september 2015 w erribeewag-tales - birdlifedirect.birdlife.org.au/.../documents/wer-2015-09.pdf ·...
TRANSCRIPT
SEPTEMBER 2015
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The sun beamed down convincingly on the sizeable group, which gathered at our first birding spot of the day at Truganina Park, near the Hill of 100 Steps. The air was bright and still, and there was a promise of warmth to come. In response to this the birds were zipping around busily. Calling, singing, chasing, quarrelling, they were a lively presence, entertaining us while we waited. Particularly amusing were two bold, handsome magpies, which approached us in the carpark for hand-outs, unsuccessfully, of course. The Watton Street crowd arrived, adding to the smiling faces of birders eager to go forth into the fair weather to accumulate sightings for what would be a very healthy bird list. Unusually the weather was stereotypically spring-like, right on cue for the first day of September; this is not guaranteed to happen.
Truganina Park, established from what was once wasteland, has certainly flourished due to much tree and shrub planting and the construction of some small wetlands. It is now home to many bush birds, while the adjacent Laverton Creek hosts a wide selection of water-birds and waders. Among the trees and shrubbery of the park we saw a good selection, including a Spotted Pardalote, New Holland and White-plumed Honeyeaters, Galahs, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes, Superb Fairy-wrens and Crested Pigeons. One highlight here was the abundance of restless Singing Honeyeaters, which captivated our ears with their distinctive musical trills. The other was the Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo, which had been calling insistently for a while, no doubt from well before our arrival, and it would continue long after we left. As far as the birds were concerned spring was here, and it was time to find a mate.
At a small pond in the wetlands we scrutinised the reeds to find a Little Grassbird, whose mournful call persisted in our consciousness from
when we first heard it on our arrival at the park. Such a loud noise for such a little brown bird, and such an elusive creature – only the lucky, or skilful, were rewarded by a view. The rest of us made do with the Pacific Black Ducks, the Hardhead and the Eurasian Coot. No one was complaining though – the sun-sparkling water, the birds floating through the lush green grasses and reeds, made a very pretty picture to contemplate; so soothing for any frazzled nerves.
We now followed the walking and cycling path, part of a larger bayside trail, and after dodging a few cyclists we safely reached the banks of the lower Laverton Creek. This wide, shallow creek is popular with birds, as attested to by large flocks of feeding Red-necked Avocets and White-headed Stilts. Later we were to discover Banded Stilts embedded in these, but the brightness of the day, and the fact we were looking towards the sun here, made identification difficult. The creek was a perfect silvery mirror, which reflected dazzling light into our binoculars, meaning that some birds appeared simply as silhouettes….
Wagtails Visit Altona by the Bay
Count for the Trip: 74 Species
Winner: Lance Rowley
Photos:Dorothy Jenkins
Royal Spoonbill
Pied Oystercatcher
Great Egret
Hoary-headed Grebe
W e r r i b e eWa g -Ta l e s
WERRIBEE WAG-TALES SEPTEMBER 2015
PAGE � 2
Nevertheless we saw some interesting birds, including a Great Egret, Hoary-headed Grebe, a Pink-eared Duck, a Common Greenshank, and some Crested Terns. One small bird on the opposite muddy bank, which could have been something like a dotterel, disappeared into the shadows of the concrete-pyloned bridge, and forever into anonymity; this is not an unusual occurrence for bird-watchers.
We were almost at the end of a trudge along the sandy track leading to the creek’s mouth, when our first Willie Wagtail graced the scene, bobbing up and down happily atop an old cyclone-wire fence. But how could your eyes focus just on birds when they were drawn to the vast panorama of the bay and its shores? The magnificent sweep of at least 180⁰ demands attention.
To our right the flat, marshy scrublands stretched all the way to the low headland of Point Cook and beyond our sight. The flatness was enlivened by a Swamp Harrier patrolling its territory, and by the balletic manoeuvres of distant Whiskered Terns
enjoying the insects, which were floating above a hidden swamp pool. Before us shimmered the
smooth, endless water of the bay, silvery with sunlight on a hazy aquamarine, which created the illusion of the far-off ships hanging in the air, as if in a mirage. No wind-churned waters to attract gannets today. Along the horizon, the fuzzy purple blocks of massive city towers formed an incongruous skyline, when viewed from this relatively unspoiled sanctuary on the shores of the same bay. Yet here were birds of amazing adaptability celebrating the day.
On the shore before us though, inside the protective curve of the enormous sandbank at the mouth of the creek, and on the mud-flats beyond, birds gathered at
the present low-tide in large numbers. More flocks of Red-necked Avocets and White-headed Stilts dominated, doubtless sheltering, we suspected, Banded Stilts. Now we spotted Pied Oystercatchers and Pacific Gulls, instantly eye-catching, as well as many ducks, grebes, herons and some cormorants. A highlight of the sandbank was a Curlew Sandpiper. It’s quite a spectacle to observe the masses of feeding birds scattered along the creek, the mud-flats and the farther shores towards the Norfolk Island Pine trimmed Altona Beach.
Prior to the final pre-lunch walk we renewed our energy with a satisfying morning tea, which included apple-slice cake from Kerry and a white chocolate and raspberry cake from Mark. Delicious! We all remembered at this time it was Shirley’s 80th birthday and sent her our best wishes, and we welcomed a travelling Queensland couple, Joanne and John Morris, as our guests for the day.
Soon André, our leader, had us driving to nearby Truganina Swamp. This is on the other side of the
Laverton Creek, a little upstream, so you would think it easy to find, but needing to navigate the suburban maze had a few of us momentarily lost.
Yet we all gathered again at the bird-filled pond near the gate, where we saw more Avocets and White-headed Stilts, and a lot more Pink-eared Ducks, among other species. On our walk towards the creek, the views were of encroaching domestic and industrial building and the straight line of the railway, which enclosed the remains of a once immense grassy-swampy floodplain. As a natural space in a growing city it seems most vulnerable. The highlights here were: the far-off Whistling Kite, one of the few raptors for the day, the hurried flight of a Latham’s Snipe, and a close-up view of a Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo from just the right angle, its gorgeous green, coppery feathers catching the sun….
ALTONA BY THE BAY CONTINUED
As a natural space in a growing city it seems most
vulnerable.
Singing Honeyeaters Photos: Dorothy Jenkins
Striated Fieldwren
WERRIBEE WAG-TALES SEPTEMBER 2015
PAGE �3
Lunch was close-by at the pleasant Apex Park beside the bay, where we continued to soak up the enduring sunshine. Now tempered by a gentle, though chilly breeze, which ruffled the sea into motion, we were reminded that the hold of spring on the first day of September was precarious. Dave had baked us a third delicious, very lemony lemon cake, which we all enjoyed. So much so, that the popular vote was that André should save his ever-desirable Tim Tams for another day. Then off we went to view the mouth of the creek from the opposite side; this brought us even closer to the feeding flocks near the sandbar, and we finally got a good look at some Banded Stilts and many others. We added Royal and Yellow-billed Spoonbills, a Little Egret and a large flight of Great Cormorants, which cruised over us to find a suitable feeding-place – too many dogs off leash here, perhaps? Some of us were entertained by the antics of a few Pied Oystercatchers, which were chasing one another around; they certainly believed spring was here.
Our last stop was the mouth of Kororoit Creek, where we took a short bicycle-dodging walk along the path from the ford. Although we did not add much new here, there were plenty of water-birds busily
doing their thing in the shallows near the ford. There were some great views of Red-kneed Dotterels on the muddy edges beneath the small mangrove trees, which line the banks. And the reliable resident Black-shouldered Kites made a welcome appearance, hovering effortlessly above the reed-beds upstream from the ford.
Now it was time for the final bird-count, and we were confirmed in our expectations; at 74 species, it was the highest total we had had for a long time, and the lucky chocolate-winning punter today was Lance Rowley.
Time to leave for home on a rare day bathed in sunshine from beginning to end. It would have been hard to find any one of us, who did not feel happy and satisfied, at having shared the pleasure of such a day in the realms of nature with the members of the Werribee Wagtails. We are all grateful to André for leading us, and to Len for contributing to the organisation, and as ever to the cake-makers. The tantalising prospect of Castlemaine, and a
different set of birds, now beckons for October. We shall indeed be most fortunate if we experience such a perfect-weather day as this one.
Christine She!ey
ALTONA BY THE BAY CONTINUED
Black Swan
Pink,eared Duck
Pacific Black Duck
Grey Teal
Chestnut Teal
Hardhead
Australasian Grebe
Hoary,headed Grebe
Australian White Ibis
Royal Spoonbill
Yellow,billed Spoonbill
Great Egret
White,faced Heron
Little Egret
Australian Pelican
Little Pied Cormorant
Little Black Cormorant
Australian Pied Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Black,shouldered Kite
Swamp Harrier
Whistling Kite
Purple Swamphen
Dusky Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Pied Oystercatcher
White,headed Stilt
Banded Stilt
Red,necked Avocet
Masked Lapwing
Red,kneed Dotterel
Red,capped Plover
Latham's Snipe
Common Greenshank
Red,necked Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Silver Gull
Pacific Gull
Greater Crested Tern
Whiskered Tern
Rock Dove
Spotted Dove
Crested Pigeon
Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo
Galah
Long,billed Corella
Sulphur,crested Cockatoo
Superb Fairywren
New Holland Honeyeater
White,fronted Chat
Little Wattlebird
Red Wattlebird
Singing Honeyeater
White,plumed Honeyeater
Spotted Pardalote
Australian Magpie
Black,faced Cuckooshrike
Willie Wagtail
Magpie,lark
Little Raven
Flame Robin
Eurasian Skylark
Welcome Swallow
Little Grassbird
Golden,headed Cisticola
Silvereye
Common Myna
Common Starling
Common Blackbird
House Sparrow
Red,browed Finch
Australian Pipit
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch
BIRD LIST: ALTONA SEPTEMBER 1ST 2015
WERRIBEE WAG-TALES SEPTEMBER 2015
PAGE � 4
We are now six weeks into our African Adventure having started in South Africa and zig,zagged through Botswana and Namibia. Botswana has been a wonderful place
to visit with friendly people everywhere we went. We have travelled through the Chobe National Park and along the Chobe River. The river cruise reminded us a lot of Kakadu in Australia, except for the Elephants, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, etc. Most of southern Africa is suffering
very dry conditions, so these wetland areas are a magnet for wildlife. After Chobe we went to Moremi National Park, then on to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
This place was incredibly dry, but still the wildlife hangs on. One morning we woke to find Lion footprints only metres from where we slept. A lion print cannot be mistaken. It looks like a cat's paw print but is the size of a saucer. The past two weeks we have travelled
through Namibia and stayed at the Etosha National Park, where wonderful encounters with Honey,badger and Rhinoceros finally came about. The landscapes while travelling through South West Namibia were spectacular with each one worthy of being on a postcard. Statistics: Birds 282 identified, 264 lifers, Mammals 46, Reptiles 6 [it is winter].
Iian Denham reporting "om Windhoek Namibia
FROM OUR AFRICAN SAFARI CORRESPONDENT
Kori Bustard
Double-banded Sandgrouse Bradfield’s Hornbill
WERRIBEE WAG-TALES SEPTEMBER 2015
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CALL FOR 2016 TUESDAY OUTING VOLUNTEERS.The lot of organising the weekday outing has fallen to me, and so I’m looking for both ideas and for people to lead the weekday outings. I hope you are able to offer your best location and help to arrange the details.Please send me a note at [email protected] and hopefully we can get the next year’s activities sorted out.If you have a place you’d like us to visit, let me know and we’ll try and find a leader. Thanks.
Month Place Leader Month Place Leader
Jan No Outing July
Feb Melton G Kelly August
Mar Treatment Plant D Torr September
April October Camp
May November Treatment Plant D Torr
June Werribee South December You Yangs D Jenkins
WERRIBEE WAG-TALES SEPTEMBER 2015
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We have been watching two young Wedge-tailed Eagles in a nest for 6 weeks.
Today - 2nd September 2015- we saw one roosting in a low tree, 200 meters before we reached the nest. When we reached the nest the other one was on its back on the ground. We carried him to the car and delivered it to
wildlife rescue. I had to be very careful of
the talons.
The wind may have blown them out of the nest a few days ago.
No broken bones. Dehydrated.
If alive tomorrow it will start on frozen rats, mice,
and rabbits. Update: Sadly, Jim
reported that efforts to save the bird were unsuccessful. Perhaps too dehydrated.
Editorial Blundering Owe an apology to Len Towerzey for incorrectly identifying his lovely photograph of a Buff-rumped Thornbill in the August edition.
Apologies Len, I should really have known better.
Editorial Speaking First of all here we are just on a year in the editor’s chair. Thanks to everyone who has enjoyed the newsletter,
and to all those who have taken time to contribute reports, photos, stories, or ideas for the content.
Appreciate also those who have been kind in their suggestions for ways to make the newsletter more reader friendly.
And thanks to all who have given me encouragement that they are enjoying the read.
Hopefully we can continue that way into the coming year.
Photo: Surong Gunn
Jim with the young
Wedgetailed Eagle.
FROM OUR BROKEN HILL CORRESPONDENT.
Buff-rumped Thornbill
Masthead Photo. Enjoy the Masthead photo of our signature bird: the Willie Wagtail courtesy of Michael Pratt
Photo: Len Towerzey
WERRIBEE WAG-TALES SEPTEMBER 2015
PAGE �7
Have you booked? Hurry up, should be a great time birding at Castlemaine.Details to be sent out to all those who’ve registered.Make your own accommodation bookings and if you haven’t yet emailed Iian Denham your intention to attend, please do so as soon as possible. [email protected]
Spring time in the Goldfields. Not to be missed.
NEXT OUTING: OCTOBER CAMP.
Email [email protected]
Website: birdlife.org.au/locations/birdlife-werribeePresident“Simply too awesome a responsibility for any mere human to fill.”
Secretary/Membership Helen Rowley
Treasurer Iian DenhamE:✉ [email protected]☎ 9379 9483
Bird Surveys Geraldine KellyE:✉ [email protected]☎
Newsletter/Calendar David JenkinsE:✉ [email protected]
BIRDLIFE WERRIBEE CONTACTS
Saturday 17 October
Sunday 18 October
Monday 19 October
Wednesday 21 October
Thursday 22 October
Friday 23 October
Saturday 24 October
Launch of Bird Week 2015
10.30 -11.30 am Melton Library and Learning Hub
From Eaglet to Eagle-A wedge tailed eagle is born in Melton-from nest to flight-Premiere Showing
Talk with video footage
Nora Peters Alex Newman
Light refreshments
Gould League Certificates and Bird Badges available for children
10am-12pm
Bird Walk for beginners
Front Lake Caroline Springs
1.30pm – 2.30pm Caroline Springs Library
From Eaglet to Eagle-A wedge tailed eagle is born in Melton-from nest to flight
Talk with video footage
Nora Peters
Light refreshments
Gould League Certificates and Bird Badges available for children
10.30am
Caroline Springs Library
Storytime
2.15pm -3pm Toolern Vale School with parents and friends
From Eaglet to Eagle-A wedge tailed eagle is born in Melton-from nest to flight
Talk with video footage
Nora Peters
Light refreshments
Gould League Certificates available for students
10.30am
Melton Library and Learning Hub
Storytime
6.30pm-7 pm Melton Library and Learning Hub
Victorian Museum specimens of owls and other birds and animals on display that can be touched
7-8pm Talk Owls from Harry Potter to Melton
Dr Bronwyn Isaac (Deakin University
Light refreshments
Gould League Certificates and Bird Badges available
10.30am
Caroline Springs Library
Storytime
7.30pm-8.30pm Spotlight Walk-creatures of the Night
Melton Valley Golf Course, 2 Melton Valley Drive Sunset 7.45.pm
BYO sturdy shoes and a torch-walking on gravel paths
Light refreshments
Gould League Certificates and Bird Badges available for children
10am to 12pm
Melton Botanic Garden
Creating a garden for birds-bird talk and walk
Geraldine Kelly (Werribee Wagtails)
Gould League Certificates and Bird Badges available Light refreshments
10.30 am Melton Library Storytime
10 am to 12pm
Eynesbury Discovery Centre
Bird talk and walk for beginners
Chris Lunardi (Eynesbury Resident and employed at Mt Rothwell )
Light refreshments
Gould League Certificates and Bird Badges available for children
RSVP essential for all events (email [email protected] or call Linda Bradburn on 9747 7200)
Melton Environment Group and Melton City Council
Celebrating Bird Week 2015