victoria « Steve Happ Photography

March 11, 2010

Sale District Bird Photography

Filed under: Birds — Tags: Birds, gippsland, victoria — admin @ 1:59 am

Jack Smith Lake Game Reserve

Jack Smith Lake Reserve is in South Gippsland about 260 kilometres from Melbourne. You can get to it from the South Gippsland Highway at Woodside via Brynes Road or Stringybark Lane, or the Darriman Seaspray Road(Middle Road). I visited the northern section of the reserve via Middle Road. It is about 40 kilometers from the town of Sale. There are extensive coastal lagoons, salt-marshes and native grasslands. Jack Smith Lake provides valuable feeding and nesting habitat for a range of water birds.

When I got there in the afternoon, there were a few scattered Chestnut Teal and a pair of Great Cormorants sitting on some nest boxes. I followed this creek that had been dammed and was leading into the lake. Not much was on the creek but I walked up the sand hills to check out the beach. It is really close to the beach. I think it is part of Ninety Mile Beach. When I walked around the lake, I spotted a mob of about half a dozen Red-capped Plover. They are funny little critters. They are always running around at a hundred miles an hour.

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus)

Late in the evening quite a few mobs of Black Swans flew by, honking noisily. The next morning there were quite a few Australian Shelducks flying around as well. On the way to Sale, I spotted a few raptors. I think I saw a Whistling Kite and stopped to photograph what I think is a Brown Falcon. ~~Or is it an Australian Hobby.~~ I am so rusty with my identification of raptors. I have seen hardly any lately. Edit: confirmed it is a Brown Falcon pale morph. Thanks everybody who gave their input.

Brown Falcon

Sale Common

Sale Common is just out of Sale along the road south, called the South Gippsland Highway. It is covered by Red Gum woodlands and grasslands. More than seventy percent of Sale Common is made up of freshwater marsh, giving homes to a host of native birds. As soon as I got there I spotted this Black-shouldered Kite. It sat up prettily on a dead tree for its photograph.

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

Just after I started off on my walk around the common, a White-bellied Sea-eagle flew over. I thought it was a Wedge-tailed Eagle at first. I just saw the wedged tail and thought it was a wedgie. doh! It is a young bird.

White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

Sale area bird list

Masked Lapwing
Chestnut Teal
Australian Magpie
Great Cormorant
Silver Gull
Pacific Gull
Red Wattlebird
Black Swan
Superb Fairy-wren
New Holland Honeyeater
Red-capped Plover
White-fronted Chat
Crested Tern
Australian Raven
Australian Shelduck
Magpie-lark
Common Starling
Eastern Rosella
Galah
Brown Falcon ?
Black-shouldered Kite
Grey Fantail
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Crimson Rosella
White-eared Honeyeater
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Eastern Yellow Robin
Purple Swamphen
Australian White Ibis

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March 5, 2010

Belmont Common

Filed under: Birds — Tags: Birds, geelong, victoria — admin @ 6:20 am

Jerringot Wetlands, Geelong

Jerringot Wetlands is in the Belmont Common, just near Geelong, in Victoria. There is a hide and some re-vegetation has been done by the Geelong Field Naturalist’s Club. I got there about 8am after driving from Barwon Heads. It was good to see some water in a wetlands for a change. There were quite a few birds around. When I got there I saw a few bush birds like swallows, Magpie-larks, White-plumed Honeyeater, New Holland Honyeater, Grey Currawong and this Australian Raven, which I got in silhouette. I am not usually a fan of silhouette photographs but I quite like this one.

Australian Raven

The water birds were quite abundant, there were ducks like Pacific Black Duck and Chestnut Teal, Royal Spoonbill, Australasian Grebe, White-faced Heron, and a couple of Black-winged Stilt. I managed to spot a Buff-banded Rail in a drain leading into the wetland. The Buff-banded Rail is related to the New Zealand Weka and the Lord Howe Island Woodhen.

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus phillippensis)

Around about the same time, I put up some Latham’s Snipe. They are also called Japanese Snipe. They are very flighty birds and usually feed in the grass or saltmarsh. Mostly you only see them when they fly up out of the grass. I saw at least six of them.

Latham’s Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)

Later on, I spotted a pair of Masked Lapwing over the other side of the busy road, about eight Black-fronted Dotterel, and a New Holland Honeyeater. All in all, the Belmont Common is quite a good spot for birding, especially when most other wetlands were dry.

Belmont Common bird list

Welcome Swallow
Australian Raven
Pacific Black Duck
Purple Swamphen
White-faced Heron
Royal Spoonbill
White-plumed Honeyeater
Australian Reed-warbler
Australasian Grebe
Red Wattlebird
Magpie-lark
Grey Currawong
Chestnut Teal
Silver Gull
Australian Magpie
Black-winged Stilt
Buff-banded Rail
Lathams Snipe
New Holland Honeyeater
Black-fronted Dotterel
Australian White Ibis
Masked Lapwing
Superb Fairy-wren
Intermediate Egret

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March 4, 2010

Moggs Creek

Filed under: Birds — Tags: great otway n ational park, victoria — admin @ 3:11 am

Moggs Creek Nature Observations

I have called this post “Nature Observations” because the birds were so rubbish today. Yesterday afternoon I stopped off at Moggs Creek Picnic Area, which is east of Lorne along the Great Ocean Road. It is in the Great Otway National Park. I am not so sure about the “great” part. Maybe they should rename it “Mediocre Otway National Park”? I do not even have a photo of a bird to show you. Instead, for your entertainment, is a tiny Tower of Mordor. I have no idea what it is. It was on the track this morning.

The Tower of Mordor

Yesterday afternoon I took the Moggs Creek Circuit Track which is 1.8 kilometers long. It goes along the dry bed of Moggs Creek and circles back to the car park. It is quite a nice walk and goes through some interesting country, its just a shame there were so few birds. When I first got there a couple of Gang-gang Cockatoos had a good look at me, and then on the walk, all I saw was a Grey Fantail, some Superb Fairy-wren, kookaburra and some immature Crimson Rosella.

Fungus Omelette

The next morning I went along the Ocean View Track which goes for 4.5 kilometers. I was not expecting much after the previous evening’s lameness, and I was not disappointed. All I saw was a Spotted Turtle-dove, magpie, a White-cheeked Honeyeater and a Grey Currawong. I thought I saw a Peregrine Falcon flying over but he was flying much too fast and there were too many trees in the way to get a good shot away.

Moggs Creek bird list

Gang-gang Cockatoo
Grey Fantail
Superb Fairy-wren
Laughing Kookaburra
Crimson Rosella
Golden Whistler
Eastern Yellow Robin
Spotted Turtle-dove
Australian Magpie
White-cheeked Honeyeater
Grey Currawong

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March 3, 2010

Winchelsea to Big Hill Birding

Filed under: Birds — Tags: Birds, great otway national park, victoria — admin @ 12:28 am

Winchelsea Birding

Winchelsea is between Geelong and Colac on the Princes Highway. I ended up there somehow because I was looking for Lake Gherang but it was dry. So were all the other lakes around the area. The Barwon River flows through Winchelsea. It seems to come from behind the Otway Ranges and do a big loop and come out at Barwon Heads, where I was a few days ago. There is a really good reserve along the banks of the river right in town.

That afternoon I had a nice rest for a change and just spotted some Rock Doves, magpies, Australian Wood Ducks, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Galahs and some Gang-gang Cockatoos from the comfort of my deck chair. During the night it was bitterly cold. In the morning I got out the camera and took some photos. I found this bee hive in a hollow in a big old gum tree by the river. They are European Bees, not native bees.

Bee Hive

There were a few water birds on the river, not many, just some Dusky Moorhen, Australian White Ibis and some immature Australian Shelduck. There were heaps of New Holland Honyeaters around, as well as White-plumed Honyeaters. A couple of blackbirds hopped around in the undergrowth, and I spotted a new species for me, the Purple-crowned Lorikeet.

Purple-crowned Lorikeet (Glossopsitta porphryocephala)

There were some Red-rumped Parrots around as well. This charming debonair chap looked like he wasn’t going to let an ugly head get in the way of good grooming. His hair style is straight out of the fifties with that lovely wave.

hybrid goose

Bambra Wetlands

I spotted a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles on the road from Winchelsea to Bambra. Just past Bambra, I screamed to a halt, because I spotted a sign saying Bambra Wetlands. So I went in to have a look. First thing I see before I get my camera ready to go is a White-naped Honeyeater, waiting for my, all posed up.

White-naped Honyeater (Melithreptus lunatus)

Then an Eastern Yellow Robin came along, but I got distracted by a phone call, so I missed that photo op. And weirdness of all weirdness, a peacock comes blundering through the bush, eating some berries off a bush. What next? To normalize things a bit, a Superb Fairy-wren brought me back to earth, and then a Crimson Rosella. Phew!

Big Hill Track

The Big Hill Track is at the start of the Great Otways National Park as you come in along the Winchelsea to Lorne road. There is a camp site close to the road which is very nice. Late in the afternoon, I went for a walk around the camp ground without the camera, and of course a gorgeous Rufous Fantail popped up right in front of me. So I rushed to get the camera and of course by the time I got back, he had disappeared. I kept going anyway and walked down the track for about an hour or so. I saw some Brown Thornbills, Grey Fantails and a bunch of screeching Red Wattlebirds in the valley.

The next morning was overcast and as dark as can be. I took a photograph of a White-throated Treecreeper at ISO1600, f/5.6, and shutter speed 1/400 and it was still dark. Thats how dark it was. After that, I just gave up. Back at the camp ground, I spotted this female or immature Scarlet Robin.

Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)

Winchelsea bird list

Rock Dove
Australian Magpie
Australian Wood Duck
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Galah
Gang-gang Cockatoo
Australian Raven
Willy Wagtail
White-plumed Honeyeater
Dusky Moorhen
Australian Shelduck
Welcome Swallow
Common Blackbird
New Holland Honyeater
Common Starling
Red Wattlebird
Australian White Ibis
Spotted Turtle-dove
Superb Fairy-wren
Red-rumped Parrot
Golden Whistler
Magpie-lark
Purple-crowned Lorikeet

Bambra Wetlands bird list

Wedge-tailed Eagle
White-naped Honeyeater
Welcome Swallow
Peacock
Superb Fairy-wren
Crimson Rosella

Big Hill Track bird list

Rufous Fantail
Grey Fantail
Superb Fairy-wren
Brown Thornbill
Red Wattlebird
Silvereye
Crimson Rosella
Eastern Yellow Robin
White-throated Treecreeper
Golden Whistler
Australian Raven
Scarlet Robin

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March 1, 2010

Point Addis Birding

Filed under: Birds — Tags: Birds, torquay, victoria — admin @ 4:47 am

Ironbark Basin Reserve

Point Addis is between Torquay and Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road, just past Bell’s Beach. Its actually the next headland along the coast to the west. I just turned off the road to go into Point Addis and went into the car park after the Great Otways National Park sign. I did not even realize it was in the Great Otways yet. The Ironbark Basin gets its name from the many Ironbarks that grow in the area. The buds of fruit appear in threes hanging on long slender stalks. The flowers are normally a creamy-yellow colour but sometimes a tree will produce pink flowers. The tree trunks are very distinctive because the bark is hard, thick and black and deeply furrowed.

Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus tricarpa) trunk

When I first got there I spotted a Red Wattlebird and a chick, some Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flew over, and some juvenile Crimson Rosellas were feeding on the eucalypt blossoms. Further down the track I spotted a Grey Currawong and Grey Fantail. The female juvenile White-throated Treecreeper is very distinctive because she has a reddish mark on her cheek and a rufous rump. Everything seemed to have something rufous on them today. Maybe it was Buff Monday or something. I even spotted a Rufous Fantail.

On the low heath-lands near the beach, there were lots of New Holland Honeyeaters. On the way back I spotted some Brown Thornbill, Golden Whistler and this Eastern Yellow Robin posed for me in the light. You can always rely on a Eastern Yellow Robin to grab the limelight.

Eastern Yellow Robin

Back up at the car park, an adult Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike came along and the juvenile had what looked like a caterpillar and was giving it a good whallopping on the tree branch.

juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)

The Ironbark Basin Reserve has a wide variety of habitats:
* Tall open ironbark forest
* Messmate open forest
* Grasstree dominated open forest
* Low heath-land

Point Addis bird list

Crimson Rosella
Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo
Red Wattlebird
Grey Fantail
Rufous Fantail
Grey Currawong
White-throated Treecreeper
New Holland Honeyeater
Superb Fairy-wren
Brown Thornbill
Eastern Yellow Robin
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Golden Whistler

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February 28, 2010

Torquay Birding

Filed under: Birds — Tags: Birds, victoria — admin @ 11:05 am

Surf City Birdwatching

Torquay is just about the start of the Great Ocean Road that follows the Southern Ocean west of Melbourne in Victoria. They call it Surf City because its the home of Ripcurl, one of the major surfing manufacturers in the world. There are heaps of surf shops here, its a bit full on, they should rename it to Babylon. But anyway, rant over, I had a look at the surf at Point Danger. The wind was off shore here and howling. The wind surfers and kite boarders were all out having fun in the wind, but the surf was tiny – less than a foot.

On the beach were Silver Gull, Masked Lapwing, Pacific Gull and Crested Tern. Later in the afternoon I went to Taylors Park, in the center of town. Its not a bad park with lots of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos eating the tops off the eucalypt trees. They were doing the same at the Port of Echuca on the Murray River. A couple of Pacific Black Duck were on the pond, ravens and magpies were in abundance, and some Red Wattlebirds were making pests of themselves as usual.

Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)

After that, I went to the Deep Creek Reserve, just down the road a bit. Its quite a large reserve and they have done a good job maintaining it. Congratulations to Surf City Council and Lions. That being said there were not many birds around. I only managed to spot some Grey Fantail, Common Starlings, Rainbow Lorikeet, Superb Fairy-wren and a few New Holland Honeyeater.

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)

Torquay bird list

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Pacific Black Duck
Australian Raven
Australian Magpie
Magpie-lark
Red Wattlebird
Spotted Turtle-dove
Silver Gull
Masked Lapwing
Pacific Gull
Crested Tern
Grey Fantail
Common Starling
New Holland Honeyeater
Rainbow Lorikeet
Superb Fairy-wren

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Barwon Heads Bird Photography

Filed under: Birds — Tags: barwon heads, Birds, victoria — admin @ 1:13 am

Barwon Heads

Barwon Heads is west of Melbourne, just past Geelong, going towards the coast. The Barwon River runs into the ocean here, and you can get a few birds on the estuary. In the afternoon, I went for a wander along the sand flats at the estuary. I had seen a wader and went back to get my camera. I thought it might have been a Terek Sandpiper but it wasn’t, it was just a plain old Common Greenshank. This one is a non-breeding bird, because of the grey streaks on the crown.

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Here is a Common Greenshank in flight. Notice the white V shape on the back and the long legs that are trailing behind the tail.

Common Greenshank in flight

Luckily there were a few other birds as well. The ever-present Silver Gulls, Masked Lapwing, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis and a couple of random Little Pied Cormorant. A few bush birds made an appearance in the trees along the river – Superb Fairy-wren, magpies and a White-browed Scrubwren. When I was having my lunch I was visited by a rat who seemed to live beside the river in the grass. He came up to me as bold as can be and just walked straight past me. A young one crawled into a garbage bin further away. Later on I am going to do the river walk on the other side of the river. It follows the river a fair way, so hopefully I might see something or other. At least it will be a nice walk and I will get some exercise. So, see you then!

Bi-plane

Later that day, at 6pm I went upriver instead of going over the other side. I saw some terns fishing so I went looking to get some shots of them. I did manage to get some shots and they turned out to be Crested Tern. This one was doing some weird stuff, turning upside down whilst in flight. Or he turned his head upside down. I have no idea what he was trying to do.

Crested Tern (Sterna bergii)

This Crested Tern managed to get a nice little fishie and got himself backlit against the setting sun. I think this photo works but I am not entirely sure. What do you reckon?

Crested Tern

I just kept walking a few more kilometers until I got to a fishing pontoon where it was the start of Lake Connewarre. I did manage to see some Pacific Gulls, pelicans, starlings and a Spotted Turtle Dove and not much else except lots of Silver Gulls. The lone Common Greenshank turned up again.

The next morning I went over to the other side of the river on the Barwon Heads side and walked along the track up-river. A few hundred meters up the track, a sign proclaimed that it was now Lake Connewarre or Reedy Lake. There was very little along this track except ravens, Superb Fairy-wrens, a pair of Eastern Rosella and a bunch of Red Wattlebirds.

Later on that morning after a coffee, I went up to the Bluff, hoping to see some pelagic birds. Instead I spotted some little waders down on the beach, so I went to investigate. They turned out to be a mixed mob of Red-capped Plovers and Double-banded Plovers. I thought I had seen a gannet but it turned out to be a Pacific Gull. The only other thing of note was a Nankeen Kestrel hovering over the cliff top.

Barwon Heads bird list

Silver Gull
Masked Lapwing
White-faced Heron
Australian White Ibis
Little Pied Cormorant
Pied Cormorant
Black Swan
Chestnut Teal
Common Greenshank
Crested Tern
Pacific Gull
Australian Pelican
Red-capped Plover
Double-banded Plover
Superb Fairy-wren
Australian Raven
Australian Magpie
White-browed Scrubwren
Magpie-lark
Common Starling
Spotted Turtle-dove
Eastern Rosella
Red Wattlebird
Nankeen Kestrel

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February 24, 2010

Jack’s Beach Wetlands Boardwalk

Filed under: Birds — Tags: mornington peninsula, victoria — admin @ 11:59 pm

Warrangine Park

Warrangine Park stretches from Jack’s Beach to the end of Salmon Street in Halifax on the western side of Westernport Bay on the Mornington Peninsula. There is a track and boardwalk that goes for four kilometers. (Melway map 165 A7) Last night I started off at Jack’s Beach and walked half way just before sunset. The shame of it was that the swamp/marshes are dry because of the drought and no rain. There is absolutely no water in it and there were no waders or water birds whatsoever.

It’s a drought!

It is probably not a good idea to come here in January or February, as these are the hottest and driest months of the year in southern Australia. I would most definitely come back about from October to early December and maybe from April to early June, before all the waders fly back to the northern hemisphere. The only waders or water birds that I saw were some Australian White Ibis and a Silver Gull. The first day all I saw was an Australian White Ibis, Superb Fairy-wren, Welcome Swallows and a Red Wattlebird. This one is a baby I think because it seems to still have the white gape around the bill. Juvenile Red Wattlebirds have a red-brown iris, smaller wattles and very white wing feather edges.

Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)

There are many different types of environment at Warrangine Park. The main part of it is Saltmarsh, and there is also lots of paperbark scrub, a strip of mangroves along the creek and bay foreshore, seagrass meadows and woodlands. This great variety of habitat should produce quite a wide array of bird life, but for me, sadly, it didn’t. Maybe another time.

Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)

Warrangine Park bird list 25/2/10

Australian White Ibis
Superb Fairy-wren
Welcome Swallow
Red Wattlebird
Willy Wagtail
Silver Gull
Spotted Turtle-dove
Australian Raven
Common Myna

Warrangine Park resources

“Where to Find Birds around Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula” Ed. Larry Wakefield. Published by Bird Observers Club of Australia, Mornington Peninsula Branch.

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Balbirooroo & Coolart Wetlands

Filed under: Birds — Tags: Birds, mornington peninsula, victoria — admin @ 1:27 am

Balbirooroo Wetlands

Balbirooroo Wetlands is just behind the school at Balnarring, on the western side of Westernport Bay in South-east Victoria. There was not much water around so it was lucky that there were a few bush birds around on the edges of the wetlands. First up, I saw a Red Wattlebird, Grey Fantail and a heap of Superb Fairy-wrens. A Little Pied Cormorant and a few Galahs flew over, and I just spotted a Black-fronted Dotterel on the dam of the adjoining property.

White-plumed Honeyeater (Lichenostomus pencillatus)

On this dam were a variety of water birds such as Chestnut Teal, Black Swan, White-faced Heron, Eurasian Coot and Australian Shelduck. Back in the trees, I spotted a White-plumed Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, European Goldfinch and this Little Wattlebird.

Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chysoptera)

Then I headed across to the Pun Pun Wetlands, which were epemeral wetlands. Not all wetlands are permanent. Many wetlands only contain water after heavy rain and may dry out after some time. I saw a Swamp Rat at the side of the road but he scurried into the grass before I had time to get a photograph of him. I did however manage to get a photograph of this Spotted Turtle-dove.

Spotted Turtle-dove (Streptopelia chinensis)

Balbirooroo Wetlands bird list 24/2/10

Red Wattlebird
Little Pied Cormorant
Superb Fairy-wren
Grey Fantail
Galah
Welcome Swallow
Black-fronted Dotterel
Chestnut Teal
Eurasian Coot
Black Swan
White-faced Heron
Australian White Ibis
Little Wattlebird
White-plumed Honeyeater
Australian Shelduck
Australian Wood Duck
Pacific Black Duck
Australian Magpie
White-browed Scrubwren
Magpie-lark
New Holland Honeyeater
Spotted Turtle-dove
Purple Swamphen
Spotted Turtle-dove
European Goldfinch

Coolart Wetlands

The Coolart Wetlands is just around the corner from Balnarring at Somers. It is located 80 kilometers south east of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula on Lord Somers Road, Melways map reference 193 J9. There are a series of walking tracks throughout the park where you can explore the coastal woodlands, wetland areas, artificial lagoons and the formal gardens that surround the old homestead.

There was no water in the swamps but there were plenty of bush birds in the woodland areas. I spotted both Red and Little Wattlebirds and in one spot there were Superb Fairy-wrens, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Fantailed Cuckoo, and this Brown Thornbill chomping down on an insect. It may be a little grasshopper, it is hard to tell.

Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla)

There were also a number of Silvereye as well as quite a few Spotted Pardalote, who came quite near to me, allowing me to get this lovely shot of one. This one is a male because of the white spots on the top of the head. The female Spotted Pardalote has yellow spots on the top of the head.

male Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus)

Coolart Wetlands bird list 24/2/10

Common Myna
Australian Raven
Australian Magpie
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
White-eared Honeyeater
Brown Thornbill
Fantailed Cuckoo
Grey Fantail
Silvereye
Superb Fairy-wren
Spotted Pardalote
Little Wattlebird
Red Wattlebird
Eastern Yellow Robin

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February 23, 2010

Greens Bush

Filed under: Birds — Tags: mornington peninsula, victoria — admin @ 2:03 am

Two Bays Track, Greens Bush

22nd February, 2010, 6:30pm

Greens Bush is a tract of land in Mornington Peninsula National Park. You can get to the Two Bays Walking Track along the road to Rosebud coming from Flinders township. The car park is about 7 kilometers from Flinders. Here is a link to a map This afternoon I went north along the track towards Long Point. The weather was overcast with intermittent rain squalls, so it was not very conducive to photography, but I charged along anyhow.

The country is black sand covered mainly in Banksia trees with a few other shrubs and trees. A lot of Greens Bush is reclaimed grazing land and seemed to me to be in pretty poor condition. There were lots of kangaroos around and they had made lots of trails through the bush, causing lots of damage. I personally think that there are too many of them and are becoming a problem.

The birds I encountered were the usual suspects for this kind of country – mainly Little Wattlebirds and Superb Fairy-wrens. The Little Wattlebirds dominated this area and were pretty aggressive, chasing off other birds who came into the banksia branches. I assume that they chase off other honeyeaters who may be competition for their food. I did happen to spot a Grey Fantail, who had an unusually buff chest.

Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)

I did also spot some Silvereyes and a mob of magpies. My best find was a blackberry bush that had some ripe blackberries on them, so I had a luscious feast of fresh berries. Yum yum. The only other bird of note was a flock of Crimson Rosellas.

23rd February, 2010, 7:30am

The next morning I went south along the Two Bays track towards Bushrangers Bay, which is about 2.5 kilometers away. It goes through more black sandy country with mainly banksias and coastal heath. When I got to the ocean, there were a big flock of Silver Gulls, about a dozen Pacific Gulls and a couple of Little Black Cormorant.

Looking towards Cape Schank from Bushrangers Bay

On the way back I spotted a few Grey Fantails, Silvereyes and some magpies which I noticed were different to the ones in New South Wales. Their backs are more white and from reading the book, it seems that they are race tyrannica, so their actual scientific name would by Gymnorhina tibicen tyrannica.

Australian Magpie, race tyrannica (Gymnorhina tibicen tyrannica)

Greens Bush Bird List 22-23/2/10

Superb Fairy-wren
Little Wattlebird
Grey Fantail
Silvereye
Australian Magpie
Crimson Rosella
Silver Gull
Pacific Gull
Little Black Cormorant

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