included in our list. Plumed Whistling-Duck, White-throated Nightjar, Lewin s Rail, Banded Stilt, Satin Bowerbird, Leaden Flycatcher, Pink Robin and Song Thrush. All these species are noteworthy in the district, some like the introduced Song Thrush have not been recorded for many years and were thought by some to be extinct in the recording area. Others only inhabit certain areas and are nowhere common in the district i.e. Rose Robin and Crested Bellbird. Others are rarely looked for like the Striated Fieldwren. So our top ten birds for 2013 are 1 Cicadabird A New and exciting find that has returned for a second summer and has bred. 2 Scarlet Honeyeater only recorded four times the first was in 2012 followed by three records this year. 3 Ruddy Turnstone Only the second record of this coastal migrant. 4 Pectoral Sandpiper Always exciting to find and very few records in our district. 5 White-fronted Honeyeater. A very rare visitor from the Mallee 6 Noisy Friarbird - Rare visitor mainly found in the more north-easterly parts of Victoria. 7 Black-eared Cuckoo Not recorded in the district for many years. 8 Budgerigar - very occasional visitor most often to the more northerly parts of the recording area. 9 Fork-tailed Swift Only seen during the summer and not every year 10 Spotless Crake The rarest of our Crakes The last three could be 8 Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Rare visitor from Heathland North of Maryborough 9 Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Rare Visitor from the Mallee 10 Brown Quail first noted breeding record for the district

ROGER S 2013 I was glad to join in with the Ballarat Bird Bash 2013. The project motivated me to get out more than I otherwise would have, so that was good. I ended up with 188 species for the year. Probably the best thing for me was keeping a monthly list. We all started off well in January, with my total being 131. The highest total for a month was 152 in December, with the annual Bird Count assisting there. 106 was the lowest, in June. A visit to Clunes or Beckworth helped me to get higher totals, although I still managed more than 100 without northern visits in April and August. July was the only month I didn't add a bird to my year's total. Here are a few interesting aspects of local birdlife in 2013, from my perspective. I had just three sightings of Brush Bronzewing, all at Ditchfield Bushland Reserve on the Yarrowee. Little Black Cormorants, which are sometimes absent locally, were seen in eleven months. The same applies to White-necked Heron. Both Brown Goshawk and Collared Sparrowhawk were seen infrequently, with a few more Sparrowhawk observations. The Brown Goshawk was surprisingly scarce as far as I was concerned. I spotted Freckled Ducks in eight months, Pink-eared Ducks in nine, and Chestnut Teal in six. I missed Buffrumped Thornbills in November and December. The Tawny Frogmouth was seen just twice. Eastern Spinebills were spotted for 12 months, along with White-naped, White-eared and Brown-headed Honeyeaters. The Pied Currawong was another 12-month bird too, along with Little Grassbird and Welcome Swallow. I saw more Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters for the year than I did Varied Sittellas, which was of concern as far as the Sittellas were concerned. They were surprisingly scarce. Crested Shrike-tits were also seen less often than expected, with sightings in just six months. On the other hand, Common Myna was seen in five months, and Rose Robin was noted in September, October, November and December, the same as Black Kite. My top ten for the year were Cicadabird, Scarlet Honeyeater, Black-eared Cuckoo, Spotted Harrier, Whitefronted Honeyeater, Banded Stilt, Square-tailed Kite, Intermediate Egret, Leaden Flycatcher and Gull-billed Tern. Roger Thomas. Helens top 10 birds in alphabetical order: Black Falcon Brush Bronzewing Cicadabird Painted Button quail Red browed Treecreeper Rose Robin Scarlet Honeyeater Spotted Harrier Spotted Quail thrush White bellied Sea Eagle I felt privileged to have been included in the search for birds in the 40Km radius of Ballarat with Ian and Murray. There were days when I couldn't go out because of other commitments but was happy with the total number of birds that I saw in the year of 2013. When looking through my list of top 10 birds I noticed that 4 of the birds were seen at the Wombat State Forest, this was not surprising seeing that is where we get some special birds and it is one of my favorite bird watching areas. Also I had 3 raptors these of course included my favorite the Spotted Harrier. It was an exciting time doing all of the bird watching in our area especially when the swamps and lakes were full of water. Helen O Donnell.

The Best Places to see birds within 40Klm s of Ballarat Lake Wendouree Ducks, Crakes and Rails, Terns and Raptors, Herons and Ibis You just never know what will turn up. The area around Fairy land walking west to Convent Corner should yield 40+ species Winter Swamp if conditions are right this swamp is fantastic. Much the same birds as Lake Wendouree but a bit more attractive to Herons and Spoonbills plus you will probably have the place to yourself! Lake Learmonth This Lake can hold large numbers of Ducks with 2/3000 Pink-eared Ducks at times in 2013/14. Large numbers of coots can also be seen. Birds of prey can be good, in 2013 we recorded Kestrel, Hobby, Brown, Black and Peregrine Falcons. Spotted Harrier, Whistling Kite and White-breasted Sea Eagles. Little Corella can be seen at times. Lake Burrumbeet This Lake is big and as such a bit daunting but good birding can be found at several places. Access can be gained through the caravan park on the old Western Hwy. It is also possible to travel from the Western Hwy right along the Western Shore in dry conditions and with a little ground clearance. Many interesting species can be seen including Pied Cormorant, Gull-billed and Caspian Terns and White-bellied Sea Eagle. Large numbers of Pelicans have also been counted. If the water is low the lake can prove attractive to migratory waders. Lake Goldsmith Right on the edge of our recording. 10,000 Coots were recorded in December 2012, it held none in December 2013, it was dry. In 2013 we recorded Curlew Sandpiper and only the second ever Ruddy Turnstone for the district. Over the years it has produced several rare waders and can be covered in birds. Brolga have nested and can often be seen if there is water. Ditchfield Lane although we did not visited that often in 2013 it remains a good birding place close to town. Satin Flycatcher and Brush Bronzewing among its many delights. Creswick Forest A wide range of species can be found around the first creek crossing on Petticoat Rd and Slaty Creek picknick ground and its walking tracks. Bassian Thrush, Satin Flycatchers, Sacred Kingfisher. There is also the chance of Grey Goshawk Painted Button-Quail. Mt Beckworth this can be an excellent place in spring but holds birds all year. It is a fairly large area but the main entrance track leading to the dam and the Clunes end of Beckworth are probably the best places. Speckled Warbler, White-bellied Cuckoo Shrike, Woodswallows, Rainbow Bee-eaters Hooded Robin and Cuckoos can all be found. Clunes The private block has been a fantastic place over the years and is rich in birdlife, but in recent times it has suffered like elsewhere through lack of rain. The block has been slowly recovering and in 2013 we recorded, Budgerigar, Diamond Firetail, Red-capped Robin, White-fronted Honeyeater, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater and of course the blocks signature bird Painted Honeyeater. Please note that permission is required to enter. Most birds including those mentioned can be seen in the Dunach conservation reserve adjacent to the block. In the township of Clunes Blue-faced Honeyeaters can be found, they can also be highly elusive! Merin Merin and Middle Swamps Swamps can be exciting places to visit and you get to use your much loved gumboots! In December 2012 Merin Merin was looking great and we had high expectations. Sadly it was effectively dry by January 2013. Middle Swamp still held water. And we recorded Glossy Ibis Pectoral Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Greenshank and Red-necked Stint among many other species. Both Swamps are worth the effort needed for a visit. Painted Snipe, Little Curlew and Wood Sandpiper have been recorded in the past. There is always a chance of Cockatiel or White-breasted Woodswallow. When the water levels are right Merin Merin especially is a truly spectacular.

Talbot Another place to look for Blue-faced Honeyeaters is around the Talbot Township. Sorenson s Rd is where we spent most of our time especially the Talbot end near a small Dam. Square-tailed Kite, Painted Button-quail, Crested Bellbird, Peaceful Dove Niosey Friarbird and Tawnycrowned Honeyeaters. Many more common species were seen also. This is Tim Hunt s survey area and he recorded Pink Robin and White-throated Nightjar among others. The Wombat State Forest This is our best wet forest and is home to several species you are unlikely to see elsewhere in our district. Red-browed Treecreeper, Rose Robin, Olive Whistler. Spotted Quail-thrush and now possibly a population of Cicadabirds. You are unlikely to see more than 30 species in a single visit and it can get busy with 4Wds on the weekend so try and go on a week day. We also recorded a Wombat! The best areas to start your search are the creek crossings on McGee s and Cairns Rd. The gardens and picknick grounds at the Moorabool Reservoir can hold Scarlet Robin, Crescent Honeyeater and large numbers of Great-crested Grebes on the water. Newlyn Reservoir we did not visit more than a couple of times but this reservoir can hold water when other places are dry. Pelican, Grebes, Ducks and Yellow-billed Spoonbill. Waders such as Stilts and Black-fronted Dotterels can be found. Cosgrove Reservoir We failed to get here in 2013 but I have made a few visits since and as well as the water, you can walk back through very pleasant bushland (6.8Klm s return) to St Georges Lake near Creswick. Herons, Cormorants and Ducks. Sacred Kingfisher Cuckoos and Crested Shrike tit. Creswick Calembeen Park although this is a very busy place on hot summer days, it is a pleasant place for a stroll mid-week or on cooler days. Latham s Snipe Australian Spotted Crake Little Grass bird Darter and Herons. Creswick has a population of Rainbow Lorikeets and this is a good place to see them Landcare Walk This is another area that we failed to visit in 2013. Honeyeaters, Raptors and possibly Song Thrush (Roger used to hear them at the nearby Creswick Nursery that is now closed) I recorded Pink Robin and Crescent Honeyeater in 2014. St Georges Lake Some water birds and bush birds in suitable areas. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos like the pines and Bassian Thrush the muddy areas near the boardwalk. This is a good place for Rufous Fantail, Bassian Thrush, Cuckoos and Sacred Kingfisher in the summer months. Again best avoided on hot summer weekends and evenings. Open Farmland Many species inhabit or frequent open farm land. Gorse although an introduced weed is habitat to Striated Fieldwrens. Horsefields Bushlark is another little observed species in our area. Farmland north of Creswick around the Clunes swamps can be good. Other species include Red-rumped Parrot, Brown Songlark and Raptors. In 2013 Spotted Harriers could be seen between Ballarat and Clunes. Autumn is the time that farmers burn their stubble fields and these fires can attract interesting raptors including Black Falcon and Black Kite. BirdLife Clarkesdale This is a great place for a day s birding. Spring is especially good but birds can be found year round. Approximately 150 species have been recorded since Clarkesdale was formed. This was the only place we heard Powerful Owl and the white form of Grey Goshawk is often present. Blue winged Parrots can be seen throughout spring and summer and lucky visitors might find Painted Honeyeaters. The dams usually hold a few ducks, Grebes and Ibis. A Scarlet Honeyeater was seen in October 2013. A Spotless Crake in 2013 and White bellied Sea Eagle in 2012 are among the more unusual recent records. Close by Mt Erip and Happy Valley Crossing are also worth visiting. Both these places are probably under watched.

The Enfield Forest This is a place that we failed to visit in 2013. Traditionally it has not held species that can t be found elsewhere. Numbers and diversity of both species and individuals have failed to attract regular birding. Spotted quail Thrush can be found along with more common species. This area would make a good local patch for someone, no doubt there are treasures to be found. Mounts Warrenheip and Buninyong These two places are good to take visitors to Ballarat especially Buninyong, as well as some common birds there is a good chance of Koala. Lal Lal Falls and Surrounds. This is an attractive area probably best in spring, a good range of species can be found around the falls and the old industrial areas. Species seen by Ian Ashton and Murray Grant during 2013 Stubble Quail Brown Quail Musk Duck Freckled Duck Black Swan Australian Shelduck Australian Wood Duck Pink eared Duck Australasian Shoveler Grey Teal Chestnut Teal Pacific Black Duck Hardhead Blue billed Duck Australasian Grebe Hoary headed Grebe Great Crested Grebe Rock Dove * Spotted Dove * Common Bronzewing Brush Bronzewing Crested Pigeon Peaceful Dove Tawny Frogmouth Australian Owlet nightjar White throated Needletail Fork tailed Swift Australasian Darter Little Pied Cormorant Great Cormorant Little Black Cormorant Pied Cormorant Australian Pelican White necked Heron Eastern Great Egret Intermediate Egret Cattle Egret White faced Heron Nankeen Night Heron Glossy Ibis Australian White Ibis Straw necked Ibis Yellow billed Spoonbill Black shouldered Kite Square tailed Kite White bellied Sea Eagle Whistling Kite Black Kite Brown Goshawk Collared Sparrowhawk Grey Goshawk Spotted Harrier Swamp Harrier Wedge tailed Eagle Little Eagle Nankeen Kestrel Brown Falcon Australian Hobby Black Falcon Peregrine Falcon Brolga Purple Swamphen Buff banded Rail R Thomas Baillon's Crake Australian Spotted Crake Spotless Crake Black tailed Native hen Dusky Moorhen Eurasian Coot Black winged Stilt Red necked Avocet Red capped Plover Double banded Plover Black fronted Dotterel Red kneed Dotterel Banded Lapwing Masked Lapwing Latham's Snipe Common Greenshank Ruddy Turnstone Red necked Stint Pectoral Sandpiper Sharp tailed Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper Painted Button quail Gull billed Tern Caspian Tern Whiskered Tern Silver Gull Yellow tailed Black Cockatoo Gang gang Cockatoo Galah Long billed Corella Little Corella Sulphur crested Cockatoo Rainbow Lorikeet Musk Lorikeet Little Lorikeet Purple crowned Lorikeet Crimson Rosella Eastern Rosella Swift Parrot Red rumped Parrot Budgerigar Blue winged Parrot Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo Black eared Cuckoo R T Shining Bronze Cuckoo Pallid Cuckoo Fan tailed Cuckoo Powerful Owl Eastern Barn Owl Laughing Kookaburra Sacred Kingfisher Rainbow Bee eater White throated Treecreeper Red browed Treecreeper Brown Treecreeper Superb Fairy wren White browed Scrubwren Striated Fieldwren Speckled Warbler Weebill R Thomas Striated Thornbill Yellow Thornbill Yellow rumped Thornbill Buff rumped Thornbill Brown Thornbill Southern Whiteface Spotted Pardalote Striated Pardalote Eastern Spinebill Yellow faced Honeyeater White eared Honeyeater Yellow tufted Honeyeater Yellow plumed Honey Fuscous Honeyeater White plumed Honeyeater White fronted Honeyeater Noisy Miner Red Wattlebird White fronted Chat Scarlet Honeyeater Tawny crowned Honeyeater Crescent Honeyeater New Holland Honeyeater Black chinned Honeyeater Brown headed Honeyeater White naped Honeyeater Blue faced Honeyeater

Noisy Friarbird Painted Honeyeater White browed Babbler Spotted Quail thrush Varied Sittella Black faced Cuckoo shrike White bellied Cuckoo shrike Cicadabird White winged Triller Crested Shrike tit Golden Whistler Rufous Whistler Grey Shrike thrush Crested Bellbird Olive backed Oriole Masked Woodswallow White browed Woodswallow Dusky Woodswallow Grey Butcherbird Australian Magpie Pied Currawong Grey Currawong Rufous Fantail Grey Fantail Willie Wagtail Australian Raven Little Raven Satin Flycatcher Restless Flycatcher Magpie lark White winged Chough Jacky winter Scarlet Robin Red capped Robin Flame Robin Rose Robin Hooded Robin Eastern Yellow Robin Horsfield's Bushlark Eurasian Skylark Golden headed Cisticola Australian Reed Warbler Little Grassbird Rufous Songlark Brown Songlark Silvereye Welcome Swallow Fairy Martin Tree Martin Bassian Thrush Common Blackbird * Common Starling * Common Myna * Mistletoebird Red browed Finch Diamond Firetail House Sparrow * Australasian Pipit European Goldfinch * Common Greenfinch * The following species also made the overall list Plumed Whistling-Duck Roger Macaulay Northern Mallard Roger Thomas White-throated Nightjar Tim Hunt Lewin's Rail Monty Kirby Banded Stilt Gary Oliver Roger Thomas Satin Bowerbird Allan Krzempek Leaden Flycatcher Tim Hunt, Roger Thomas Pink Robin Tim Hunt Song Thrush Monty Kirby A deceased Little Button-quail was found by Roger Thomas, even dead birds count! A few species missed in2013 have been recorded in the district during the early months of 2014 the most satisfying was Olive Whistler seen by Ian, Murray and Helen back in January. Ian, Helen and Roger eventually got Double-banded Dotterel Ian recorded a Pink Robin in Creswick. The Fussell St Raptor viewing area has now recorded 15 species of raptor including a White-bellied Sea Eagle (April 2014)! The facilities manager Murray Grant declined to say when the next raptor would be arriving! Needless to say we have not stopped birding. I have downsized to 10klms around Allendale, Murray has been paying special attention to the birds of his Fussell St garden. Helen and Roger are continuing with district and monthly lists.