The Musk Duck

Volume 4 Number 18 June 2016

Brown Skua and Black-browed Albatross – Ian Ashton

UPCOMING EVENTS Annual Camp Sept 9/10/11 The Committee Tarra Bulga - East Gippsland September 13 Meeting Pieces of Paradise President Tim Sandiford 0467632484 Tania Ireton Secretary Graham Dent 5368 1929 Sept 25 - Clarkesdale Survey Treasurer Colin Johnson 5330 1559 Oct 11 Meeting “Birdlife” - Paul Sullivan Conservation Officer John Gregurke 53394993 Oct 23 Outing Walk Vice President Ian Ashton 53456198 Murray Grant

Nov 8 Meeting My Top 25 Birding Stories Articals and photos for inclusion in our newsletter the Musk Murray Grant Duck Please contact Ian Ashton by email at [email protected] Nov 27 Outing John Gregurke

There are NO Field trips on days of total fire ban

Outings Meetings and Reports

Meeting June 14 John Barkla Nullabor Excursions Birdlife Australia board member, John Barkla, is very familiar with the drive from to Perth, but three to six weeks allows many worthwhile detours. His talk presented a “composite” route, highlighting his favourite birding destinations: 1. Murray-Sunset NP, 2. Gluepot*, 3. Port Augusta, 4. Gawler Ranges NP*, 5. Nullabor Roadhouse (as an entry point to desert tracks), 6. Eyre Bird Observatory, 7. Neale Junction, 8. Monkey Mia/Shark Bay, Mt Magnet and Cue*, 9. Lions/Apex Village near Narrogin*, 10. Perth, 11. Lakes near Perth (inc. Wungong Dam and Lake McLarty), 12. Rottnest Island. Geographically, several of the destinations marked - * are situated where particular regions meet, so the visitor can see birds from a wider area and also spot many interesting hybrids. From the heat in the shade of a hall along with 30-40 Australian Pipits and a flock of Ground Cuckoo-shrikes), to Botanical Gardens, BA properties and watery lakes and shorelines. Some, too, offer good opportunities for close-up photography. Among the many birds John presented, where several critically endangered species (e.g. Mallee Emu-wrens through habitat loss, and the Black-eared Miner through hybridization with the Yellow-throated) and many lesser-seen local “races” (e.g of the Australian Ringnecks). His exceptional ornithological knowledge gave us up-to-date information about the splitting and renaming of several “new” species (like the Copperback Quail- thrush, Western Whistler and Sandhill Grasswren). Carefully chosen images also illustrated key features for the identification of “tricky” hybrid and immature birds. It was an impressive talk – splendidly illustrated and stimulating. Even our most widely- travelled and best informed club members were jotting down notes and keenly asking questions. Novices, like myself, felt that a trip across the Nullabor was both enticing and possible. Shirley Faull Outing Maryborough District –June 26 Leader: Garry Cheers A good number of members braved the freezing conditions to travel through the fog to Maryborough, where we received our usual warm welcome from Garry. Our first stop was the lake in town to get the list started and let the fog lift. Next we stopped at a nearby water storage in an area that was known in the past as good Swift parrot habitat, but is not currently in use by the birds. A morning tea stop in the bush was quiet, but we ventured on to a private block near Dunolly that we had visited before, with some people being lucky enough to see Flame Robins and Diamond Firetails on the way. Another short walk discovered a pair of Red- capped Robins After lunch we trekked across the property to the heathy woodland area, where we saw some great birds, including Tawny-crowned and Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters, White-browed Babbler, Hooded Robin and Southern Whiteface. We were even lucky enough to see a Yellow-footed Antechinus as well. Despite the decline in woodland birds in the area due to the recent dry years, and the ever present cold, we had a fabulous day as we always do when out with Garry. Amanda Ashton

Outings Meetings and Reports

Meeting July 12 Joy Tansey From the Snowy to the Cape Joy and three friends (including both Helen O’Donnell and Barb Williams from our own group) are known for their extensive and intensive travels around Australia in search of elusive and interesting bird species. Many of us were wondering which Cape would be luring Joy this time – and it was actually Cape Conran in East Gippsland! A most informative talk about birding options within our own state followed. This easily accessible area is so appealing because of its very wide range of habitat, and also it’s placed in a central location for migratory birds from both the north and south. Accommodation in Orbost allows day trips to the coast, through various forests and heathlands, to wetlands and swamps. Joy’s recommendations included: Orbost with the Snowy River and a billabong behind the Caravan Park (a nearby breeding ground for Australian Darters, and good views of the Azure Kingfisher); Marlo (where the estuary is home to many waders, and both the Beach Stone-curlew and White-bellied Sea-Eagle can be seen; while the aerodrome gives the chance of seeing the Eastern Green Parrot); Cape Conran‘s banksia woodlands and heathlands have the Eastern Whipbird, Pilot Bird and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos; Yeerung River’s walking trail has heathlands (Southern Emu-wren), low banksia forests (honeyeaters) and swampy areas (Beaautiful Firetail); Cabbage Tree Creek Flora Reserve (among abundant bird calls, the Large-billed Scrubwren, Satin Bowerbird and Spotted Quail-thrush have all been seen). Superb Lyrebird and Brush Bronzewing can also be seen while driving on the Coast Road – and, after dark, various places are home to the White-throated Nightjar, Tawny Frogmouth, Southern Boobook, Greater Sooty and Masked Owls. We could certainly see why Joy has visited there so often. No question either that the trips have been exciting, rewarding and a lot of fun, as well as adding to her already impressive knowledge of birds. Shirley Faull. Outing Point Lonsdale and Black Rock July 24 Leader Ian Ashton Let’s go to the beach cried Ashton, we will see Albatross and many other good and interesting birds! Yes said the committee, good idea, you can lead Ashton! Eight months later, a very worried Ashton checks the B.O.M.site. The forecast is for 35-40Km North Westerly winds with 50% chance of showers, the best conditions for Albatross at Point Lonsdale, Easterly winds with no rain! He phoned Peter Bright for local Gen and reassurance regarding the forecasted winds /Albatross /rain scenarios, Peter just laughed, in fact he laughed a lot. Undaunted we arrived at the lighthouse, the sun was out, no rain, the wind was cool but not 35/40 Km, and there were Albatross, lots, and some came in close to shore. Ashton had bluffed it again! We spent about an hour watching both Black-browed and Shy Albatross (our main targets for the day) Paul spotted a Brown Skua close enough to see the wing flashes with binoculars. Other species included, Crested Tern, Sooty Oystercatchers and a seal or two. After a pleasant morning tea, bathing in the warm glow of success (or maybe it was the Sun), we set off in the wrong direction to Freshwater Lake, arriving at the lake we soon added a few more species, Banded Stilt, Double-banded Plover, Red-necked Stint and a few Ducks. PTO

Month 2012 3

Outings Meetings and Reports

Next stop Barwon Heads and the Bluff, Caspian Tern, Great Cormorant and more Albatross. Then it was time for lunch. Black Rocks added a few birds but the tide was well in and the wind was getting up. Our last stop was at Tait’s Point, , the weather was deteriorating but we added Great Egret and Wedge-tailed Eagle amongst others. A great day was had by 9 members, thank you all for ignoring the forecast. We saw just 56 species but as the aim was to see Albatross, I deem that the outing was a success. Ian Ashton

Meeting Tuesday August 9th Birds of Creswick presented by Ian Ashton.

Ian’s presentation drew on historical records written about the Creswick area to provided insight into the extensive connection between landscape and bird life. In addition, he has been able to obtain and compare four bird list records, the earliest 1930 up to his own most recent survey conducted from 2014 to 2016.

The Creswick landscape has undergone significant change. An early record described it as a gum tree studded valley, presenting the appearance of a lovely park in the midst of heavily wooded ranges, ephemeral swamps amidst a basalt plain. However, by 1880’s the landscape was described as pockets of bush and stands of thin spidery gums. The discovery of gold in the early 1850’s, the subsequent significant growth in the population, and the switch from alluvial mining to deep lead mining had a dramatic effect. In addition, later farming practices saw the draining of swamps and the establishment of deeper-water dams. More recent changes include pine forests, wildfires, high rainfall and flooding but also some very dry years.

Early description of the wildlife found within the ephemeral swamp now a reservoir, Hepburn Lagoon by Mr T Boyes stated “Hundreds of duck and wild fowl frequented the lagoons; other game was also plentiful- wild turkeys, ibis, plover, quail, snipe, and all kinds of wild fowl and flocks of native companions. ..in the bush on the east side of Captains Creek were White Cockatoos, Rosella Parrots, Greenleeks, Grass Parrots, Shell Parrots, Curlews and Love Birds, Minahs, Crows, Magpies, Jackasses, Wrens, Tit, Owls and Kestrels.”

Conditions have changed over time with bird species adapting and moving in and out of the area. Historical bird list records by Harold Payne –1930 included 86 species. Roger Cowley 1958 to 1960, 130 species and included the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Rainbow Bee-eater, and Specked Warbler that are now not seen. Roger Thomas’s 1973 list included Powerful Owl, Bittern and Noisy Miner that are sadly no longer present. The Brush Bronzwing, Little Pied Cormorant, Yellow-tailed Cockatoo are now common but were not listed on Cowley or Payne’s list. Ian’s list also includes the less welcome addition of Rainbow Lorikeet, Spotted Dove, Indian Miner, Pidgeon and Mallards. Of the 192 accepted species on the earlier Creswick lists, 164 have been recorded by Ian so far on his 2014 to July 2016 list. Louise Humble