The Rainbow

Volume 5 Number 2 May 2016 (Issue 86)

YOUR RAINBOW BIRD PRINTED COPY

For many years the Rainbow Bird newsletter has been produced four times a year, usually in February, May, August and November. We are now up to issue 86. Prior to February 2008 the printed newsletter was produced in black and white with no photographs. It was duplicated for our club at no cost by MADEC. As technology advanced we moved into producing an extended newsletter with colour photographs. With the amalgamation of BOCA and into BirdLife Australia there was a requirement to produce our newsletter in a format consistent with all other branches. BirdLife Australia produced the templates that we now follow. It is a colourful format which is expensive to reproduce. Until 2013 our newsletter was printed at no charge in full colour by MADEC. In 2013 MADEC informed us they could no longer print our news letter for free.

To continue to produce our newsletter our club purchased a colour printer so we could do our own printing. The cost of producing the newsletter has increased as the length of the newsletter and the number of colour photographs has increased. Members have indicated that they enjoy the Contents increased use of colour photographs. 1. Your Rainbow Bird Printed Copy At the moment we need to replace the toners in the printer 2. Thegoa Lagoon Outing at least twice per year. This is a cost in excess of $800.

Add to that the cost of paper ($20 p.a.) and postage ($80 3. Barmera, Lake Bonney, Kingston Outing p.a.) 4. Allan Taylor's Older Photos

I would like the club to consider producing an electronic 5. A Surprise Outing (email) copy only. I know the committee will be considering this at their next meeting, but this newsletter will be 6. A Trip to produced before their opinion is known. 7. What Bird is This?

We have several members who do not have an email 8. Birds at Puddles account so how do we cater for them? 9. That Elusive Bird For those with access to a computer we could use a USB stick that they could view and copy the newsletter and then 10. Kestrels return the USB at a meeting ready for the next issue. 11. Birding in the Summer

Those without email or access to a computer may be able to 12. Emus give us an email address of a friend or colleague who is prepared to download/print a copy for them. 13. Interesting Sightings

14. Club Calendar If none of these work a copy is always available on the BirdLife Australia website (Mildura page) which can be viewed for free at any library. Len Jeffers BirdLife Mildura P. O. Box 1722, Mildura, VIC 3502 The Rainbow Bird Editor: Rae Jeffers, [email protected] The Rainbow Bird

THEGOA LAGOON OUTING – FEBRUARY 7TH, 2016

A small number of members gathered at the Bike Hub at we could see a wooden stick structure out in the water. Col 8.00 am in the warm, clear sunshine, to travel to Lock 10 to informed us that it was a "fish hotel" which provides a meet up with Leader Col Stewart. The numbers swelled at refuge for fish. There are at least four of them in the lagoon the lock to 17, more than the number of inactive pelicans at various positions. perching on the railings of the lock. Apart from the idle pelicans there were several cormorants, also inactive, numerous Tree Martins flitting everywhere, a single Darter and a Pacific Black Duck - not much bird life on the river really.

Col led the convoy to Thegoa Lagoon. The lagoon had received environmental water some time ago but at this point it had dried out considerably.

As the convoy moved on we passed the second hide but the water had receded from that area so Col selected an area near a vine block to have morning tea. As everyone was settling in the shade 13 Darters could be seen circling overhead making use of a thermal to gain height. The bush was alive with birds at this point. Over 20 Little Friarbirds were seen plus 5 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Red Wattlebirds, Blue-faced Honeyeaters, Noisy Miners, Striped Honeyeaters and Australian Ringnecks. Most of the birds However at the first bird hide Col led us to there was plenty kept flying back and forth from the black box trees to the of water and a good number of water birds. Young Yellow- vines laden with grapes. The Little Friarbirds appeared to be billed Spoonbill perched in the dead trees opposite. eating the grapes, however the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes Australasian Grebe, Eurasian Coot, and Pacific Black Duck flew just above the vines hawking insects. On one occasion were on the water. Two Hoary-headed Grebe and a a Little Friarbird was seen bashing a caterpillar on a branch. Hardhead were added to the list. Closer examination of the ducks on the water revealed two Pink-eared Duck, a first The remainder of the lagoon was dry as we slowly followed it sighting for Luka, and several Little Pied Cormorant. Three around to return to the lock. We passed several large Black-fronted Dotterels flew noisily over our heads and two patches of Darling lilies in full bloom - a wonderful sight. Black-winged Stilt fed along the water's edge. As the day was forecast to reach 40°C most called it a day In the surrounding black box and red gum were Red-rumped when we returned to the lock and thanked Col for leading Parrots, Brown Tree-creeper, Crimson (Yellow) Rosella and the outing so capably. White-plumed Honeyeaters to name a few. Also at this hide Rae Jeffers

Sightings: 47 Species Australian Wood Duck Australian Pelican Australian Ringneck Noisy Miner Pink-eared Duck Australian White Ibis Welcome Swallow Yellow-throated Miner Pacific Black Duck Yellow-billed Spoonbill Tree Martin Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Hardhead Whistling Kite Blue Bonnet Blue-faced Honeyeater Australasian Grebe Nankeen Kestrel Red-rumped Parrot Grey Shrike-thrush Hoary-headed Grebe Eurasian Coot Laughing Kookaburra Grey Butcherbird Rock Dove Masked Lapwing Rainbow Bee-eater Pied Butcherbird Crested Pigeon Silver Gull Brown Treecreeper Australian Magpie Australasian Darter Galah Weebill Willie Wagtail Little Pied Cormorant Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Striated Pardalote Australian Raven Great Cormorant Rainbow Lorikeet Singing Honeyeater Magpie-lark Little Black Cormorant Crimson Rosella White-plumed Honeyeater

2 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird

BARMERA, LAKE BONNEY, KINGSTON OUTING – APRIL 8TH TO 10TH, 2016

Banrock Station Section: Those of us staying at Lake Bonney Discovery Park met at "…a wetland complex …which has been recognised of 8.30 am for the 15 minute drive to Banrock Winery. We international importance …under the Ramsar Convention …"; spent some time waiting in the car park to confirm our "…subject to an ongoing environmental restoration program numbers. The Woods, based at Kingston, joined us as did by a commercial organisation which manages the wetlands Ian & Brian from SA Field Naturalists who acted as guides and promotes ecologically sustainable land use practices …"; with local knowledge. Peter and Rhonda Barrand from "…In 2002 ..received the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Heywood, friends with club members, also joined us and Award in recognition of its conservation efforts …"; "In 1992 contributed their birding knowledge. a program began to restore the natural hydrological regime of alternate wetting and drying cycles that the wetlands had We proceeded through the Banrock Visitor Centre to begin before locks and weirs were installed …"; "…it supports the Mallee to Valley trail, through dry lightly wooded country several regionally threatened , including the and along a creek gully; bird sightings were sparse initially. southern bell frog, Regent Parrot and river snail …provides This then led on to the Boardwalk at the north end of the habitat seasonally …offers a route for fish migrating around wetland. There was a good level of water as a result of an Lock 3 on the Murray …provides spawning and nursery environmental filling. habitats …"; (from Wikipedia). There were common waterbirds such as Black Swans, Eurasian Coots, Dusky Moorhens, Pacific Black Ducks, Little Pied Cormorants and some smaller scrub birds. We went along the boardwalk to the Shelduck Hide and spent some time there viewing and photographing. We retraced our steps and went around to the Black Swan Hide on the west side of the wetlands. There was a distant sighting of a Musk Duck and various other ducks. Overall our sightings increased with the many "eyes" and experience of our group and in total 39 species were sighted (see list). We returned to the Visitor Centre for a light lunch and socialisation (some indulged in a glass of the local product). The weather conditions were pleasant being sunny and mild. Sightings, while not out of the ordinary were sufficient to be interesting. The walk took 2 ½ hours and we covered about 5 km. "…the first internationally important wetland to be designated in SA that is entirely located on private land ….It is now one of only 20 sites in the lower River Murray that has been returned to a near-natural water cycle …"; "..floodplain wetlands …dominated by lignum & sedge with expanses of open water. Adjoining …open mallee box woodland community …provides habitat for a breeding population of the vulnerable regent parrot. Approximately 159 bird species …have been observed at the site. During dry periods the swamp acts as a drought refuge." (Aust Gov Department of Environment website) "What are Ramsar wetlands? ….a wide variety of natural & human-made habitat types ….wetlands include swamps, marshes, billabongs, lakes, salt marshes, mudflats, mangroves, coral reefs, fens, peat bogs, or bodies of water – natural or artificial, permanent or temporary. …static or flowing, fresh, brackish or saline …" (Aust Gov Department Some background information on Banrock (from various web of Environment website) sources): Alasdair Campbell

Sightings: 39 Species Black Swan 6 White-faced Heron 2 Noisy Miner 5 Willie Wagtail 1 Pacific Black Duck 3 Australian White Ibis 4 Yellow-throated Miner 4 Grey Fantail 1 Grey Teal 15 Whistling Kite 1 White-plumed Honeyeater 5 Magpie-lark 2 Chestnut Teal 4 Australasian 2 Striped Honeyeater 1 Restless Flycatcher 1 Musk Duck 1 Dusky Moorhen 2 Little Friarbird 2 Australian Raven 1 Australasian Grebe 4 Eurasian Coot 20 Striated Pardalote 2 White-winged Chough 5 Hoary-headed Grebe 4 Crested Pigeon 2 Weebill 3 Welcome Swallow 6 Little Black Cormorant 5 Little Corella 2 Grey Butcherbird 3 Australian Reed-Warbler 1 Little Pied Cormorant 1 Crimson Rosella (Yellow) 8 Pied Butcherbird 1 Little Grassbird 1 Great Egret 2 Mulga Parrot 2 Australian Magpie 1

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Hart Lagoon Section: An attractive area for bird watchers this one! Where is it? Latham named them the "New Holland Shoveller" in 1801. Close to the riverfront near Waikerie, and adjacent to the They were renamed the "Australasian Shoveller", but lost an Waikerie Caravan Park. We had been alerted to the fact "L" in 1926. No one seems to know why. that the lagoon had seen environmental flows recently, by The newly split Black-winged Stilt species was in good Chris Lill from the Riverland Field Naturalists Inc, who had numbers. Peter and Rhonda Barrand, (described as visited the area with her group. Hart Lagoon has a managed Travelling Twitchers on their business card), who were wetting and drying cycle as part of the ecological function of accompanying us, alerted us to the division. The Black- the wetland, and many water birds were taking advantage of winged Stilt which occurs in Australia, will now be known as the wetting cycle during our visit. the White-headed Stilt. The Asian version will be known as I found the Australasian Shoveler's behaviour intriguing. the Black-winged Stilt. Anything in between will be damned Dabbling, with head underwater, orange legs and powerful hard for even really experienced bird watchers to ID they feet scrabbling in the air, without completely submerging, told me! and more active than I had ever seen them. And more of The other quite large groups, (colonies, rafts, or as a certain them! gentleman in the club calls them "bloody great mobs"?), We have generally only counted the odd pair among other consisted of Pink-eared Duck and Red-necked Avocet, who ducks on our outings and surveys and they were far less were also feeding enthusiastically. active.

Hart Lagoon has provided a great feeding ground for water Those serious bills with their lamellae hair like structures on birds for the last 10 years, with their managed wetting and the inside, described as acting like a whale’s baleen, lets drying cycle. Project officer Emily Hoffmann from South them filter the water from the side of their bill, and keep the Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources food inside. Management Board, wrote that the cycle, "aerates the soil, The wetting/drying cycle helps the preferred menu of small encourages the germination of emergent and dry wetlands invertebrates, some plants, and insects in the fertile mud. bed vegetation and consolidates wetland bed sediments". These ducks occur in the South East and South West of She also said that, "Drying a wetland may also be used as a Australia, and Tasmania as well as New Zealand. This year Carp management strategy, as many large Carp can be they are a protected species during the duck shooting trapped in the wetlands at this time". They are a species season in Australia. A protection which may have operated there is no joy in seeing! in the past, was a common name in usage by our colonial Evelyn Williams forefathers, "Stinker", a reference to their culinary characteristics. Sightings: 21 Species Australian Wood Duck 25 4 Caspian Tern 1 Australian Magpie 1 Australasian Shoveler 15 Eurasian Coot 40 Galah 2 Little Grassbird 1 Pink-eared Duck 120 Black-winged Stilt 60 Crimson Rosella (Yellow) 6 Common Starling 40 Australian White Ibis 6 Red-necked Avocet 240 Red Wattlebird 1 Straw-necked Ibis 5 Black-fronted Dotterel 4 White-breasted Woodswallow 1 Brown Goshawk 1 Silver Gull 4 Pied Butcherbird 2

Dinner on the River While most of us on the Riverland weekend took accommodation at the Barmera Caravan Park, Doug, Betty and Chris Woods had previously stayed in accommodation at Kingston-on-Murray. We were pleased they hired it again, as they generously hosted us Saturday evening.

Sightings at dinner: Australasian Darter 2 Australian Pelican 5 Peregrine Falcon 1 Regent Parrot 4

4 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird

Loch Luna Cruises, Kingston-on-Murray Our small group from Mildura departed for a cruise from Island which has 4 species of snake including the Murray Kingston-on-Murray along the Murray to Lock Luna, a game Darling python. Here we encountered Sulphur-crested reserve, aboard the little flat-bottomed M.V. Lock Luna, in Cockatoos with a few Little Corellas just before we navigated glorious sunshine with Carl, an avid "birdo" as captain. a narrow channel between dead trees which were festooned like Christmas bells with Little Black Cormorants.

The short section on the Murray had big groups, up to 250, of Little Black Cormorants and up to 100 Great Cormorants Following narrow waterways covered with red, yellow and flying overhead frequently from their feeding grounds at green water weeds and fringed with reeds we crossed into Lake Bonney. As Lock 3 came into view dead trees, created Chambers Creek which would take you to Lake Bonney, if 85 years ago by the establishnent of the lock, made side you had had another 3 hours or more! This area is a game wetlands where pelicans, Darters, cormorants and swans reserve and gun shots were heard as duck hunting season took refuge. was still on. In a group of willows Carl speeded up his boat to grant Rae her wish to see a Nankeen Night Heron. Going close he flushed out approximately 8 of them.

This, probably, accounts for the lack of seeing the hundreds of ducks, coots, , grebes, and cormorants that we saw a year ago in this delightful area. Never-the-less it was a great 3 hour cruise with a good 45 species seen.

Photos: Chris Woods & Alasdair Campbell Betty Woods At this point Carl turned up into Nockburra Creek which is 6 km long. This created a crescent shaped island called Snake Sightings: 45 Species Black Swan 30 Great Egret 1 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 20 Pied Butcherbird 1 Australian Shelduck 2 Nankeen Night-Heron 8 Regent Parrot 4 Black-faced Cuckooshrike 1 Australian Wood Duck 8 Australian White Ibis 6 Crimson Rosella (Yellow) 6 Willie Wagtail 1 Pacific Black Duck 5 Yellow-billed Spoonbill 1 Red-rumped Parrot 4 Magpie-lark 2 Grey Teal 10 Whistling Kite 8 Brown Treecreeper 5 Little Crow 30 Australasian Grebe 4 Australasian Swamphen 1 Superb Fairy-wren 1 Australian Raven 4 Little Black Cormorant 600 Eurasian Coot 45 Noisy Miner 3 Welcome Swallow 20 Great Cormorant 110 Silver Gull 3 Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater 1 Tree Martin 50 Pied Cormorant 25 Caspian Tern 1 Red Wattlebird 1 Common Starling 6 Australasian Darter 20 Rock Dove 2 White-plumed Honeyeater 12 Australian Pelican 30 Galah 2 Dusky Woodswallow 2 White-necked Heron 2 Little Corella 50 Grey Butcherbird 3

May 2016 5 The Rainbow Bird

ALLAN TAYLOR'S OLDER PHOTOS

I haven’t anything to report by way of details of trips away, I focussed, firstly on the front bird and then on the second outings or special places in the district so I have resorted to bird – getting, I think, two very unique shots. Unfortunately looking back at some of my old photos for inspiration. I I didn’t manage to get the two birds in sharp focus in the have chosen a few that are a little different to the ordinary. same shot. Photo number one is an old photo taken with a film camera. Number three was taken at Mourquong Swamps. On an impulse, I called in on the Kelso block on the way home from work.

I had sighted the Marsh Sandpiper some distance away on the shore of the main swamp. It was joined, for a very It was a very hot afternoon and quite late in the year and I short while, by the Wood Sandpiper. I managed to get a didn’t expect to see anything. As luck had it, I heard a couple of shots in before the Wood Sandpiper flew past me young bird calling and ended up with the photo of a poor to the swamp that is nearest the entrance gate. The little Chestnut-rumped Thornbill feeding the Horsfield’s interesting thing about this photo is that Wood Sandpipers Bronze Cuckoo. The hot, glary day caused dark shadows in are a freshwater species and this one must have dropped in the picture but the picture, still, was quite acceptable. at the swamps to investigate them. I didn’t see it, or any other Wood sandpiper for that matter, again at the swamps. Photo number two was the result of birdwatching at the The Mourquong Swamps, apparently, are too salty for them. eastern swamp on Little Cowra Road. Number four was taken seven or eight years ago on Meridian Road.

I took a chair to the side of the drain which leads out of the swamp and after sitting for a short while, watched as a Spotted Crake walked from the reeds to the mud at the side I remember that it was a few days after Christmas and very, of the drain. I saw it jump at the shutter click as I shot the very hot. In fact, I saw a Willie Wagtail go down a rabbit first photo but from then on it ignored me. It wasn’t long burrow to escape the heat. Despite this, the Black-faced after that that the Spotless Crake sidled out from the reeds. Woodswallows cuddled up to each other and the photo is the I took a couple of shots as the Spotted Crake walked in front result. of the Spotless Crake.

6 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird

The photo of the was the result of a little The Mulga Parrot family was taken on a trip up to Wamberra patience. with Pauline Follett and Jayna Podgorski.

At the time I didn’t have a digital camera so every shot counted due to the limited number of photos on a roll of They had had a long stint on the ground feeding. It was film. I wasn’t quick enough to capture the Kingfisher getting slightly dark when all the family flew up to the entering the nesting hole but took this photo as soon as I branch and posed for me. The photo was very dark and, I saw movement when it came out of the hole. The shot was, thought, too dark for any reasonable photo but I managed in truth, a fluke. to lighten the image and got an acceptable result. The Restless Flycatcher photo was taken on Danson Road in The photos of the Little Button Quail and the White Browed the mallee before you go through the gate into Linklaters’. Treecreeper were taken on film.

I had spotted the nest so I came back the following day with Both were the result of a lot of walking – much more than I a step ladder in order to get a view closer to the eye level of would care to do now. The Quail would flush from a small the bird. The patch of mallee is no longer as productive for section of roadside adjacent to wheat land on Meridian Road birds due to, I think, it being reduced slightly in size to make but I was never quick enough to get a good photo before it way for the sowing of wheat. would melt into the dried grass. I used the ladder again to The photo of the White Breasted Woodswallow is, I think, take the Treecreeper photos at a better level. very unusual because of the fact that the bird was using a Magpie Larks’ nest to breed in.

The photo shows the nesting hole and the bird has a meal I feel sure that this was the case because the two adults for its chicks. were taking it in turns to sit in the nest.

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The photo of the two Splendid Fairy-wrens was taken when I went down to Colignan, partly to try to get my first sighting of that species. I was coming out of the Hattah Kulkyne NP on the way home when I spotted the flash of blue. I had very little film left but went back the next day with more film and was very excited to see that they were still at the same spot. In fact, they must have had a nest nearby because they were feeding a juvenile. The picture shows the pair, unfortunately, in shade. They had been leap- frogging sideways over one another. I am told that this activity is favourite of Splendid Wren pairs. I have closed with three photos of mating birds. These were the result, more, of good luck rather than good management, although you increase your chances of good luck the more you are out in the field.

Allan Taylor

A SURPRISE OUTING

When you are invited out for a drive you don't know where you may end up. On Thursday, 24th January, Helen and Bob Walton asked me to go to Manangatang with them to see the monument the town has erected. It is made out of mallee stumps. After seeing the town over we travelled to Hattah Lakes for lunch. The main lake was up but receding. Hardly any birds were on the lake, only five Australian Pelicans. A few Galahs had nested in the gum trees as well as Sulphur-crested Cockatoos which we could tell by the feathers on the ground. After lunch we travelled on the road past the Parks headquarters to visit some of the other lakes. The best lake for birds was Lake Wolerap where we saw 39 Australian Pelicans, one Australian ringneck sleeping, 3 Rainbow Bee-eaters, one Restless Flycatcher calling and flying away from us. There were also 2 Pacific Black Ducks. Whistling Kites were calling on the edge of Lake Hattah. When we left the park to return home we saw 3 Emus and about 20 White-winged Choughs. There was also plenty of water lying around on the roadside from Robinvale to Hattah.

Judith Petschel

8 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird

A TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND With some birding highlights We had a 25 day trip to New Zealand which was primarily We didn’t have time to do a walking tour of the sanctuary, general sight-seeing but which had a few "birdlife" but it would be worth a further longer visit of at least half a highlights. Our time was spent mainly in the South Island, day. although we flew in to Auckland and travelled by and A few birds had been sighted at this stage: a Skylark ferry to Wellington then on to Christchurch, spending one or (singing but not sighted) in a grassy suburb of Auckland, two days in each of these cities. We also did the Tranzalpine some Variable Oystercatchers on a shoreline, a few pukeko rail trip to Greymouth, before travelling by car to Aoraki (Mt (Purple Swamp-hens) from the train as well as several Cook), Queenstown, Te Anau and the fiords of Milford and Australasian swamp harriers (with white rump). Doubtful Sounds then on to Stewart Island. From there we returned via Dunedin, visiting the Otago Peninsula, to fly out from Christchurch. We experienced a range of weather conditions, from warm sunshine in Auckland to drizzle in Wellington, quite wintry conditions at Kaikoura on the Pacific coast. Aoraki gave us blue skies and sunshine with clear views to the high alps, while at the fiords of Milford and

Doubtful we had typically Albatross wet and misty conditions – good for waterfalls, with At Kaikoura I took a three hour "Albatross Encounter" in a sunny breaks allowing small vessel that went 3 or 4 kilometres off-shore in rough sightings of the mountain conditions and put out a lure of fish-livers which attracted a tops in cloud and gathering. Our official list at the end of the trip included Kereru (NativePigeon) sunshine. The crossing to thirteen species; I felt confident that I had seen some Stewart Island was rough, and the weather there wet and albatross - Royal Northern or Southern, several Salvin’s windy although, again with some breaks to allow activity. In Albatross, possibly also a Wandering, many Giant Petrels all, a variety of conditions, not unpleasant, but noticeably (which seemed more like albatross), many Cape Petrels and cooler than the equivalent season in Australia. there were others such as shearwaters in the mix. While we had close-up contact with many birds, it was an artificial situation with much squabbling over the food and I found it more interesting to "stand-back" and take my chances photographing the soaring of these magnificent birds in a wintry landscape.

Tui Our first bird "site" we discovered by accident. We took a small shuttle bus from the top of Wellington’s Cable Car to Zealandia - a sanctuary surrounded by 8km of high predator protection fence. We looked through the impressive Salvin’s albatross exhibition which gave a good summary of how European (and Maori) "colonisation" had brought specific challenges The Fiordland of Milford and Doubtful Sounds in typical wet, for New Zealand’s endemic species, such as the predation of misty conditions gave a wilderness atmosphere, but apart rats, stoats and possums especially on the native flightless from Australian fur seals and a brief sighting of a dolphin, birds. not many birds nor much wildlife.

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In Doubtful Sound we were assured that we were seeing the endemic Fiordland crested penguins, based on very brief 2 second surfacing with no time to identify features, or to direct a camera lens to the right spot. Our drive to Milford Sound and parking near the Homer Tunnel brought us into close contact with a number of inquisitive – endemic Alpine Kea parrots. They flew down to inspect our car, and allow close-up photography. At our Fiordland base of Te Anau we stumbled on a small sanctuary whose main exhibit, a takahe, is a seriously endangered flightless endemic bird thought at one time to be extinct but now being re-introduced to a few (mainly island) locations

Kaka Parrot Stewart Island They are scarce on the main NZ islands but seem to thrive on Stewart Island. We participated in a small group tour (4 people) of the small island of Ulva, led by a knowledgeable birdwatching guide, who was able to locate interesting birds, as well as give good information of how the island had become a protected "sanctuary". We came across a that wandered within a metre of the group without fear (a member of the rail family).

Takahe

Weka Stewart Island

We had several very friendly South Island Robins come close Variable Oystercatcher to seek food in disturbed soil and make close-up photography easy. There were sightings of a NZ fantail, Stewart Island provided the birding highlights. In the small brown creeper, NZ bellbird, a nearby morepork (resting up) township of Oban we could see on the beach endemic as well as the prized sighting of yellow-heads (mohua) high Variable Oystercatchers (similar to Australian Sooty in the tree canopy and also of an elusive (tieke). Oystercatchers) as well as being visited on the hotel balcony My skills were not adequate to photograph them all. by kaka – a forest parrot similar to kea.

10 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird

Ulva had the feel of a secluded sanctuary where a variety of visit had more to commend it as a "conservation" birds were safe from predators. experience. These were our main bird highlights. I was also regularly aware of introduced species such as blackbirds, chaffinches and song-thrush (all quite common) and I observed several endemic (a honeyeater) and kereru (native wood pigeon) in populated/city areas. A pair of endemic paradise shelducks was seen in Queenstown feeding in grass oblivious to the people around. New Zealand gives the impression of a "clean and green" country with considerable wilderness areas. While that may be substantially true, I became aware of the many challenges it faces to retain its endemic birdlife, especially the flightless birds. It has a history, possibly worse than Australia’s, where introduced species have created unforeseen problems. It is making use of habitats where they are safe from predators such as in protected sanctuaries or on off-shore islands. I learned of some of the Stewart Island Robin birding locations from an on-line booklet (in Australian Birdlife) Birding New Zealand on www.birdingnz.co.nz The Our final birding location was at the Royal Albatross Colony / small handbook by Geoff Moon, , gave Centre on the tip of the Otago peninsula (near Dunedin). guidance for the majority of birds we saw, although prior to Here northern royal albatross nest on the mainland, but not the trip I borrowed The Field Guide to the Birds of New in large numbers. The viewing of their nesting area is Zealand by Heather, Barrie (et al) from the local library and carefully controlled. There were many visitors to the centre a smaller Hand Guide by the same authors also exists. New and you could take a short tour to a bird-hide. Close Zealand may not have the same number or as diverse a contact with the nesting birds was not permitted so they range of birds as Australia, but its endemic birds and the could only be viewed from a distance with a few solitary locations where they are found are certainly of interest. Our birds flying off the headland. It was close to a large colony birding, however limited (in being mainly on "commercial" of nesting red-billed (silver) gulls and to a colony of tours) added a dimension. (endemic) Stewart Island shags. While not as immediate an experience as the Albatross Encounter at Kaikoura, the RAC Alasdair Campbel

WHAT BIRD IS THIS?

The National Birdlife magazine runs a feature whereby a The rufous strip along its outer tail feathers is diagnostic. photo of a mystery bird is shown and the name of its species is revealed in the following edition. I thought that I might do the same, although I am sure that our editor will not prolong the agony of deducing its identification and will reveal the details elsewhere in this edition of our newsletter. (p17, same page as club calendar) The photo was taken, perhaps, three years ago at Mourquong swamps. I would not have expected to see this species around a swamp, although they can be found in most types of woodland, usually adjacent to a patch of open country over which it can gaze in search of its food - caterpillars. It migrates to this district, usually around June, but will only stay if food conditions are suitable. In this photo, part of its beak is obscured but it is slightly down-curved. It might help you in identifying it to know that the bird in the picture is immature. It will, soon develop barred markings across its breast and its wings will have a slight Allan Taylor iridescent green sheen. Its call will become a descending high pitched whistle. Occasionally it uses a contact call that is a little reminiscent of the chirruping of a house sparrow. It is raised, not by its natural parents, but by foster-parents such as thornbills and wrens.

May 2016 11 The Rainbow Bird

BIRDS AT PUDDLES

Around a week ago, towards the end of January, I went Spiny-Cheeked, Striped, Yellow-Plumed, Brown-Headed, down to the Sunset NP with a view to photographing birds White-Eared and White-Fronted plus Yellow-throated Miners. drinking at rain puddles on a track. There had been a heavy It amazes me where these species come from as, travelling rain a few days earlier and I waited three days until, I along the tracks, I usually only see the occasional Yellow- guessed, my 2 wheel drive vehicle wouldn’t get bogged and Plumed and Spiny-Cheeked Honeyeaters. I don’t know how then went down Meridian Road to the Murray Sunset NP. All they locate the isolated puddles of water or what they do for the tracks were practically dry until I got part-way down moisture when the puddles dry up. Moisture would have to Midnight Tank Track. At that spot, water was still lying for be obtained from nectar and insects after that time. perhaps 30 metres of clay pan. Of recent years I have worked more on the theory of having birds come to me, rather than me walking rather aimlessly around the scrub. The way to do this is to park the car near a water source, food source or nest site. Warm days make parking near water most productive. This particular day’s temperature got to around 37 degrees. I parked my car mid-way between the ends of the stretch of water and waited. The Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters that were gracing the area with their presence began to sidle down from higher branches to the lower ones and then eventually make some swoops towards the water. I fancied that I was a bit close to the end of the paddle where the activity was taking place so I moved a couple of metres towards the other end. This appeared to do the trick and the more adventurous birds went down to drink. It was interesting that some species in the area at that time didn’t go in to drink. The most notable were Striated Pardalotes and Brown Treecreepers. I think that there were Whistlers and Crested Bellbirds in the general area but they, also, didn’t come in to drink. These species are insect eaters and I wonder whether that has a bearing on their need for water.

I have noticed that the more timid birds and bird species hold back until a braver bird goes down to drink. In this regard it is always good to have a bird like a Willie Wagtail at the water to lead the way.

I have, in recent years, made use of a drain near the river at Dareton to get photos of birds drinking. The drainage water comes from a pipeline that goes under the vineyards higher up the slope. After irrigations and heavy rains water comes out a pipe that feeds into the drain. Birds love this water, even though the river is less than 50 metres away. Honeyeaters, , Rufous and Gilbert’s Whistlers, Peaceful Doves, Zebra Finches, choughs, Willie Wagtails, wrens and thornbills frequent that spot. The finches and doves, which are seed eaters, drink the water but, I fancy, the insect eaters are more interested in either bathing or feeding on the insects that gather around the water and surrounding weeds.

Allan Taylor On this outing I got photographs of 7 honeyeater species:

12 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird

THAT ELUSIVE BIRD It seems that most bird enthusiasts have difficulty in getting about it but the country was under the prolonged drought of a first sighting of a species of which many other birdos have several years back so I had never been all that optimistic little difficulty in spotting. My nemesis, for many years, was about seeing much. I think that Bob said we had driven 180 the Striated Grasswren. kms, starting at Berri that day. They are, supposedly, easy to spot on the Nowingi Track Having still not seen a grasswren, I asked a member of the where the Mallee Emu-wrens are most commonly sighted. visiting Riverland Field Nats whether he knew of a location of Some eight years’ago I had seen the emu-wrens quite a few Striated Grasswrens. Yes, around the area adjacent to the times at that location but hadn’t seen the grasswren so I entrance to the Cooltong Conservation Area between tried other areas. I remember, once, Michael Mack had Renmark and Berri. I went there and it certainly appears to reported that he saw one on Rocket Lake Track so I went be good birding country but still no Striated Grasswrens. there but didn’t see a grasswren. Later, one of the NSW National Park rangers said that Striated Grasswrens are "everywhere" at Tarawi Nature Reserve. Tarawi is situated adjacent to the Scotia Sanctuary. I drove to the southern entrance of the Tarawi property. Near the gate there are four posts with symbols on them which indicated that there was no camping, no dogs, no shooting and no something else – I can’t remember what. Although feeling slightly uneasy about going through the gate, because I felt that there may have been restrictions on entry, I blundered in. Prior to going up to the property I had seen on the NP website a map that showed the location of all the birds in the Reserve and the map had shown several potential locations of the grasswren. So I headed for one of those spots. To cut a long story short, I got bogged.

I walked 9 kms back to what used to be the station Striated Grasswren Photo: Allan Taylor homestead but is now the ranger’s quarters. I finally raised Eventually, some three Junes ago, I saw the grasswren on an indignant ranger from whatever he was doing and was Konardin Track, just after seeing a Mallee Emu-wren. They told that the property is a Nature Reserve and not a National were within 25 metres of each other. It never rains but it Park and that I shouldn’t have been in it. pours! I have since seen the Striated Grasswren another Incidentally, the map with the bird locations on it has since four times – twice near the Konardin Track spot and twice been pulled from the National Parks website – which makes on Pheeney’s Track. me wonder why anyone took the trouble to pinpoint the bird In my quest for the elusive bird I had spoken to several locations in the first place. people who had seen it at the first visit. Once I had spoken Bob Goodfellow used to advertise guided tours of the Mallee to a member of the Horsham Birdlife group and he had seen country north of Berri, SA., in the BOCA magazine. So Bob it on the way up to Mildura when he and his wife stopped at kindly took me on a tour of Calperum Station. We stopped the Hattah truck stop for a bite to eat. numerous times at his pet Striated Grasswren sighting spots but still no grasswrens. Bob seemed a little embarrassed Allan Taylor

May 2016 13 The Rainbow Bird

KESTRELS

For the past four years I have noticed a pair of Australian The kestrel pair raised five chicks to fledging stage this Kestrels nesting on a window ledge of the old Mildura Co- season. Unfortunately, one of the fledglings was hit and run operative Fruit Co Ltd’s (Coomealla Branch) building. over by a vehicle. A week or so after fledging there Feeling very clever in making this discovery, I mentioned appeared to be only two kestrels inhabiting the building. I this fact to Joan Rodoni, my neighbour. She replied that the guess that these were the parents. This raises the question office staff at the Co-op, of which she was one, used to as to where the young birds go. The field guides state that watch the kestrels on their lunch breaks when she was kestrels are nomadic. However, the mortality rate must be working there in the 1960’s. So this raised a couple of very high amongst the young birds because there was no issues, the first being that I wasn’t as clever as I thought I explosion of numbers after the breeding season this last 12 was and the second being that kestrel families can, most months. probably, usually go back to their favoured nesting spot for At the time that birds fledged, two of the young birds were many years. on the ground and seemed to be having difficulty returning to the nest. Their attempts fly up to the ledge were unsuccessful as they were trying to go straight up instead of approaching the wall at an angle. I could see that these two birds weren’t being fed by the parents and had presumed that their siblings might have forced them off the ledge. I was about to take some processed ham to them when my mother said that the salt in the meat would kill them. I, then, rang the rescue hotline and a recorded message advised me that fledglings are often on the ground

during the breeding season. Common sense, then, prevailed On the face of it, the ledge of building that is frequented by and I left the birds to their own devices. The next day all humans seems an odd place to raise a kestrel family but the young birds were on the ledge again. after driving past the building on frosty mornings I realised Allan Taylor the attraction. I would often see a kestrel on one of the ledges, pressed against the wall. The brick wall, because it faces north, was trapping the warmth from the sun on the sunny days that follow frosts and the bricks were radiating the heat back on the kestrel.

BIRDING IN THE SUMMER

With the spell of hot weather early December 2015 Pauline Whistling Kites. We parked the car in the shade of a Follett and I decided to try and get a few hours watching peppercorn tree beside the Old Wentworth Gaol and walked done early in the morning, starting at 6.00 am. We started onto the golf course. There were many Australian Wood in Mildura to head to Wentworth via Dareton. At that tiime Ducks on the course. Pauline pointed out the tree with the the temperature was 14°C but the expected high for the day hobby's nest. We could see two young flapping their wings was 37°C. in the nest but no parents around. We settled to wait and before long the parents returned to feed their chicks. As we crossed the bridge Pauline saw a Peregrine Falcon at the top of a tree so we turned to go below the bridge near We moved on to look for the Laughing Kookaburra's hollow. the river where it sat. Pauline took photos and I scanned We found it with one kookaburra sitting on a relatively low with my binoculars. We continued under the bridge and branch near it. No-one was playing golf as yet. We decided back around to the highway to a factory where some to go to the lock. The sprinklers were on there and we Nankeen Kestrels had nested (see Allan Taylor's Kestrel watched the birds flicking back and forth from the spray. article). Driving very quietly and carefully, and not too Few water birds were there but Pauline wanted to get photos close, we saw one young kestrel sitting on a ledge. Pauline's of Blue-faced Honeyeaters. The day was warming up so we camera was in action again. We didn't see the parent proceded home via Merbein and Seventeenth Street. however. Susan Fisher We went through Dareton to Wentworth golf course where an Australian Hobby had a nest. En route we saw Black and

14 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird

EMUS

Late last year a group of us went to a book launch at Neds The owner of Coleraine Station, Alistair Baird, quoted one of Corner. After passing Lake Cullulleraine, we began to see his neighbours who, when a group of station owners dozens of Emus in every paddock. organised a programme on their properties to get rid of Sometime later Pauline Follett, Jayna Podgorski, Sue Fisher, rabbit habitat by ripping the warrens, insisted that some Finley Japp and I went to Lake Walla Walla with the idea of burrows be left untouched so that snakes and small reptiles spotting a Latham’s Snipe that had been seen there. Barely wouldn’t lose their homes. a single Emu was seen. They had all left in the few weeks Sheep and cattle, when they congregate at the same spot since the earlier visit. for several years, can compact clay pans so that vegetation I mentioned this to a grazier friend of mine and said that it ceases to grow. I know of a few graziers who plough was a bit of a mystery. He answered that it wasn’t really a furrows across those clay pans in order for the wind to mystery because Emus migrate north each year. deposit various seeds (they usually hope for saltbush seeds) in those furrows. Sometimes, according to the whim of nature, seeds will germinate in those furrows prior to becoming bushes and the clay pan, therefore, is eventually reclaimed. Alistair said that he had a raptors’ nest on his property that hasn’t been used for some thirty years. The raptor that he described sounded like a sea-eagle, although the nest was a little distance from the Anabranch and, in any case, it seemed an unlikely location for a sea-eagle to call home. I guess that it left as there would be nothing to keep the raptor in the area once the Anabranch had been closed off at the Menindee Lakes. The attitude of graziers and farmers to Wedge-tailed Eagles seems to have changed markedly over the past 50 years. He is the owner of Coleraine Station near the Bunnerungee Alistair and most other graziers leave them alone because Bridge, north of Wentworth. they believe that any loss of lambs due to eagle predation is tiny and usually only applies to weak lambs. Those lambs He said that he has a fence line that runs east/west. At a are often twins or triplets that have received inadequate certain time each year, there are Emu tracks all along the nutrition from their mothers. Eagles, of course, have a southern side of the fence where the Emus have been trying beneficial effect on a property if they feed on rabbits. to find a gap to pass through the fence. Later each year there are tracks on the northern side of that fence where the Allan Taylor Emus are trying to get through to go south.

Over the years I have decided that farmers are as varied in On returning to Mildura from the Riverland on March 10th I their love of nature as are people from any walk of life. counted appoximatly 200 emus in the area mentioned in There are those who farm purely to exploit the land, those Allan's article. They have been there for several weeks who are apathetic and do little to manage or develop their seemingly feeding in the wheat stubble. properties and others who are students of the weather and Ed the land and the creatures that live off and on that land.

Photos: Chris Woods

May 2016 15 The Rainbow Bird

INTERESTING SIGHTINGS

20/12/2015 Superb Fairy-wren (2) Etiwanda Wetlands - land bridge. Twittering and playing L Modica 26/12/2015 Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (5) McEdwards St. Cabarita. Six visits in Dec. P Doering 08/01/2016 Common Greenshank (3) Cowanna Billabong - Merbein Common. L & R Jeffers 09/01/2016 Grey Shrike-thrush (1) At home, Irymple. Calling A & S Hawtin 10/01/2016 (1) Yelta. L & R Jeffers 11/01/2016 Gang-gang Cockatoo (4) Bogong Road, Tumbarumba. Flying over C MacGillivray 11/01/2016 Noisy Friarbird (2) Road to Tumbarumba. Sitting in tree C MacGillivray 12/01/2016 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (3) Near Tumbarumba. Flying over C MacGillivray 15/01/2016 Fork-tailed Swift (400) Over Darling River at Wentworth. A great rolling ball of birds K Job 17/01/2016 Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (2) Near Wentworth. Flying over S Fisher 23/01/2016 Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (3) At home, Irymple. Flying over A & S Hawtin 24/01/2016 Cockatiel (1) At home, Yelta. L & R Jeffers 25/01/2016 Striped Honeyeater (2) At home, Yelta. In flowering gums L & R Jeffers 25/01/2016 Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (5) McEdwards St. Cabarita. Seen 5 nights since 25th P Doering 26/01/2016 Eastern Barn Owl (1) Arumpo Road. Flying out of hollow H Devilee 30/01/2016 Red-browed Finch (1) Leongatha. Flying between trees C MacGillivray 30/01/2016 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (5) Leongatha. Flying over C MacGillivray 30/01/2016 Striated Grasswren (1) South of Pheeney's Track. Feeding with Variegated Fairy-wrens F Japp/I Japp 31/01/2016 Black-winged Stilt (30) Brickworks B'bong - Merbein Common. Many other birds here also A Campbell 31/01/2016 Yellow-billed Spoonbill (10) Brickworks B'bong - Merbein Common. Many other birds here also A Campbell 01/02/2016 Australian Ringneck (5) At home, Irymple. Flying over A & S Hawtin 12/02/2016 Long-billed Corella (4) Cavendish cemetery. In pine trees J Petschel 13/02/2016 Grey Currawong (2) Halls Gap. Flying over J Petschel 13/02/2016 Little Corella (5) Cavendish cemetery. In pine trees J Petschel 13/02/2016 Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (2) Halls Gap. In gum trees J Petschel 13/02/2016 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (4) Cavendish cemetery. In pine trees J Petschel 16/02/2016 Black-breasted Buzzard (1) Fletchers Lake Road. Soaring near Fletchers Lake B MacMillan 18/02/2016 White-breasted Woodswallow (15) Merbein main street. Catching insects L & R Jeffers 20/02/2016 Australian Hobby (1) At home, Irymple. Sitting in tree A & S Hawtin 23/02/2016 Striated Pardalote (1) At home, Irymple. Sitting in tree A & S Hawtin 25/02/2016 Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (60) Langkoop, VIC. Watering at trough Brian Witford 26/02/2016 Variegated Fairy-wren (4) At home, Irymple. In back yard A & S Hawtin 01/03/2016 Spotless Crake (1) Etiwanda Wetlands. J Podgorski 14/03/2016 Zebra Finch (2) Sylvia St. Yelta. Flying over L & R Jeffers 21/03/2016 Cape Barren Goose (1) Port Augusta. Walking along waters edge L & R Jeffers 21/03/2016 Emu (100) Nth of Sturt Hwy 65km W of Mildura. Feeding in stubble L & R Jeffers 26/03/2016 Elegant Parrot (3) Mamjimup WA. Feeding on lawn L & R Jeffers 26/03/2016 Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (20) Mamjimup WA. Flying over L & R Jeffers 26/03/2016 Splendid Fairy-wren (10) Pemberton WA. L & R Jeffers 26/03/2016 Golden Whistler (1) Ngarkat Conservation Park. In mallee scrub P & C Dunstan 26/03/2016 Purple-gaped Honeyeater (2) Ngarkat Conservation Park. In mallee scrub P & C Dunstan 26/03/2016 Tawny-crowned Honeyeater (2) Ngarkat Conservation Park. In heathland P & C Dunstan 28/03/2016 Eastern Yellow Robin (1) Castlemaine. In Botanical Gardens J Podgorski 28/03/2016 Striated Thornbill (1) Castlemaine. In Botanical Gardens J Podgorski 30/03/2016 Superb Lyrebird (1) Noojee Trestle Bridge. Male walking across track C MacGillivray 30/03/2016 Australian Hobby (1) Walnut Ave.. J Podgorski 30/03/2016 White-bellied Sea-Eagle (1) Lake Boga. Flying over road and lake J Podgorski 03/04/2016 Golden Whistler (1) Midnight tank track. A Taylor 03/04/2016 Tawny Frogmouth (1) At home, Nichols Point. Nearly trod on - in dark C Woods 03/04/2016 Peregrine Falcon (1) Mildura Plaza carpark. J Podgorski 03/04/2016 Peregrine Falcon (1) Cowanna Billabong - Merbein Common. M Mack 04/04/2016 Blue-faced Honeyeater (1) At home, Birdwoodton. In cherry tree G & M Preisig 04/04/2016 Grey Fantail (1) At home, Birdwoodton. On birdbath G & M Preisig 04/04/2016 Brown-headed Honeyeater (6) Sylvia St. Yelta. Flying towards billabong L & R Jeffers 05/04/2016 Grey Butcherbird (1) At home, Birdwoodton. In gum tree G & M Preisig

16 The Rainbow Bird The Rainbow Bird

CLUB CALENDAR

Tues 3rd Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm May Outing - Yarrara & Mallanbool Flora & Fauna Reserves - Leader: Alec Hawtin Sat 7th Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:30am

Tues 7th Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm June Outing - Nurnurnemal Nature Conservation Reserve & Castles Crossing Sun 12th Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 9:00am - Leader: Bill Williams.

Tues 5th Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm Outing - Ned’s Corner including survey - Leader: Len Jeffers July Sat 9th Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:00am Thurs 28th Committee Meeting

Tues 2nd Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm Aug Outing - Wandown Nature Reserve & Margooya Lagoon Sun 7th Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:30am - Leader: George Kerridge

Tues 6th Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm Sept Sat 10th / Sun 11th Campout at Nelson. Leader: Peter Dunstan (details TBA)

Tues 4th Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm Outing - Hattah-Kulkyne National Park Sun 9th Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:30am - Leader: George Kerridge Oct Tues 11th Ned’s Corner survey

Thurs 27th Committee Meeting

Tues 1st Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm Nov Outing - Australian Inland Botanic Gardens Sat 5th Meet at Bike Hub Pine Ave. at 8:30am - Leader: Pauline Follett

Sat 3rd/ Sun 4th Challenge Bird Count

Dec Tues 6th Club Meeting at Carnegie Centre, 74 Deakin Ave, Mildura at 7:30pm

Sun 11th Outing - Christmas Get-together

What bird is this answer: That crazy equine area between the stone and iron ages

May 2016 17