Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

Volume 9 Number 3 September 2020

Blue-winged Parrots, photographed in salt marsh on French Island by Andrew Browne

LOOK OUT FOR ORANGE-BELLIED PARROTS

Moonlit Sanctuary has been in touch to ask all Western Port surveyors [and other birders] to pay extra attention to any For more information on the identification of Neophema neophema parrots you see around Western Port. The parrots, a brochure is available online at: Sanctuary has released twelve Orange-bellied Parrots this http://www.birdlife.org.au/documents/OBP-idbrochure.pdf autumn, made up of four juveniles and five adults. Seven have been fitted with radio transmitters. The release site was Andrew Silcocks, BirdLife Australia Birdata Project Manager in the northern part of the bay, but some of the birds aren’t being recorded regularly, which suggests they may be moving around a fair bit. In addition to the twelve autumn release birds, an excellent breeding season at Melaleuca means that there should be Contents good numbers of Orange-bellied Parrots migrating to Victoria this winter, so you may be lucky enough to see one of those 1. Branch news birds. Getting the band combinations is crucial as the whole 4. Outings population carries a unique combination of bands (colour on one leg, colour and letter on the other leg). 7. Refugees from Croajingolong? If you are lucky enough to see an Orange-bellied Parrot, 8. Birding in Boodjamulla National Park please report the sighting to Ash Herrod (0408 661 286) and 10. Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys Jon Fallaw (0439 825 872). They’d be interested in all confirmed, probable or even possible sightings, as they’ll be 13. Our trip to Southern Africa 2019 keen to follow up. They have requested you don’t post any Orange-bellied Parrot records on social media at this stage. 14. Observations

Branch news

CONVENORS REPORT The year continues to be plagued by the COVID-19 virus and our bird activities have been limited to our local areas and gardens. The committee called for projects we can fund and two have emerged as possibilities. We plan to approach local reserves managers with a view to install nest boxes to improve the breeding potential for our hollow nesting birds. The second project is looking at reviewing and subsequently reprinting our book “Where to Find Birds around Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula”; this book is still popular in its current form. The committee is not meeting at this stage but is still working behind the scenes for the benefit of our beautiful birdlife.

Max Burrows Penny at Tullamarine Airport, 2019; Gemsbok at Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana, 2019 MEMBER PROFILE National Park in Queensland. That night I heard, but could not find, the Marbled Frogmouths. We will be back. Northern Penny Gillespie Territory birding is also great. Lives at Bittern Overseas, Southern Africa holds a special place for me. It’s so easy to see so many wonderful birds such as the How did I start birding? Secretary Bird or the many brightly coloured finches and the flocks of beautiful Glossy Starlings. Good question. I’ve always loved birds, wanting a pet budgie at about age seven. My grandfather was an amateur Memorable birding moments conservationist and we were very close. He and my mother taught me to listen to the magpie’s chorus very young. A Forty-seven Crowned Cranes in Liuwa Plain National Park, teacher started a Gould League club at primary school when I Zambia, last year. I think that is the first and only time I’ve was eight. Mum encouraged us to look at the birds in our been speechless with wonder. garden in Murrumbeena. Back in the 1970s I remember we The Olive-backed Oriole pair that migrates to our place every had Red Wattlebirds, Little Ravens, White-plumed year, using and renovating the same nest, only to lose their Honeyeaters, Silvereyes, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, as well chicks to Laughing Kookaburras or Noisy Miners, successfully as blackbirds, doves and Common Mynas living in our giant raised one in 2018. liquid amber trees. We had the early Readers Digest book of birds and I used to read that book cover to cover regularly Birding ambitions and copy the pictures with my Derwent pencils. I got my first I plan to travel to some great bird spots in the next few budgie when I was 10, then started to breed them a few years such as the Galapagos Islands to see the boobies and years later, a hobby that continued into my twenties when Iceland to see puffins. I hope that by doing my small bit in travel and then babies took over. supporting the BirdLife Mornington Peninsula Branch I can I got my first binoculars for my 21st birthday from my help raise awareness of the plight of birds especially in university friends; I was a casual birder, just having a look. young people, and the need for habitat conservation. I didn’t really start keeping records until I lived in South Other interests Africa in the early 2000s where species diversity abounds. I I’ve never lost my love of budgies, and their colour genetics. remember once in Kwa Zulu Natal recording eight species of I currently have about 120. I’m also an avid gardener, with a small birds in a shrub less than a metre round. I was big veggie patch and small orchard and a labrador that loves amazed. I had a great mentor there and when I returned to to eat the lot. My husband and I love travelling in Australia Australia I got right into it here. and to the less touristed wild places overseas: last year a Peninsula birding spots six-week solo African safari, this year (now next year maybe) Canada. Any bushland reserve, including my 2 acres of manna/ peppermint woodland. Walking in Devilbend Reserve or Coolart you can see so many different species, and so many of them. Balbirooroo wetlands is wonderful. Surprisingly, the Newsletter hard copy Hastings Foreshore is often a good place to see a range of water birds at low tide as well as woodland birds. If you want a quarterly hard copy of this newsletter this financial year, please follow the instructions in the June Other favourite spots newsletter. Everyone will receive a link to the online version via their emailed E newsletter. If paying by bank At the Kingston on Murray camp ground you can camp right transfer please ensure that you put your name on any next to the river and feel you are in amongst the water birds. bank deposits so we can add your details to the mailing The local winery also has a wonderful walk. list. On an eight-week trip to Cape York in 2016 I recorded over Penny Gillespie, Treasurer 50 species in one hour sitting by our tent in Lakefield

2 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Branch news

STORM BIRD Conservation Report: Devilbend Reservoir KBA Thermal long-johns under jeans, a wheat pack on my lap to thaw my fingers between slurps of soup. The bay window, newly mended, leaks anew. Hail hammers on the glass, bursting to come in. Last night our heater died of exposure. No repairers to be had in this record-breaking visit from Antarctica. Everyone at home, hiding from the plague finding heaters ailing. A Crested Pigeon that raised her chick in our garden is tumbled by squalls. But somehow lands on our birdbath Occurrence of Hoary-headed Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Australasian Grebe at Devilbend Reservoir KBA from May 2004 till May 2020 rocking wildly for a moment --- that see-saw bum-in-the air that pigeons do. Here we are in June and after some autumn rain, the water level at Devilbend and Bittern Reservoirs is pretty good. It is The next squall barrels in, Black Swan breeding season so their numbers are down as But under tree and over water, you might expect. Eurasian Coot numbers are high. But what the bird endures, has interested me recently is the low numbers of grebes of Leunig topknot and pink-blue breast unruffled. all three species relatively to the earlier monthly counts. Red feet grip warm against the cold. Topaz eyes survey her kingdom, Occurrence of Hoary-headed Grebe, Great Crested Grebe emeralds and amethysts lie quiet along her wing. and Australasian Grebe at Devilbend Reservoir KBA from May Our dove of peace inside the storm. 2004 till May 2020. Gillian Barnett, Dromana Hoary-headed Grebe: The highest number recorded was 550, averaging 300 between June 2012 and January 2013. Numbers varied greatly throughout the recording period, but Jenny and Brian Thomas were lowest in the periods 2009 – April 2010 and 2015 till present 2020. High number peaks occurred in any month as Best wishes on your retirement from all at BirdLife did low numbers. Mornington Peninsula. You have always looked after our Great Crested Grebe: The highest numbers recorded were 34 branch, with any of our requirements always met with a smile and co-operation. As members of our branch we really in Jan 2008 and 32 in Dec 2006. Great Crested Grebe numbers did not vary significantly from May 2004 till Sept appreciated the interest and knowledge you imparted on our members. The flora and fauna at Coolart have benefited 2009 averaging 14 birds during this period. The average between Oct 2009 and April 2016 was 5 birds. There have hugely from your influence and dedicated service. Have a long happy and healthy retirement; we will miss been no Great Crested Grebes recorded since April 2016 your presence at Coolart. Australasian Grebe: The numbers of this species usually Max Burrows varied from zero to about 12 birds. On one occasion the number was considerably more (60 birds on Sept 2012). No On behalf of the Committee and Members of BirdLife. Australasian Grebes have been recorded since Sept 2019.

Thoughts for comment: It would be interesting to check what

studies have been done about grebe variations in abundance Newsletter contributions and occurrence of these highly mobile species that presumably move to where they can consistently obtain food Thanks for the articles and photos for your newsletter. and during the breeding season find suitable breeding habitat. What has been the effect of continuously adding Deadline for December edition: 8 November 2020. salmonid fish fingerling species to Devilbend Reservoir KBA? Earlier articles appreciated. They would compete strongly for available food I would Val Ford, 5981 1445, [email protected] think. We need to research what feeding ecology studies have been done for these three species that behave so differently and location preference at Devilbend. Contacting BirdLife Mornington Peninsula What affect does the presence of fisher people have on the grebe occurrence? Do the left-over hooks in failed catches President Max Burrows; 9789 0224 have an effect? 21 Moorhen Cres, Carrum Downs, Vic 3201 Send your thoughts to me at [email protected] [email protected] www.birdlife.org.au/locations/birdlife-mornington-peninsula Roger Richards, Somers

September 2020 3 Outings

EVERYBODY’S WELCOME 1. Wear name tag (write emergency contact name and phone number on the reverse side) Outings are held on the second Wednesday and third Sunday 2. Wear suitable footwear i.e. closed shoes or boots of the month, except in January, and are cancelled on total 3. For areas where snakes are likely, wear gaiters fire ban days. 4. Always carry items you may need e.g. water, snacks, personal first aid kit, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, your Newcomers, beginners and visitors are welcome and name and residential address and, if you have one, a mobile members will help you with the birds. Binoculars for casual phone with battery charged use are available on every outing. Bring lunch (optional) and 5. Remain with the group at all times and advise leader or a folding chair for bird call and chat. whip if you intend to leave before the walk ends. To ensure the health and safety of everyone at outings, For more information about an outing contact David participants need to take responsibility for their personal Ap-Thomas on 0429939036 or the leader listed. safety. To assist with this, the Committee provides the following guidelines. David Ap-Thomas, Outings Coordinator All BirdLife Mornington Peninsula outings have been You will be notified when any of the outings listed below will suspended until further notice. go ahead.

Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Leader Phone

Wed 9 Sep 9.00 Gordon Rolfe Reserve, Somerville Meet 9.00 at gate in Yaringa Rd off Whitneys Rd from either Keith Caldecott 0407534243 Bungower or Pikes Rds. Mel 149 J8. Outing on formed tracks.

Sun 20 Sep 9.00 Blind Bight Coastal Reserve, Blind Meet 9.00 at car park opposite. Fishermans Drive in Blind Bight Susan Clark 59757409 Bight Road, accessed from Baxter/Tooradin Road and then off Warneet Road. Mel 143 C10. Outing on formed tracks.

Wed 14 Oct 9.00 Tootgarook Wetland, Boneo Meet 9.00 at car park equestrian centre, entrance off Boneo Road David Ap-Thomas 0429939036 after Rosebud Country Club and before Browns Road (equestrian centre entrance). Mel 170 A9. Outing on formed tracks.

Sun 18 Oct 10.00 Frankston Reservoir Frankston Meet 10.00 at car park in reserve; enter Lawson Avenue off Neil Shelley 0438557178 Moorooduc Highway turn left into Water Way then right into Jeremy Way. Mel 102 F10. Outing on formed tracks.

Wed 11 Nov 9.00 Duells Road Private Property, Meet 9.00 at the end of the Mornington Peninsula Freeway turn left David Ap-Thomas 0429939036 Rosebud at this roundabout into Jetty Rd drive 1.7Kms to Duells Road, turn left and proceed to BirdLife sign at property entrance. Mel 170 K8. Difficult walk with no formed tracks and hilly.

Sun 15 Nov 7.00 Western Treatment Plant, Werribee Meet 7.00 at the Baxter Tavern car park; enter off Baxter/Tooradin Max Burrow 0429947893 Road. We will proceed in convoy to the plant. If going independent John Barkla meet at corner of Paradise Road and Point Wilson Road Bookings desirable. Mel 107 B4 (Baxter Tavern). Car viewing limited walking

Sun 29 Nov 9.00 Dunns Creek Winery Red Hill Meet 9.00 at property gate 137 McIlroys Road. Bring plate to share Max Burrows 0429947893 Christmas Outing after bird walk. Mel 191 D1. Hilly location.

Wed 9 Dec 9.00 Main Ridge Flora & Fauna Reserve Meet 9.00 at gate to reserve on Mornington/Flinders Road south of David Ap-Thomas 0429939036 Shands Road intersection. Mel 255 D3. Undulating walk on formed tracks.

Blue-winged Parrots in salt marsh On 20 June during our BirdLife/Friends of French Island Westernport Wader Survey (three surveys per year) in the salt marsh south of Tankerton Jetty we sighted a small flock of fourteen Blue-winged Parrots. For us on French Island a great sighting as we only usually see them occasionally over the summer months in breeding pairs. I’ve attached an image, although technically not great. [See front page]. We checked out the flock on watch for some of the northern Westernport recently released captive bred Orange-bellied Parrots, but none in this flock. Not too many waders to see on this winter survey as assume most migrated north. Always happy to see the New Zealand winter migrants, Double-banded Plover. Double-banded Plover on French Island. Photo by Andrew Browne Over summer on French Island we have at least three confirmed pairs of White-bellied Sea-Eagles breeding, and also three pairs of Peregrine Falcons. Thankfully they are in Mornington Peninsula members on our Westernport Wader isolated and well hidden sites. Survey days. Once COVID-19 has settled always happy to host BirdLife Andrew Browne, Mornington

4 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Outings

BIRDLIFE CAMP Leader: David Ap-Thomas

Wedderburn, November 2019 Heat, hot wind, parched land, all gasping. There’s a grass fire near-by. At hot days end, exhausted, welcome bed. Soft dawn rain, a splash, a flash, a pause, Then thunder crack overhead. Heavy rain pounding on roof. For parched earth and all earth kind, relief. Trees engulfed in morning fog, mysterious. Male Crimson Chat. Birding in the usual haunts unspectacular. Campers hunkered down, no-one about. And the birds, few to be found in the wet droop of leaves. Wet feet, wet hair, wet binoculars. Yet morale high with expectation whilst birding. Ants swarm up legs as we look to the treetops, Not at the ant nest under our feet. Frantic, stomping dance to be rid of the blighters. Three kangaroos lollop past undeterred. Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters, Variegated Fairy-wrens, Mistletoebird flutters down for a grub. Birds in abundance, unperturbed by our presence, Female Crimson Chat. Agog with excitement as evening clouds turn to pink. “Has everyone seen the Crimson Chats?” Elusive like the trees in the mist. Waiting, waiting, hoping. And then, Oh, the thrill of a first sighting and what a stunner. Strutting amongst the scrubby grass, Scratching with his mate for some tasty bug. Crimson red head, breast and rump, white throat, black wings and face. The excitement, the rewards of watching birds. Clear blue morning sky and birds calling, busy Corellas a quarrelsome “Chip, chip” The salacious “Slurp, slurp” of springtime Galahs. Kookaburras add their cacophonous cackle. Nankeen Night-Heron. “Georg-ee, georg-ee” calls the Painted Honeyeater, Heard but not seen, but still very special. Then a cackle, perhaps a Babbler. But it’s another first sighting, An Orange-throated Gilbert’s Whistler. Not so spectacular but just as exciting. We stand and watch till it tires of our watching, And moves deeper into the scrub out of sight. We learn of the Mallee Eucalypt, green, blue and bull. And the hybrid bred to produce more oil. Eucalyptus oil used by our indigenous ones, Now adapted for modern use, We gaze at the production methods both old and new. Brown Falcon motionless part of the fence post. Nankeen Kestrel, wings flapping rapidly, Hovers then dives into the scrubby grass. David Ap-Thomas and campers at bird call. Photos by George Sawenko Comes up with nothing, time and time again.

Whistling Kite wheeling and soaring over lake, searching. Black Kite, tail twisted, circling over salt pan. Driving home in heavy rain, visibility poor. Hail stones pounding the windscreen, yet happy. Both seeking prey, “Can you hear their whistling call?” Nankeen Night-Herons, napping during the day. Birds seen or heard, there’s a thrill in the hunt, Alert in the moment, mind meditatively free. Roosting high in their tree, they are hard to find. How many? “Is it two, three or twenty?” Barbara Goldfinch, Lilydale

September 2020 5 Outings

WEDNESDAY WANDERINGS The 3-year program of bird walks entitled “Wednesday Wanderings – Warrandyte to Westgate, Exploring the Yarra” came to a fitting end when we cruised down the river from Docklands on board the historic Nepean on a recent winter morning. Commencing in June 2004 the walks aimed at exploring the numerous reserves and parks, creeks and billabongs along the Yarra River between Warrandyte and the Westgate Bridge. The outings were voted a great success by Melbourne birders who were looking for bird walks within a 24 km radius of the City. The average size of the group was 25 members, proving that local, morning-only walks are popular. An article in the April 2004 The Melbirdian predicted that, as well as observing many bird species along this meandering Some of the fifty-six attendees, Celia in the centre front, at Jumping stretch of the river, we would also see kangaroos and Koalas, Creek Reserve at the start of the second series. Photo by Janet Hand Platypus and possums, Common Wombats and Short-beaked

Echidnas, lizards and snakes. And indeed we did! would have been expected. The closer we got to the City, the A walk led by Marlene Lyell at Parks Victoria’s Glynn’s shorter the bird lists and, naturally, more exotic birds were Reserve in North Warrandyte produced a great bird list of 49 seen and fewer native species. Sadly, Eastern Yellow Robins species as well as three snakes, several rabbits, three weren’t sighted after the Bellbird Picnic area in Kew and Grey Eastern Grey Kangaroos and one Common Long-necked Fantails weren’t observed after the Royal Botanic Gardens. Tortoise. An Australian Owlet-nightjar peeping from a nest The reserve which yielded the most bird species was Bulleen box was the highlight of that walk. Park which included Little Bolin and Bolin Bolin Billabongs. Sixty-three species were observed here in February 2006 Longridge Farm, Warrandyte was opened especially for us by and the list included three Latham’s Snipe in Little Bolin Parks Victoria, and yielded another Koala, five Eastern Grey Billabong. Surprisingly, this park beat Banyule Flat’s score of Kangaroos and a good list of birds. The layout of this 58 species. peaceful reserve is most impressive with its attractive riverine camping ground and excellent facilities which, Thirty-seven birders arrived at Como Landing in February unfortunately, caters for tents only. this year for the ‘voyage’ across to Herring Island, opened especially for us by Parks Victoria. We conducted a bird The walk at Tikalara Reserve, Templestowe on 2 February survey and the list was forwarded to Parks Victoria following 2005 will be long remembered for its torrential rain all the excursion. Despite the very small area and the drought, morning. (This may have been the last time some of us can the morning turned out to be far more successful than was remember a really good downpour!) Despite the rain, ten predicted and the bird list of 35 species was pretty members birded with umbrellas from Beasley’s Nursery to remarkable—almost one per member. One member joked the confluence of Mullum Mullum Creek and the Yarra, and that two people weren’t really trying! A highlight was good managed to log 25 species including an Azure Kingfisher. views of a Nankeen Night-Heron seen on our return journey Staff at the nursery tearooms weren’t too happy when ten across the river by punt. bedraggled birders sloshed in at lunchtime looking for hot soup! In February! The Royal Botanic Gardens were visited in March this year and, combined with a walk along the Yarra into the City At Sweeneys Flats Reserve, Eltham, a Peacock was added to afterwards, yielded 40 species which was a pretty good effort the bird list of 37 species; we also saw a Buff-banded Rail, for a warm, blustery morning. Sadly, no Superb Fairy-wrens five ‘roos and a Koala at this little known and surprisingly were seen on this visit to the gardens. pleasant reserve where we walked downstream to Griffiths Park. Perhaps the highlight of the series was the cruise on board the Nepean from Docklands down the Yarra past the In April 2005, 38 members walked from Westerfolds Park Westgate Bridge and round the top end of Port Phillip Bay on upstream towards Candlebark Park, crossed the river by the 6 June. Thirty BOCA members thoroughly enjoyed the 3 hour new footbridge and enjoyed some peaceful birding from the boat trip during which 33 bird species were listed and we new observation platform at Lenister Farm on the north bank enjoyed lunch on board the vessel. It was most pleasing to of the Yarra. Forty-five bird species were listed on that welcome three country members on this trip; Val and Peter occasion. Blake from Warrnambool and Marlene Lyell from Axedale. Tawny Frogmouths were observed on no less than 13 (out of I would like to thank all who attended the 34 walks for 34) walks; usually spotted by Geoff Deason who has eagle making them so successful and my special thanks also to eyes (or should it be ‘frogmouth’ eyes?) for this bird. guest leaders who stepped in when I was away or Australian Wood Duck 32/34; Pacific Black Duck 33/34. indisposed: to Geoff Deason who led three walks, Anthea Stunning views of Azure Kingfishers were enjoyed on four Fleming for two walks, Marlene Lyell, Lyn Easton and Andrew walks. Other birds of note were a Barn Owl at Banyule Flats, McCutcheon who led one each. The total bird list for the 34 a female Rose Robin at Fairfield Park and a Pied walks is 123. Oystercatcher seen from the Nepean in June. Due to popular demand the series of Wednesday Wanderings Two Australian King-Parrots were observed at Banksia Park, was repeated, commencing in February 2008. Bulleen in November 2005 - much further downstream than Celia Browne, Capel Sound

6 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Refugees from Croajingolong?

GLOSSY BLACK-COCKATOOS ON THE NORTHERN MORNINGTON PENINSULA IN 2020

Glossy Black-Cockatoos have frequented areas south-east of Melbourne since April this year and were still present into late July. It appears that there are three birds, a lone male and a pair. The first published report on eBird was posted by David Thompson of a ‘red-tailed’ Black-Cockatoo at Braeside Park on 22 April. Subsequently a single adult male Glossy Black-Cockatoo was seen there by several observers in the period extending to mid-May. At about the same time reports of one in the Springvale/Keysborough area (likely the Maurie Jarvis Woodland) were posted on iNaturalist. Then Kerri Parkes reported on Birdata that she had seen a pair on 6 and 7 May at the Langwarrin Fauna and Flora Reserve. They have since been seen at The Pines Fauna and Flora Reserve in Frankston and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne. As The lone male Glossy Black-Cockatoo at The Pines on 25 June 2020. this is believed to be the first recorded occurrence in central Photo by Mike Carter Victoria since 1992, it is thought they are refugees from the fire that ravaged East Gippsland last summer. The 1992 report was from Jack Bethune who observed five ‘red-tailed’ Black-Cockatoos near his home at Seville in the Dandenong’s on 25 February 1992. It was published in ‘Bird Reports series 94’ of The Bird Observer No 720, June 1992. Found only in the south-eastern quadrant of our continent, this endemic species is widespread but rare. Having very specific habitat requirements, in recent times it has been restricted to suitable areas of Kangaroo Island in South Australia, the Gippsland region of far eastern Victoria, coastal and some inland areas of eastern NSW and south-eastern Queensland. In Victoria, it has also been recorded near Wangaratta but is thought formerly to have extended west throughout Gippsland to Port Phillip Bay. Victorian birds are of the nominate subspecies Calyptorhynchus l. lathami. An essential component of Glossy Black-Cockatoo habitat is the presence of allocasuarinas. Thus it is not surprising that all the sightings on this occasion were in or near Black She- oaks Allocasuarina littoralis, many of which were less than 2 metres tall. Observations were usually of the birds feeding Female Glossy Black-Cockatoo at The Pines, Frankston on 25 June 2020. on the fruit of that species, extracted from the cones. Photo by Stephen Garth It is estimated that between 50 and 100 people have observed these birds, facilitated partly by their persistence at certain sites, most notably, The Pines. HANZAB describes the demeanour of the Glossy Black- Cockatoo as tame and unobtrusive and the behaviour of our birds is certainly testimony to that. We have been able to watch the birds for periods that exceed one hour from a distance of 6 metres. They chew the cones, systematically working down from the top of the shrub until all fruit on that one plant are devoured. This dependence on a single food source makes the species vulnerable to habitat loss. Thus it was listed as a ‘Threatened Species’ in the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Its current status is ‘vulnerable’ but is likely to be up-graded. I thank David Stabb, Andrew Silcocks, Sean Dooley, Stephen Garth and Dawn Neylan for their help in the preparation of this report. Mike Carter, Mornington The paired male Glossy Black-Cockatoo at The Pines on 8 July 2020. Photo by David Stabb

September 2020 7 Birding in Boodjamulla National Park

PURPLE-CROWNED FAIRY-WREN BREEDING OBSERVATIONS It is always a thrill when on holiday away from home territory when a special bird cuts across your path. This happened to me in September 2019 when staying in Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park, 350km north-west of Mt Isa. After being there a couple of days I noticed a photographer squatting near the canoe hire booking table. Naturally I watched what was happening for a while and then to my surprise, and delight, a Purple-crowned Fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus) hopped out of the reeds to feed on the ground nearby. What a thrill. A conversation ensued and it turned out that there was a pair breeding right there. They were completely habituated to people coming and going for the canoes. What an opportunity to study these delightful and stunning little birds. Over the next week I spent several hours sitting under a fan palm watching the pair of birds come and go as they fed their Purple-crowned Fairy-wren habitat at Boodjamulla NP tiny offspring in their nest, low down in a Pandanus, the (nest in the pandanus on the right). typical site for a nest. When I first came across the pair, the female was still incubating the eggs I suspect, given the lengthy periods she would be in the nest and that the male only came nearby to sometimes feed her and sometimes to accompany her away for short periods. Having the female as the sole incubator is consistent with known breeding records. At this stage, her tail had a marked curve to it as it had been bent around within the domed nest. But it soon became obvious the chicks were out and needing a feed. My observations were based on several periods where I logged every prey that was brought in, by which parent and the time intervals between feeds. Whilst I realise this is not comprehensive and only a snapshot over a couple of days, this showed several things to me:  Just watching behaviour for a limited time can be misleading in terms of extrapolating the data as the first period implied the male did most of the feeding, but this changed over the second period.  Both parents shared the feeding (42% male to 57% female, or 1.3:1), although the female brought more food items than the male. This is not as marked as Male Purple-crowned Fairy-wren bringing a spider to the nest. previous documented ratios where primary female to male ratios were between 2:1 and 10:1, although in both those cases there were other group members helping. Maybe the alpha male drops his work-rate when there are other helpers around?  Only the male was observed removing faecal sacs, which occurred three times during my observations. Whether this is the task of the male or it was due to the relatively short period of observation that I didn’t get to see the female carry one out I cannot say (conscious of point one above).  Prey consisted of spiders (10), caterpillars (9), moths (3), pupae (2) and other unidentified invertebrates (25).  Prey was brought to the nest on average every 3.4 minutes. This is consistent with similar documented rates for multiple chicks of a few days age, which is what I believe was in the nest I was monitoring.  The period between visits varied from one minute to 21minutes for the female and 1-16 for the male. It seemed that the only limit to feeding was the ability of Male Purple-crowned Fairy-wren foraging. one of the adults to find prey and bring it to the nest.

8 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Birding in Boodjamulla National Park

Interestingly, HANZAB states that the food supply is virtually all insectivorous, with beetles (wet years) and ants (dry years) dominant. It may be that the unidentified prey the birds brought were ants, as the small size was often the reason for non-identification. The other reason was that they quickly appeared at the nest site with their back to me so I didn’t get a chance to see it. This happened more often with the female than the male. I only ever saw the two parents coming to the nest. I was very confident there were only two birds because in catching the spiders (they were all daddy long-leg spiders) they were getting cobweb tangled on their legs and head making them very identifiable when they returned. This was the most disappointing aspect to my time with these birds as there should have been more group members helping them if the population was fit and healthy. In the ten days I was camped there, this was the only pair I saw along the creek but people have told me of visits in the past when there were several family groups readily observed along the creek. With territories only being 2-300m long, I would have thought I’d see some other birds in my travels along the creek, both on foot and in a canoe, if they were around. This species is Female Purple-crowned Fairy-wren bringing a spider to the nest. incredibly tight in its territory and they are not observed more than about 10m from the water, mainly due to their favoured habitat of Pandanus and Canegrass being contained to that zone. Another interesting observation was when a Buff-sided Robin (Poecilodryas cerviniventris) followed the female back to the nest area and actually swooped at the female when she approached the nest. The female diving into the nest chamber was the only thing that saved it from a physical attack by the robin. Whilst birds have been reported to evade attack by Brown Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Yellow- tinted and White-gaped Honeyeaters and Northern Fantails, HANZAB (written about White-browed Robin before Buff- sided were split off) does not note the Buff-sided Robin as an aggressor toward this species, though it does say that these robins chase intruders. When I mentioned this attack to one of the rangers, I was told that the Buff-sided Robin is a renowned aggressor in the park. In relation to the attack by the robin, it shook the female fairy-wren up, she was visibly agitated and she called very loudly and extensively after she emerged from the nest.

A pair of Crimson Finches were nesting about 10 metres from Female Purple-crowned Fairy-wren in agitated stance the fairy-wren nest, across the narrow section of creek, but after attack by Buff-sided Robin. there was no interaction observed between these species. What a wonderful opportunity. I was fortunate to have stayed at the camp for ten days, allowing several chances to monitor the birds. Many other fascinating encounters were also had at this delightful national park. Note: I was very conscious of the ethics of observing and photographing nesting birds and I believe these birds were not impacted by my presence. They freely came and went without any obvious sign of distress. They fed on the ground in front of me and searched for food in the tree above my head. When I observed the birds from further away, their behaviour was unchanged. Due to the presence of the canoe hire within ten metres of their nest, which was there before they nested, they were very used to people being around.

HANZAB Vol 5: 261-269 Purple-crowned Fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus)

HANZAB Vol6: 812-818 White-browed Robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa) Rog Standen, Mt Eliza Buff-sided Robin. Photos by Rog Standen

September 2020 9 Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys

WATERBIRD DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE LOW AT ETP

23 February 2020: Seventy-seven bird species were logged of which forty-five were wetland dependant, (ten were shorebirds), four were raptors and twenty-eight were non- wetland dependant. 30 May 2020: Sixty-four bird species were logged of which twenty-nine were wetland dependant, (only four were shorebirds), seven were raptors and twenty-eight were non- wetland dependant. Good late summer and autumn rainfall has resulted in high water levels throughout the Plant. Most water bodies are full and deep, resembling lakes. Marshland and shorebird habitat is scarce. Baillon’s Crake on EHB6. Photo by Alison Kuiter. Waterbird diversity and abundance is exceptionally low (not a single Pink-eared Duck was seen). Presumably the good rains have filled many of Australia’s inland ephemeral wetlands so being spoilt for choice, have gone elsewhere. The locally breeding Chestnut Teal are still here in good numbers (460 counted today) and two pairs of Black Swans have nested early. One pair had six fluffy white cygnets not more than two weeks old today. A highlight was a single Common Greenshank, a species that is becoming increasingly rare locally. Conversely the variety of raptors has improved. Among the seven species seen today were a Peregrine Falcon and two Little Eagles (one dark morph and one pale morph). Eleven White-plumed Honeyeaters and 73 White-fronted Chat were among the bush birds recorded. Musk Duck (male) at the ETP on 30 May. Photo by David Stabb 28 June 2020: Sixty-four bird species were logged of which thirty-two were wetland dependant, (only three were shorebirds identified to species), five were raptors and twenty-seven were non-wetland dependant. Waterbird diversity and abundance remain low but are improving. Pink-eared Duck have reappeared, but so far there are only five. Highlights included three Australian Reed- Warblers (on Basin 6) that were spasmodically uttering short bursts of song no-doubt inspired by the glorious weather. Mid-winter records in southern Victoria are rare. Also unusual in winter were two each of Fairy and Tree Martin. One Little Eagle (pale morph) is still here. Royal and Yellow-billed Spoonbill and Great Egret were seen. Beautiful weather ensured that high numbers of passerines (mostly bush birds) Peregrine Falcon at the ETP on 30 May. were recorded. Photo on left by David Stabb, on right by Alan Stringer Mike Carter, Mornington

Australasian Grebe; one of 90 at the ETP. Photo by Alan Stringer Australian Shelduck, female, at the ETP. Photo by Alan Stringer

10 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys

LATE STAYING SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS AT BANYAN

16 February 2020: Thirty-eight species (twenty-three wetland-dependent and raptors) were logged here today. The highlights were the number of waterfowl especially Australian Wood Duck (100) and a White-necked Heron. 17 May 2020: Fifty-four species (seventeen wetland- dependent, five raptors) and thirty-two non-wetland species were logged here today. Although not seen today, the presence of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers until at least 8 May is very unusual. The excellent diversity of bush birds, most notably the presence of two Yellow Thornbills, the first on the ETP since 1997, was very welcome. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters and Flame Robins have returned, and Eurasian Swamp Harrier at Banyan on 17 May. Photo by Alan Stringer Tree Sparrows were seen for the first time at this site only a week ago. 13 June 2020: Forty-four species (seventeen wetland- dependent and raptors and twenty-seven non-wetland species) were logged here today. Highlights included the continued presence of Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters (4) and Flame Robins (8). Diversity and abundance of waterfowl and raptors was exceedingly low today.

LITTLE EAGLE AT BOGGY CREEK

16 February 2020: Fifteen species of bird, of which nine were wetland dependent, were logged here today. A lowlight was Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in breeding plumage on a flooded area of the the presence of a domestic ‘farmyard’ duck. Paddock on 8 May. Photo by Andrew Silcocks According to Hayman et al ‘Shorebirds’, these are all females 17 May 2020: Twenty-six species of bird of which nine were but HANZAB says sexes are similar. wetland dependent and four raptors were logged here today. Highlights included a dark morph Little Eagle, a Brown Goshawk, five Australasian Shovelers, a Striated Pardalote and a Grey Shrike-thrush.

DOUBLE-BANDED PLOVERS AT SERPENTINE

16 February 2020: Fifteen species of birds were logged here today, (compare twenty-three last month) of which only five were wetland dependant or raptors. This site is disappointingly barren; almost devoid of birds. No highlights.

Black-fronted Dotterel, one of 24 logged on 13 June at Serpentine. Photo by Alan Stringer.

13 June 2020: Thirty-three species of birds were logged here today of which thirteen were wetland dependant or raptors. Highlights included three Double-banded Plover, five Red- capped Plover, 24 Black-fronted Dotterel, three Red-necked Stint, two Common Bronzewing, three Spiny-cheeked Yellow-billed and Royal Spoonbills, Australian White Ibis Honeyeater, 29 White -fronted Chat and 11 Flame Robin. and Great Egret on the SEHB. Photo by David Stabb Mike Carter, Mornington

September 2020 11 Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys

COUNTING WITH MIKE

Eastern Treatment Plant Bird Count, 23 February Four joined the monthly bird count conducted by Mike Carter at the Eastern Treatment Plant in Bangholme. A total of 11 observers took part. The count took place from 9 am to about 5 pm, and involved driving in convoy around the facility, stopping to count birds in the myriad ponds and basins. For us the site became a bit of a blur - we soon lost track of where we were - was this the opposite end of a basin we'd already seen, or a different one? The old hands of course new exactly where we were. By the end of the day we were full of admiration for the dedicated team (Mike, Dawn, Alison and David) who do this every month - as well as separate counts on surrounding wetlands. Counting Sharp-tailed Sandpipers at the Eastern Treatment Plant. Mike produces and distributes a comprehensive report listing counts of all species sighted; a summary report appears in the BirdLife Mornington Peninsula newsletter. The report summary states: 77 bird species were logged of which 45 were wetland dependant, (10 were shorebirds), 4 were raptors and 28 were non-wetland dependant. Water levels on the Plant were further boosted by good rainfall in late January & first half of February. With the exception of WEHB (Western Effluent Holding Basin) which is drying and mostly has a muddy base, all basins are completely full. Waterfowl numbers continue to fluctuate wildly. Glossy Ibis have now vacated the Plant. A Baillon’s Crake has joined Australian Spotted Crakes and a Buff-banded Rail on the Plant. Wood Sandpipers now number a remarkable 7. All are together on the top pond of the Golden Triangle. Our first Pectoral Sandpiper of the season Wood Sandpiper. was seen today and the first Common Sandpiper one week ago but not today. Numbers ranged from one Baillon's Crake to 2100 Sharp- tailed Sandpiper to 4780 Eurasian Coot. The raptors were Black-shouldered Kite (5); Whistling Kite (4), Brown Goshawk (3) and Swamp Harrier (8). Highlights for me included the Wood Sandpipers, which I had not seen before; Red-necked Avocets (60); Australasian Shoveler (135), close views of Great Crested Grebes and Blue-billed Duck; and a Black-fronted Dotterel performing its "broken wing" act in front of our car. My personal tally was 67 species, so there were ten I missed. I believe that all but one of us missed the Baillon's Crake (well done Rog) and the Red-browed Finches (well done again Rog). Unfortunately I didn't spot a single one of the 180 Pink-eared Ducks either! The weather was fine and warm, mostly still - a gusty wind sprang up at one stage but didn't last long - so we had the best possible conditions. Black-fronted Dotterel performing its "broken wing" act in front of our car. The regular team can experience much worse weather, but Photos by Lee Denis carry on as best they can - when the freezing wind is violently shaking their scopes it gets "difficult" they said. There were only a couple of locations - the Aeration Ponds - which were a bit smelly (wind your windows up around there we were told). A very enjoyable day. Thanks to Mike and his team. Lee Denis, Peninsula Field Naturalists Club Newsletter March 2020 www.peninsulafieldnaturalists.org.au At the ETP everyday; on the left a drake Chestnut Teal. Photo by Alan Stringer. At right, a Grey Teal. Photo by Sonja Frei

12 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Birding in Africa

OUR TRIP TO SOUTHERN AFRICA 2019

Our family, comprising me, Robin and our two boys, had the privilege of living near Cape Town from 1999-2003. At the end of our work contracts in 2003 we packed up the kids and camping gear into our Isuzu ute and trekked north through Namibia and into Zambia, Malawi and back to Johannesburg through Mozambique on our great fourteen week “Journey of Discovery”.

Flying into Joburg in July 2019, Robin and I finally returned. White-fronted Bee-eater; Lilac-breasted Roller, fluffed in 5oC temperature, We picked up our fully camp kitted Toyota Hilux and headed at Linyati Swamp, Namibia into Botswana, then Zambia, and back to Joburg via the Central Kalahari in Botswana- a six-week drive in heaven! Unlike South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, camp grounds in Botswana and Zambia are not fenced, meaning our roof top tent was all we had to protect us at night from the prowling lions and other wild animals. Sometimes we stayed in national park camps such as the Moremei Game reserve in the Okavango delta and the Luanga Plains in far Northern Zambia. Otherwise we were camping in private game parks or community camps, owned and managed by the nearby village. Elephants, monkeys and baboons were the usual camp visitors with honey badgers, hyenas and various buck species (impala, springbok and others) wandering through the bushes nearby. 2018 and 2019 have been exceptionally dry years so the animals and birds were concentrated near Scarlet -breasted Boubou, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana; what was left of rivers, wetlands and lakes. Violet-eared Waxbill, Kubu Island, Botswana Our day would start with an early visit to the local water hole to watch the animals and birds come in for a drink. In Botswana especially, you can expect to see large numbers of elephants, hippos, warthogs, buck, Ostriches, Secretary Birds, bustards, pigeons and finches. We would then go for a game drive, stopping frequently to look at the vast array of birds, and, hopefully, a lion sleeping in the shade. You should not get out of your car in the wilds as you never know if there is an opportunistic hungry leopard or lion in the bushes. Also, the animals are used to vehicles but don’t like people so much. Elephants are more likely to charge you if you are wandering around and you spook them.

Back for lunch and an afternoon book or crossword before White browed Robin-Chat, Kasane Botswana; heading out again about 5:00 for another drive, taking the Carmine Bee-eater, Linyati Swamp, Namibia makings of G&T etc with us. We would find a good spot to stop and watch life go by, enjoying our sundowners. Then back to camp to cook dinner in the dark, listening to the lions roaring as they patrolled their territories (in which we are camping of course) and the hippos grunting in the river. There were so many highlights in this trip from seeing a full pride of lions, to watching elephants stroll through camp metres from our tent, to listening to the big male lion roaring at us from 100 metres across the stream. Seeing a large flock of Crowned Cranes in northern Zambia and photographing beautiful little finches (I’m an amateur) in long grass. Camping in the Central Kalahari Desert in Botswana, we truly felt on our own, hours from the nearest village (and doctor) which was totally exhilarating. I listed over 300 species of birds, mostly in Botswana. I can highly recommend such as trip and I’m happy to talk to anyone interested in going.

Penny Gillespie, Bittern Crowned Cranes at sunset at Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia. Photos by Penny Gillespie

September 2020 13 Observations

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 to Val Ford: 5981 1445 or [email protected] Report White- throated Needletail and Fork-tailed Swift sightings to Val Ford and Mike Tarburton [email protected]

Date Species Location Comments Observer

23.3.20 Double-banded Plover (20) Flinders Penny Johns

14.4.20 Powerful Owl (2) Main Ridge One heard and seen, other calling in the distance. Steve Castan

24.4.20 Swift Parrot (2) Mt Martha Kilburn Grove; flying over very fast, seen and heard. Jeremy Little

11.5.20 Blue-faced Honeyeater (5) Mt Martha Lempriere Ave; observed and heard. Jeremy Little

13.5.20 Double-banded Plover (1) Gunnamatta Beach Neil Shelley

15.5.20 Yellow-tail’d Black-Cock’too (14) Capel Sound Flying over my villa at Village Glen. Celia Browne

15.5.20 Cattle Egret (~15) Mt Eliza Keeping the cattle company in Kunyung Rd for the past week. Rog Standen

21.5.20 Pacific Black Duck (1+9 young) Mt Eliza Adult and just hatched ducklings crossed Kunyung Road. Rog Standen

21.5.20 Double-banded Plover (10) Flinders Mushroom Reef beach; four with orange leg flags, one FXD. David Ap-Thomas Sooty Oystercatcher (10)

22.5.20 Blue-faced Honeyeater (1) Mt Martha On my back deck in Glamorgan Crescent. Keith Hepburn

22.5.20 Little Raven (~100) Safety Beach All of these species seen while driving along Island Drive. P Hearn & A Niedra Little Corella (~200) Two large groups, each about 100 birds, ploughing the lawns. Australian Wood Duck (30)

23.5.20 Powerful Owl (1, f) Mt Eliza Called 4 or 5 times then silent for the rest of the night. David Ap-Thomas

26.5.20 Fan-tailed Cuckoo (1) The Briars, Mt Martha Val Ford

1.6.20 White-bellied Sea-Eagle (2) Capel Sound Over the Village Glen retirement village. Ian Miles

4.6.20 Wedge-tail Eagle (1) Red Hill Seen feasting on a dead rabbit in McIlroys Road. H Stuart-Andrews

9.6.20 Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross 1) Western Port Bay Mark Lethlean Shy Albatross (15)

11.6.20 Yellow-tail’d Black-Cock’too (20) Mt Martha Flew over Martha's Point Retirement Village. Janet Dalzell

11.6.20 Yellow-tail’d Black-Cock’too (11) Point Nepean NP Flew overhead. Val Ford

17.6.20 Eastern/Crimson Rosella hybrid Capel Sound In my front yard. Val Ford

17.6.20 Cape Barron Goose (2) Balnarring On property adjacent Balbirooroo Wetlands. H Stuart-Andrews

20.6.20 Blue-winged Parrot (14) French Island On salt marsh south of Tankerton jetty. Andrew Browne

21.6.20 Glossy Black-Cockatoo (3) Frankston The Pines Flora & Fauna Reserve. D & M Honeyman

21.6.20 Eastern Barn Owl Capel Sound Heard it screeching outside by villa at the Village Glen. Val Ford

23.6.20 White-bellied Sea-Eagle (1, juv) Rye Back Beach L Greene, J Hansen

24.6.20 Yellow-tail’d Black-Cock’too, 200 Devilbend Reservoir At least 200. A magnificent sight. Bette Mitchell

25.5.20 Australian King Parrot (2, m & j) Bittern In my garden in Pozieres Street; occasional visitors. Simon Westfold

27.6.20 Fan-tailed Cuckoo (1) Tyabb Heard and seen. Keith Caldecott

5.7.20 Flame Robin (1, m) Safety Beach Perching on a fence in Island Drive. Susan Clark

9.7.20 White-bellied Sea-Eagle (1) Point Nepean NP L Greene, J Hansen

13.7.20 Emu (2) Boneo On a property adjacent to Limestone Road riding trail. Val Ford

17.7.20 Crested Shrike-tit (1) Red Hill Mark Lethlean

17.7.20 Little Eagle (1) Balnarring Flying over. Brian Thomas

17.7.20 Collared Sparrowhawk (1) Mt Martha Killed a Spotted Dove in our garden. Lynn Murdoch

19.7.20 Peregrine Falcon (2) Cape Schanck Hunting along the Cape Schanck/ Fingal Beach cliff face. Wilga Kottek

21.7.20 Sooty Oystercatcher (1) Mt Eliza Flew past Earimil Point; first for us along this part of the bay. David Ap-Thomas

27.7.20 Cape Barron Goose (2) Balnarring Nesting by the large lake beside Balbirooroo Wetlands. Peter Gower

28.7.20 Black-shouldered Kite (1, imm) Langwarrin Food begging call but parents nowhere in sight. Max Burrows

2.8.20 White-bellied Sea-Eagle (1, juv) The Briars In a dead tree in the main wetland area. Sue Brabender

6.8.20 Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (1) Langwarrin In Romina Drive; first for season. Max Burrows

7.8.20 Powerful Owl (2) Boneo In Peninsula Gardens Bushland Reserve. Mark Lethlean

9.8.20 Scarlet Robin (2, m & f) Boneo In Rogers Road/Limestone Road area. Steve Castan

14 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Observations

Female Grey Butcherbird at our window Grey Butcherbirds were constant companions when we lived at Mt Eliza but they have been aloof and scarce here at Mornington. Then two days ago in the late morning the female in the attached photos landed on the kitchen window sill and stared Tricia down. It waited until we thawed out some beef mince. Twenty minutes later, I approached cautiously with a mince ball in my fingers. It flew at me and seized the mince. I gave it some more and then more still. She quickly realised that I emerged from the house by a door at the rear so moved to sit on the fence near the door to reduce her waiting time. She ate about half of my offerings immediately but flew off in various directions to stash the remainder. This went on all afternoon. When dusk approached we drew the curtains to keep the cold out thinking that she would go to roost somewhere. We peeped through the curtains to check that she had gone to sleep. But no, as we closed the curtains again she seemed to get quite frantic coming right up to the door so that she was illuminated by the artificial light. Finally we gave her a big ball of mince and said ‘goodnight’. Next morning, yesterday, I expected to find her waiting outside the door but she didn’t reappear until about noon and then periodically throughout the afternoon. Her demeanour was more relaxed. It’s now a bit after 1.00 o’clock and haven’t seen her yet today. I guess whomsoever normally fed her has returned home. I do hope she doesn’t abandon us.

The two most obvious plumage features that tell me that she is a female are the white loral spot that extends to the area Female Grey Butcherbird. Photos by Mike Carter under the eye and the grey wash that covers the belly, lower breast and most notably the flanks. Mike Carter, Mornington Postscript: she now visits us perhaps four times daily. She is now more sedate, not desperate for food.

Powerful Owls within 5km of home Had an amazing find on 7 August, thanks to some local council workers I know who were doing some bush work in Peninsula Gardens Bushland Reserve; a pair of Powerful Owls in a Blackwood, and one of the pair roosting over a Ringtail Possum kill from the previous night. Quite amazing that in 20+ years of roaming the local bush I get to finally photograph the species in stage 4 lockdown and within 5km of home! Powerful Owls in Peninsula Gardens Bushland Reserve. Mark Lethlean, Red Hill Photo by Mark Lethlean

Cape Barren Geese at Balbirooroo On 27 July we saw the two Cape Barren Geese that have been there for a while (by the large lake next door). Both appeared to be sitting on nests a couple of times we went, but today only one was. The second bird looked to be on guard duty near the nesting bird. Got back to Balbirooroo on 29 July. First, we noticed that the Cape Barren Geese were not on their nests. When we found them, they were with five chicks, adorable! They were a long way away, but the photo shows them reasonably clearly.

Peter Gower, Balnarring Cape Barren Geese with chicks. Photo by Peter Gower

September 2020 15 Observations

Blue-faced Honeyeater on my back deck Just wanted to share this photo, taken on 22 May of a Blue- faced Honeyeater on my back deck in Glamorgan Crescent Mt Martha. He/she was here again on 2 June but seemed a bit spooked as there's a rather willing turf war going on between the local magpie families and I live right in the border so therefore in the middle of their war zone. Based on a few old books it seems to have wandered far away from home. Maybe with the Covid situation it came down here and isn't allowed back over The Murray. Keith Hepburn, Mt Martha

Blue-faced Honeyeater on my back deck. Photo by Keith Hepburn Powerful Owl love calls We have Powerful Owls calling at the moment on our property. Last night, 14 April, this one flew for a few minutes before heading off into the bush after more calls were heard in the distance from a second bird Steve Castan, Main Ridge I heard a Powerful Owl in Bittern on 19 May. Don’t hear them very often hear but saw one once a few years ago. Penny Gillespie, Bittern Going to bed last night, 23 May, I heard a bird call, opened the window and heard a female Powerful Owl call 4 or 5 times then silent for the rest of the night. Got my phone and checked the call and it was exactly what I heard. Not bad for suburban Mt Eliza. First time i have heard it here. Probably at the business college. Powerful Owl at Main Ridge. Photo by Steve Castan David Ap-Thomas, Mt Eliza Love calls of powerful owls ring out along eastern Australia: https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-04-19/love-calls-of-powerful- owls-ring-out-along-eastern-australia/12132824

Australian Hobby or Peregrine Falcon Whilst doing the Devilbend Bird Count the other day with Roger Richards, we saw a falcon-like bird pass overhead followed by some other birds. It was too quick to get my camera ready to photograph it but Roger said it was a Peregrine Falcon. As I had photographed an Australian Hobby in Warringine Wetlands recently Roger then went on to explain the differences between the two birds and later writing the following. Some differences between an Australian Hobby and a Peregrine Falcon (adults) Size: Hobby 30-35cm, Peregrine 35-50cm.

Eye ring and cere: Hobby blue, Peregrine yellow. Australian Hobby at Warringine Wetlands. Photo by Michael Mann Tail: Hobby tail proportionally longer and narrower with sharper bend on trailing edge. Body: Hobby body sleeker narrower wings, Peregrine bulkier eyelevel in the Hobby. with broader wings. In flight look for bulk and wing width and for size compared Bib: Hobby has no distinct bib, Peregrine has larger white or to any other birds nearby. Have a look at the bird books, pale buff bib. eg Morcombe or Slater. Mask: Hobby, mask appears not as big as Peregrine with In both females are larger. curvey base collar. Peregrine, black head and face straighter Now I want to get a good photo of a Peregrine Falcon! base to "mask". Check how the white collar goes back and up towards Michael Mann, Hastings

16 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Observations

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross in Western Port On 9 June I decided to take my boat out with a friend, he was keen to fish for tuna while I tried birding. Apart from the usual gulls, terns and gannets we saw at least fifteen Shy Albatross which is considerably more than we usually see. But while we were about one km off West Head Flinders a lone Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross did a single fly past. This is the first Yellow-nose I’ve ever seen so a very unexpected bonus for the day, especially considering we didn’t get any tuna. Mark Lethlean, Red Hill

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross in Western Port. Photo by Mark Lethlean Crimson/Eastern Rosella hybrid Looking at two Eastern Rosellas feeding on silver birch catkins on my front lawn at the Village Glen Retirement Village I realised that one was not “pure” Eastern or Crimson Rosella but a combination of both. Both birds flew to the ground and joined a small group of Eastern Rosellas. Val Ford, Capel Sound

Monitoring nestboxes at Darebin Park Crimson/Eastern Rosella hybrid. Photo by David Reid At Darebin Park we have started our nestbox monitoring again for the coming nesting season. Over two days we looked at most of the 149 nestboxes and ten Chainsaw hollows and found nine boxes with Rainbow Lorikeets nesting. One box had two well developed healthy looking chicks, another two had an egg and hatched chick and the rest had eggs. Twenty-three boxes had Ringtail Possums in with up to three in one box. Twenty boxes had Common Myna rubbish which had been deposited since the last inspection at the end of summer. It is vital in any area that Common Mynas inhabit, that nestboxes are regularly monitored and cleaned out of any myna rubbish. Rainbow Lorikeet egg and hatchling; Three Ringtail Possums in nestbox. It’s amazing how early the Rainbow Lorikeets start nesting; Photos by Michael Mann the ones with chicks would have started at the end of April. They only have two eggs at a time so that's why they need up to three clutches a year perhaps. foliage. It would jump up and grab something off a leaf and Male Eastern Rosellas have even started to encourage the back to the ground. It did this for quite some time before female rosellas to look inside my nestboxes here in Hastings going up into the tree and joined a second currawong. The so I will have to keep my eye on them. two ravens then joined them. There must be a good crop of leaf-eating beetles in this tree. Michael Mann, Hastings This morning we saw one of the ravens on the ground under the ironbark, looking up and jumping up to grab something off a leaf. We have never seen the ravens doing this before. Bird dynamics Obviously the ravens have seen the currawongs feeding this way and have copied them. Very clever and quick learners Our back garden is owned by a pair of Little Ravens. Well, these ravens. the owner is actually a Noisy Miner who has learned to tolerate the ravens. We have an ironbark which is about 20 As I write this, the Pied Currawongs are back in the garden years old and has had one flower on it, a few years ago. and have been joined by a kookaburra. The Noisy Miners have summoned all their friends and relatives to see off the Yesterday (late July) we had a Pied Currawong in the garden interlopers. It has suddenly got very noisy. and this is a very rare bird in our garden. It was on the ground under the ironbark looking intently up into the David Ap-Thomas, Mt Eliza

September 2020 17 Observations

Yellow or Green Rosella at Somerville Glenn Ehmke suggested I send you this interesting sighting of a Yellow Rosella in your neck of the woods. It was posted with a request for ID on the BirdLife Australia Facebook page, and came from a Somerville Facebook group. Most likely an aviary escapee? Might be of interest for your newsletter. Tanya Loos, Communications Coordinator, BirdLife Australia Keith Caldecott photographed what he thought was a Green in his garden at Somerville on 6 September 2019. Do you think this bird, shown in the photo forwarded by Tanya Loos, could be a Green Rosella, either captive bred or a wild bird from Tasmania? Yellow (or Green) Rosella at Somerville. Please email your thoughts to [email protected] Val Ford

Kangaroo Island post bushfires In early March as part of a short cruise I spent a day on Kangaroo Island. One of the aims was to see the Glossy Black- Cockatoos that reside on the island. We left from the ferry terminal at Penneshaw and headed for the Playford Highway which cuts through the centre of the island and headed for Parndana. The eastern sector remains relatively untouched but the further you drive west it became very real that this fire ravaged large areas. The island vegetation is of the mallee type and these trees were starting to shoot from the lignotubers and were in the early stages of regrowth. With all the tree cover gone the New shoots appearing in fire ravaged area. Photo by Lisa Burrows myriad of grasstrees became visible and these marvellous plants were all greening up and I suspect they would shortly all start to throw up their flowering stems. the ibis but then gave up. An ibis flew into the melaleucas on the left of the hide and that too flicked broken eggshells out We headed for Stokes Bay on the northern side of the island of a nest. to where Hooded Plover’s frequent, but no luck today. This beach area is beautiful with wide sand area and rocky I don't think it was the Australian Ravens that wrecked the outcrops. We then proceeded to American River on the nests as there were quite a few broken eggs and they tend islands eastern coast between Kingscote and Penneshaw a to grab an egg and fly off, not eat it in situ. It could have known locality for the glossies. The locals have placed nest been a fox as a fox could have got into the melaleuca too. boxes in many of the trees here and on arrival we were Brian Thomas, Balnarring greeted by the sounds of the birds their calls echoing amongst the vegetation, we headed back to Penneshaw satisfied with our day on Kangaroo Island. Birds in Greens Bush and at Main Ridge On the rocky breakwater at Penneshaw a colony of Black- Despite the COVID-19 lockdown and the seemingly never faced Cormorants resided and a flock of Little Corellas made ending grey weather the birds of my local area are pairing up themselves heard adjacent to the wharf. We sailed for home. enthusiastically! Plenty of flocks of ravens, corellas and Max Burrows, Langwarrin Crimson Rosellas in Greens Bush. Pairs of Common Bronzewings, Bassian Thrushes, kookaburras, yellow robins, Jacky Winters – if not Jacky Winters what could they be - Destruction at Coolart and Grey Fantails. Groups of blue wrens, White-browed Scrubwren and Silvereyes. We have consistently seen I popped into the Minsmere hide yesterday, 29 July, to count solitary Eastern Spinebills, New Holland Honeyeaters and the ibis nests and I think I just missed out on a bit of action White-eared Honeyeaters feeding on banksia flowers. as the ibis were in the tops of the cypress and the nests had been ransacked. There were about half a dozen nests on the At home in Main Ridge we have large numbers of wood stick island previously and the eggs here had now been ducks, a pair of Pacific Black Ducks and a pair of Australian broken. Shelducks was moved on by Little Ravens. Regular inhabitants include Crimson and Eastern Rosellas, Galahs, An Australian Raven flew in and grabbed an egg and flew Rainbow Lorikeets and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos. away with it (I could hear the Australian Ravens calling as I Sulphur-crested Cockatoos continue to periodically taste test approached the hide). The five ibis gradually returned to the the window frames. The White-faced Heron has returned. nests and flicked out broken eggshells and three settled back Sporadically a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles cruise the area. down on the nests. One of the Australian Ravens came back and perched nearby and had a bit of a go at landing amongst Wilga Kottek, Main Ridge

18 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Observations

Collecting nest material We were cycling in Balnarring on 26 July when we came upon this magpie collecting a huge amount of fluffy material. Obviously spring is on its way! Hannah Stuart-Andrews, Red Hill

White-bellied Sea-Eagles Point Nepean and Rye

Jo Hansen and I sighted an adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle at Collecting nest material. Photo by Hannah Stuart-Andrews Point Nepean National Park this morning, 9 July, on bayside. We also recorded a juvenile on 23 June at Rye Ocean Beach close to Gunida Track. Wasn't quick enough to get a photo. It was being harassed by two Silver Gulls. I don't know if there have been other recent reportings but we were pretty chuffed to have seen them. Lois Greene, Capel Sound The Briars During a walk at The Briars this afternoon, 2 August, I spotted a raptor sitting quietly in a dead tree in the main wetland area. Magpies had been harassing it, to no avail, so they flew off eventually. I watched it for around 20-30 mins, sneaking behind trees, moving so slowly, stopping when it looked across and averting my gaze and that of my camera White-bellied Sea-Eagle, adult, at Point Nepean. Photo by Lois Greene; lens. Eventually it flew off. White-bellied Sea-Eagle, juvenile, at The Briars. Photo by Sue Brabender

I've checked my book and at the time thought perhaps a juvenile sea eagle but it had the dark stripe behind the eye, we think it was run over by a truck behind us; we couldn't do feathering on the legs appeared to be quite low, definitely anything, it was so unexpected and sudden! We believe it white under the tail. After checking with other birders I am may have been a Magpie Goose because of its size and confident that it is a juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle. colouring, even though we just saw it flying from behind. Sue Brabender, Mornington Poor thing. There are wetlands in some places along the freeway, so maybe it just took the wrong direction.

Pam Hearn & Andris Niedra, Safety Beach Pacific Gulls feeding on spider crabs

I have always observed Larus pacificus as solitary birds or sometimes pairs. But this afternoon, 9 June, at Sorrento Successful bird release front beach I counted fifteen first year Pacific Gulls in dark Whilst on holiday in Paynesville in mid-June, we were sitting plumage flapping and diving in the shallows close to the in a cafe opposite the foreshore and I noticed a woman shore, feeding on spider crabs. One adult flew in to their arrive with a large portable animal carrier. She opened the midst to steal from the beak of a young bird, but soon gave zip front and attempted to get whatever was in it out of the the game up. Some gulls sported the beginning of the red tip carrier, even tipping it up at one stage. I went over to on the beak. inspect and discovered that the released creature was an Are these birds flocking before flying to offshore islands in adult Black Swan. The woman from Bairnsdale Wildlife Rescue told me that the swan had had fish hook removed Bass Strait to breed? from its throat by a vet. A group of three swans, two large Jane Burke, Sorrento juveniles and one adult, were closely watching the release.

Susan Clark, Mornington

Some sightings, not necessarily local While travelling up Peninsula Link towards Melbourne, we A local walk saw a circling Wedge-tailed Eagle, Mt Eliza, just before the Service Centre. Yesterday, 13 July, at about 2-3 pm I walked to the Mt Martha beach - mid to north end - and saw two Wedge-tailed We occasionally still have large flocks of corellas along Island Eagles (and about five ravens and five magpies in hot Drive (Martha Cove), along with gatherings of Galahs, pursuit) soaring over BERG. At beach opposite Augusta ravens, Straw-necked Ibis, and Australian Wood Ducks. Not Street about 60 Welcome Swallows were feeding along the consistently every day. bushland at back of sand, three Black Swans gliding along on the sea about 150 metres out and four Superb Fairy-wrens Today, while travelling up EastLink, a large bird suddenly in bush along back of beach. flew clumsily along the freeway ahead of us (it seemed confused/trying to land/negotiate direction?) Unfortunately, Lynn Murdoch, Mt Martha

September 2020 19 Observations

Inter-ISO outings Despite the limitations on our movements, Tim van Leeuwen and I managed to spend several chilly mornings at Braeside, chased cockatoos at Frankston and Somers, and observed the gathering ibis at Coolart. Braeside The Braeside Wetlands in winter did not provide any exciting unusual birds, so we had to be satisfied trying to capture the regular residents in unusual poses/actions. Competing with descending fog and stiffening trigger fingers made it an interesting task, but each visit gave us something to work with at the end of the day. We witnessed a pair of swans with four cygnets venturing onto the water for the first time and had to share the parents’ disappointment as the family was Australasian Darter, male, with young at Braeside. reduced to a single survivor by the time the second lockdown was forced on us. Also present were a variety of duck species, egrets, herons and the ubiquitous coots. On a number of occasions we were able to witness, and photograph, the beginnings of courtship behaviour and associated aggression, so our visits were certainly not disappointing. Frankston/Langwarrin Having received the news of three Glossy Black-Cockatoos in the area we made two fruitless journeys to Langwarrin in search of them, but were rewarded on the second occasion with some nice images of a Collared Sparrowhawk. Collared Sparrowhawk exercising at Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve. Our third attempt to find them took us to the Pines Reserve where, thanks to other enthusiasts including David Ap- Thomas, we located a solitary male glossy feeding on she- oaks. Although he was surrounded by a bevy of enraptured birdos and cameras he calmly continued his dining and seemed as intrigued by us as we were of him. Again, a photographer’s dream in terms of the photo opportunities. Coolart/Somers Unaware of the impending news about our second loss of liberty, Tim and I spent several hours in the bird hide at the Coolart lagoon watching the assembling ibis going through their territorial squabbles, courtships and nest building. There were already quite a large number gathered, and one can only presume that many more will have joined them in the time since. Once more we enjoyed good photographic conditions and came home with lots of homework. Australian White Ibis at Coolart Lagoon. Photos by Con Duyvestyn Our journey home was further enriched by the sighting of a flock of 50-100 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos feasting in pine trees along the road, the photographic icing on the cake so going to have to live on these experiences for quite some to speak. time to come. As we returned home we learned the news that we were Con Duyvestyn, Mornington

20 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife