Mornington Peninsula

Birdlife

Volume 6 Number 1 March 2017

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Welcome to the New Year of BirdLife Mornington Peninsula. I

hope you all had a great Christmas/New Year break.

We started the year with a function at The Briars sponsored

by the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery who at this

time have an exhibition of bird art at their Mornington

gallery. The Briars event entitled “Birds of a Feather”

featured BirdLife’s Sean Dooley who spoke on the beautiful

peninsula birdlife and their history.

We now have over 300 members in our branch. This is very

pleasing for our committee who have worked very hard to

provide a meaningful outings program and a sense of

belonging in the community in support of our birdlife.

We received a grant of $500 from the Bendigo Bank to

support the newsletter production. The cheque was

presented to us at a Dromana Life Saving Club function, and

their support is much appreciated.

In conclusion I hope to see you at our outings this year; we

have a good selection of birding sites to visit.

Max Burrows

Always check beachcast birds for bands

A Crested Tern found dead at Merricks Beach on 3 December

2016 carried a band which indicated that it had been banded

on Mud Islands, Port Phillip Bay by The Victorian Wader

Study Group on 13 December 2001. Information provided by

the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme (ABBBS).

For more information and reporting of bands:

https://www.environment.gov.au/science/bird-and-bat-

banding

Dennis Gosper, Balnarring

Contents 1. Branch news

4. Habitat for wildlife

5. Outings program and reports

9. Roosting cockatoo experiences

10. Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys

12. A quetzal quest

13. Observations

Satin Flycatcher, female, photographed

at Devilbend by Mark Lethlean

Branch news

2 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

Fight or Flight

The increased rarity of some birds across the Mornington

Peninsula has occurred in relatively recent times. We have

lost the grey-crowned babbler from our region, this bird was

widely distributed in earlier times, however it became lost

around the turn of the century. Three robins have recently

become very scarce, these iconic Australian flycatchers once

thrived in our midst but sadly now they are rarely recorded.

One of our tiniest birds the southern emu-wren now only

exists in small isolated localities clinging on to survival by a

thread.

The well-publicised beach bird the hooded plover is

vulnerable because of human beach usage and now has a

very strong protection group that monitors the breeding

cycle. This bird is the subject of a long term study by BirdLife

Australia and Friends of the Hooded Plover Group to try to

secure a long term future for this beautiful little bird.

Some birds are very secretive in their habits and therefore

are hard to evaluate. One of these is the Bassian thrush, a

bird similar in appearance to the well-known English thrush,

this bird is rarely recorded and due to its habits could

disappear without us even realising.

One reason for these rarities is the loss of habitat. Most of

these birds mentioned require natural bush and will not

adapt to human development methods and once the bush

has gone so are they. These birds are sometimes pushed into

smaller and smaller tracts of bush causing conflict with more

aggressive species and thus they struggle to survive.

Max Burrows, President, BirdLife Mornington Peninsula, The

Warbler, MPRG exhibition liftout

A great resource

Just been reading the Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

newsletter and wished to say that it's been a great resource

for Geoff Lacey and I in researching the peninsula's birds.

We've been compiling a paper on the (terrestrial) birds of

French Island and your group’s information is the only

recently published resource we can really compare the

islands birds against.

We aim to publish our paper in Australian Field Ornithology

sometime next year. I'll keep Mornington Peninsula birdlife

advised.

As they say 'keep up the great work!’

Martin O'Brien, Executive Officer Flora and Fauna

Guarantee Scientific Advisory Committee, Biodiversity

Division Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning

Contacting BirdLife Mornington Peninsula

President Max Burrows; 9789 0224

21 Moorhen Cres, Carrum Downs, Vic 3201

mornington@birdlife.org.au

www.birdlife.org.au/locations/birdlife-mornington-peninsula

Danny Vits and Sean Dooley at opening of Birds exhibition.

Photo by Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery

American visitors

One of our members, Graeme Horskins, brought an

American couple, Gregg and Kellie from Minnesota to the

Devilbend outing. An excellent morning's birding was had

and Kellie was the one who spotted the Crested Shrike-tit.

So many new birds for them.

After a lunch by the reservoir, I took them to The Briars and

we had a walk in the woodland area then a tour of the

homestead and its connection with Napoleon. I have just

received a card from Gregg and Kellie (via Graeme) and they

got ten "lifers" just at The Briars (including an eyeball-to-

eyeball meeting with an Emu).

They really enjoyed the day and thank all of us for a great

day and for our friendliness

David Ap-Thomas, Mt Eliza

Who am I

Thanks to all who responded to my request for thoughts on

the baby bird on page 7 of the December newsletter.

Samantha Greiner, Newsletter Editor BirdLife Hamilton

emailed: “Kirsty has rescued a Rock Dove! We had one

handed into us in 1999 as a squab, just funny down

feathers. He passed away this year aged 17.”

Newsletter contributions

Thanks for your fantastic articles and photos. Keep

sharing your sightings, observations, bird photos, daily

birding activities, surveys, tips on bird identification and

birding while travelling stories.

The newsletter is available on the BirdLife website a

month before hard copies are posted.

Send to Val Ford; 5981 1445 & fordandreid@gmail.com

Deadline for June edition: 1 May 2017

Earlier articles appreciated.

Branch news

March 2017 3

MEMBER PROFILE

Celia Browne

How I started birding

In early 1977, with both boys at school, I was casting around

for a hobby which would occupy my mind but leave me

available for a son with medical problems. The local paper

advertised two courses: “Creative Writing” and “Suburban

Bird Study”. The bird course with Ellen McCulloch started first

and the rest is history.

Ellen introduced us to birding and to amazing locations in the

suburbs - Yarran Dheran, Blackburn Lake, Wattle Park,

Sherbrook Forest, Maranoa Gardens, and Churchill National

Park. Then further afield; Yellingbo searching for Helmeted

Honeyeaters, camps at Wilsons Prom and the Little Desert.

Howard Jarman opened up the wonderful world of Banyule

Flats on the Yarra. To sit overlooking the swamp on a spring

morning, watching through the scope, Latham’s Snipe on far

muddy edges, is my idea of heaven.

Joining the Bird Observers Club led to many volunteering

roles in the shop at Nunawading. Much later to celebrate the

Bird Observers Club Centenary I organised “plant a forest”.

In May 2005, in cooperation with Banyule City Council,

Melbourne branch members planted 312 eucalypts, acacias,

tree violets, red gums alongside a creek at Banyule Flats,

thus forming a “flyway” from the swamp to the Yarra.

Survey organisation and coordination

Rabbit bait/Bird survey, in conjunction with Hans Brunner of

the Vermin & Noxious Weeds Destruction Board. At four sites

on the divide at Glenburn Whipbirds were commonly seen as

were Yellow Robins, Red-browed Finches, Blue Wrens,

Crimson Rosellas, Olive Whistlers, and Grey Shrike-thrushes.

Victorian Japanese Snipe Survey in conjunction with Fisheries

& Wildlife. My team (June Elmer, Joan Peters, Ted Tinning &

me) visited Banyule Flats every three weeks, plodding

through mud and briars, between cows, avoiding snakes,

from the native garden in the north towards the billabong in

the south, flushing snipe ahead of us. Sometimes as many as

thirty-five were tallied.

Other projects included the monthly survey of the birds of

“Yarrabridge” in the Yarra Valley 1983-85; survey of the

Birds of Koonung Creek, North Balwyn, and the three year

survey of the birds of Yarra Bend/Studley Park.

Birdwatching outings

I ran the Weekday Outings for five years. We visited the You

Yangs, Kurth Kiln, Cape Schanck, Westerfolds Park, Badger

Weir, “Killeavey” at Eltham, Greens Bush, “Yarrabridge” at

Woori Yallock, etc. Always popular were the “poo ponds” at

Werribee and Cheetham Salt Works.

Later I ran half-day “Wednesday Wanderings - Warrandyte to

Westgate”, exploring the many parks and reserves along the

River Yarra. There were many highlights - Powerful Owls,

Tawny Frogmouths, posing Darters, swimming wallabies,

echidnas, an occasional koala, lizards, a snake or two. My

favourite bird of Victoria, the Eastern Yellow Robin, was

sighted on many occasions but it was notable that, as we got

closer to the finishing line during drought years, their

numbers dropped dramatically.

Camps and trips

Purchasing a tent enabled me to camp with members at

exciting camps all over Victoria. Going further afield meant a

growing list of Victorian birds and memorable experiences.

My first experience of outback Australia was in 1986, the

Great Victoria Desert Trip led by wonderful Kevin Coate. A

Square-tailed Kite was enjoyed early one morning as we

“walked on”, Cinnamon Quail-thrushes were identified, as

were Crimson Chats, Red-throats and both Pied and Black

Honeyeaters, and my first White-winged Fairy-wren. We

searched unsuccessfully for Princess Parrots in the Valley of

the Winds, but did find Dusky Grasswrens at Simpson’s Gap.

At Kakadu and the Coburg Peninsula with Alan Mulder in

1988 we marvelled at Mangrove Gerygones and loved

Lemon-bellied Flycatchers.

In 1992 after an evening careering around a Hay paddock

with Phil Maher of Inland Bird Tours, eventually finding a

Plains Wanderer, we travelled the Strzelecki Track with Phil

and Trisha, enjoying Letter-winged Kites, Australian

Pratincole and Thick-billed Grasswrens. Then in 1995 The

Canning Stock Route and the Kimberley with Phil beckoned.

We found Princess Parrots near Lake Tobin and Black

Grasswrens at the Mitchell Falls.

With Kevin Coate, in 1998 it was the Anne Beadell Highway

and in 1999 the Rudall River, both producing more bird

encounters in the outback. Then in 2001 Lord Howe Island

where the list expanded yet again and I attempted to climb

Mount Gower!

Klaus Uhlenhut was another guide with whom I travelled

several times. To Iron Range in 2004 for Red-bellied Pitta,

Eclectus Parrot, a displaying Magnificent Riflebird; to “the

Tip” in 2007 for Oriental and Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo and

Red-bellied Pitta and Two Peoples Bay for Noisy Scrub-bird

and other West Australian “goodies”.

Favourite birding spots on the peninsula

The family property on Browne Street, McCrae.

Tootgarook Swamp, a five minute walk from my present

home in the Village Glen, where sightings of Australasian

Bittern are always a possibility.

My ambition

To increase my Aussie bird count to 650 - it has been stuck

at 648 far too long!

Habitat for wildlife

4 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

Fairy Terns at Rams Island

On 26 November, Amy Adams from BirdLife Australia and a

group of volunteers came to French Island to undertake

removal of a small patch of Hemichroa pentandra (Trailing

Jointweed) on the top of Rams Island. This was done with a

view to exposing the shell grit underneath so as to potentially

increase the nesting area suitable for Fairy Terns.

The visit was a first step in BirdLife Australia's new Fairy Tern

Monitoring Project covering Western Port and Port Phillip Bay.

The two breeding sites in Western Port are both on French

Island. Rams Island is the main site, and a second site on

Tortoise Head has been used on a few occasions.

Fairy Terns are a threatened species in Victoria and the

number of breeding pairs is estimated to be less than 150.

Habitat loss, human disturbance, nest inundation, predation

by birds such as the Silver Gull and Australian Raven, and

predation by domestic and feral animals are all contributing

to their decline.

The aims of the project are to monitor the birds and their

breeding success, record the ecological characteristics of key

sites, observe and evaluate threats to nesting sites and,

where appropriate, undertake remedial work to improve

breeding outcomes.

The project team is calling for volunteers to help monitor the

nesting colonies over the breeding season (September–

February). They are also keen to receive any historical or

current records of Fairy Terns within the study area. Contact

Amy Adams at amy.adams@birdlife.org.au or 9347 0757.

Geoff Lacey represents FOFI on the project's Steering

Committee, and a number of FOFI members have already

begun monitoring Rams Island. Eighteen Fairy Terns were

recorded on 25 November, plus 4 nests with 1 egg each, but

disappointingly there were no signs of either birds or nests a

week later.

Detailed records of the terns over four decades, provided by

FOFI and others, are summarised in Geoff Lacey and Martin

O'Brien, "Fairy Tern Breeding on French Island, Western Port,

Victoria", Australian Field Ornithology 32 (2015), 1–14

Shearwaters at Tortoise Head

David Nicholls is an authority on the migration patterns and

breeding habits of the Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus

tenuirostris), and we thank him for generously sharing his

knowledge with us over lunch on 26 November at Tortoise

Head and for introducing us to his colleague Sam.

We made a round trip of it, setting out from the Anchorage

on a fine sunny morning, where we were careful to disturb

the Sea-Eagle pair as little as possible, and returning through

the costal saltmarsh to Tankerton (see David's map).

David and his students at Chisholm TAFE studied the annual

variation in the size of shearwater chicks (pulli) on Tortoise

Head most years between 15 and 20 April from 1998 to

2014. The key finding was a significant and substantial

decline in the mass of the pulli over this period, the most

likely cause being the amount of food available to the parent

birds, namely Antarctic krill.

Satellite tracking first introduced in 1997 provided the

astonishing proof that shearwaters (both Short-tailed and

Sooty (P. griseus)) breeding in eastern and southern

Fairy Tern nest, Rams Island. Photo by Chris Chandler

Tortoise Head. Courtesy David Nicholls

Australia were foraging for krill in the Southern Ocean, flying

up to 15,000 km in a single round trip, at speeds of up to 88

km/hour.

The single pullus in each burrow is left unattended for days

at a time as the parents alternate their long trips with

shorter ones, but David notes that they "do come out of their

burrows at night and are assumed to learn the pattern of

stars in the night sky". By the time the chicks are ready to

depart they are generally heavier than the adults.

David's group FIRM (French Islanders Researching

Muttonbirds) also visited Tortoise Head up to three times a

year to remove African boxthorn. This noxious bush does

provide some protection for the nesting burrows, but adult

birds can be injured on the sharp thorns as they come in to

land. The planned Boxthorn removal at Tortoise Head by

Parks Victoria in spring 2016 has now been deferred until

next autumn.

Chris Chandler, Friends of French Island News, December

2016

The Friends of French Island is a group of volunteers who

meet monthly to support the work of the rangers of

French Island National Park. Activities include monitoring

the bird life and ecological changes of the island,

photography, weeding, planting and rubbish removal.

FOFI is a great way to discover this remote island in

Western Port, Victoria. We welcome new members.

Please contact the Secretary for more information:

secretary@fofi.org.au

Outings

March 2017 5

EVERYBODY’S WELCOME

Outings are held on the second Wednesday and third Sunday

of the month, except in January, and are cancelled on total

fire ban days.

Newcomers, beginners and visitors are welcome and

members will help you with the birds. Binoculars for casual

use are available on every outing. Bring lunch (optional) and

a folding chair for bird call and chat.

To ensure the health the safety of everyone at outings,

participants need to take responsibility for their personal

safety. To assist with this, the Committee provides the

following guidelines.

1. Wear name tag (write emergency contact name and

phone number on the reverse side)

2. Wear suitable footwear i.e. closed shoes or boots

3. For areas where snakes are likely, wear gaiters

4. Always carry items you may need e.g. water, snacks,

personal first aid kit, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, your

name and residential address and, if you have one, a mobile

phone with battery charged

5. Remain with the group at all times and advise leader or

"whip" if you intend to leave before the walk ends.

For more information about an outing contact Max Burrows

on 0429 947 893 or the leader listed.

Max Burrows, Outings Coordinator

Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Leader Phone

Wed 8 Mar 9.00 Blind Bight Coastal Park Meet 9.00 at car park opposite Fishermans Drive in Blind Bight

Road accessed from Baxter/Tooradin Road off Warneet Road.

Mel 143 C10

Susan Clark 5975 7409

Sun 19 Mar 10.00 Frankston Nature Conservation

Reserve

Meet 10.00 at carpark end of Jeremy Way. Enter Lawson Avenue

off Moorooduc Highway turn left into Water Way and then right

into Jeremy Way. Mel 102 F10

Neil Shelley 0438557178

Wed 12 Apr 9.30 Balbirooroo Wetlands, Balnarring Meet 9.30 at end of Civic Court near Balnarring Primary School.

Mel 193 D6

Danny Vits 0447046862

Sun 16 Apr 9.30 Langwarrin Flora & Fauna Reserve,

Langwarrin

Meet 9.30 at car park; enter via McClelland Drive south of North

Road. Mel 103 D10

Max Burrows 0429947893

Wed 10 May 9.30 AGM, The Briars Mt Martha Meet 9.30 at the visitors centre Nepean Highway. Bird walk,

morning tea, AGM followed by our speaker for the day Richard

Loyn on “Orange-bellied Parrots”. Mel 145 D11

Max Burrows 0429947893

Sun 21 May 9.30 Tyabb Bushland Reserve, Tyabb Meet 9.30 at reserve entrance. Take Baxter/Tooradin Road to

South Boundary Road and right into Woods Road to end, entrance

ahead. Mel 140 B8

Danny Vits 0447046862

Wed 14 Jun 9.30 Stony Creek Road, Red Hill Meet 9.30 at corner of Stony Creek Road and Mornington/Flinders

Road. Mel 190 D7

TBA

Sun 18 Jun 9.30 Point Leo Reserve, Point Leo Meet 9.30 at general store Point Leo Road off Frankston/Flinders

Road. Mel 257 C4

TBA

BONEO PARK, TOOTGAROOK WETLANDS

David Ap-Thomas: Wednesday 9 November

Species recorded: 46

On the morning of our mid-week outing, thirty-seven people

turned up to check out the delights of this private property.

The skies alternated between sunny/cloudy, but conditions

were good, as David Ap-Thomas led the way from the

Equestrian Centre. Crested Pigeons made an appearance,

and nesting Black-fronted Dotterels were sighted on a

planted island near the tractor-access roads. Swamp

Harriers, Nankeen Kestrel, and Black-shouldered Kites were

ever-present in the skies, making for spectacular sightings.

Nesting Black-shouldered Kites were found later, high in a

Swamp Paperbark thicket. We heard Crescent Honeyeaters,

but they didn’t show themselves. A wetland near the

Equestrian Centre hosted Pelicans, both ibises, Great Egret,

and a couple of Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage. A White-

faced Heron, Pied Cormorant and Black Cormorant made an

appearance, with a Black Swan and adolescent cygnets

present.

We saw Willie Wagtails and Grey Fantails, a lone European

Bird call at Tootgarook Wetlands. Photo by Con Duyvestyn

Goldfinch, a singing Eurasian Skylark, and a pair of Masked

Lapwings. One of the soaring Swamp Harriers was noted to

have a missing wing-feather, making for an interesting

outline.

Owners Cathy and Rob joined us, checking out the status of

weeds and birds as we walked and talked. Some of us

Outings

6 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

managed to find a couple of tiny pale-striped froglets in the

grass, which Max identified as Eastern Common Froglets. We

tried to photograph them, but they were adept at hiding well

in the grass!

We were enchanted by the Australian Reed-Warblers singing

to each other, with one appearing briefly near the top of the

reeds! We also heard Golden-headed Cisticolas and a Little

Grassbird calling.

As we headed for the Equestrian Centre and lunch, the wind

had picked up and it was clouding over a little, but the rain

didn’t appear. A group of Welcome Swallows sitting on the

horse-fences welcomed us back.

We had bird call with the total of forty-six species, a good

number for a lovely day in uplifting surroundings. Thanks to

David for leading the walk and many thanks to Rob and

Cathy for allowing us to share their property for the morning.

Pam Hearn, Mt Martha

WESTERN TREATMENT PLANT, WERRIBEE

John Barkla: Sunday 20 November

Species recorded:72

The annual trip to the Werribee Treatment Plant is one of the

highlights of the year. We usually get to see lots of waders

(and get told what each species is) and lots of ducks. The

outing on 20 November 2016 was somewhat different as

there were very few ducks to be seen. They are all in

Queensland and northern New South Wales breeding in the

marshes flooded by this year’s rains. There can be up to

60,000 Pink-eared Ducks at the farm but this year we did not

see one. It will be fantastic when they all return.

However there was plenty for our leader John Barkla to show

the thirty-two attendees on this outing. We started at Kirk

Point where the Red-necked Phalarope was supposed to be

but it didn’t turn up. We had lots of cormorants and Red-

necked Stints instead plus a lone Common Tern. A number of

birds along the fences and grassed area kept us looking and

they all turned out to be Eurasian Skylarks or White-fronted

Chats.

We moved into the farm proper and parked in an area

surrounded by empty ponds, most unusual. Golden-headed

Cisticolas called and occasionally perched high on the grasses

so you could admire the golden head of a male in breeding

plumage. Over the far side of one pond we could see many

Black Swans with cygnets plus lots of Australian Shelducks.

One eagle-eyed observer saw a group of Hoary-headed

Grebes and, almost certainly, a Blue-billed Duck who

“ducked” into the reeds when spotted. A Striated Fieldwren

posed and sang at the top of a reed long enough for

photographers to take a picture.

Meanwhile our leader was showing us a group of waders at

the edge of Port Phillip Bay. Red-necked Stints were very

numerous and most people were able to pick out the Curlew

Sandpipers and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. There were a

couple of other waders which we were told were Red Knots.

Many Silver Gulls, Pied Cormorants and a few Crested Terns

made up the mass of birds we were looking at. Then

Swamp Harriers at Tootgarook Wetlands; dark coloured with missing

wing-feather and light coloured. Photos by Pam Hearn

Searching for the only Red-necked Phalarope amongst a thousand or so

other shorebirds (found eventually with some expert assistance)!

Photo by Danny Vits

Striated Fieldwren at WTP. Photo by Pam Hearn

someone saw a tiny bird, white with black markings, among

the masses and there was the Red-necked Phalarope in non-

breeding plumage. It kept standing with its back to us with

its head tucked under its wing making it very difficult to see

clearly.

We then drove to the Borrow Pits, stopping at various places

on the way. Three Brolgas (two adults and a juvenile) took

off and flew past us. Later we were to see a number of other

Brolgas indicating that they now are breeding regulars at the

farm. A couple of Marsh Sandpipers were seen on one pond

and Fairy Martins flew around the culverts under the road.

We had lunch at the Borrow Pits surrounded by the calls of

Silvereyes, European Goldfinches and Yellow-rumped

Thornbills. A lone Red-capped Plover was briefly seen before

disappearing but the Purple Swamphens and Masked

Lapwings stayed around.

Outings

March 2017 7

After lunch we made for the coast and John showed us a

Common Sandpiper which, very obligingly stood in full view

on an outlet structure. A Musk Duck, a few Chestnut and

Grey Teals were seen along with hordes of Australian

Shelducks. Out to sea an Australasian Gannet was spotted.

Swamp Harriers, a Whistling Kite, Black Kites and a Brown

Falcon were the only birds of prey see on the day, a very

small number.

The outing finished at the pump station where the pine trees

were full of Zebra Finches, European Goldfinches, Common

Greenfinches and Yellow-rumped Thornbills. Fairy Martins

were busily renovating their “bottle” nests under the eaves of

the pumping station and some were feeding young in the

nest.

We recorded seventy-two species for the day including the

“special” bird, the Red-necked Phalarope. Thank you John

Barkla for leading us on another great day at Werribee WTP

and having the patience to show us and identify those

fascinating birds, the waders. Thanks also to Max Burrows for

organising the event. We all had a great day.

David Ap-Thomas, Mt Eliza

DEVILBEND RESERVE, TUERONG

Danny Vits: Wednesday 14 December

Species recorded: 51

This walk, led by Danny Vits, was a joint outing with BERG Mt

Martha. Some new members and two visitors from the USA

were also among the group of thirty-six. Before we started

David pointed to two Striated Pardalotes on the metal cross-

bar of a telegraph pole. These little birds were obviously

nesting in this hollow bar, as they were going in and out of

the pardalote-sized holes in it, sometimes with beaks full of

material.

This pleasant track, which had been recently mown, took us

along the raised bank between the reservoir proper and

Devilbend Creek, parallel with Derril Road. There were some

lovely thickets of white-flowering Kunzea and some Little

Grasstrees with flower spikes. We walked along a grassy

clearing, with bush on either side and water glimpses

through the trees. On the water were Black Swans, including

two cygnets, and a female Musk Duck busily spending more

time under the water than on it. We were surprised to see

one, and then two, elegant Caspian Terns making several

passes over the water. Also sighted were Straw-necked Ibis,

Masked Lapwing, Great Cormorant, Australian Pelican, Little

Pied Cormorant, White-faced Heron.

Raptors were Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel (good

views through David's telescope), Whistling Kite and Swamp

Harrier.

Our USA visitors were very taken with the colours of the

Crimson and Eastern Rosellas and the melodious call of the

Grey Shrike-thrush.

Danny worked hard trying to wrangle the long strung-out line

of birdwatchers but this did allow one end of the group to see

birds which the other end missed. These included Crested

Shrike-tit, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Finch, Dusky

Woodswallow, Striated and Brown Thornbill, White-browed

Common Tern. Photo by Danny Vits

Ready to start birding at Devilbend. Photo by Con Duyvestyn

On the track. Photo by Danny Vits

Scrubwren, Silvereye, Superb Fairy-wren, Black-faced

Cuckoo-shrike and Australian Reed-Warbler.

Plenty of calls from Eastern Spinebill, White-naped, Yellow-

faced, White-eared, Brown-headed and New Holland

Honeyeater, Grey Fantail (twisting and turning, as usual),

Spotted Pardalote, also the distinctive low hum of a Common

Bronzewing, the "chuk chuk" of the Eastern Yellow Robin and

the lovely whistles of Golden and Rufous Whistler.

Outings

8 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

At birdcall we recorded fifty-one species. This number was

itself a highlight given the low number of waterbirds. Some

of us then drove to the pleasant picnic area for lunch.

Susan Clark, Mornington

DUNNS CREEK ESTATE AND KANGERONG RESERVE, RED HILL

Hannah Stewart-Andrews: Sun 18 Dec

Species recorded: 53

With another year of birding on the Peninsula drawing to a

close, we assembled at Hannah and Roger’s Dunns Creek

Estate. Whilst we waited to go, the Noisy Miner clan in the

oak tree entertained us with their raucous behaviour.

Scanning the nearby farmland and dams, started the bird

count for the day with a selection of waterbirds. Then it was

time to sally forth. Hannah led us through their wetland and

wild wood, down the drive, on to McIlroys Road, then a sortie

into Kangerong Reserve.

While the species tally is impressive, the striking aspects of

the outing were firstly the number of birds calling. Grey

Fantails were in abundance and some were positively

deafening with their territorial calls. Grey Shrike-thrushes

sang out their melodies along with the Golden and Rufous

Whistlers. Brown-headed and White-naped Honeyeaters and

Striated Thornbills were picked up by their contact calls in

the canopy. Then to top it off, an Olive-backed Oriole was

heard in the distance and with a bit of searching, we got a

good viewing of it.

Secondly, breeding was still underway with an Eastern

Spinebill preparing its nest while a Grey Fantail was

incubating on her nest. Then a male Rufous Whistler

displayed his bobbing courting dance trying to attraction the

attention of the female who was busy feeding and just not

interested. Thirdly, while the sighting of one Rufous Fantail

will generate exclamations of delight, we were able to see

three pairs. Six Rufous Fantails at one locality merits an

unusual sighting report.

We made our way back to Dunns Creek Estate where

Christmas plates were shared. Roger welcomed us and gave

us a potted history of Dunns Creek. Max gave an “end-of-

year” wrap with a special mention of appreciation of the work

that Pam Hearn and David Ap-Thomas have done for the

branch. We had an inaugural raffle, first prize being three

bottles of generously donated Dunns Creek Estate’s finest

wine. Proceeds of the raffle went to boost our branch’s kitty.

After consuming the tasty fare provided by all, it was time to

extend best Christmas wishes and close out the activities for

the year.

Our thanks go to Hannah and Roger for their kind hospitality

in providing a venue for the Christmas breakup and to

Hannah for ably leading the outing. With a tally of fifty-three,

their property and adjacent Kangerong Reserve clearly

provides a mosaic of habitats that engenders great variety. A

real birding hotspot!

Larry Wakefield, Mt Martha

Silvereye at Devilbend. Photo by Tim Leeuwin

Hannah’s happy birding group. Photo by Danny Vits

Olive-backed Oriole, Kangerong Reserve.

One of six Rufous Fantails seen on the outing. Photos by Barry Castle

Separated by a large continent

March 2017 9

ROOSTING COCKATOO EXPERIENCES

A cacophony of calls one afternoon in mid-November took me

outside to see what was happening. A flock of over forty

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos was flying around the

neighbourhood, with a few ravens mixed in that I suspect

were trying to hunt the cockatoos away.

The following evening, well after sunset I again heard the

cockatoos calling and went outside to see them circling

around across the road and coming to roost in the very tops

of the stand of sugar gums there. It was quite windy so they

were being buffeted quite a bit. However they persisted and

finally all of them settled in the treetops. I suspect there

were between ten and twenty birds roosting. They looked

great silhouetted against the lovely hues of the evening sky.

This reminded me of the fantastic Palm Cockatoos that I saw

in Iron Range National Park a few months earlier. They would

also come to their roost trees around sunset, but the main

difference was that they perched on the dead branches. The

first one I saw was completely silhouetted against the

western sky, but it called and whistled while bobbing its head

and tapping its foot. Chris Tzaros proclaimed to the world in

Wingspan that the Palm Cockatoo was his new favourite bird

and Joseph Forshaw also described his “most exciting field

experience with parrots in Australia" as his first sighting of

Palm Cockatoos in Iron Range National Park. My experience

concurred with these two as I also had a fantastic time. I

endeavoured to go back to this site and try and get a photo

of these great birds.

However, there are no guarantees to finding birds as we all

know, and it took me another four trips (22km from my

camp) to get to take some photos of these Palm Cockatoos.

The first day I moved too quickly from my waiting position

and frightened them off and another day they didn’t come

close at all. I finally had to move into the bush and wait for a

few hours for them to return but the trips and waiting was

worth it.

One of the earlier birds I watched had broken off a small

stick. I am not sure if it was going to take it to a nest hollow

and break it up for drainage at the bottom as they are known

to do, use it as a drum stick, or it was just practicing

selecting sticks. It was great to see a range of actions from a

number of different individual cockatoos.

These birds are very impressive. The large crest is very

prominent but the massive bill is even more striking. The

bright crimson cheek patch is set off against the dark grey of

the rest of the plumage and can be variable in intensity of

colour and size of the skin patch. The feathers are black in

colour but have a coating of powder down that makes them

look a deep grey. The lower mandible can be covered by the

feathers around the face just as those of the yellow-tails that

carry the genus name Calyptorhynchus that means ‘covered

bill’.

Despite spending much time in the forest and surrounding

areas, I only saw the Palm Cockatoos at that one site apart

from the odd one flying overhead. They would have been

very hard to see if they didn’t have their regular roosting

areas. Separated by a large continent, the experiences with

the palmies and the yellow-tails share elements that make

both more memorable.

Rog Standen, Mt Eliza

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo

Palm Cockatoos. Photos by Rog Standen

Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys

10 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

LATE RETURN OF LATHAM’S SNIPE, SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS AND DUCKS TO ETP

27 November 2016: Sixty-nine bird species were logged of

which thirty-two were wetland dependant, (only four were

shorebirds), six were raptors and thirty-one were non-

wetland dependant. Bird diversity, particularly of wetland

species, is poor as are abundance levels. The conditions on

the Plant are good but the birds are elsewhere. This is also

reflected in the scarcity of highlights today. These included a

Caspian Tern. The juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle is still

hanging around and we logged our first Striated Pardalote

and Yellow-billed Spoonbills for many months. The number of

Latham’s Snipe has grown to four but these days the Plant

doesn’t offer the same extent of suitable habitat for this

species that it did in times past.

1 January 2017: Seventy-three bird species were logged of

which thirty-six were wetland dependant, (only seven were

shorebirds), six were raptors and thirty-one were non-

wetland dependant. Bird diversity, particularly of wetland

species, and abundance levels are rising. Highlights today

included the first Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (6) for this

summer season, very late arrivals, and the two Caspian

Terns and juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle are still hanging

around. A Collared Sparrowhawk that was chasing Swallows

provided some entertainment although I doubt the Swallows

enjoyed it.

22 January 2017: The quantity of water stored on the Plant

has decreased and three water-bodies have almost

completely dried whilst others, the SEHB, EHB6 and WEHB,

are currently holding moderately deep water, albeit shallower

than on last count three weeks ago. The Donut is now

virtually dry and all but the two top ponds in the Golden

Triangle are dry. It will need much more water if the upper

ponds are to stay wet.

Seventy bird species were logged of which thirty-seven were

wetland dependant, (only seven were shorebirds), five were

raptors and twenty-eight were non-wetland dependant.

Abundance levels of waterbirds has risen dramatically,

Superb Fairy-wren; male in breeding plumage at the ETP.

Photo by Diane Peters

Little Pied Cormorant at the ETP. Photo by Jack Parrington

One of several juvenile Fairy Martins at ETP. Photo by David Stabb

Black-winged Stilt juvenile on the Supernatant Holding Basins.

Photo by Mike Carter

notably Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Hardhead and

Eurasian Coot. Other highlights were three White-bellied

Sea-Eagles and two half-grown Black-winged Stilts, evidence

of successful breeding on the Plant.

Mike Carter, Mornington

Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys

March 2017 11

LATHAM’S SNIPE AT BANYAN

20 November 2016: Twenty-six species were recorded of

which nine are wetland-dependent or raptors. The continuing

scarcity of wetland birds locally is due to the presence of

extensive wetlands inland. No highlights.

27 December 2016: Thirty-five species were recorded of

which sixteen are wetland-dependent or raptors. Wetland

birds are increasing in variety and abundance. Three Stubble

Quail calling, Red-capped Plovers breeding and a Latham’s

Snipe were the highlights.

REED-WARBLERS AT BOGGY CREEK

20 November 2016: Twenty-one bird species (twelve of

which were wetland dependant) were logged here today.

Nineteen Australian Reed-Warblers was a minor highlight.

27 December 2016: Nineteen bird species (eleven of which

were wetland dependant or raptors) were logged.

BLACK-COCKATOOS AT TURF FARM

20 November 2016: Twenty-seven bird species were logged

of which thirteen were wetland dependant or raptors. A

Wedge-tailed Eagle and a White-bellied Sea-Eagle, were

seen, both juveniles, that may have been feeding on a calf

carcass.

27 December 2016: Twenty-three bird species were logged

of which only seven were wetland dependant or raptors. The

single highlight was two Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos that

flew west to east across the wetland.

BRONZE-CUCKOOS AT SERPENTINE

20 November 2016: No good wader feeding habitat available.

All sludge pans are full. Thirty species of birds were logged of

which twelve were wetland dependant or raptors. Waterfowl

are increasing. The highlight was two Shining Bronze-

Cuckoos that were very vocal and chasing each other around.

This species is very rare on the Plant but there is at least one

previous record.

27 December 2016: Still no good wader feeding habitat

available. Thirty-two species of birds were logged of which

fourteen were wetland dependant or raptors. Waterfowl

continue to increase. Blue-billed Ducks and Australasian

Grebes have returned after their spring exodus and Purple

Swamphens were seen here for the first time.

Mike Carter, Mornington

Edithvale Wetland bird hide

Is open on first and third Saturday and

every Sunday from 1 – 5pm.

Check out Friends of Edithvale Seaford Wetlands

Facebook page.

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo crossing the Turf Farm.

White-fronted Chats, adult male and juvenile at the Turf Farm wetland.

Photos by Alison Kuiter

Australasian Pipit at Turf Farm. Photo by David Stabb

Costa Rica tour 4-17 February 2016

12 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

A QUETZAL QUEST

“Gill, for the last time: it’s the Turquoise-browed Motmot!”

After I’d asked six times, the name finally took up residence

in my brain. I had some excuse. In thirteen days we saw 379

species of birds, all brand new to me.

My friend Patricia and I had been a little anxious about

joining ten British birdwatchers in Costa Rica. What would

they make of two Australian women lacking the True

Twitcher’s preparedness to stumble through snake-infested

forest at night on the off-chance of seeing a rare but dull

LBJ? We prefer our birds to be pretty and requiring only

modest discomfort to see them. Would they write us off as a

couple of dizzy dames? Would there be time for siestas after

predawn starts? Would there be swimming pools? Neither of

us had done a Naturetrek tour before. Naturetrek came

recommended by two highly experienced birdwatchers from

the Peninsula group, Liz and Peter Gower.

Our tour leader, Richard Bashford and his twelve intrepid

Britishers warmly welcomed us. Jehudi Hernandez, our Costa

Rican guide, was incredibly knowledgeable. He educated us

so skilfully we were hardly aware how much we were

learning.

One bird we had researched was the Resplendent Quetzal. As

I drooled over pictures on the internet, it struck me that this

glorious mountain dweller must be Central America’s answer

to New Guinea’s Birds of Paradise. It is the national bird of

Guatemala and I bet the neighbouring countries wish they’d

claimed it first. Our first stop was to take us into the

Talamanca Mountains in search of it.

That morning we arose from our warm beds in the dark and

left at 5.30am without breakfast. It was much colder than

one might expect just eleven degrees from the equator. We

stood by the roadside in grey light while Jehudi imitated a

Quetzal in love. Shivering, we strained eyes and ears.

Nothing.

After an hour, the prospect of breakfast and warmth began

to equal our longing for Quetzals. While driving back we

stopped to check with another group of birdos. Yes! They had

just glimpsed a male bird flying. We hurried out of our

minibus just as the Quetzal floated across to perch in full

view. Like a spotlight, morning sun lit his scarlet front and

metre-long emerald tail. Another flash of colour across the

hillside: a female this time! Jehudi identified a second male

calling from further up the hill. How lucky was this?

Not lucky enough, the kindly gods decreed. The male

launched himself above us, singing and zig-zagging in

display. Against blue sky, lit by rising sun, he resembled an

angel-come-firework. We were so stunned that none of us

had the presence of mind to photograph this rare event.

Neither did we a few moments later when the rival bird did

the same thing. We all exchanged glances and I swear there

were tears of awe in every eye.

Was the rest of the tour an anticlimax? No! We explored

cloud forests and tropical lowlands, dry grasslands and

mangroves. I wish I had space to list more, but will mention

a few close encounters: 40 species of hummingbirds, 7

species of owls including Tropical Screech Owl, Spectacled

Owls and Black-and-white Owls, 9 species of Woodpeckers, a

Collared Forest Falcon as well as 28 other raptor species,

Scarlet and Great Green Macaws plus hybrids, 12 species of

Acorn Woodpecker

Green Violetear. Photos by trip participants

Resplendent Quetzal. Photo by mallardg500

Scarlet and Great Green Macaws plus hybrids, 12 species of

Tanagers (favourites of mine, the colours!), Blue-throated

Toucanets, Fiery-billed and Collared Aracaris, Keel-billed and

Black Mandibled Toucans, 3 species of Honey-creepers, 3

species of Motmots, an American Pygmy Kingfisher (plus

another 3 species), Buff-throated Saltator (and another 3

species), 23 species of shorebirds and so much else.

We had some afternoons lazing by the pool while occasional

Howler Monkeys strolled by and fabulous birds flitted around.

As a result of this tour, Patricia has joined BirdLife Australia.

Although she has always been a keen naturalist (she’s an

environmental scientist) this experience heightened her

awareness of birds. It certainly added to my store of lifetime

highlights.

Gillian Barnett, Dromana

Observations

March 2017 13

INTERESTING SIGHTINGS

These reports, some from Birdline Victoria, are not authenticated records. Researchers are advised to check with the

observers before citing.

Please report your sightings, for example arrival and departure dates of migrants, to Val Ford: 5981 1445 or

fordandreid@gmail.com

Date Species Location Comments Observer

8.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Frankston South Heard in the vicinity of Sweetwater Creek. Lana Cumming

9.11.16 Eastern Curlew (150+) Tortoise Head, French Is. Highest number FOFI NP has seen for years at this location. Martin O'Brien et al

11.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Dromana Heard near my home in Scott Street. Same bird as last year? Noel Knight

15.11.16 Grey Currawong (1, brown form) Woods Reserve, Tuerong Looked like the browner SA, NT, WA form. Denis Goss

19.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Mt Martha Mobbed by the local birds in a friends garden. Jonathan Vaudrey

20.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Mt Martha Called repeatedly in bright moonlight at 5am. Wayne Taylor

20.11.16 Greater Sand Plover (1) Stockyard Point Seen on incoming high tide amongst hundreds of other birds. Brad White

20.11.16 Peaceful Dove (1) Moorooduc On side of freeway close to Eramosa Road; a likely escapee. Kevin Conlan

22.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Rye Heard and seen, close to street (Dundas) in a large tree. Ben Cullen

23.11.16 Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (1) Somers Feeding in an acquaintance’s garden. Per Danny Vits

24.11.16 Australasian Shoveler (3)

Blue-billed Duck (2)

Coolart, Somers Danny Vits

25.11.16 Eastern Koel (2) Grange Road Frankston Heard; one either side of Sweet Water Creek. Colin Mulvogue

27.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Mt Martha Heard. John Rawlins

29.11.16 Pied Oystercatcher (1)

Ruddy Turnstone (6)

St Andrews Beach On rock platform near Moana track. Karen Wootton

3.12.16 Latham’s Snipe (1) Mt Martha golf course Flushed from golf course dam. P Hearn & A Niedra

4.12.16 Red-necked Stint (10) Hastings Feeding in low-tide mud near jetty and Pelikan Société cafe. Debbie Lustig

4.12.16 Royal Spoonbill (1)

Rufous Whistler (1, m))

The Briars, Mt Martha An occasional visitor.

Calling non-stop without response!

Danny Vits

4.12.16 Powerful Owl (1) Buckleys Nature Con Res Perched three metres above ground; holding remains of prey. Dennis Gosper

5.12.16 Little Lorikeet (5) Dromana Seen in Williams Street. Kevin Conlan

9.12.16 Black Falcon (1) Rosebud Flying over Browns Road towards Rosebud treatment plant. Colin Mulvogue

10.12.16 Cape Barron Goose (6) Dromana At the small dam beside freeway where occasionally seen. Rosalba Catena

13.13.16 Eastern Koel (1) Frankston Heard for the first time this year. Neil Graham

13.12.16 Banded Lapwing (1) Rye ocean beach With a Masked Lapwing. Glenn Ehmke

14.12.16 Australian Raven (1) Capel Sound Heard at the Village Glen. Nancy Taylor

15.12.16 Eastern Koel (1) Mt Eliza Calling from near my home. David Ap-Thomas

16.12.16 Wedge-tailed Eagle (1)

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (2)

Boneo

Frankston

Flying over Tootgarook Swamp.

Flew over my car.

Rosalba Catena

18.12.16 Eastern Barn Owl (1) Capel Sound In a tree beside our villa at Village Glen. David Reid

18.12.16 Rufous Fantail (6) Red Hill McIlroys Road/Kangerong Reserve. Outing attendees

20.12.16 Tawny Frogmouth (4) Mt Eliza On balcony at Glen Shian Crescent at 4am. Per Max Burrows

26.12.16 Musk Lorikeet (20) Sorrento Feeding on Leucopogon parviflorus fruits. A new bird record. Jane Burke

Jan 2017 Powerful Owl (1) Main Ridge

Dromana

Rosebud

On Stephanie Rennick Walk, Two Bays Walk.

Lonsdale Street carpark, Two Bays Walk.

On Duells Road, right hand side, as it becomes dirt track.

Peter Meggyesy per

Malcolm Barrow

22.1.17 White-bellied Sea-Eagle (1,juv) Mt Martha Above Dominion Road. Clear view of short wedged tail with

subterminal brown band and underwing pattern.

Wayne Taylor

24.1.17 Arctic Jaeger (1) Near Mud Islands Seen from Queenscliff-Sorrento Ferry. C Macartney et al

29.1.17 Eastern Curlew (~60) French Island Seen at the Tortoise Head shorebird roost. Harry Saddler

1.2.17 Little Lorikeet (6) Mt Eliza Flying to Sugar Gums in the business college grounds. David Ap-Thomas

3.2.17 White-throated Needletail (30) Frankston North Flying low over our garden. Colin Mulvogue

7.2.17 White-necked Heron (2) Tootgarook wetland Flying overhead. David Ap-Thomas

Observations

14 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

Birding at the Village Glen

A nice bird for the Village

Sharp eyed walkers along Chinamans Creek during

November may have seen two feathery "blobs" high in a tree

in the middle of Cluster 18. Examination with binoculars

proved them to be an adult Tawny Frogmouth with a juvenile

huddled alongside. Although not a new bird for the village, it

is always pleasing to be able to view this nocturnal species

close up and at leisure. Probably the other adult frogmouth

wasn't too far away and would fly in at dusk with a tasty

moth or two for the youngster.

Recently I've been asked, "Where are the Purple

Swamphens? They aren't ripping into our

lawns/flowers/vegies". My guess is that they are in the

swamp which is holding quite a bit of water and where it is

easy to pull up reeds etc. for food. No doubt they will be back

in the autumn! There have been several sightings of more

tiny ducklings in the Village - both Pacific Blacks and Wood

Ducks.

Please keep your bird baths clean and topped up during the

coming hot months to attract birds to your gardens. A bird

bath located fairly close to bushes/trees will always attract

more birds than an isolated receptacle in the open where

there is no cover.

Barn Owl and enclosed courtyard ducks

On 18 December David Reid investigated a kerfuffle among

ravens in a street tree near his villa and was delighted to

discover that an Eastern Barn Owl was the cause of the

disturbance. Word quickly spread among birders in the

Village and the owl had several visitors during the day, with

Jeanette capturing a photo of the nocturnal species. The Barn

Owl is the most widespread land bird species in the world,

occurring on every continent except Antarctica but rarely

seen as it mainly hunts its prey in late evening or at night.

During Family Day activities on 4 December, a Pacific Black

Duck was discovered incubating in a waist-high nest in ivy in

the Hub's enclosed courtyard. This presented a problem!

Incubation is approximately thirty days so it was estimated

the eggs could hatch at the end of the year when the Village

is quiet. Ducklings cannot fly so two doors need to be opened

to let the family out so they can be led by the parent duck to

the Hub lake. All eight ducklings with the parent Pacific Black

Duck exited the courtyard, through the Hub, across the road

and safely to the lake on the morning of 27 December.

Black bird with large feet

During the first village bird walk of the year on 11 January,

thirteen resident birders identified forty-two species within

the village and over the swamp - an excellent tally for our

unique location. Raptors identified were Black-shouldered

Kite and the more commonly seen Swamp Harrier. Six

honeyeaters tallied were: Eastern Spinebill, Spiny-cheeked

Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird, Red Wattlebird, Crescent

Honeyeater and New Holland Honeyeater. Australian Reed-

Warblers were vocal along the creek and two lorikeet species

- Rainbow and Musk - were identified.

During the month Nancy received a frantic call for help;

Connie had discovered a frightened "black bird with large

feet" trapped at the back of her villa. Arriving with a tea-

towel and throwing it over the bird, Nancy was able to pick it

up and return it safely to Chinamans Creek whereupon it

immediately ran into the reeds. Connie's photo clearly shows

Eastern Barn Owl. Photo by Jeanette Marshall

Spotless Crake. Photo by Connie Gilchrist

the large feet and red eye which identify it as a Spotless

Crake, a usually very secretive bird of dense reed beds.

All in all, January was an interesting month for the birders of

the village. Another special bird was a Royal Spoonbill at the

golf course lake. As the swamp began to dry out we noticed

increasing numbers of Purple Swamphens fossicking in

gardens, rooting up grass and searching for such delicacies

as fleshy tomatoes in vegetable gardens!

Celia Browne, Capel Sound

Identifying bird calls

Graeme Chapman at graemechapman.com.au has a good

selection of Australian bird calls.

For Spotless Crake go to:

http://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/sounds.php?r=

&c=81&p=243&s=1362918900

Observations

March 2017 15

Feeding a cuckoo chick

I watched a pair of bedraggled Brown Thornbills trying to

keep up with the gastronomic demands of their Fan-tailed

Cuckoo chick. It is one of the most amazing yet ridiculous

things I’ve ever seen. How could they not realise that this

‘gigantor’ was not a genetic offspring? It wouldn’t surprise if

the chick’s final act before flying off was to consume both its

surrogate parents.

The chick barely moved for the hour I watched, but the pair

of adult thornbills worked continuously to deliver food every

three to five minutes. The adults’ feathers were dishevelled,

in part because they almost entered the chicks crop to feed it

and also because there was little time for preening.

Early in spring, huge numbers of adult Fan-tailed Cuckoos

arrive on the Peninsula with their distinctive calls. Their

offspring are often much harder to find. This chick made a

high frequency cheep that increased in frequency as the

parents approached to feed. It wasn’t a call that I had

previously recognised and was exceptionally difficult to

pinpoint. Even as I watched him/her continuously chirping, I

was sure the sound was coming from behind me.

The evolutionary trickery of Cuckoo brood parasitism is a

fascinating study. Fan-tailed Cuckoo eggs only require

thirteen days of incubation thus hatching earlier than the

host eggs which are removed by the chick. In addition to

thornbills, they are also reported to deposit eggs in

scrubwren, fairy-wren, fantail and less commonly honeyeater

nests.

Mark Lethlean, Red Hill

One of the luckiest chicks alive

I was walking down to Koonya West beach via the Hughes

Road access late yesterday evening, 21 January, and I saw

something I've never seen before.

There was a family with a dog coming up the ramp. They had

a Boxer and it was on leash. As I got closer I was shocked to

see a Hoodie chick running for its life along the steep gravel

track just metres in front of the dog as it was tugging on the

leash to get the chick.

I got the owner to stop immediately and the chick ran into

the scrub right at the red rip sign. I told them there was an

endangered, protected Hooded Plover chick their dog was

trying to eat and they just saw it and were really apologetic,

I think they were just oblivious.

No idea what to do, never in my life have seen a chick do

this, no idea where the chick was in the dune scrub or where

the family was I ran down to the beach expecting to see the

family nearby. They were nowhere to be seen. So I ran down

to the western end, 500m away, and the adults and other

chick were there. No idea if they would re-unite I had no clue

what to do. Amazingly as I watched the Hughes Rd end I saw

the chick come out of the dunes and run all the way back to

its parents.

I traced dog prints from Keating Av entrance (western

end) back to Hughes and they were all over the beach right

the way back so what must have happened is the chick got

separated at Keating Av by the dog then got chased all the

way up to where I saw it at Hughes Rd. I GPS’d a track on

the way back and it was 580m one way - a 1.2km round trip!

Brown Thornbill feeding Fan-tailed Cuckoo chick. Photo by Mark Lethlean

Path taken by Hooded Plover chick.

Hooded Plover chick’s 1.2 km round trip. Photos by Glenn Ehmke

If the dog was not on leash the chick would certainly be

dead. If the chick was any younger than it was it would

probably also have been eaten. The dog was absolutely

trying to get it. It was only about five metres in front of the

dog when I saw it.

I’ve never seen anything like it and that must be one of the

luckiest chicks alive!

Glenn Ehmke, BirdLife Australia

Observations

16 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

Birdbath birding

Had a walk through some of the new Devilbend access areas

on 22 December. Saw my first White-fronted Chats for the

Mornington Peninsula, a group of eight. There wasn’t much of

interest on the water other than a lone Musk Duck

Then found a brilliant little concrete water bath in an isolated

spot. Sat ten metres away and watched a huge variety of

birds flying in to drink and bath. Led by Grey Fantails, there

were Yellow-faced, White-naped, Brown-headed, and New

Holland Honeyeaters, Brown and Striated Thornbills, Spotted

Pardalotes, Red-browed Finches and Superb Fairy-wrens. All

within an hour.

I returned on 1 January and found that the birdbath was still

proving a ripper, even with the common species. The

highlight of this visit was female Satin Flycatcher.

Mark Lethlean, Red Hill

Golf course dam birding

We haven't been going up to the Mt Martha Golf Course dam

much, but when we do, we see a lot! Surprising when you

think there generally is a lack of waterbirds around here this

year.

The last couple of visits we've only seen one Latham's Snipe,

so maybe one has moved on? The Australasian Grebe seem

to be nesting for a second time. The female has been sitting

on her floating nest for ages, but we saw three young and

one egg this morning when she left the nest. There is a new

family of Pacific Black Ducks.

We saw a nesting pair of Common Bronzewings last week,

but they seem to have abandoned that. Nearby we saw one

on the ground collecting nesting material, so maybe they're

starting again somewhere else. I also spotted a white bird

flying with the Welcome Swallows. When it landed I saw it

was a white Welcome Swallow, but it still has the red

colouring on its head. We are still hearing and seeing just-

fledged Eastern Rosellas.

Pam Hearn & Andris Niedra, Mt Martha

BENDIGO BANK SUPPORTING BIRDLIFE

Bendigo Bank has kindly provided sponsorship for the

printing of this edition of the newsletter.

White-fronted Chat, female, at Devilbend.

Brown-headed Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater at Devilbend.

Photos by Mark Lethlean

Australasian Grebe nest with chicks and egg. Photo by Andris Niedra

Jingellic Camp

After Christmas and into the new year, about 40 BirdLife

members attended a camp led by David Ap-Thomas,

alongside the upper Murray River, on the Jeffries property

7km downstream of Jingellic.

Between them, the birders observed 118 bird species,

including Hardhead, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brown

Goshawk, Gang Gang Cockatoo, Red-browed Treecreeper,

White-throated Gerygone, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-

winged Triller, Leaden Flycatcher, Restless Flycatcher and

Dollarbird. Places visited included Woomargama National

Park and Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park.

Keith Stockwell, BirdLife Echuca Newsletter, Feb-April 2017

Observations

March 2017 17

Bush Stone-curlews in Cairns

On 16 September 2016, from our second floor balcony in

Cairns we were excited to look down and see a Bush Stone-

curlew standing in the hotel garden. Next, we noticed a

second adult sitting on some leaf litter. We then realised

there were two tiny striped chicks with the sitting adult. For

the rest of our stay we observed this little family moving

around a very small part of the garden.

One adult would half crouch down, the chicks would run

underneath, little legs would wiggle and then disappear up

into the feathers. The adult would then carefully lower itself

to the ground. The chicks waddled about, never very far from

the parent, sometimes plopping down like toddlers learning

to walk. Sometimes they would practise not being seen,

sitting very still, and stretching out on the ground. Their

camouflage was excellent, being near-invisible in the dried

leaves.

Once, a Spotted Dove came too close and the other adult

(the male, we assumed) rushed at it with neck and beak

extended. The dove retreated. When carefully parking our

car very close to the sitting adult, it stood up quickly and the

two chicks dropped out of the feathers and on to the ground.

The adult uttered a guttural hiss to warn us off. The chicks

crouched motionless where they landed.

We also saw the male approach the female and chicks and

regurgitate some food on to the ground. The chicks and

female quickly began pecking at the food offered.

Being able to observe these beautifully marked and ever-

watchful birds at close quarters over a number of days was a

real treat.

Susan Clark, Mornington

Swamp Harrier & Sea-Eagle interaction

I was ‘on duty’ at the Edithvale Seaford Wetland Education

Centre on 11 December. After watching Swamp Harriers for a

while I realised that one was coming and going from what I

realised was a platform in the swamp vegetation behind the

bird hide. The height of the platform was about one metre

above the water and pushing my binoculars to their limit I

had reasonable views of the bird moving on it.

I asked Alison Kuiter “Assuming there is a nest do you know

if the birds have young”? Alison replied “Yes there was a lot

of activity around that area. We saw one fly in with

something in talons, not sure what it had though. When the

White-bellied Sea-Eagle came over on 18 December the

Swamp Harrier was not too happy!”

Val Ford, Capel Sound

Bird call mimicry

For a couple of days I have been hearing an occasional two

note call of a Spotted Pardalote, a bird we normally get in

winter. The call hasn’t sounded quite right and the call isn’t

continuous.

Today, I was sitting in the peace and quiet, doing a

crossword, and I heard the call. I realised that the male

Common Blackbird was also singing and had incorporated the

pardalote call into his song.

Bush Stone-curlew below our balcony. Photo by Susan Clark

White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Swamp Harrier at Edithvale Wetland.

Photo by Alison Kuiter

Birds are believed to learn their songs when they are in the

nest and birds like the blackbird learn their song from their

parents who sing close by. They can also pick up calls from

other birds and incorporate them as part of their song.

The most famous of these is the Lyrebird who uses the calls

of all the other birds in the forest (and the odd chainsaw) as

part of the male’s display. Another bird that is known to do

this is the English Song Thrush. When I lived in Hawthorn

many years ago, a Song Thrush often sang his beautiful song

in the garden next door and one day I recorded his call and

studied it. The Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo and Red-rumped

Parrot calls were obvious and these birds could often be

heard just down the road along the Yarra River. The Grey

Shrike-thrush was another local bird he copied. However,

one call was exactly like the call of the Black-chinned

Honeyeater which is not found anywhere near to Hawthorn. I

have often wondered where it got that one from.

Friend George, originally from Scotland, lived many years in

Mount Eliza, near Two Bays Road and he used to say that

the call of the blackbird at his house was beautiful. He has

now moved to Mornington and the local blackbird hasn’t got

a clue about singing. Tone deaf. Most disappointing.

David Ap-Thomas, Mt Eliza

Observations

18 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

Banded Lapwing at Rye

Whilst monitoring nesting Hooded Plovers on Rye ocean

beach on 13 December I saw a Banded Lapwing, very rare

shorebird for the Mornington Peninsula. Previous known

records have been at Flinders ocean beach in 2011 and

Gunnamatta beach in 2012.

It was hanging out with a Masked Lapwing. Maybe we’ll have

a hybrid Masked/Banded Lapwing nest soon!

Glenn Ehmke, BirdLife Australia

Parrot with house-keeper and bodyguards

The rarity of the Golden-shouldered Parrot makes it a sought

after bird to see for birdwatchers when they venture to far

north Queensland and I was no exception. What I found

though were some fascinating relationships between the

parrot and woodswallows and a nondescript moth.

To ensure my best chance of seeing these birds I contacted

the amazing Sue Shepherd and arranged to go out with her

to try and see the birds on Artemis Station. Sue has done a

huge amount of research on these birds, from finding all their

nests each year across the vastness of Artemis Station to

counting seeds in quadrants. The bird’s main food is what is

called Fire Grass (Schizachryrius fragile) but when the wet-

season starts there is a bottleneck in the supply as they have

to rely on the short-lived grasses producing seed to survive.

As part of the recovery program, Artemis does some feeding

of the birds through this period.

To see the birds we left the homestead campground about

7am and drove up the road and found a small dam. There

were seven people in the group and we all sat on the dam

bank in a reasonably exposed position. Anticipating what I

had been thinking, Sue said quietly, “if they don’t come it

won’t be because we are sitting here.” They don’t mind

people being around, but then she added that “they will

come in once the doves (Bar-shouldered Doves) have come

in for a drink. If the doves don’t come down, the parrots

won’t come”. I found this fascinating that they use the doves

to find out the all clear. What they also seem to do is use

woodswallows as alarm raisers. The literature refers to the

association with Black-faced Woodswallows, but the day I

watched the parrots they were with Little Woodswallows.

Pied Butcherbirds are a big predator of the parrots but when

the parrots nest near breeding woodswallows, the latter keep

the butcherbirds at bay. Of the birds that have been colour-

banded, those that were not nesting near woodswallows were

never seen again.

Back to the dam and true enough, after a while the doves

came down to the water’s edge to drink and soon after, the

first of the parrots arrived in the top of a tall tree near the

dam. They came down in groups to drink and we had great

views of the family parties. Each pair seemed to have five or

six young birds with them although there were only two or

three families present on that morning. After a while the

birds became more and more relaxed to the point where they

sat in the bush above where we were sitting. The males were

not in complete breeding plumage but you could see the

striking colours. They have a strong, overall aqua colour with

a black cap, orange belly and yellow/golden shoulder.

After we left the dam we went and looked at a termite

mound with an old nest hole in it and heard more about the

Banded Lapwing and Masked Lapwing on Rye ocean beach.

Photo by Glenn Ehmke

Golden-shouldered Parrots at waterhole. Photo by Rog Standen

moth that lays its eggs at the time of nesting so the larvae

hatch when the eggs hatch. The larvae feed on the faeces of

the chicks in the nest and so keep the nest clean. These

moths (Trisynopta scatophaga) have never been found

anywhere except in Golden-shouldered Parrot nests where

they burrow in the wall of the chamber to pupate ready for

the next season to come. There have been occasions when

the pupating larvae have blocked the entrance to the nest

and starved the chicks so this is not all a one-way

relationship. Another species of Trisyntopta (T. neossophila)

has been found in the nests of Hooded Parrots, but that

association does not seem as strong as with T. scatophago

and the Golden-shouldered Parrot where about half the nests

contain these moths. Another species of Trisynopta has also

been found in Eastern Rosella and Mulga Parrot nests, but

much less regularly.

Artemis and a couple of other stations, including Dixie

Station, manage their land in a way that helps the parrot

and it is this reason that the population of parrots is mainly

centred there. Storm burns rather than hot dry season burns

give the best feed-availability for the parrots. While the

parrots are not totally secure, thanks to Sue, her family and

others, there is a lot more known about the needs of the

parrot and they are working to meet those needs as best

they can. It was great to be able to meet such a great lady

and thank her for the effort she has put in over many years.

Rog Standen, Mt Eliza

Observations

March 2017 19

Swimming Hooded Plover chicks

Koonya beach

The photo was taken on Koonya Beach, on the morning of 23

January 2017. According to the signage the chick hatched on

5 January. The Hooded Plover chick was in sheltered water

landward side of a rocky outcrop where it had been running

around with parents and a sibling.

The two adults and two chicks seemed quite happy running

around on the flat exposed rock. At times they ran away

from us and then returned to run towards us.

For no apparent reason the chick just seemed to jump into

the protected rock pool and have a few seconds duration

swim. It all happened so fast I was lucky to photograph it.

It then returned to running around on the rock with one its

parents, JZ. By this time the other adult and chick had

decided to go for a run along the sand at the shoreline.

I had never seen a Hooded Plover chick swimming before.

We were very lucky.

Bill Ramsay, Glen Waverley

St Andrews

Hooded Plover chicks are known to swim quite well, but it’s

really rarely observed and very rarely photographed.

I’ve seen Hoodie chicks swim a few times, but only caught on

camera for the first time this year at St Andrews; an

approximately week old chick with a radio transmitter.

Was this one swimming in response to something - i.e.

getting away from a gull, people etc or just having a casual

dip?

Glenn Ehmke, BirdLife Australia

French Island bird observations

Black-faced Cormorant: 20 November 2016, one on

navigational light at Tankerton jetty.

Brown Quail: 9 January 2017, one on side of Mosquito Creek

Road.

Nankeen Night-Heron: 15 November 2016, adult on dam SW

French Island. It could not fly but swam across the dam! The

bird died the next day.

Australian Hobby: 1 February 2017, two in a large pine tree

next to Centreway Rd. One immature making constant

begging call.

Blue-winged Parrot: 9 January 2017, one on roadside at Mt

Wellington Rd.

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater: this species is not a resident on

the island but sometimes visits the SW in autumn. However a

pair were seen and heard on Tortoise Head on 9 and 19

November, which could be the first breeding pair.

White-bellied Sea-Eagle: glad to confirm that both of the

pairs on the south coast of French Island produced a

fledgling this year. Also another pair was nesting in NW of

the island in October.

Rainbow Lorikeets: not resident on the island, but increasing

Swimming at Koonya beach. Photo by Bill Ramsay

Swimming at St Andrews beach. Photo by Glenn Ehmke

Nankeen Night-Heron swimming across dam. Photo by Chris Chandler

observations of one to three birds in gardens where there

are flowering gums and bottlebrushes. Recorded seven times

so far this summer, which is the most ever!

Chris Chandler, French Island

Farting Bassian Thrushes

Worm-eating Bassian Thrushes have been known to dislodge

their prey from piles of leaves by directing their farts at

them. The excretion of gas shifts the leaf-litter on the ground

and apparently provokes worms to move around, revealing

their location.

BirdLife Hamilton Newsletter, November 2016

Observations

20 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

At The Briars

Australasian Grebes nesting

During December a pair of Australasian Grebes chose to nest

on the lagoon outside Chechingurk Hide. Fortunately for bird

lovers and photography enthusiasts they chose a location in

direct line with one of the opening windows providing clear

views without causing any disturbance to the nesting couple.

After the appointed time the birds successfully hatched three

chicks, which initially preferred the cover and comfort of their

parents wings but, by late January they were freely

swimming about the lagoon whilst their parents provided

diligently for their nutrition and safety.

Con Duyvestyn, Mornington

New bird for the list?

The Peacock comes from a property less than two kilometres

away and was flying in and out of the Sanctuary for a few

days. I don't know if the owner has caught it yet. He advised

us he has several Peacocks on his five acre property and it’s

the first time one has wandered away.

Emu and chicks update

The father Emu and his four chicks are regularly seen by

visitors walking in The Briars Wildlife Sanctuary. The

juvenile’s stripes are now disappearing. With their black

heads and grey-brown bodies they look more like smaller

versions of the adults.

Sue Brabender, Briars Information Ranger

Emu with chicks. Photo by Sue Brabender

Safe under a parent’s wing. Photo by Tim Leeuwin

Feeding fish to chick. Photo by Con Duyvestyn

Peacock at The Briars. Photo by Sue Brabender