Last update 08/02/2011

Bird Observations Nov 2010 -Jan 2011.... Barry Lingham

What an interesting time for bird observers. Congratulations to Marilyn & Dean Hewish, Grace Lewis and Joanne Van Den Broek on their sighting of a Stilt Sandpiper at the Werribee Treatment Plant. This news spread quickly and birders from all over Australia have ventured to the WTP to see this rare vagrant wader. 

Rare waders have visited our area, but the usual species such as Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Red-necked Stint have been very hard to find. Hopefully, they are all resident in the vast inland Australian lakes that have been filled by heavy rain. Many ducks have also left the area for places further north. If they are smart, they will remain there until after the 10-week duck hunting season recently announced by the minister. Plumed Whistling Ducks have been seen at Serendip, confirming the unusual season we are experiencing. The Eastern Koel that was heard in Newtown on several days is rare local record of this species. It is normally restricted to Gippsland and places further north. 

Reedy Lake continues to deliver interesting bird observations. John Newman heard a Little Bittern and returned a few days later with some companions. They were lucky to see this cryptic species as it flew between reed beds. An Australasian Bittern (previously the Brown Bittern) was also seen there.  Another cryptic water bird is the Lewin’s Rail. Glenn McCarthy spotted an adult with chicks while driving along the Barwon Heads Road. 

Australian Pied Oystercatchers breed on beaches or sandy areas near water. This makes nesting difficult on the mainland due to human disturbance, so the breeding record from Point Henry by Rob Ganly is unusual. Other interesting breeding records include Black-tailed Native-hen at Serendip and Little Eagles at the You Yangs. 

When the construction works at Barwon Heads stopped foot traffic under the bridge, many waders took the opportunity to gather at the end of the Ocean Grove Spit in relative peace. The preferred roosting time was around the slack water mark, with the birds taking off again as the water started to move into the estuary.