The Babbler

Number 53 July 2020 Occasional newsletter of Birdlife Murray Goulburn Branch

Birdlife Murray Goulburn LAKE CARGELLIGO President: Pat Feehan Pat and Denise Feehan Ph 0437 354088 Email: [email protected] Lake Cargelligo seemed like a good spot for a bit of Secretary: Denise Feehan June bird watching on a Covid-19 escape tour from Ph 0484 195698 Email: [email protected] . We figured the forecast rain and cold wouldn’t extend that far north, but we were wrong.

The Lake Cargelligo Caravan Park was a good starting NOTE. Because of the Coronavirus point with its resident Grey-crowned Babblers and pandemic, all future branch activities morning Pied Butcherbird choruses (and plenty of are on hold, as at July 2020, until Galahs). further notice.

Birdlife Murray Goulburn on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/birdlifemg/ Facebook queries to Graham Boast. [email protected]

Contents Grey-crowned Babbler. Photo Pat Feehan p. 1-2. Lake Cargelligo, NSW. Pat & Denise Feehan Rain overnight made the mud very sticky and the cold p. 2-4. Meet the Kerr’s. Mike and Ann Kerr made gloves mandatory. Our visit to the local p. 4-5. A Corvid retraction. Val La May Wastewater Treatment Plant was very productive with p. 5 Vale Bill Morecraft 34 species seen in the gloomy, cold and muddy conditions. This site has 474 eBird checklists and 209 p. 5-6. Notes from Numurkah. Gary & Lisa Deayton species and it obviously is a very popular spot. It has p. 6-7 Photos during COVID 19 been described by some as “one of Australia’s best p. 7. What’s in a name? Pat Feehan treatment plants”. Along with a good range of waterbirds, Purple-backed and White-winged p. 7. Brolgas at Moodies Swamp. Peter Ockenden Fairywrens were highlights. p. 7-8. Unusual Sighting White-fronted Honeyeater After a quick lunch we set off to Chat Alley where light p. 8. Report of June 2020 outing rain and mist made for poor birding (or so we thought). After almost giving up, we stopped at an intersection and heard Bushlarks, Songlarks and chats. Next thing there were many White-fronted and Orange Chats on the bitumen. A good sighting! Chat Alley is The Babbler another popular spot, boasting 117 species and 229 the wilds of Wantirna, armed with one pair of Kmart checklists. binoculars and a hard cover copy of Simpson and Day (a lucky choice for beginner birdos, as it turned out), Conditions improved slightly the next day and we only and not even knowing what a New Holland Honeyeater had fog to contend with. Visits to State Forest south of was. Eight months later we returned home with 250 Lake Cargelligo yielded Red-capped and Eastern Yellow species recorded, our eyes now wide open, and with a Robins, Speckled Warblers and the mandatory yearning to get out of the big smoke. Fairywrens. After lunch we decided to give Chat Alley another go and were rewarded again with Orange and On the advice of birdwatchers we met on that trip we White-fronted Chats and numerous Banded Lapwings. joined the Bird Observers Club of Australia (BOCA) early in 1987 and attended the monthly night meetings Some other species we observed in the Lake Cargelligo in the AMP Plaza in and regularly attended area included White-winged Triller, Apostlebirds, Olive- club outings, including to Werribee Sewerage Farm. backed Orioles and plenty of raptors – mainly Nankeen This was in the era of BOCA stalwarts Fred Smith, Kestrel, Brown Falcons and Whistling Kites. Keith and Beryl Richards, Reg Johnston, Geoff Deason, A visit to Deniliquin on the way home gave us views of Tess Kloot, Ellen McCulloch, Barbara Longmuir, Leslie Superb Parrots, Crested Shrike-tits and Azure Feather, Howard and Jill Plowright and David Ap- Kingfisher. The spectacular early morning Corella fly Thomas. Ann also volunteered on Saturday mornings past was worth the visit alone. in the BOCA shop in Nunawading. A favourite birding experience was a three week boat cruise in 1993 with So, despite the weather, our trip to Lake Cargelligo 6 other birdos, our guide Kevin Coate and a crew of was very productive and extended visits in warmer three, from Broome up the Kimberley coast as far times are being planned (when we are allowed in!). north as Cockatoo Island and back to the Broome Bird Overall, we saw 91 species. There seem to be plenty of Observatory, during which we saw 185 species of sites to visit, birds to see and readily available on-line birds. regional bird information so planning for our next visit might be more comprehensive.

Pied Butcherbird. Photo Pat Feehan

MEET THE KERRS

Over the last two decades there having been several club outings to “Girral”, the Kerr’s property in Ann and Mike Kerr. Photo by Russ Jones Upotipotpon, and many club members will already be Escape from the city was not achieved until 1994, quite familiar with this 80 acre island of remnant Box when Mike’s employer, VicRoads, offered staff the forest, but many are also curious as to how and why opportunity to transfer to a selection of regional offices the Kerrs came to be at Girral. Here then, is a potted co-incidentally all beginning with the letter ‘B’. history…. Preferring to head north we dismissed Bairnsdale and In 1986, and at the tender young age of 30, we did a cold Ballarat, then, failing to find a suitable bush block tent camping 4WD trip clockwise around Oz. We left near Bendigo we chose Benalla, especially after

2 The Babbler No 53 The Babbler discovering that a bush block advertised in the BOCA managed to regenerate and prosper. Lots of other newsletter some 2 years previous was still for sale. native groundcovers and shrubs have also survived or regenerated and we have enjoyed watching, recording We sold our house in Wantirna and moved into a unit and adding to our list of native flora, including 13 in Benalla for two years while clear title to the block species of native orchids. However, persistent drought was organised, along with fencing, a dam and power, years have now caused a considerable depletion of before construction of a shed could commence in both the canopy and understorey. 1995. The shed project was interrupted by a fabulous birding trip to Africa, which was virtually our last When the property was acquired in early 1994, only holiday for ten years. This shed was to be home from months after the floods of October 1993, there were 1996 while we built our mudbrick house on weekends, Southern Whitefaces, which sadly have not been seen flexidays and during ‘holidays’. The house incorporates since. What we didn’t know, at the time, was that the passive solar design principles, addresses CSIRO block had some important resident species such as guidelines regarding aspect and orientation, makes use Gilbert’s Whistler, Hooded Robins, Brown of recycled timbers with the walls of mud brick (made Treecreepers, Yellow Robins, Crested Shrike-tits etc, from clay off the site) and local stone and with lots of all of which are still plentiful as well as resident Tawny north-facing glass, but disappointingly all not as Frogmouths and occasional Diamond Firetails. Painted thermally effective as expected. Despite Mike’s Button-quail, which were plentiful, have sadly not been estimate of the build being a 2-3 year project, with seen in the last two years. The Girral bird list tally is only the bare minimum of tradesman assistance, it now 119 species and so far this year 35 species have ended up taking over 8.5 years, much to Ann’s been seen at the birdbath near the house, the latest chagrin. being a Flame Robin. We finally moved in to our still not completely finished house on 1 January 2005. It was only then that we could start regularly participating in the BLMG monthly outings. On retirement from VicRoads, Mike served as BLMG Branch President from June 2011 until March 2018.

Is this a fluffy toy or a sodden Crested Shrike-tit? Photos Ann Kerr The block is a wildlife refuge in a landscape otherwise largely altered for marginally profitable farming Bird bath trifecta. Male Hooded Robin, Jacky Winter and practices. In terms of non-feathered fauna, Yellow- Willie Wagtail. Photo Ann Kerr footed Antechinus were quick to take advantage of the Prior to 1994, the property had been continuously and giant antechinus castle we built and the Brush-tailed selectively grazed, most recently by Welsh ponies, Possums would quickly decimate the veggie patch if Santa Gertrudis cattle and sheep. This grazing regime they did not receive their nightly ration at the adjacent left a persistent cover mainly of prickly Spreading feeding table. Squirrel Gliders can also be occasionally Wattle and Gorse Bitter-pea amongst the Red Box observed at the feeding table. Wallabies have trees on the elevated eastern end of the property, with discovered that Girral provides safe harbour and they only Grey Box and sparse Danthonia on the lower, too demand their daily offering from the fenced veggie level ground to the west. Very few specimens of patch. Echidnas regularly drink from and cool off in the Golden, Gold-dust, Bent-leaf and Plough-share water bowls on the ground in warm weather. Wattles, Dillwynia and Common Fringe Myrtle could be found anywhere on the block. With stock excluded, it was remarkable to see how quickly all these species

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Is there any advice for others contemplating a similar move? Make sure you go into such a move with your eyes wide open – research Council policies thoroughly and choose your area and neighbours carefully. Take plenty of time getting to know the natural environment before making any well-meaning, but sometimes mis- guided, decisions such as planting or actively thinning vegetation or destroying wildlife etc. Doing nothing except weed control is often the best approach. Protect and conserve the environment and hopefully what happens naturally will have the best chance of long- term survival.

Painted Button-quail relaxes on the pavers. Photo Ann Kerr

Verandah Black Wallabies. Photo Ann Kerr

A CORVID RETRACTION Young White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes. Photo Mike Kerr

Val La May So, would we do it again? I wrote an article on bird mnemonics, published in the Yes probably, if we were 40 years young again! Now, November 2018 Babbler, which included tips for at 64 years of age, Mike is developing an aversion to distinguishing Little Ravens from Australian Ravens. ladders and the thought of lugging 22kg mudbricks has My mnemonics were “Little is Flippant” for the Little lost some appeal. We would also definitely do some Raven, as this type of raven supposedly flips its wings things differently with the benefit of experience and when calling. I claimed that the mnemonic for the hindsight, such as double glazing all the glass. Australian Raven was “The Aussie is depressed” because the Australian Raven depresses its tail when Was the hardship of 8.5 years in a Colourbond shed calling. worth the wait? Since that time, I have been closely observing a pair of Mike actually enjoyed life in the shed, Ann not so Little Ravens that spend a lot of time in a nearby tree, much! Both are still happy that they elected to move and even call from the roof of my home. Guess what? here and do most of the building hands-on. The peace These Ravens mostly do NOT flip their wings when and solitude of life in a natural setting, 20 kms out of they start calling. And they dip their tail at the start of Benalla is hard to beat but does come with some calling. unique pressures and sacrifices. You need to be multi- skilled and happy in your own company. Coronavirus Had I studied the Australian Bird Guide (ABG) section style isolation is much the norm at Girral! on Australian corvids, I would have noticed their illustration of Little and Australian Ravens, which

4 The Babbler No 53 The Babbler shows both species with depressed tails while calling. Reference Further, in the text for the Little Raven, the ABG states Menkhorst, Peter et al. Australian Bird Guide. CSIRO ‘When perched, calls often accompanied by distinctive Publishing, 2017, pp. 438-9. flicking of the wings.’ [italics mine].

VALE BILL MORECRAFT

We are sad to note the passing of BLMG member Bill Morecraft earlier this year. Bill and his wife Jackie made many annual trips to Australia from the UK, basing themselves in Benalla over the summer months. Bill was a keen glider pilot and a keen bird watcher. We were always pleased to see Bill and Jackie back in Australia and attending our branch activities during their stay. They also enjoyed a number of birding trips to different parts of Australia. Our thoughts are with Jackie and her family.

NOTES FROM NUMURKAH

Gary and Lisa Deayton

White-fronted Honeyeater is an unusual visitor to the Extract from Australian Bird Guide, page 439. area and one bird has been here since late March this Australian Raven top; Little Raven below. year (previously recorded here in 2006). We see and So it seems we must look for subtler clues to or hear it most days as it feeds in the street tree in our distinguish these ravens; e.g. the Aussie has a larger front yard. The tree is a Dwarf Red-flowering Yellow ‘bag’ when calling, i.e. the hackles under the chin. And Gum that has been flowering profusely over the same the Aussie’s call is higher pitched and usually more period. This small tree provides a lot of habitat and as drawn out. The Aussie is larger than the Little Raven, well as hosting many honeyeater species over time, it but that is difficult to judge unless the birds are side has also been used by Swift Parrots on several by side. occasions in the past. Note: ‘corvid’ is an informal name for Corvidae, the It appears groups of Grey-crowned Babbler have bird family of crows and ravens. Not to be confused established and have bred in Numurkah and . with the name of that dreadful disease. There is quite a background story to this. In 1998 a survey conducted for Birds Australia established that the nearest Grey-crowned Babbler group to Numurkah was around 12km to the west. Then one bird was recorded in Numurkah by us in early 2000. It stayed around for a year or so then disappeared. Not long after one showed up on a private property east of Wunghnu, likely the same bird. Again it stayed there for quite a while, building nests by itself before suddenly leaving. Not long after, two birds showed up on another private property with a large native garden west of Wunghnu. They seemed to settle and could usually be located in this area. During a formal survey for this species in late 2018, four birds were recorded Australian Raven. Photo Andi Stevenson at this site.

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In the meantime another bird arrived in Numurkah around 2014. It was often heard calling from the creek and golf course environs. Then in November 2018 we saw three birds in the same area, two adults and a juvenile. They were being severely harassed by Noisy Miners. Later that day they were observed flying around calling and seemed to be highly agitated and distressed, possibly by a large event with loud speakers near where they were earlier in the day. They weren’t seen again and couldn’t be located during the December 2018 survey despite an extensive search. In early August 2019 two adult birds showed up, again in the same area. In late September a group of five birds were seen there, two adults and three immature Black Swans at Duck Pond, Winton Wetlands June 2020. birds. We didn’t see them again until late February Photo Marg Clarke 2020, again two adults and three immature birds. In mid-May 2020 seven birds were observed, two adults, three immature and two juvenile (still begging and being fed by others). This larger group has been seen several times foraging around the creek and recreation reserve environs, with the last sighting in early July. It is encouraging that they are making use of revegetated areas established from 2002 to 2014. The movement of birds has almost certainly been aided by the connectivity with roadsides and the Broken/Nine Mile Creek system between Numurkah, Wunghnu and the population known in 1998.

Grey Currawong, one of a pair that visited Lorna Ward’s property in June 2020. Uncommon around Benalla

PHOTOS DURING COVID 19

Wedge-tailed Eagle with leucism, flying over Warby Ranges. Photo Bill Brown Southern Whiteface at Murchison. Photo Pat Feehan

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What is really interesting is that the IOC list uses Fairywren (i.e. no hyphen!) Why the differences? I'm still confused!

BROLGAS AT MOODIES SWAMP

Peter Ockenden

Moodies Swamp, on the Benalla - Road south of Katamatite has been a Brolga hotspot in Spotted Pardalote. Photo Catarina Gregson recent months. Six Brolga were seen there in late June 2020. The swamp has received some water from natural inflows and it currently has some free water on its eastern side.

Peter, Carole and Tim Ockenden provided this report WHAT’S IN A NAME? on their recent visit to Moodies: We decided on a trip to Moodies Swamp today, it was Pat Feehan a cold day, we got there before the rain for lunch and had the place to ourselves. The swamp had some A recent update to our outing bird checklist in January water in it, but we couldn't see it from the southern 2020 highlighted some subtle differences across edge, slowly filling. The frogs were noisy in the databases about the naming of birds. distance. We saw four (4) Black Swans which Names such as Australian Reed-Warbler, White-bellied appeared to be nesting, all socially distancing by about Cuckoo-shrike and Grey Shrike-thrush are all 200m out in the middle. Every so often they would hyphenated in Australian Bird Guide (ABG) but not in take a peek above the reeds. eBird. Trying to sort this out took me down an Not much else was happening except for lots of Galahs interesting rabbit burrow (or should that be rabbit- flying. burrow?). We decided to leave as it was starting to rain. Just as ABG apparently follows the International Ornithological we were getting back to the car, I thought I heard the Committee (IOC) Word Bird List call of a Brolga, a haunting sound. Sure enough on a (https://www.worldbirdnames.org/.) closer look we saw two (2) dancing in the distance. I The BirdLife Australia (BLA) Working list of Australian understand they are known to breed here. We had not birds (WLAB) uses hyphens e.g. Fairy-wren. seen them before so it was very exciting. The WLAB list is supposed to be fully comparable with all other major checklists — Christidis and Boles

(2008), International Ornithological Congress (IOC), The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World (Cornell UNUSUAL SIGHTING Lab of Ornithology) and BirdLife International. Bird names in eBird are based on the eBird/Clements taxonomy. White-fronted Honeyeater The IOC bird name site notes: Gary and Lisa Deayton mention a White-fronted Honeyeater at Numurkah in their article on page 5. Use of hyphens in compound group names to indicate Several pairs of these birds were also recorded for the relationships among species is minimized first time on private property west of Nagambie in July Hyphens are used in compound names only to connect 2020. They were feeding in a dense patch of flowering two names that are birds or bird families (e.g., Eagle- Spreading Wattle and Cassinia. Owl, Flycatcher-shrike) or when the name would be White-fronted Honeyeaters are usually birds of the dry otherwise difficult to read (e.g., Silky-flycatcher, inland but have been recorded in Mallee habitat in the White-eye). Bendigo area and occasionally at Rushworth.

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Other species of note included Red-browed Finch, Australian King-Parrot, Brown, Striated and Yellow Thornbills, White-browed Scrubwren and a single, male Golden Whistler. After taking lunch at Apex Park (and sheltering from another shower) we took Kaz Wilson’s advice and moved on to the Warby-Ovens National Park at Nason Springs, just off the Taminick Gap Road near Glenrowan. Here we saw 26 species including raptors (Brown Falcon and a Wedge-tailed Eagle), robins (Hooded and Flame), along with numerous Red-rumped Parrots, Welcome Swallows and two Crested Shrike-tit. We even saw a few patches of blue sky!

White-fronted Honeyeater. Photos Catarina Gregson Male Hooded Robin at Nason Springs. Photo Graham Boast

REPORT OF OUR ONLY BRANCH Overall, we managed 46 species for the day which OUTING SINCE FEBRUARY 2020 turned out to be a pleasant outing, despite our initial fears about the weather. Thanks Pat and Denise for organising the outing and Wangaratta and Nason Springs the required COVID 19 paperwork, and to Mike and Saturday 20 June 2020 Ann for leading us on the day.

How good it was for some members of BLMG to meet at Apex Park in Wangaratta for our June outing, after 3 months of cancellations because of COVID 19 restrictions. At the time the Victorian Government was THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO ALL allowing outdoor groups of up to 20 to get together, CONTRIBUTORS FOR YOUR ARTICLES and 19 people were able to attend on the day. Two days after our outing the government cut back the AND PHOTOS numbers for outdoor activities to 10 people per group. Rain cleared enough by 10.15am for us to walk downstream along the banks of the Ovens River. Somewhat surprisingly, given the damp, cool and very overcast conditions, good numbers of birds were seen giving a total of 34 species. There were numerous Crested Pigeon (40), Red-rumped Parrot (30), Galah (25) and Superb Fairywren (25).

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