The Rainbow Bird Volume 5 Number 3 August 2016 (Issue 87) MALLEE, MARLEE OR MAWLEY It might be interesting to club members to know that the word "mallee" is derived from the aboriginal word for the Eucalyptus Dumosa, perhaps the main species of mallee in this area. I guess that the aboriginals also used the term to cover all the various species now known by that name. European surveyors originally spelt the word in various ways. "Mallee", "Mar-lie" and then "Marlee" were variants. Later still the spelling "Mallay" was also used and in 1849 the spelling "Mawley" was sometimes used. However, in the late 1870’s South Australian wheat growers moved in to settle the mallee country, between SA Murray and southern Victorian Mallee area, and the present spelling of the word became standardised. I gleaned this information from an old book of my father’s on the Murray Valley that was written by J MacDonald Holmes and published by Angus and Robertson in 1948. Allan Taylor Contents 1. Mallee, Marlee or Mawley 2. Yarrara & Mallanbool Flora & Fauna Reserves outing 3. Nurnurnemal Nature Conservation Reserve & Castles Crossing outing 4. Ned’s Corner outing and survey 5. Is this plover mystery solved? 6. Katarapko National Park 7. Waikerie Bird Watchers Trail 8. Endangered Aussie bird bouncing back 9. A yellow Blue Bonnet 10. Club calendar 11. Farewell 12. Interesting sightings 13. Lindsay Cupper's photos Eucalyptus Dumosa The Rainbow Bird YARRARA & MALLANBOOL FLORA & FAUNA RESERVES OUTING – MAY 7TH, 2016 The clouds threatened with rain and the sun shone half- heartedly as a group of birders met at the Bike Hub. Among us were Alec and Sharon, the leaders of the day, and Brendan, a travelling birder who had come up to Mildura for a few ticks. We drove directly to Mallanbool Flora and Fauna Reserve, a small reserve of Belah amongst fields of wheat and roads. The reserve is a perfect spot for White-browed Treecreepers, so we all set out hoping to find one, listening for the distinctive ‘peep-peep’ call. Suddenly, we heard it, and our pace quickened. We glimpsed an individual a few times before it flew to another patch. As well as this two male Red-capped Robins were fighting: perhaps over territory or a female? For lunch, we stopped at a roadside dam. Though there was nothing on the water, there were a few birds in the adjoining scrub, like Chestnut-crowned Babblers and Chestnut- rumped Thornbills. A lapwing flew over, and Alec later told me it was a Banded Lapwing. White-browed Treecreeper Gilbert's Whistler Yarrara was very, very quiet. In the 20 minutes that we birded for, we could hardly be bothered to stray from the car. Seeing as we had more time, we went the little extra distance to the Meringur Pioneer Museum, which I had not been to before. Banded Lapwing I didn’t think about it when I saw the bird. Oh well, there is always a next time! We then continued to Yarrara Flora and Fauna Reserve. The bird book, (Finding Australian Birds, by Dolby and Clarke) It was very informative and well set out, but also, I hear, says it’s a refuge for White-browed Treecreeper, Little can be good for the birds (though not on the day of the Button-Quail, Gilbert’s Whistler and Black-eared Cuckoo, outing). We had afternoon tea, and as the rain finally though I have only seen Gilbert’s Whistler at the reserve. began, drove home, after a day that was not a frenzy of What have others seen at this reserve? Any of the above birds, but a good experience anyway. listed? Photos: Allan Taylor Finley Japp 2 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird NURNURNEMAL NATURE CONSERVATION RESERVE & CASTLE'S CROSSING OUTING – JUNE 12TH, 2016 Sunday the 19th of June was cold. As a dozen or so other things more plentiful than the avian creatures: moss members met at the Bike Hub, clouds covered over what was all around and painted a beautiful mosaic of greens had started off (from the view of my bedroom window a few upon the ground, the mallee trees were very old and left us hours earlier) as a beautiful morning. Soon it was heavily pondering on the things those trees had seen. overcast, the sun faintly shining from no particular direction. Thankfully some other groups had been slightly more Not great weather for birding. successful, and after hearing there was a Red-capped Robin The leader’s car, comprising of Bill, Ev and Col, led us down at the entrance track, we decided to have a look. Meridian Road, weaving and winding south towards a small dam on the almond processing property where Bill and Ev had previously seen oodles of ducks and waterfowl. The drive revealed a Wedge-tailed Eagle that came surprisingly close. Allan, Luca and I discussed this as we drove down the otherwise bird-empty track: it’s interesting how these huge, powerful creatures are usually very shy and scatty, and why, if the previous statement is indeed true, why did this individual decide to come closer? We turned onto the main road and passed the dam: alas! The location did hold an Australasian Grebe and a pair Pacific Black Ducks, but certainly not the large numbers of waterfowl it might have provided had the weather been sunny. "Oh well, on to Nurnurnemal", we said. Unfortunately, the bird had decided to hunker down when we went searching (not a bad idea either, because it was about as cold as it had been at the Bike Hub, and I was glad for my jacket). We convinced ourselves that Castle’s Crossing might be a bit better, and drove off. Castle’s Crossing was indeed better. The various shrubs and thicker trees provided a wind break for, if not the birds, the birders! But yes, the birds were better. A Little Eagle flew over and provided a good view and an opportunity to see defining characteristics like the "W" wing pattern and the short tail. A Restless Flycatcher called and darted about the car, and a few people explored the "rubbish" underneath mallee and belah, finding bottles, cans and an old bug- spraying device that I had never come across before. Perhaps not an exceptional day, but a nice opportunity to At Nurnurnemal Nature Conservation Reserve (try saying get out and about. that three times fast) we had lunch before walking out into the mallee for a little. Birds were incredible scarce. Our Finley Japp group stopped to look at a magpie. However, there were Sightings: 29 Species Australian Shelduck Galah Red Wattlebird Little Raven Pacific Black Duck Australian Ringneck Rufous Whistler Magpie-lark Australasian Grebe Blue Bonnet Grey Shrike-thrush White-winged Chough Common Bronzewing Brown Treecreeper Grey Butcherbird Red-capped Robin Crested Pigeon Weebill Australian Magpie Common Starling Black Kite Yellow-rumped Thornbill Grey Fantail Wedge-tailed Eagle Singing Honeyeater Willie Wagtail Little Eagle Yellow-throated Miner Australian Raven August 2016 3 The Rainbow Bird NED’S CORNER OUTING AND SURVEY – JULY 9TH, 2016 The early morning was crisp, clear and sunny as several reason that there were no waterbirds there. However two members met at the Bike Hub. The sunshine didn't last long kangaroos were seen jumping through the creek however. On our way to meet up with the others at the weighbridge we were enveloped in thick fog which remained all the way to Ned's Corner. Just as the first two groups began their surveys the fog lifted and we were blessed with sunshine most of the day. In total 13 took part in the outing and we worked in 4 groups to complete the surveys, meeting up for morning tea then again for lunch. There may have been plenty of sunshine but the birds were few. The area is just starting to green up after recent rains but there was nothing in the way of flowers or seeds, apart from the saltbush flowering that the Blue Bonnets like to feed on. We witnessed some doing just that. The recent rains have also had an impact on the shrubs that have been planted as part of the regeneration process. The drive from the creek to the final survey spots proved more challenging as previously mentioned. Alasdair was advised not to tackle this section in his car as some holes were deep. Even in the mallee tree sites there were not many birds but Luca had the delight of seeing a Rufous Whistler for the first time. It was a good, close, and long look We were impressed by the growth on the native pine, that he had, not far eremophilas and other native shrubs especially in the sandy from the old grave areas. site (for those familiar with that The recent rain caused some excitement at times as the survey point). group had to detour around stretches of water across the road, as well as negotiating some deep holes. All the surveys were completed by 3.00 After nine of the surveys had been completed we decided to pm so we had a final go to Mulcra for lunch. gathering, said farewells, then returned home, some via the We looked at the regulator on Potterwallkagee Creek then Old Mail Road, others via Lake Cullulleraine. found a pleasant spot along the creek instead of going in to Rae Jeffers the Murray River. Water was flowing very rapidly along the creek and through the regulator which I think was the Sightings: 40 species Emu Red-rumped Parrot White-plumed Honeyeater Australian Magpie Australian Shelduck Brown Treecreeper Yellow-throated Miner Willie Wagtail Common Bronzewing White-winged Fairy-wren Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Australian Raven Crested Pigeon Variegated Fairy-wren White-fronted Chat Little Raven Whistling Kite Weebill White-browed Babbler Restless Flycatcher Wedge-tailed Eagle Yellow-rumped Thornbill Chestnut-crowned Babbler Red-capped Robin Galah Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Rufous Whistler Rufous Songlark Crimson Rosella Southern Whiteface Grey Shrike-thrush Brown Songlark Australian Ringneck Striated Pardalote Grey Butcherbird Welcome Swallow Blue Bonnet Singing Honeyeater Pied Butcherbird Australasian Pipit 4 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird IS THIS PLOVER MYSTERY SOLVED? In the previous edition of the "Rainbow Bird" newsletter I Pauline has since had a further look at the photo, as well as mentioned that one of my photos was an unusual one of a two other photos of the same bird in flight and has come to Marsh Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper.