Seventeen Seana members drove the 43km north of Marysville to McKenzie Flora Reserve, Alexandra, on Saturday 26th of October 2024. The group met on Plantation Lane adjacent to the Reserve, at 10.30am.
Although it had been very cold overnight, the Sun came out, it warmed up and there was very little breeze, ideal conditions for bird watching. After an introduction to the history of the Reserve, the group set off on the track from Plantation Lane.
Soon after entering the Reserve, White-browed Scrubwrens and Brown Thornbills dashed across the track and hopped around nearby bushes allowing all in the party to see them. Not much further along the track a Mistletoebird was spied and then soon after a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo was sighted. After another 200 meters a female or juvenile Satin Bowerbird was seen in a tall eucalypt and at about the halfway point of the walk magic happened when two Leaden Flycatchers hopped about in a small branching tree not far from the track.
Flowering plants such as Chocolate Lilies, Milkmaids, Dianellas, Goodenias, Pea flowers and others grabbed the attention of many in the group, so photographs were taken, discussions ensued and our progress became delightfully slow. It is a good sign when there is lots to see.
We didn’t get back to the cars until 1pm, the general consensus being the track was more than 2km long.
The lunch venue was beside UT Creek in Alexandra, at the Rotary Park, where everyone’s attention was taken by a Beautiful Leaf Moth (Gastrophora henricaria) which was spotted in the toilets and brought out for all to see.
At 2pm the group drove to the lower end of Grannies Lane, where the beautiful call of the White-throated Gerygone was heard and soon after it was sighted and its nest found. An Olive-backed Oriole called and was seen and Euan in the group caught sight of a large raptor in a very tall eucalypt which was identified as a Collared Sparrowhawk. Rufous Whistlers, Grey Fantails and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were abundant and hovering Weebills were also noticed.
Fifty-two species of birds were recorded for the day, forty-four found in McKenzie Flora Reserve and thirty on Grannies Lane with some species being found in both locations. There were also plenty of plant species seen and photographed. Everyone in the group agreed that we had experienced an exceptionally enjoyable and profitable day in the bush.
Birds seen at McKenzie Flora Reserve (M) and those at Grannies Lane (G)
| White-necked Heron M | White-throated Gerygone G |
| Australian Ibis M | Spotted Pardalote M, G |
| Pacific Black Duck G | Striated Pardalote M, G |
| Chestnut Teal M | Superb Fairy-wren M, G |
| Collared Sparrowhawk G | Yellow-faced Honeyeater M, G |
| Nankeen Kestrel G | Eastern Spinebill M, G |
| Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo M | Noisy Miner G |
| Gang Gang Cockatoo M | Red Wattlebird M, G |
| Galah M, G | Noisy Friarbird M |
| Little Corella G | White-throated Treecreeper M |
| Long-billed Corella M, G | Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike M, G |
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo M, G | Pied Currawong M |
| Crimson Rosella M, G | Grey Butcherbird M |
| Eastern Rosella M | Australian Magpie M, G |
| Fan-tailed Cuckoo G | White-winged Chough M, G |
| Shining Bronze-Cuckoo M | Australian Raven M |
| Laughing Kookaburra M, G | Little Raven M |
| Sacred Kingfisher M | Satin Bowerbird M |
| Welcome Swallow M | Olive-backed Oriole G |
| White-browed Scrubwren M | Leaden Flycatcher M, G |
| Weebill M, G | Grey Fantail M, G |
| Yellow Thornbill M | Rufous Whistler M, G |
| Striated Thornbill M, G | Grey Shrike-thrush M, G |
| Brown Thornbill M, G | Mistletoebird M, G |
| Buff-rumped Thornbill M | Silvereye M, G |
| Common Blackbird M, G | Common Myna G |
| Total Birds 52 |
ABN 23 918 778 150
Incorporation No A0044963D