Wader Records and Observations in Mid-Southern Victoria, 1963-1965 by F

246 SMITH, Wader Records, 1963-65 [ Bird Watcher However, a few minutes later, it rose up from the reeds and flew for about one hundred yards to a line of cyprus trees, where it disappeared into the dense foliage at the top of one of the tallest trees. During this flight it was harried persistently by two Welcome Swallows (Hirundo neoxena). The European Little Bittern, which is only of subspecific difference to the Australian bird, has been observed to perch in trees, but the habit is unusual and apparently it is confined to migrants on their · annual journey to and from Africa. F. C. R. Jourdain, in The Handbook of British Birds, Vol. 3, p. 153, discussing the cryptic postures of the European race, states that the Little Bittern "has even been known to allow itself to be captured with hand". Charles F . Belcher, in The Birds of the District of Geelong, Australia (1914), writes, "Mr. J. F. Mulder has a specimen which his son caught with his hand, after some manoeuvring on his part, and not a little fight shown by the bird". Another live capture is recorded by A. J. Campbell in Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds (1909). -M. J. Carter, Frankston, Victoria. 19 I 1/66. Wader Records and Observations in Mid-Southern Victoria, 1963-1965 By F. T. H. SMITH, Kew, Victoria The ensuing records and notes, on the Charadriiformes, are from my personal encounters with birds of the group between ap proximately August 1963 and May 1965. In this period, two complete north-south migratory wader movements by several species, and one complete east-west movement by a single species, the Double-banded Dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus), were ex perienced. From these observations, it would appear that a north south migratory wader season begins towards the latter part of August each year, and ends early in the following May. This period seems to have been generally agreed upon by many ·Australian observers, long before my own interest in the birds began. Double-banded Dotterels on their east-west movement between the New Zealand region and Australia became evident in March, and most have moved away again by the end of August. However, a few of these Dotterels will be found earlier or later tlian the usual months. A feature of the period under review was the number of migratory waders seen in full, or almost full, breeding plumage. Of the 25 migratory species referred to in these notes, I saw 21 of them, at some time or other, in what I considered to be complete nuptial dress. Where the observation is unusual, I have described it in the text. · On many field excursions, the writer was accompanied by other observers who have, as the occasions arose, confirmed the December ] SMITH, Wader Records, 1963-65 247 1966 identification of rare species, or other waders that are generally considered difficult to recognise in the field. As in other years, bird-watching friends provided transport for most of the more extensive trips, and to them I wish to express my appreciation. I am also again indebted to the Victorian Ornithological Research Group, for inviting me, as a private observer, on their excursions to Mud Islands. On these field trips I used a 10 x 50 binocular for general work, and a 15 x 50 binocular when I felt it was needed for more detailed study. I have purposely concentrated on giving accurate dates, places of observation and accurate, or approximate, numbers of the birds, for the benefit of present and future observers of the Charadriiformes. Most of the observations were made within 50 miles of Melbourne, with a few coming from further afield. Readers wishing for more information on where to find localities mentioned in the text are referred to "Wader Observations in Southern Victoria 1962-63", F. T. H. Smith; The Australian Bird Watcher, June, 1964, Vol. 2, pp. 70-71. The list order and nomenclature, used here, follow The Official Checklist of the Birds of Australia, R.A.O.U., 1926, and amendments. Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). There were two Turnstones together on the Seaholme mud-flats on September 22, 1963. The same day one flew over nearby Cherry's Swamp, calling loudly. It was flying steadily westward with other smaller migratory waders. Over one hundred were at Mud Islands from January 25 to 27, 1964. Groups of a dozen or more birds were often seen, although two, three or four were a more common sight. Larger flocks were occasionally seen; one flock numbered 31 and another 63 . The Turnstones were observed feeding in all situations, with the exception of the well vegetated areas. Usually they were about the lagoon edges and nearby flats, and around the outer shores of the islands. This species is fascinating to watch and to my way of thinking is the clown of the wader group. I never tired of watching them as they fed about the islets or, at times, bullied each other. Occasionally I noticed birds with depressed tails chasing other birds. Probably this was part courtship display. All of these birds were in the non-breeding plumage but some were more intensely marked than others, especially on the black sides of the breast. Swiftly moving, close knit, flocks were frequently noted in the air and, as they sped about, they often called loudly and when close to the observer the rapid flutter of wings would be heard. Apart from the usual habit of flipping over shells, small objects and debris, they were often seen bulldozing small patches of a fine sea-weed with their bills and heads. Sometimes this weed was heaped up into little mounds by the birds. On one occasion I saw several Turnstones and Pied Oyster-catchers feeding together on the shore. An Oyster-catcher, after some jabbing and probing, opened a small mussel shell and ate most of the contents. A Turnstone stood patiently a few inches away watching proceedings intently. When the Oyster-catcher eventually walked away from the repast, the Turnstone rushed in and ate what meat was left in the two halves of the shell. I gained the impression that this was a frequent happening with Tumstones. The species was still in good numbers at Mud Islands from March 7 to 9, 1964. With their time of departure at hand they were somewhat more active than at the end of January, and much bickering and chasing about took place on the mud-flats. Some were in complete breeding garb, whilst most showed a definite change to that plumage. Another two birds were seen near the Altona Saltworks on November 11. Numbers were lower 248 SMITH, Wader Records, 1963-65 Bird [ Watcher than usual on the visit to Mud Islands from January 3.0 to February I, 1965, when over 50 birds were scattered about, singly and in small groups. Pied Oyster-catcher (Haematopus ostralegus). The Pied Oyster-catcher rarely comes closer to Melbourne now than the bayside mud-flats, behind the butts at the Williamstown rifle-range, .a few miles to the south-west of the city. It is not common on the eastern side of Port Phillip Bay, but on the western side it is even plentiful, at times, in certain favoured spots. The species sometimes breeds between Werribee and Geelong, but more frequently in the Geelong district than elsewhere. Two places where nesting is noted often are "The Spit", at the Werribee sewerage-farm and at Mud Islands. During the period under review, Pied Oyster-catchers could be found in small numbers on the Seaholme, Altona and Point Cook bayside tidal-flats, with 15 being the largest group seen. Close to Melbourne single birds were seen at Hobson's Bay, near the mouth of the Yarra River. The bayside section of the Werribee sewerage farm always held several, and on "The Spit", at the sewerage-farm, on June 10, 1963, there were 59. This was a winter gathering of the birds and, although the Australian species is the same as the European one, none showed the white throat patch that the birds of the latter region take on in winter. Good-sized flocks could be seen at "The Spit" during the autumn and winter months, and on April II, 1965, there were, at least, 80 of the birds at the westernmost section. I frequently saw two partly albino Pied Oyster-catchers between Seaholme and the sewerage-farm. Both were similarly marked, the whole of the normally black areas of colouration being a mid-grey. The bills and legs were of normal hue. Sooty Oyster-catcher (Haematopus unicolor). This Oyster-catcher is rare and infrequently seen in the Melbourne and Geelong areas. One is seen often with Pied Oyster-catchers on "The Spit", at the Werribee sewerage farm. There are always a few to be found on Mud Islands, in Port Phillip Bay. There was a single "Sooty" on "The Spit", at the sewerage-farm, with several "Pieds" on June 10, 1963. At least two pairs were present on Mud Islands from January 25 to 27, 1964. One pair kept generally to the north side of the islands, the other pair to the south side. They were often with Pied Oyster-catchers and then it could be seen that they were a little larger in all proportions than ostralegus. Their calls are somewhat different also. The pair at the northern section of the islands occasionally swooped on observers when a certain area was approached. Probably they were nesting and had eggs or young near-by. Visiting the islands again from March 7 to 9, 1964, we noticed that three Sooty Oyster-catchers were still present.

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