Shorebird survey

I’m missing my monthly WeBS count back in Norfolk but Dan has got us involved in some Hunter Bird Observers Club surveys instead. Yesterday it was the turn for the Kooragang dykes – a monthly shorebird survey along the banks of the Hunter river. This involved going out on a boat, ably crewed by Louise and Cyrus, with Jane as recorder and me making up the numbers. We had a successful survey, adding several waders to our trip list including: Marsh & Curlew Sandpiper, Great Knot and Sooty Oystercatcher, with Terek Sandpiper and Grey-tailed Tattler added immediately after. But the undoubted highlight of the morning was Common Sandpiper – a Hunter Valley (HBOC) tick! Later, on a separate snipe survey, we added Glossy Ibis and Black-tailed Godwit.

*The high tide roost for Grey-tailed Tattler and Terek Sandpiper* *– with a couple of Whimbrel as well*

Birding Newcastle & the Hunter

Jan16

*Osprey was an early bonus on our morning beach survey*

We arrived in Newcastle yesterday afternoon, ahead of a tropical cyclone which brought strong winds, torrential rain and spectacular thunderstorms. Fortunately the storm had moved through overnight and we awoke to a dry and warm morning – ready for our Stockton beach bird survey. After a leisurely pub lunch we spent the afternoon doing a spot of bush birding. We closed our trip list this evening on 155. With the weather next week forecast to be unpredictable at best our three day adventure to Broughton Island has unfortunately already been cancelled. We’re working on Plan B. Tomorrow is the monthly wader survey – hopefully add a couple more species.

*We had three species of tern on the beach – Australian (Gull-billed), Little and Caspian – with it’s enormous red bill*

*White-bellied Sea-Eagle – one of a handful seen*

*Red-rumped Parrot – seen at Braeside before heading to Melbourne airport*

A day at the poo ponds

Jan14

*View of one of the countless settling lagoons at Werribee with the You Yang range in the distance*

Yesterday, our last in Victoria before we fly to Newcastle later today, was spent at Werribee – possibly one of the best birding spots in the State, if not the whole of Australia. The Western Treatment Plant (or ‘poo ponds’) – the largest sewage treatment works in the country – covers approx 11,000 hectares and provides a haven for tens of thousands of birds, thanks to ample water and a variety of habitats and plants. The actual treatment facilities cover only a fraction of the site, surrounded by vast settling lagoons, home to nearly 300 bird species. Werribee is recognised as a wetland of international importance under the RAMSAR Convention. Unfortunately it’s the opposite side of the bay from Edithvale, where we are staying, and you have to drive through the centre of Melbourne to get to it – a round trip of three hours. But still well worth the effort. We were there from the earliest time we could collect the key from the Open Range Zoo till it closed at 4.00. We saw some great birds – both in terms of number and variety – and added 25 to our trip list. It’s impossible to do the site justice in a single visit but even with limited time available it never fails to impress. On this occasion the highlights included Brolga, ten species of duck, ten species of wader, seabirds and raptors. The story is better told in pictures.

*Brolga feeding on the vast grasslands of Werribee – a spectacular crane up to four and a half feet tall*

*A colourful mix of ducks including Pink-eared, Chestnut and Grey Teal and Australian Shelduck*

*Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was the default shore bird*

*Red-kneed Dotterel take some beating though*

*This Australian Pelican was pretending to be a ‘bush bird*‘

*Whiskered Tern were plentiful – though we did find a Common Tern contender* *(awaiting adjudication)*

*Star bird was this Pectoral Sandpiper which we relocated on Borrow Pit in the afternoon*

What a way to end our week in Victoria with Rob & Gi – great hosts, great food and lovely birds. Thank you…

The Prom

Jan13

*Emu seen on the recently created Prom Wildlife Walk near the old airfield*

We got back from our two day excursion to The Prom at lunchtime. During the time we were there we visited several of our old birding haunts, explored new areas and saw some great birds and mammals in the process. The trip list now stands at 96, with a couple of sightings still under review. Highlights included: Emu – always nice to see these huge birds inconspicuously going about their business, flocks of Needletails, more honeyeaters, Eastern Whipbird – found with my thermal imager before dawn this morning, Black-faced Wallabies, Roos and Wombat, Brown & Peregrine Falcon, a young Tiger Snake in the back garden, several parrot sp. including Gang-Gang and more besides. After lunch today we went in search of shore birds around the bay – found none but did add Musk Lorikeet to our list.

*A common enough species on The Prom but gorgeous nonetheless – Eastern Spinebill*

*Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo – easier to hear than see*

*An early morning Wombat – photographed through the windscreen – as it crossed the road*

*White-faced Heron plentiful around the coast*

*In amongst the numerous Rainbow Lorikeets … we found a few Musk Lorikeet*

Tomorrow – our last full day with Rob & Gi – we’ve got another treat in prospect – a visit to the gigantic Melbourne sewage works at Werribee. It’s an all day affair!

Hidden Grove to Hourigan

Jan11

*Plenty of Purple Swamphen at Hollow Grove on our morning walk*

Our morning walk was to Hollow Grove, a Melbourne suburban park of woodlands and wetlands connected by a network of tracks, bridges and boardwalks, where we finally found a few ‘bush birds’. These included Blackbird, House Sparrow and Goldfinch – I could have been in my Cromer garden – but also thornbill, scrub-wren and fantail. On one of the pools we watched an egret being bullied by a Willie Wagtail! A late morning transfer had us lunching at Rob & Gi’s place on Wilsons Promontory, over-looking the entrance to the National Park, across to Mount La Trobe and beyond. Afternoon walks to two tidal creeks were very pleasant but relatively unproductive.

*A Willie Wagtail bullies an egret off the pond and finally away altogether*

*Not our first views of Australian Spotted Crake but certainly our best*

*Highlight of the afternoon was a selection of Pacific Gulls – this juvenile was in less familiar plumage*

A few local spots

Jan10

*Common enough but a smart bird nonetheless – Straw-necked Ibis on a walk to Patterson River*

We had a busy schedule yesterday – visiting a few local birding spots, including Edithvale Wetlands Centre, enjoying a belated 70th birthday lunch with Peter & David and, in the afternoon, taking a ride out to the Dandenongs NP, around Ferntree Gully. We managed to see a few interesting birds including several ‘parrot’ species, Freckled & Pink-eared Duck, Swamp Harrier and Australian Crake – moving the trip list along to 49. Best bird for me was the Needletail (White-throated) briefly overhead in a flock of Welcome Swallow and Fairy Martin. Birding wasn’t helped by the continuing strong winds, but at least they’ve moved round to the south-west (straight from the Antarctic) with a resulting drop in temperature, down to a more acceptable 25 degrees. Today we’re off to ‘the Prom’.

*King Parrot around Grants Picnic Ground in the Dandenongs*

*Another regular species but a bit of an upgrade on our pigeons – this is Crested*

Finally arrived down-under

Jan9

*Sea-watching in style from Rob & Gi’s front room*

We finally arrived at Rob & Gi’s place in Melbourne at lunch-time yesterday (Friday) having set off from home in Cromer two days earlier. A long train journey followed by a four hour checking-in and two flights, including a six hour lay-over at Singapore, and we made it.. well almost! We were just heading for the exit at Melbourne airport when I realised I’d lost something – my wallet. Fortunately during the packing process I’d replaced the battery in my Apple tag so, via the airport WiFi, I was able to see it still sitting on the plane. It was quickly retrieved by very friendly and efficient Qantas staff. By the time we eventually got in the car the heat-wave was peaking – the outside thermometer reading 50 degrees on the drive home. A leisurely afternoon & evening was spent catching-up and watching the birds in the bay, including: Australasian Gannet, Short-tailed Shearwater, Crested Tern and the ubiquitous Silver Gull. The evening concluded with a spectacular sound & light show thunderstorm. Although this is strictly a family holiday the birding starts in earnest today!