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Mornington Peninsula Birdlife

Volume 6 Number 1 March 2017

Satin Flycatcher, female, photographed at Devilbend by Mark Lethlean

PRESIDENT’S REPORT Always check beachcast for bands A Crested found dead at Merricks Beach on 3 December Welcome to the New Year of BirdLife Mornington Peninsula. I 2016 carried a band which indicated that it had been banded hope you all had a great Christmas/New Year break. on Mud Islands, Bay by The Victorian Wader Study Group on 13 December 2001. Information provided by We started the year with a function at The Briars sponsored the Australian and Bat Banding Scheme (ABBBS). by the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery who at this For more information and reporting of bands: time have an exhibition of bird art at their Mornington https://www.environment.gov.au/science/bird-and-bat- gallery. The Briars event entitled “Birds of a ” banding featured BirdLife’s Sean Dooley who spoke on the beautiful peninsula birdlife and their history. Dennis Gosper, Balnarring We now have over 300 members in our branch. This is very pleasing for our committee who have worked very hard to provide a meaningful outings program and a sense of Contents belonging in the community in support of our birdlife. 1. Branch news We received a grant of $500 from the Bendigo Bank to 4. Habitat for wildlife support the newsletter production. The cheque was presented to us at a Dromana Life Saving Club function, and 5. Outings program and reports their support is much appreciated. 9. Roosting experiences In conclusion I hope to see you at our outings this year; we have a good selection of birding sites to visit. 10. Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys Max Burrows 12. A quetzal quest 13. Observations

Branch news

Fight or Flight The increased rarity of some birds across the Mornington Peninsula has occurred in relatively recent times. We have lost the grey-crowned babbler from our region, this bird was widely distributed in earlier times, however it became lost around the turn of the century. Three robins have recently become very scarce, these iconic Australian flycatchers once thrived in our midst but sadly now they are rarely recorded. One of our tiniest birds the southern -wren now only exists in small isolated localities clinging on to survival by a thread. The well-publicised beach bird the hooded plover is vulnerable because of human beach usage and now has a very strong protection group that monitors the breeding cycle. This bird is the subject of a long term study by BirdLife and Friends of the Hooded Plover Group to try to secure a long term future for this beautiful little bird. Danny Vits and Sean Dooley at opening of Birds exhibition. Some birds are very secretive in their habits and therefore Photo by Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery are hard to evaluate. One of these is the Bassian thrush, a bird similar in appearance to the well-known English thrush, this bird is rarely recorded and due to its habits could American visitors disappear without us even realising. One of our members, Graeme Horskins, brought an One reason for these rarities is the loss of habitat. Most of American couple, Gregg and Kellie from Minnesota to the these birds mentioned require natural bush and will not Devilbend outing. An excellent morning's birding was had adapt to human development methods and once the bush and Kellie was the one who spotted the Crested Shrike-tit. has gone so are they. These birds are sometimes pushed into So many new birds for them. smaller and smaller tracts of bush causing conflict with more aggressive species and thus they struggle to survive. After a lunch by the reservoir, I took them to The Briars and we had a walk in the woodland area then a tour of the Max Burrows, President, BirdLife Mornington Peninsula, The homestead and its connection with Napoleon. I have just Warbler, MPRG exhibition liftout received a card from Gregg and Kellie (via Graeme) and they got ten "lifers" just at The Briars (including an eyeball-to- eyeball meeting with an Emu).

They really enjoyed the day and thank all of us for a great A great resource day and for our friendliness Just been reading the Mornington Peninsula Birdlife David Ap-Thomas, Mt Eliza newsletter and wished to say that it's been a great resource for Geoff Lacey and I in researching the peninsula's birds. We've been compiling a paper on the (terrestrial) birds of Who am I and your group’s information is the only recently published resource we can really compare the Thanks to all who responded to my request for thoughts on islands birds against. the baby bird on page 7 of the December newsletter. We aim to publish our paper in Australian Field Ornithology Samantha Greiner, Newsletter Editor BirdLife Hamilton sometime next year. I'll keep Mornington Peninsula birdlife emailed: “Kirsty has rescued a Rock Dove! We had one advised. handed into us in 1999 as a squab, just funny down . He passed away this year aged 17.” As they say 'keep up the great work!’

Martin O'Brien, Executive Officer Flora and Fauna Guarantee Scientific Advisory Committee, Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning Newsletter contributions Thanks for your fantastic articles and photos. Keep sharing your sightings, observations, bird photos, daily birding activities, surveys, tips on bird identification and birding while travelling stories. Contacting BirdLife Mornington Peninsula The newsletter is available on the BirdLife website a President Max Burrows; 9789 0224 month before hard copies are posted. 21 Moorhen Cres, Carrum Downs, Vic 3201 Send to Val Ford; 5981 1445 & [email protected] [email protected] Deadline for June edition: 1 May 2017 www.birdlife.org.au/locations/birdlife-mornington-peninsula Earlier articles appreciated.

2 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Branch news

MEMBER PROFILE

Celia Browne How I started birding In early 1977, with both boys at school, I was casting around for a hobby which would occupy my mind but leave me available for a son with medical problems. The local paper advertised two courses: “Creative Writing” and “Suburban Bird Study”. The bird course with Ellen McCulloch started first and the rest is history. Ellen introduced us to birding and to amazing locations in the suburbs - Yarran Dheran, Blackburn Lake, Wattle Park, Sherbrook Forest, Maranoa Gardens, and Churchill National Park. Then further afield; Yellingbo searching for Helmeted Honeyeaters, camps at Wilsons Prom and the Little Desert. Howard Jarman opened up the wonderful world of Banyule Camps and trips Flats on the Yarra. To sit overlooking the swamp on a spring Purchasing a tent enabled me to camp with members at morning, watching through the scope, Latham’s Snipe on far exciting camps all over . Going further afield meant a muddy edges, is my idea of heaven. growing list of Victorian birds and memorable experiences. Joining the Bird Observers Club led to many volunteering My first experience of outback Australia was in 1986, the roles in the shop at Nunawading. Much later to celebrate the Great Victoria Desert Trip led by wonderful Kevin Coate. A Bird Observers Club Centenary I organised “plant a forest”. Square-tailed Kite was enjoyed early one morning as we In May 2005, in cooperation with Banyule City Council, “walked on”, Cinnamon Quail-thrushes were identified, as branch members planted 312 eucalypts, acacias, were Crimson Chats, Red-throats and both Pied and Black tree violets, red gums alongside a creek at Banyule Flats, Honeyeaters, and my first White-winged Fairy-wren. We thus forming a “flyway” from the swamp to the Yarra. searched unsuccessfully for Princess in the Valley of Survey organisation and coordination the Winds, but did find Dusky Grasswrens at Simpson’s Gap. Rabbit bait/Bird survey, in conjunction with Hans Brunner of At Kakadu and the Coburg Peninsula with Alan Mulder in the & Noxious Weeds Destruction Board. At four sites 1988 we marvelled at Mangrove Gerygones and loved on the divide at Glenburn Whipbirds were commonly seen as Lemon-bellied Flycatchers. were Yellow Robins, Red-browed Finches, Blue Wrens, In 1992 after an evening careering around a Hay paddock Crimson Rosellas, Olive Whistlers, and Grey Shrike-thrushes. with Phil Maher of Inland Bird Tours, eventually finding a Victorian Japanese Snipe Survey in conjunction with Fisheries Plains Wanderer, we travelled the Strzelecki Track with Phil & Wildlife. My team (June Elmer, Joan Peters, Ted Tinning & and Trisha, enjoying Letter-winged Kites, Australian me) visited Banyule Flats every three weeks, plodding Pratincole and Thick-billed Grasswrens. Then in 1995 The through mud and briars, between cows, avoiding , Canning Stock Route and the Kimberley with Phil beckoned. from the native garden in the north towards the billabong in We found Princess Parrots near Lake Tobin and Black the south, flushing snipe ahead of us. Sometimes as many as Grasswrens at the Mitchell Falls. thirty-five were tallied. With Kevin Coate, in 1998 it was the Anne Beadell Highway Other projects included the monthly survey of the birds of and in 1999 the Rudall River, both producing more bird “Yarrabridge” in the Yarra Valley 1983-85; survey of the encounters in the outback. Then in 2001 Lord Howe Island Birds of Koonung Creek, North Balwyn, and the three year where the list expanded yet again and I attempted to climb survey of the birds of Yarra Bend/Studley Park. Mount Gower! Birdwatching outings Klaus Uhlenhut was another guide with whom I travelled several times. To Iron Range in 2004 for Red-bellied Pitta, I ran the Weekday Outings for five years. We visited the You Eclectus , a displaying Magnificent Riflebird; to “the Yangs, Kurth Kiln, , Westerfolds Park, Badger Tip” in 2007 for Oriental and Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo and Weir, “Killeavey” at Eltham, Greens Bush, “Yarrabridge” at Red-bellied Pitta and Two Peoples Bay for Noisy Scrub-bird Woori Yallock, etc. Always popular were the “poo ponds” at and other West Australian “goodies”. Werribee and Cheetham Salt Works. Favourite birding spots on the peninsula Later I ran half-day “Wednesday Wanderings - Warrandyte to Westgate”, exploring the many parks and reserves along the The family property on Browne Street, McCrae. River Yarra. There were many highlights - Powerful , Tootgarook Swamp, a five minute walk from my present Tawny , posing Darters, swimming wallabies, home in the Village Glen, where sightings of Australasian echidnas, an occasional , , a or two. My Bittern are always a possibility. favourite bird of Victoria, the Eastern Yellow Robin, was My ambition sighted on many occasions but it was notable that, as we got closer to the finishing line during drought years, their To increase my Aussie bird count to 650 - it has been stuck numbers dropped dramatically. at 648 far too long!

March 2017 3 Habitat for wildlife

Fairy at Rams Island On 26 November, Amy Adams from BirdLife Australia and a group of volunteers came to French Island to undertake removal of a small patch of Hemichroa pentandra (Trailing Jointweed) on the top of Rams Island. This was done with a view to exposing the shell grit underneath so as to potentially increase the nesting area suitable for Fairy Terns. The visit was a first step in BirdLife Australia's new Fairy Tern Monitoring Project covering and Port Phillip Bay. The two breeding sites in Western Port are both on French Island. Rams Island is the main site, and a second site on Tortoise Head has been used on a few occasions. Fairy Tern , Rams Island. Photo by Chris Chandler Fairy Terns are a threatened species in Victoria and the number of breeding pairs is estimated to be less than 150. Habitat loss, human disturbance, nest inundation, by birds such as the Silver and , and predation by domestic and feral are all contributing to their decline. The aims of the project are to monitor the birds and their breeding success, record the ecological characteristics of key sites, observe and evaluate threats to nesting sites and, where appropriate, undertake remedial work to improve breeding outcomes. The project team is calling for volunteers to help monitor the nesting colonies over the breeding season (September– February). They are also keen to receive any historical or current records of Fairy Terns within the study area. Contact Amy Adams at [email protected] or 9347 0757. Geoff Lacey represents FOFI on the project's Steering Tortoise Head. Courtesy David Nicholls Committee, and a number of FOFI members have already begun monitoring Rams Island. Eighteen Fairy Terns were recorded on 25 November, plus 4 with 1 egg each, but Australia were foraging for krill in the Southern Ocean, flying disappointingly there were no signs of either birds or nests a up to 15,000 km in a single round trip, at speeds of up to 88 week later. km/hour. Detailed records of the terns over four decades, provided by The single pullus in each burrow is left unattended for days FOFI and others, are summarised in Geoff Lacey and Martin at a time as the parents alternate their long trips with O'Brien, "Fairy Tern Breeding on French Island, Western Port, shorter ones, but David notes that they "do come out of their Victoria", Australian Field Ornithology 32 (2015), 1–14 burrows at night and are assumed to learn the pattern of stars in the night sky". By the time the chicks are ready to

depart they are generally heavier than the adults. Shearwaters at Tortoise Head David's group FIRM (French Islanders Researching Muttonbirds) also visited Tortoise Head up to three times a David Nicholls is an authority on the migration patterns and year to remove African boxthorn. This noxious bush does breeding habits of the Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus provide some protection for the nesting burrows, but adult tenuirostris), and we thank him for generously sharing his birds can be injured on the sharp thorns as they come in to knowledge with us over lunch on 26 November at Tortoise land. The planned Boxthorn removal at Tortoise Head by Head and for introducing us to his colleague Sam. Parks Victoria in spring 2016 has now been deferred until We made a round trip of it, setting out from the Anchorage next autumn. on a fine sunny morning, where we were careful to disturb Chris Chandler, Friends of French Island News, December the Sea-Eagle pair as little as possible, and returning through 2016 the costal saltmarsh to Tankerton (see David's map).

David and his students at Chisholm TAFE studied the annual variation in the size of shearwater chicks (pulli) on Tortoise The Friends of French Island is a group of volunteers who Head most years between 15 and 20 April from 1998 to meet monthly to support the work of the rangers of 2014. The key finding was a significant and substantial French Island National Park. Activities include monitoring decline in the mass of the pulli over this period, the most the bird life and ecological changes of the island, likely cause being the amount of food available to the parent photography, weeding, planting and rubbish removal. birds, namely Antarctic krill. FOFI is a great way to discover this remote island in Satellite tracking first introduced in 1997 provided the Western Port, Victoria. We welcome new members. astonishing proof that shearwaters (both Short-tailed and Please contact the Secretary for more information: Sooty (P. griseus)) breeding in eastern and southern [email protected]

4 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Outings

EVERYBODY’S WELCOME 1. Wear name tag (write emergency contact name and phone number on the reverse side) Outings are held on the second Wednesday and third Sunday 2. Wear suitable footwear i.e. closed shoes or boots of the month, except in January, and are cancelled on total 3. For areas where snakes are likely, wear gaiters fire ban days. 4. Always carry items you may need e.g. water, snacks, Newcomers, beginners and visitors are welcome and personal first aid kit, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, your members will help you with the birds. Binoculars for casual name and residential address and, if you have one, a mobile use are available on every outing. Bring lunch (optional) and phone with battery charged a folding chair for bird call and chat. 5. Remain with the group at all times and advise leader or "whip" if you intend to leave before the walk ends. To ensure the health the safety of everyone at outings, participants need to take responsibility for their personal For more information about an outing contact Max Burrows safety. To assist with this, the Committee provides the on 0429 947 893 or the leader listed. following guidelines. Max Burrows, Outings Coordinator

Date Time Locality Meeting place and other information Leader Phone

Wed 8 Mar 9.00 Blind Bight Coastal Park Meet 9.00 at car park opposite Fishermans Drive in Blind Bight Susan Clark 5975 7409 Road accessed from Baxter/Tooradin Road off Warneet Road. Mel 143 C10

Sun 19 Mar 10.00 Frankston Nature Conservation Meet 10.00 at carpark end of Jeremy Way. Enter Lawson Avenue Neil Shelley 0438557178 Reserve off turn left into Water Way and then right into Jeremy Way. Mel 102 F10

Wed 12 Apr 9.30 Balbirooroo Wetlands, Balnarring Meet 9.30 at end of Civic Court near Balnarring Primary School. Danny Vits 0447046862 Mel 193 D6

Sun 16 Apr 9.30 Langwarrin Flora & Fauna Reserve, Meet 9.30 at car park; enter via McClelland Drive south of North Max Burrows 0429947893 Langwarrin Road. Mel 103 D10

Wed 10 May 9.30 AGM, The Briars Mt Martha Meet 9.30 at the visitors centre . Bird walk, Max Burrows 0429947893 morning tea, AGM followed by our speaker for the day Richard Loyn on “Orange-bellied Parrots”. Mel 145 D11

Sun 21 May 9.30 Tyabb Bushland Reserve, Tyabb Meet 9.30 at reserve entrance. Take Baxter/Tooradin Road to Danny Vits 0447046862 South Boundary Road and right into Woods Road to end, entrance ahead. Mel 140 B8

Wed 14 Jun 9.30 Stony Creek Road, Red Hill Meet 9.30 at corner of Stony Creek Road and Mornington/Flinders TBA Road. Mel 190 D7

Sun 18 Jun 9.30 Point Leo Reserve, Point Leo Meet 9.30 at general store Point Leo Road off Frankston/Flinders TBA Road. Mel 257 C4

BONEO PARK, TOOTGAROOK WETLANDS

David Ap-Thomas: Wednesday 9 November Species recorded: 46 On the morning of our mid-week outing, thirty-seven people turned up to check out the delights of this private property. The skies alternated between sunny/cloudy, but conditions were good, as David Ap-Thomas led the way from the Equestrian Centre. Crested Pigeons made an appearance, and nesting Black-fronted Dotterels were sighted on a planted island near the tractor-access roads. Swamp Harriers, Nankeen Kestrel, and Black-shouldered Kites were ever-present in the skies, making for spectacular sightings. Nesting Black-shouldered Kites were found later, high in a Bird call at Tootgarook Wetlands. Photo by Con Duyvestyn Swamp Paperbark thicket. We heard Crescent Honeyeaters, but they didn’t show themselves. A wetland near the Equestrian Centre hosted , both ibises, Great Egret, Goldfinch, a singing Eurasian Skylark, and a pair of Masked and a couple of Cattle Egrets in breeding . A White- Lapwings. One of the soaring Swamp Harriers was noted to faced , Pied Cormorant and Black Cormorant made an have a missing wing-feather, making for an interesting appearance, with a Black Swan and adolescent cygnets outline. present. Owners Cathy and Rob joined us, checking out the status of We saw Willie Wagtails and Grey Fantails, a lone European weeds and birds as we walked and talked. Some of us

March 2017 5 Outings

managed to find a couple of tiny pale-striped froglets in the grass, which Max identified as Eastern Common Froglets. We tried to photograph them, but they were adept at hiding well in the grass! We were enchanted by the Australian Reed-Warblers singing to each other, with one appearing briefly near the top of the reeds! We also heard Golden-headed Cisticolas and a Little Grassbird calling. As we headed for the Equestrian Centre and lunch, the wind had picked up and it was clouding over a little, but the rain didn’t appear. A group of Welcome sitting on the horse-fences welcomed us back. Swamp Harriers at Tootgarook Wetlands; dark coloured with missing We had bird call with the total of forty-six species, a good wing-feather and light coloured. Photos by Pam Hearn number for a lovely day in uplifting surroundings. Thanks to David for leading the walk and many thanks to Rob and Cathy for allowing us to share their property for the morning. Pam Hearn, Mt Martha

WESTERN TREATMENT PLANT, WERRIBEE

John Barkla: Sunday 20 November Species recorded:72 The annual trip to the Werribee Treatment Plant is one of the highlights of the year. We usually get to see lots of waders Searching for the only Red-necked Phalarope amongst a thousand or so (and get told what each species is) and lots of ducks. The other shorebirds (found eventually with some expert assistance)! outing on 20 November 2016 was somewhat different as Photo by Danny Vits there were very few ducks to be seen. They are all in and northern New South Wales breeding in the marshes flooded by this year’s rains. There can be up to 60,000 Pink-eared Ducks at the farm but this year we did not see one. It will be fantastic when they all return. However there was plenty for our leader John Barkla to show the thirty-two attendees on this outing. We started at Kirk Point where the Red-necked Phalarope was supposed to be but it didn’t turn up. We had lots of cormorants and Red- necked Stints instead plus a lone . A number of birds along the fences and grassed area kept us looking and they all turned out to be Eurasian Skylarks or White-fronted Chats. We moved into the farm proper and parked in an area Striated Fieldwren at WTP. Photo by Pam Hearn surrounded by empty ponds, most unusual. Golden-headed Cisticolas called and occasionally perched high on the grasses someone saw a tiny bird, white with black markings, among so you could admire the golden head of a male in breeding the masses and there was the Red-necked Phalarope in non- plumage. Over the far side of one pond we could see many breeding plumage. It kept standing with its back to us with Black Swans with cygnets plus lots of Australian Shelducks. its head tucked under its wing making it very difficult to see One eagle-eyed observer saw a group of Hoary-headed clearly. and, almost certainly, a Blue-billed Duck who “ducked” into the reeds when spotted. A Striated Fieldwren We then drove to the Borrow Pits, stopping at various places posed and sang at the top of a reed long enough for on the way. Three Brolgas (two adults and a juvenile) took photographers to take a picture. off and flew past us. Later we were to see a number of other Brolgas indicating that they now are breeding regulars at the Meanwhile our leader was showing us a group of waders at farm. A couple of Marsh were seen on one pond the edge of Port Phillip Bay. Red-necked Stints were very and Fairy Martins flew around the culverts under the road. numerous and most people were able to pick out the Curlew We had lunch at the Borrow Pits surrounded by the calls of Sandpipers and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. There were a Silvereyes, European Goldfinches and Yellow-rumped couple of other waders which we were told were Red Knots. Thornbills. A lone Red-capped Plover was briefly seen before Many Silver , Pied Cormorants and a few Crested Terns disappearing but the Purple Swamphens and Masked made up the mass of birds we were looking at. Then Lapwings stayed around.

6 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Outings

After lunch we made for the coast and John showed us a Common which, very obligingly stood in full view on an outlet structure. A Musk Duck, a few Chestnut and Grey Teals were seen along with hordes of Australian Shelducks. Out to sea an was spotted. Swamp Harriers, a Whistling Kite, Black Kites and a Brown were the only birds of prey see on the day, a very small number. The outing finished at the pump station where the pine trees were full of Zebra Finches, European Goldfinches, Common Greenfinches and Yellow-rumped Thornbills. Fairy Martins were busily renovating their “bottle” nests under the eaves of the pumping station and some were feeding young in the nest. We recorded seventy-two species for the day including the “special” bird, the Red-necked Phalarope. Thank you John Common Tern. Photo by Danny Vits Barkla for leading us on another great day at Werribee WTP and having the patience to show us and identify those fascinating birds, the waders. Thanks also to Max Burrows for organising the event. We all had a great day. David Ap-Thomas, Mt Eliza

DEVILBEND RESERVE, TUERONG

Danny Vits: Wednesday 14 December Species recorded: 51 This walk, led by Danny Vits, was a joint outing with BERG Mt Martha. Some new members and two visitors from the USA were also among the group of thirty-six. Before we started David pointed to two Striated Pardalotes on the metal cross- bar of a telegraph pole. These little birds were obviously Ready to start birding at Devilbend. Photo by Con Duyvestyn nesting in this hollow bar, as they were going in and out of the pardalote-sized holes in it, sometimes with full of material. This pleasant track, which had been recently mown, took us along the raised bank between the reservoir proper and Devilbend Creek, parallel with Derril Road. There were some lovely thickets of white-flowering Kunzea and some Little Grasstrees with flower spikes. We walked along a grassy clearing, with bush on either side and water glimpses through the trees. On the water were Black Swans, including two cygnets, and a female Musk Duck busily spending more time under the water than on it. We were surprised to see one, and then two, elegant Caspian Terns making several passes over the water. Also sighted were Straw-necked Ibis, Masked Lapwing, Great Cormorant, Australian , Little Pied Cormorant, White-faced Heron. Raptors were Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel (good views through David's telescope), Whistling Kite and Swamp On the track. Photo by Danny Vits Harrier. Our USA visitors were very taken with the colours of the Scrubwren, Silvereye, Superb Fairy-wren, Black-faced Crimson and Eastern Rosellas and the melodious call of the Cuckoo-shrike and Australian Reed-Warbler. Grey Shrike-thrush. Plenty of calls from Eastern Spinebill, White-naped, Yellow- Danny worked hard trying to wrangle the long strung-out line faced, White-eared, Brown-headed and New Holland of birdwatchers but this did allow one end of the group to see Honeyeater, Grey Fantail (twisting and turning, as usual), birds which the other end missed. These included Crested Spotted Pardalote, also the distinctive low hum of a Common Shrike-tit, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Finch, Dusky Bronzewing, the "chuk chuk" of the Eastern Yellow Robin and Woodswallow, Striated and Brown Thornbill, White-browed the lovely whistles of Golden and Rufous Whistler.

March 2017 7 Outings

At birdcall we recorded fifty-one species. This number was itself a highlight given the low number of waterbirds. Some of us then drove to the pleasant picnic area for lunch. Susan Clark, Mornington

DUNNS CREEK ESTATE AND KANGERONG RESERVE, RED HILL

Hannah Stewart-Andrews: Sun 18 Dec Species recorded: 53 Silvereye at Devilbend. Photo by Tim Leeuwin With another year of birding on the Peninsula drawing to a close, we assembled at Hannah and Roger’s Dunns Creek Estate. Whilst we waited to go, the Noisy Miner clan in the oak tree entertained us with their raucous behaviour. Scanning the nearby farmland and dams, started the bird count for the day with a selection of waterbirds. Then it was time to sally forth. Hannah led us through their wetland and wild wood, down the drive, on to McIlroys Road, then a sortie into Kangerong Reserve. While the species tally is impressive, the striking aspects of the outing were firstly the number of birds calling. Grey Fantails were in abundance and some were positively deafening with their territorial calls. Grey Shrike-thrushes sang out their melodies along with the Golden and Rufous Whistlers. Brown-headed and White-naped Honeyeaters and Hannah’s happy birding group. Photo by Danny Vits Striated Thornbills were picked up by their contact calls in the canopy. Then to top it off, an Olive-backed Oriole was heard in the distance and with a bit of searching, we got a good viewing of it. Secondly, breeding was still underway with an Eastern Spinebill preparing its nest while a Grey Fantail was incubating on her nest. Then a male Rufous Whistler displayed his bobbing courting dance trying to attraction the attention of the female who was busy feeding and just not interested. Thirdly, while the sighting of one Rufous Fantail will generate exclamations of delight, we were able to see three pairs. Six Rufous Fantails at one locality merits an unusual sighting report. We made our way back to Dunns Creek Estate where Christmas plates were shared. Roger welcomed us and gave Olive-backed Oriole, Kangerong Reserve. us a potted history of Dunns Creek. Max gave an “end-of- year” wrap with a special mention of appreciation of the work that Pam Hearn and David Ap-Thomas have done for the branch. We had an inaugural raffle, first prize being three bottles of generously donated Dunns Creek Estate’s finest wine. Proceeds of the raffle went to boost our branch’s kitty. After consuming the tasty fare provided by all, it was time to extend best Christmas wishes and close out the activities for the year. Our thanks go to Hannah and Roger for their kind hospitality in providing a venue for the Christmas breakup and to Hannah for ably leading the outing. With a tally of fifty-three, their property and adjacent Kangerong Reserve clearly provides a mosaic of habitats that engenders great variety. A real birding hotspot! Larry Wakefield, Mt Martha One of six Rufous Fantails seen on the outing. Photos by Barry Castle

8 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Separated by a large continent

ROOSTING COCKATOO EXPERIENCES

A cacophony of calls one afternoon in mid-November took me outside to see what was happening. A of over forty Yellow-tailed Black- was flying around the neighbourhood, with a few ravens mixed in that I suspect were trying to hunt the cockatoos away. The following evening, well after sunset I again heard the cockatoos calling and went outside to see them circling around across the road and coming to roost in the very tops of the stand of sugar gums there. It was quite windy so they were being buffeted quite a bit. However they persisted and finally all of them settled in the treetops. I suspect there were between ten and twenty birds roosting. They looked great silhouetted against the lovely hues of the evening sky. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo This reminded me of the fantastic Palm Cockatoos that I saw in Iron Range National Park a few months earlier. They would also come to their roost trees around sunset, but the main difference was that they perched on the dead branches. The first one I saw was completely silhouetted against the western sky, but it called and whistled while bobbing its head and tapping its foot. Chris Tzaros proclaimed to the world in Wingspan that the Palm Cockatoo was his new favourite bird and Joseph Forshaw also described his “most exciting field experience with parrots in Australia" as his first sighting of Palm Cockatoos in Iron Range National Park. My experience concurred with these two as I also had a fantastic time. I endeavoured to go back to this site and try and get a photo of these great birds. However, there are no guarantees to finding birds as we all know, and it took me another four trips (22km from my camp) to get to take some photos of these Palm Cockatoos. The first day I moved too quickly from my waiting position and frightened them off and another day they didn’t come close at all. I finally had to move into the bush and wait for a few hours for them to return but the trips and waiting was worth it. One of the earlier birds I watched had broken off a small stick. I am not sure if it was going to take it to a nest hollow and break it up for drainage at the bottom as they are known to do, use it as a drum stick, or it was just practicing selecting sticks. It was great to see a range of actions from a number of different individual cockatoos. These birds are very impressive. The large crest is very prominent but the massive bill is even more striking. The bright crimson cheek patch is set off against the dark grey of the rest of the plumage and can be variable in intensity of colour and size of the skin patch. The feathers are black in colour but have a coating of powder down that makes them look a deep grey. The lower mandible can be covered by the feathers around the face just as those of the yellow-tails that carry the genus name Calyptorhynchus that means ‘covered bill’. Despite spending much time in the forest and surrounding areas, I only saw the Palm Cockatoos at that one site apart from the odd one flying overhead. They would have been very hard to see if they didn’t have their regular roosting areas. Separated by a large continent, the experiences with the palmies and the yellow-tails share elements that make both more memorable. Rog Standen, Mt Eliza

Palm Cockatoos. Photos by Rog Standen

March 2017 9 Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys

LATE RETURN OF LATHAM’S SNIPE, SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS AND DUCKS TO ETP

27 November 2016: Sixty-nine bird species were logged of which thirty-two were wetland dependant, (only four were shorebirds), six were raptors and thirty-one were non- wetland dependant. Bird diversity, particularly of wetland species, is poor as are abundance levels. The conditions on the Plant are good but the birds are elsewhere. This is also reflected in the scarcity of highlights today. These included a Caspian Tern. The juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle is still hanging around and we logged our first Striated Pardalote and Yellow-billed Spoonbills for many months. The number of Latham’s Snipe has grown to four but these days the Plant doesn’t offer the same extent of suitable habitat for this Little Pied Cormorant at the ETP. Photo by Jack Parrington species that it did in times past.

1 January 2017: Seventy-three bird species were logged of which thirty-six were wetland dependant, (only seven were shorebirds), six were raptors and thirty-one were non- wetland dependant. Bird diversity, particularly of wetland species, and abundance levels are rising. Highlights today included the first Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (6) for this summer season, very late arrivals, and the two Caspian Terns and juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle are still hanging around. A Collared Sparrowhawk that was chasing Swallows provided some entertainment although I doubt the Swallows enjoyed it.

22 January 2017: The quantity of water stored on the Plant has decreased and three water-bodies have almost completely dried whilst others, the SEHB, EHB6 and WEHB, One of several juvenile Fairy Martins at ETP. Photo by David Stabb are currently holding moderately deep water, albeit shallower than on last count three weeks ago. The Donut is now virtually dry and all but the two top ponds in the Golden Triangle are dry. It will need much more water if the upper ponds are to stay wet. Seventy bird species were logged of which thirty-seven were wetland dependant, (only seven were shorebirds), five were raptors and twenty-eight were non-wetland dependant. Abundance levels of waterbirds has risen dramatically,

Black-winged Stilt juvenile on the Supernatant Holding Basins. Photo by Mike Carter

notably Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Hardhead and Eurasian Coot. Other highlights were three White-bellied Sea-Eagles and two half-grown Black-winged Stilts, evidence of successful breeding on the Plant. Superb Fairy-wren; male in breeding plumage at the ETP. Mike Carter, Mornington Photo by Diane Peters

10 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Eastern Treatment Plant wetland surveys

LATHAM’S SNIPE AT BANYAN

20 November 2016: Twenty-six species were recorded of which nine are wetland-dependent or raptors. The continuing scarcity of wetland birds locally is due to the presence of extensive wetlands inland. No highlights. 27 December 2016: Thirty-five species were recorded of which sixteen are wetland-dependent or raptors. Wetland birds are increasing in variety and abundance. Three Stubble Quail calling, Red-capped Plovers breeding and a Latham’s Snipe were the highlights. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo crossing the Turf Farm. REED-WARBLERS AT BOGGY CREEK

20 November 2016: Twenty-one bird species (twelve of which were wetland dependant) were logged here today. Nineteen Australian Reed-Warblers was a minor highlight. 27 December 2016: Nineteen bird species (eleven of which were wetland dependant or raptors) were logged.

BLACK-COCKATOOS AT TURF FARM

20 November 2016: Twenty-seven bird species were logged of which thirteen were wetland dependant or raptors. A Wedge-tailed Eagle and a White-bellied Sea-Eagle, were seen, both juveniles, that may have been feeding on a calf carcass. 27 December 2016: Twenty-three bird species were logged of which only seven were wetland dependant or raptors. The single highlight was two Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos that flew west to east across the wetland.

BRONZE-CUCKOOS AT SERPENTINE

20 November 2016: No good wader feeding habitat available. All sludge pans are full. Thirty species of birds were logged of which twelve were wetland dependant or raptors. Waterfowl are increasing. The highlight was two Shining Bronze- White-fronted Chats, adult male and juvenile at the Turf Farm wetland. Cuckoos that were very vocal and chasing each other around. Photos by Alison Kuiter This species is very rare on the Plant but there is at least one previous record. 27 December 2016: Still no good wader feeding habitat available. Thirty-two species of birds were logged of which fourteen were wetland dependant or raptors. Waterfowl continue to increase. Blue-billed Ducks and Australasian Grebes have returned after their spring exodus and Purple Swamphens were seen here for the first time. Mike Carter, Mornington

Edithvale Wetland bird hide Is open on first and third Saturday and every Sunday from 1 – 5pm. Check out Friends of Edithvale Seaford Wetlands Facebook page. Australasian Pipit at Turf Farm. Photo by David Stabb

March 2017 11 Costa Rica tour 4-17 February 2016

A QUETZAL QUEST

“Gill, for the last time: it’s the Turquoise-browed Motmot!” After I’d asked six times, the name finally took up residence in my brain. I had some excuse. In thirteen days we saw 379 species of birds, all brand new to me. My friend Patricia and I had been a little anxious about joining ten British birdwatchers in Costa Rica. What would they make of two Australian women lacking the True Twitcher’s preparedness to stumble through snake-infested forest at night on the off-chance of seeing a rare but dull Acorn LBJ? We prefer our birds to be pretty and requiring only modest discomfort to see them. Would they write us off as a couple of dizzy dames? Would there be time for siestas after predawn starts? Would there be swimming pools? Neither of us had done a Naturetrek tour before. Naturetrek came recommended by two highly experienced birdwatchers from the Peninsula group, Liz and Peter Gower. Our tour leader, Richard Bashford and his twelve intrepid Britishers warmly welcomed us. Jehudi Hernandez, our Costa Rican guide, was incredibly knowledgeable. He educated us so skilfully we were hardly aware how much we were learning. One bird we had researched was the Resplendent Quetzal. As I drooled over pictures on the internet, it struck me that this glorious mountain dweller must be Central America’s answer Green Violetear. Photos by trip participants to New Guinea’s Birds of Paradise. It is the national bird of Guatemala and I bet the neighbouring countries wish they’d claimed it first. Our first stop was to take us into the Talamanca Mountains in search of it. That morning we arose from our warm beds in the dark and left at 5.30am without breakfast. It was much colder than one might expect just eleven degrees from the equator. We stood by the roadside in grey light while Jehudi imitated a Quetzal in love. Shivering, we strained eyes and ears. Nothing. After an hour, the prospect of breakfast and warmth began to equal our longing for Quetzals. While driving back we stopped to check with another group of birdos. Yes! They had just glimpsed a male bird flying. We hurried out of our minibus just as the Quetzal floated across to perch in full view. Like a spotlight, morning sun lit his scarlet front and metre-long emerald tail. Another flash of colour across the hillside: a female this time! Jehudi identified a second male Resplendent Quetzal. Photo by mallardg500 calling from further up the hill. How lucky was this? Not lucky enough, the kindly gods decreed. The male Scarlet and Great Green Macaws plus hybrids, 12 species of launched himself above us, singing and zig-zagging in Tanagers (favourites of mine, the colours!), Blue-throated display. Against blue sky, lit by rising sun, he resembled an Toucanets, Fiery-billed and Collared Aracaris, Keel-billed and angel-come-firework. We were so stunned that none of us Black Mandibled Toucans, 3 species of Honey-creepers, 3 had the presence of mind to photograph this rare event. species of Motmots, an American Pygmy Kingfisher (plus Neither did we a few moments later when the rival bird did another 3 species), Buff-throated Saltator (and another 3 the same thing. We all exchanged glances and I swear there species), 23 species of shorebirds and so much else. were tears of awe in every eye. We had some afternoons lazing by the pool while occasional Was the rest of the tour an anticlimax? No! We explored Howler Monkeys strolled by and fabulous birds flitted around. cloud forests and tropical lowlands, dry grasslands and As a result of this tour, Patricia has joined BirdLife Australia. mangroves. I wish I had space to list more, but will mention Although she has always been a keen naturalist (she’s an a few close encounters: 40 species of hummingbirds, 7 environmental scientist) this experience heightened her species of owls including Tropical Screech , Spectacled awareness of birds. It certainly added to my store of lifetime Owls and Black-and-white Owls, 9 species of , a highlights. Collared Forest Falcon as well as 28 other raptor species, Scarlet and Great Green Macaws plus hybrids, 12 species of Gillian Barnett, Dromana

12 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Observations

INTERESTING SIGHTINGS

These reports, some from Birdline Victoria, are not authenticated records. Researchers are advised to check with the observers before citing. Please report your sightings, for example arrival and departure dates of migrants, to Val Ford: 5981 1445 or [email protected]

Date Species Location Comments Observer

8.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Frankston South Heard in the vicinity of Sweetwater Creek. Lana Cumming

9.11.16 Eastern Curlew (150+) Tortoise Head, French Is. Highest number FOFI NP has seen for years at this location. Martin O'Brien et al

11.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Dromana Heard near my home in Scott Street. Same bird as last year? Noel Knight

15.11.16 Grey (1, brown form) Woods Reserve, Tuerong Looked like the browner SA, NT, WA form. Denis Goss

19.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Mt Martha Mobbed by the local birds in a friends garden. Jonathan Vaudrey

20.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Mt Martha Called repeatedly in bright moonlight at 5am. Wayne Taylor

20.11.16 Greater Sand Plover (1) Stockyard Point Seen on incoming high tide amongst hundreds of other birds. Brad White

20.11.16 Peaceful Dove (1) Moorooduc On side of freeway close to Eramosa Road; a likely escapee. Kevin Conlan

22.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Rye Heard and seen, close to street (Dundas) in a large tree. Ben Cullen

23.11.16 Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (1) Somers Feeding in an acquaintance’s garden. Per Danny Vits

24.11.16 Australasian Shoveler (3) Coolart, Somers Danny Vits Blue-billed Duck (2)

25.11.16 Eastern Koel (2) Grange Road Frankston Heard; one either side of Sweet Water Creek. Colin Mulvogue

27.11.16 Eastern Koel (1) Mt Martha Heard. John Rawlins

29.11.16 Pied Oystercatcher (1) St Andrews Beach On rock platform near Moana track. Karen Wootton Ruddy Turnstone (6)

3.12.16 Latham’s Snipe (1) Mt Martha golf course Flushed from golf course dam. P Hearn & A Niedra

4.12.16 Red-necked Stint (10) Hastings Feeding in low-tide mud near jetty and Pelikan Société cafe. Debbie Lustig

4.12.16 Royal Spoonbill (1) The Briars, Mt Martha An occasional visitor. Danny Vits Rufous Whistler (1, m)) Calling non-stop without response!

4.12.16 Powerful Owl (1) Buckleys Nature Con Res Perched three metres above ground; holding remains of prey. Dennis Gosper

5.12.16 Little Lorikeet (5) Dromana Seen in Williams Street. Kevin Conlan

9.12.16 Black Falcon (1) Rosebud Flying over Browns Road towards Rosebud treatment plant. Colin Mulvogue

10.12.16 Cape Barron Goose (6) Dromana At the small dam beside freeway where occasionally seen. Rosalba Catena

13.13.16 Eastern Koel (1) Frankston Heard for the first time this year. Neil Graham

13.12.16 Banded Lapwing (1) Rye ocean beach With a Masked Lapwing. Glenn Ehmke

14.12.16 Australian Raven (1) Capel Sound Heard at the Village Glen. Nancy Taylor

15.12.16 Eastern Koel (1) Mt Eliza Calling from near my home. David Ap-Thomas

16.12.16 Wedge-tailed Eagle (1) Boneo Flying over Tootgarook Swamp. Rosalba Catena Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (2) Frankston Flew over my car.

18.12.16 Eastern (1) Capel Sound In a tree beside our villa at Village Glen. David Reid

18.12.16 Rufous Fantail (6) Red Hill McIlroys Road/Kangerong Reserve. Outing attendees

20.12.16 Tawny (4) Mt Eliza On balcony at Glen Shian Crescent at 4am. Per Max Burrows

26.12.16 Musk Lorikeet (20) Sorrento Feeding on Leucopogon parviflorus fruits. A new bird record. Jane Burke

Jan 2017 Powerful Owl (1) Main Ridge On Stephanie Rennick Walk, Two Bays Walk. Peter Meggyesy per Dromana Lonsdale Street carpark, Two Bays Walk. Malcolm Barrow Rosebud On Duells Road, right hand side, as it becomes dirt track.

22.1.17 White-bellied Sea-Eagle (1,juv) Mt Martha Above Dominion Road. Clear view of short wedged tail with Wayne Taylor subterminal brown band and underwing pattern.

24.1.17 Arctic Jaeger (1) Near Mud Islands Seen from Queenscliff-Sorrento Ferry. C Macartney et al

29.1.17 Eastern Curlew (~60) French Island Seen at the Tortoise Head shorebird roost. Harry Saddler

1.2.17 Little Lorikeet (6) Mt Eliza Flying to Sugar Gums in the business college grounds. David Ap-Thomas

3.2.17 White-throated Needletail (30) Frankston North Flying low over our garden. Colin Mulvogue

7.2.17 White-necked Heron (2) Tootgarook wetland Flying overhead. David Ap-Thomas

March 2017 13 Observations

Birding at the Village Glen A nice bird for the Village Sharp eyed walkers along Chinamans Creek during November may have seen two feathery "blobs" high in a tree in the middle of Cluster 18. Examination with binoculars proved them to be an adult Tawny Frogmouth with a juvenile huddled alongside. Although not a new bird for the village, it is always pleasing to be able to view this nocturnal species close up and at leisure. Probably the other adult frogmouth wasn't too far away and would fly in at dusk with a tasty or two for the youngster. Recently I've been asked, "Where are the Purple Swamphens? They aren't ripping into our lawns/flowers/vegies". My guess is that they are in the swamp which is holding quite a bit of water and where it is easy to pull up reeds etc. for food. No doubt they will be back in the autumn! There have been several sightings of more tiny ducklings in the Village - both Pacific Blacks and Wood Ducks. Please keep your bird baths clean and topped up during the coming hot months to attract birds to your gardens. A bird bath located fairly close to bushes/trees will always attract more birds than an isolated receptacle in the open where there is no cover. Eastern Barn Owl. Photo by Jeanette Marshall Barn Owl and enclosed courtyard ducks On 18 December David Reid investigated a kerfuffle among ravens in a street tree near his villa and was delighted to discover that an Eastern Barn Owl was the cause of the disturbance. Word quickly spread among birders in the Village and the owl had several visitors during the day, with Jeanette capturing a photo of the nocturnal species. The Barn Owl is the most widespread land bird species in the world, occurring on every continent except Antarctica but rarely seen as it mainly hunts its prey in late evening or at night. During Family Day activities on 4 December, a Pacific Black Duck was discovered incubating in a waist-high nest in ivy in the Hub's enclosed courtyard. This presented a problem! Incubation is approximately thirty days so it was estimated the eggs could hatch at the end of the year when the Village is quiet. Ducklings cannot fly so two doors need to be opened Spotless Crake. Photo by Connie Gilchrist to let the family out so they can be led by the parent duck to the Hub lake. All eight ducklings with the parent Pacific Black Duck exited the courtyard, through the Hub, across the road the large feet and red eye which identify it as a Spotless and safely to the lake on the morning of 27 December. Crake, a usually very secretive bird of dense reed beds. Black bird with large feet All in all, January was an interesting month for the birders of During the first village bird walk of the year on 11 January, the village. Another special bird was a Royal Spoonbill at the thirteen resident birders identified forty-two species within golf course lake. As the swamp began to dry out we noticed the village and over the swamp - an excellent tally for our increasing numbers of Purple Swamphens fossicking in unique location. Raptors identified were Black-shouldered gardens, rooting up grass and searching for such delicacies Kite and the more commonly seen Swamp Harrier. Six as fleshy tomatoes in vegetable gardens! honeyeaters tallied were: Eastern Spinebill, Spiny-cheeked Celia Browne, Capel Sound Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird, Red Wattlebird, Crescent Honeyeater and New Holland Honeyeater. Australian Reed- Warblers were vocal along the creek and two lorikeet species - Rainbow and Musk - were identified. Identifying bird calls

During the month Nancy received a frantic call for help; Graeme Chapman at graemechapman.com.au has a good Connie had discovered a frightened "black bird with large selection of Australian bird calls. feet" trapped at the back of her villa. Arriving with a tea- For Spotless Crake go to: towel and throwing it over the bird, Nancy was able to pick it http://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/sounds.php?r= up and return it safely to Chinamans Creek whereupon it &c=81&p=243&s=1362918900 immediately ran into the reeds. Connie's photo clearly shows

14 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Observations

Feeding a cuckoo chick I watched a pair of bedraggled Brown Thornbills trying to keep up with the gastronomic demands of their Fan-tailed Cuckoo chick. It is one of the most amazing yet ridiculous things I’ve ever seen. How could they not realise that this ‘gigantor’ was not a genetic offspring? It wouldn’t surprise if the chick’s final act before flying off was to consume both its surrogate parents. The chick barely moved for the hour I watched, but the pair of adult thornbills worked continuously to deliver food every three to five minutes. The adults’ feathers were dishevelled, in part because they almost entered the chicks crop to feed it and also because there was little time for preening. Early in spring, huge numbers of adult Fan-tailed Cuckoos arrive on the Peninsula with their distinctive calls. Their offspring are often much harder to find. This chick made a high frequency cheep that increased in frequency as the parents approached to feed. It wasn’t a call that I had Brown Thornbill feeding Fan-tailed Cuckoo chick. Photo by Mark Lethlean previously recognised and was exceptionally difficult to pinpoint. Even as I watched him/her continuously chirping, I was sure the sound was coming from behind me. The evolutionary trickery of Cuckoo brood is a fascinating study. Fan-tailed Cuckoo eggs only require thirteen days of incubation thus hatching earlier than the host eggs which are removed by the chick. In addition to thornbills, they are also reported to deposit eggs in scrubwren, fairy-wren, fantail and less commonly honeyeater nests. Mark Lethlean, Red Hill

One of the luckiest chicks alive Path taken by Hooded Plover chick. I was walking down to Koonya West beach via the Hughes Road access late yesterday evening, 21 January, and I saw something I've never seen before. There was a family with a dog coming up the ramp. They had a Boxer and it was on leash. As I got closer I was shocked to see a Hoodie chick running for its life along the steep gravel track just metres in front of the dog as it was tugging on the leash to get the chick. I got the owner to stop immediately and the chick ran into the scrub right at the red rip sign. I told them there was an endangered, protected Hooded Plover chick their dog was trying to eat and they just saw it and were really apologetic, I think they were just oblivious. No idea what to do, never in my life have seen a chick do this, no idea where the chick was in the dune scrub or where the family was I ran down to the beach expecting to see the family nearby. They were nowhere to be seen. So I ran down Hooded Plover chick’s 1.2 km round trip. Photos by Glenn Ehmke to the western end, 500m away, and the adults and other chick were there. No idea if they would re-unite I had no clue what to do. Amazingly as I watched the Hughes Rd end I saw If the dog was not on leash the chick would certainly be the chick come out of the dunes and run all the way back to dead. If the chick was any younger than it was it would its parents. probably also have been eaten. The dog was absolutely I traced dog prints from Keating Av entrance (western trying to get it. It was only about five metres in front of the end) back to Hughes and they were all over the beach right dog when I saw it. the way back so what must have happened is the chick got I’ve never seen anything like it and that must be one of the separated at Keating Av by the dog then got chased all the luckiest chicks alive! way up to where I saw it at Hughes Rd. I GPS’d a track on the way back and it was 580m one way - a 1.2km round trip! Glenn Ehmke, BirdLife Australia

March 2017 15 Observations

Birdbath birding Had a walk through some of the new Devilbend access areas on 22 December. Saw my first White-fronted Chats for the Mornington Peninsula, a group of eight. There wasn’t much of interest on the water other than a lone Musk Duck Then found a brilliant little concrete water bath in an isolated spot. Sat ten metres away and watched a huge variety of birds flying in to drink and bath. Led by Grey Fantails, there were Yellow-faced, White-naped, Brown-headed, and New Holland Honeyeaters, Brown and Striated Thornbills, Spotted Pardalotes, Red-browed Finches and Superb Fairy-wrens. All within an hour. I returned on 1 January and found that the birdbath was still proving a ripper, even with the common species. The highlight of this visit was female Satin Flycatcher. White-fronted Chat, female, at Devilbend. Mark Lethlean, Red Hill

Golf course dam birding We haven't been going up to the Mt Martha Golf Course dam much, but when we do, we see a lot! Surprising when you think there generally is a lack of waterbirds around here this year.

The last couple of visits we've only seen one Latham's Snipe, so maybe one has moved on? The Australasian seem Brown-headed Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater at Devilbend. to be nesting for a second time. The female has been sitting Photos by Mark Lethlean on her floating nest for ages, but we saw three young and one egg this morning when she left the nest. There is a new family of Pacific Black Ducks. We saw a nesting pair of Common Bronzewings last week, but they seem to have abandoned that. Nearby we saw one on the ground collecting nesting material, so maybe they're starting again somewhere else. I also spotted a white bird flying with the Welcome Swallows. When it landed I saw it was a white Welcome , but it still has the red colouring on its head. We are still hearing and seeing just- fledged Eastern Rosellas. Pam Hearn & Andris Niedra, Mt Martha

Australasian Grebe nest with chicks and egg. Photo by Andris Niedra BENDIGO BANK SUPPORTING BIRDLIFE Bendigo Bank has kindly provided sponsorship for the printing of this edition of the newsletter. Jingellic Camp After Christmas and into the new year, about 40 BirdLife members attended a camp led by David Ap-Thomas, alongside the upper Murray River, on the Jeffries property 7km downstream of Jingellic. Between them, the birders observed 118 bird species, including Hardhead, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brown Goshawk, Gang Gang Cockatoo, Red-browed Treecreeper, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White- winged Triller, Leaden Flycatcher, Restless Flycatcher and Dollarbird. Places visited included Woomargama National Park and Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park. Keith Stockwell, BirdLife Echuca Newsletter, Feb-April 2017

16 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Observations

Bush Stone-curlews in Cairns On 16 September 2016, from our second floor balcony in Cairns we were excited to look down and see a Bush Stone- curlew standing in the hotel garden. Next, we noticed a second adult sitting on some leaf litter. We then realised there were two tiny striped chicks with the sitting adult. For the rest of our stay we observed this little family moving around a very small part of the garden. One adult would half crouch down, the chicks would run underneath, little legs would wiggle and then disappear up into the feathers. The adult would then carefully lower itself to the ground. The chicks waddled about, never very far from the parent, sometimes plopping down like toddlers learning to walk. Sometimes they would practise not being seen, sitting very still, and stretching out on the ground. Their was excellent, being near-invisible in the dried leaves. Once, a Spotted Dove came too close and the other adult Bush Stone-curlew below our balcony. Photo by Susan Clark (the male, we assumed) rushed at it with neck and extended. The dove retreated. When carefully parking our car very close to the sitting adult, it stood up quickly and the two chicks dropped out of the feathers and on to the ground. The adult uttered a guttural hiss to warn us off. The chicks crouched motionless where they landed. We also saw the male approach the female and chicks and regurgitate some food on to the ground. The chicks and female quickly began pecking at the food offered. Being able to observe these beautifully marked and ever- watchful birds at close quarters over a number of days was a real treat. Susan Clark, Mornington

Swamp Harrier & Sea-Eagle interaction White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Swamp Harrier at Edithvale Wetland. I was ‘on duty’ at the Edithvale Seaford Wetland Education Photo by Alison Kuiter Centre on 11 December. After watching Swamp Harriers for a while I realised that one was coming and going from what I realised was a platform in the swamp vegetation behind the Birds are believed to learn their songs when they are in the bird hide. The height of the platform was about one metre nest and birds like the blackbird learn their song from their above the water and pushing my binoculars to their limit I parents who sing close by. They can also pick up calls from had reasonable views of the bird moving on it. other birds and incorporate them as part of their song. I asked Alison Kuiter “Assuming there is a nest do you know The most famous of these is the Lyrebird who uses the calls if the birds have young”? Alison replied “Yes there was a lot of all the other birds in the forest (and the odd chainsaw) as of activity around that area. We saw one fly in with part of the male’s display. Another bird that is known to do something in talons, not sure what it had though. When the this is the English Song Thrush. When I lived in Hawthorn White-bellied Sea-Eagle came over on 18 December the many years ago, a Song Thrush often sang his beautiful song Swamp Harrier was not too happy!” in the garden next door and one day I recorded his call and studied it. The Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo and Red-rumped Val Ford, Capel Sound Parrot calls were obvious and these birds could often be heard just down the road along the . The Grey Shrike-thrush was another local bird he copied. However, Bird call one call was exactly like the call of the Black-chinned Honeyeater which is not found anywhere near to Hawthorn. I For a couple of days I have been hearing an occasional two have often wondered where it got that one from. note call of a Spotted Pardalote, a bird we normally get in winter. The call hasn’t sounded quite right and the call isn’t Friend George, originally from Scotland, lived many years in continuous. Mount Eliza, near Two Bays Road and he used to say that the call of the blackbird at his house was beautiful. He has Today, I was sitting in the peace and quiet, doing a now moved to Mornington and the local blackbird hasn’t got crossword, and I heard the call. I realised that the male a clue about singing. Tone deaf. Most disappointing. Common Blackbird was also singing and had incorporated the pardalote call into his song. David Ap-Thomas, Mt Eliza

March 2017 17 Observations

Banded Lapwing at Rye Whilst monitoring nesting Hooded Plovers on Rye ocean beach on 13 December I saw a Banded Lapwing, very rare shorebird for the Mornington Peninsula. Previous known records have been at Flinders ocean beach in 2011 and Gunnamatta beach in 2012. It was hanging out with a Masked Lapwing. Maybe we’ll have a hybrid Masked/Banded Lapwing nest soon! Glenn Ehmke, BirdLife Australia

Parrot with house-keeper and bodyguards The rarity of the Golden-shouldered Parrot makes it a sought after bird to see for birdwatchers when they venture to far Banded Lapwing and Masked Lapwing on Rye ocean beach. north Queensland and I was no exception. What I found Photo by Glenn Ehmke though were some fascinating relationships between the parrot and woodswallows and a nondescript moth. To ensure my best chance of seeing these birds I contacted the amazing Sue Shepherd and arranged to go out with her to try and see the birds on Artemis Station. Sue has done a huge amount of research on these birds, from finding all their nests each year across the vastness of Artemis Station to counting seeds in quadrants. The bird’s main food is what is called Fire Grass (Schizachryrius fragile) but when the wet- season starts there is a bottleneck in the supply as they have to rely on the short-lived grasses producing seed to survive. As part of the recovery program, Artemis does some feeding of the birds through this period. To see the birds we left the homestead campground about 7am and drove up the road and found a small dam. There were seven people in the group and we all sat on the dam bank in a reasonably exposed position. Anticipating what I Golden-shouldered Parrots at waterhole. Photo by Rog Standen had been thinking, Sue said quietly, “if they don’t come it won’t be because we are sitting here.” They don’t mind people being around, but then she added that “they will moth that lays its eggs at the time of nesting so the larvae come in once the doves (Bar-shouldered Doves) have come hatch when the eggs hatch. The larvae feed on the faeces of in for a drink. If the doves don’t come down, the parrots the chicks in the nest and so keep the nest clean. These won’t come”. I found this fascinating that they use the doves (Trisynopta scatophaga) have never been found to find out the all clear. What they also seem to do is use anywhere except in Golden-shouldered Parrot nests where woodswallows as alarm raisers. The literature refers to the they burrow in the wall of the chamber to pupate ready for association with Black-faced Woodswallows, but the day I the next season to come. There have been occasions when watched the parrots they were with Little Woodswallows. the pupating larvae have blocked the entrance to the nest Pied are a big predator of the parrots but when and starved the chicks so this is not all a one-way the parrots nest near breeding woodswallows, the latter keep relationship. Another species of Trisyntopta (T. neossophila) the butcherbirds at bay. Of the birds that have been colour- has been found in the nests of Hooded Parrots, but that banded, those that were not nesting near woodswallows were association does not seem as strong as with T. scatophago never seen again. and the Golden-shouldered Parrot where about half the nests contain these moths. Another species of Trisynopta has also Back to the dam and true enough, after a while the doves been found in Eastern Rosella and Mulga Parrot nests, but came down to the water’s edge to drink and soon after, the much less regularly. first of the parrots arrived in the top of a tall tree near the dam. They came down in groups to drink and we had great Artemis and a couple of other stations, including Dixie views of the family parties. Each pair seemed to have five or Station, manage their land in a way that helps the parrot six young birds with them although there were only two or and it is this reason that the population of parrots is mainly three families present on that morning. After a while the centred there. Storm burns rather than hot dry season burns birds became more and more relaxed to the point where they give the best feed-availability for the parrots. While the sat in the bush above where we were sitting. The males were parrots are not totally secure, thanks to Sue, her family and not in complete breeding plumage but you could see the others, there is a lot more known about the needs of the striking colours. They have a strong, overall aqua colour with parrot and they are working to meet those needs as best a black cap, orange belly and yellow/golden shoulder. they can. It was great to be able to meet such a great lady and thank her for the effort she has put in over many years. After we left the dam we went and looked at a termite mound with an old nest hole in it and heard more about the Rog Standen, Mt Eliza

18 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife Observations

Swimming Hooded Plover chicks Koonya beach The photo was taken on Koonya Beach, on the morning of 23 January 2017. According to the signage the chick hatched on 5 January. The Hooded Plover chick was in sheltered water landward side of a rocky outcrop where it had been running around with parents and a sibling. The two adults and two chicks seemed quite happy running around on the flat exposed rock. At times they ran away from us and then returned to run towards us. For no apparent reason the chick just seemed to jump into the protected rock pool and have a few seconds duration swim. It all happened so fast I was lucky to photograph it.

It then returned to running around on the rock with one its Swimming at Koonya beach. Photo by Bill Ramsay parents, JZ. By this time the other adult and chick had decided to go for a run along the sand at the shoreline. I had never seen a Hooded Plover chick swimming before. We were very lucky. Bill Ramsay, Glen Waverley

St Andrews

Hooded Plover chicks are known to swim quite well, but it’s really rarely observed and very rarely photographed. I’ve seen Hoodie chicks swim a few times, but only caught on camera for the first time this year at St Andrews; an approximately week old chick with a radio transmitter. Was this one swimming in response to something - i.e. Swimming at St Andrews beach. Photo by Glenn Ehmke getting away from a gull, people etc or just having a casual dip? Glenn Ehmke, BirdLife Australia

French Island bird observations Black-faced Cormorant: 20 November 2016, one on navigational light at Tankerton jetty. Brown Quail: 9 January 2017, one on side of Mosquito Creek Road. Nankeen Night-Heron: 15 November 2016, adult on dam SW French Island. It could not fly but swam across the dam! The bird died the next day. Nankeen Night-Heron swimming across dam. Photo by Chris Chandler Australian Hobby: 1 February 2017, two in a large pine tree next to Centreway Rd. One immature making constant begging call. observations of one to three birds in gardens where there are flowering gums and bottlebrushes. Recorded seven times Blue-winged Parrot: 9 January 2017, one on roadside at Mt so far this summer, which is the most ever! Wellington Rd. Chris Chandler, French Island Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater: this species is not a resident on the island but sometimes visits the SW in autumn. However a pair were seen and heard on Tortoise Head on 9 and 19 Farting Bassian Thrushes November, which could be the first breeding pair. -eating Bassian Thrushes have been known to dislodge White-bellied Sea-Eagle: glad to confirm that both of the their prey from piles of leaves by directing their farts at pairs on the south coast of French Island produced a them. The excretion of gas shifts the leaf-litter on the ground fledgling this year. Also another pair was nesting in NW of and apparently provokes to move around, revealing the island in October. their location. Rainbow Lorikeets: not resident on the island, but increasing BirdLife Hamilton Newsletter, November 2016

March 2017 19 Observations

At The Briars Australasian Grebes nesting During December a pair of Australasian Grebes chose to nest on the lagoon outside Chechingurk Hide. Fortunately for bird lovers and photography enthusiasts they chose a location in direct line with one of the opening windows providing clear views without causing any disturbance to the nesting couple. After the appointed time the birds successfully hatched three chicks, which initially preferred the cover and comfort of their parents wings but, by late January they were freely swimming about the lagoon whilst their parents provided diligently for their nutrition and safety. Con Duyvestyn, Mornington New bird for the list? The Peacock comes from a property less than two kilometres away and was flying in and out of the Sanctuary for a few Safe under a parent’s wing. Photo by Tim Leeuwin days. I don't know if the owner has caught it yet. He advised us he has several Peacocks on his five acre property and it’s the first time one has wandered away. Emu and chicks update The father Emu and his four chicks are regularly seen by visitors walking in The Briars Wildlife Sanctuary. The juvenile’s stripes are now disappearing. With their black heads and grey-brown bodies they look more like smaller versions of the adults. Sue Brabender, Briars Information Ranger

Feeding fish to chick. Photo by Con Duyvestyn

Emu with chicks. Photo by Sue Brabender Peacock at The Briars. Photo by Sue Brabender

20 Mornington Peninsula Birdlife