FILE TITLE: Tooan Park, Nhill. Vic GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: Longitude +141°42'42" Latitude -36°29'03" DATE OF COLLECTION: Saturday, 30 October 2004 NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED AT SITE: 42 LIST OF SPECIES: Babbler; White-brewed (Pomatostomus superciliosus) 5 to 30 Bee-eater; Rainbow (Merops ornatus) 5 to 30 Cockatoo; Sulphur-crested (Cacatua galerita galerita) 5 to 30 Cockatoo; Yellow-tailed Black (Calyptorhynchus funereus) 5 to 30 Corella; Little (Cacatua sanguinea) 3 to 5 Cuckoo; Horsfield's Bronze (Chrysococcyx basalis) 1 Cuckoo-shrike; Black-faced (Coracina novaehollandiae) 3 to 5 Dove; Peaceful (Geopelia placida) 5 to 30 Duck; Mountain (Tadorna tadornoides) 3 to 5 Duck; Wood (Maned Goose) (Chenonetta jubata) 5 to 30 Firetail; Diamond (Emblema guttatum) 3 to 5 Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus) 5 to 30 Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) 3 to 5 Heron; Pacific (Ardea pacifica) 5 to 30 Honeyeater; Brown-headed (Melittireptus brevirostris) 5 to 30 Honeyeater; New Holland (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) 5 to 30 Honeyeater; Spiny-cheeked (Acanthagenys rufogularis) 3 to 5 Honeyeater; White-eared (Meliphaga leucotis) 5 to 30 Honeyeater; White-plumed (Meliphaga penicillata) 30 to 100 Honeyeater; Yellow-faced (Meliphaga chrysops) 3 to 5 Kookaburra; Laughing (Dacelo novaeguineae) 3 to 5 Lorikeet; Musk (Glossopsitta concinna) 5 to 30 Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) 30 to 100 Miner; Noisy (Manorina melanocephala) 3 to 5 Mistletoe Bird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) 3 to 5 Pardalote; Striated (Pardalotus striatus) 3 to 5 Parrot; Red-rumped (Psephotus haematonotus) 5 to 30 Pigeon; Crested (Ocyphaps lophotes) 5 to 30 Raven; Australian (Corvus coronoides) 5 to 30 Rosella; Crimson (Platycercus elegans) 5 to 30 Rosella; Eastern (Platycercus eximius) 3 to 5 Shriketit; Eastern (Falcunculus frontatus) 3 to 5 Song lark; Rufous (Cincloramphus mathewsi) 3 to 5 Swallow; Welcome (Hirundo neoxena) 5 to 30 Treecreeper; Brown (Climacteris picumnus) 5 to 30 Wagtail; Willie (Rhipidura leucophrys) 5 to 30 Wattle bird; Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) 5 to 30 Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris) 5 to 30 Whistler; Rufous (Pachycephala rufiventris) 5 to 30 Winter; Jacky (Microeca leucophaea) 3 to 5 Woodswallow; Dusky (Artamus cyanopterus) 3 to 5 Wren; Superb Blue (Malurus cyaneus) 3 to 5 NOTES: This is one of a series of reports on a Combined Field Naturalists club weekend centered at Little Desert Lodge Nhill,Victoria.
The first trip I was on went to Tooan Park some 40km south of Nhill The park had a mixed flora of Eucalypts, wattles and shrubby bushes of many varieties. We were in view of Mt Arapiles some 10km distant. We travelled through the park stopping at several places with different habitats.
The list above is a bird list of the day of those I saw and that were reported to me. It may not be complete. It also includes the birds seen at Dr Sutherland’s garden at lunch time, and then through another section of the park later. A comment made at night and a similar observation made during the day, on the Eastern Rosella, was the difference in the brilliance in the birds as compared to those seen elsewhere. I noticed the absolute brilliance in the colours of the breast and underneath, these being very defined and more brilliant.
FILE TITLE: Little Desert Lodge Nhill vic
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: Longitude +141 °39'39" Latitude -36°24'30" DATE OF COLLECTION: Saturday, 30 October 2004 NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED AT SITE: 8 LIST OF SPECIES: Chough; White-winged (Corcorax melanorhamphos) 5 to 30 Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) 2 Frogmouth; Tawny (Podargus strigoides) 1 Native-hen; Black-tailed (Gallinula ventralis) 2 Pardalote; Striated (Pardalotus striatus) 5 to 30 Stone-curlew; Bush (Burhinus grallarius) 2 Treecreeper; Brown (Climacteris picumnus) 3 to 5 Winter; Jacky (Microeca leucophaea) 3 to 5
NOTES: This is a list of the few birds I and some others saw around the Little Desert Lodge where we stayed. Bird life was not prolific, but there were a few. The Curlews called at night, but I believe they were caged.
FILE TITLE: Camping Ground Little Desert Nat Park Vic
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: Longitude +141054'54" Latitude -36027'16" DATE OF COLLECTION: Sunday, 31 October 2004 NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED AT SITE: 43 LIST OF SPECIES: Babbler; White-browed (Pomatostomus superciliosus) 5 to 30 Bee-eater; Rainbow (Merops ornatus) 3 to 5 Bronzewing; Common (Phaps chalcoptera) 2 Chough; White-;winged (Corcorax melanorhamphos) 5 to 30 Cockatoo; Yellow-tailed Black (Calyptorhynchus funereus) 5 to 30 Dove; Peaceful (Geopelia placida) 3 to 5 Fantail; Grey (Rhipidura fuliginosa) 1 Frogmouth; Tawny (Podargus strigoides) 1 Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus) 5 to 30 Honeyeater; Brown-headed (Melithreptus brevirostris) 5 to30 Honeyeater; New Holland (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) 30 to 100 Honeyeater; Spiny-cheeked (Acanthagenys rufogularis) 3 to 5 Honeyeater; White-ea red (Meliphaga leucotis) 5 to 30 Honeyeater; White-plumed (Meliphaga penicillata) 5 to 30 Honeyeater; Yellow-plumed (Meliphaga ornata) 3 to 5 Kite; Black-shouldered (Elanus caeruleus) 1 Kookaburra; Laughing (Dacelo novaeguineae) 3 to 5 Lorikeet; Little (Glossopsitta pusilla) 3 to 5 Lorikeet; Purple-crowned (Glossopsitta porphyrocephala) 3 to 5 Martin; Tree (Hirundo nigricans) 5 to 30 Pardalote; Striated (Pardalotus striatus) 3 to 5 Parrot; Red-rumped (Psephotus haematonotus) 5 to 30 Pigeon; Crested (Ocyphaps lophotes) 3 to 5 Raven; Australian (Corvus coronoides) 3 to 5 Robin; Hooded (Melanodryas cucullata) 1 Robin; Red-capped (Petroica goodenovi 1 Scrub-robin; Southern (Drymodes brunneopygia) 1 Shrike-thrush; Grey (Colluricincla harmonica) 1 Silvereye (Zosterops latfralis) 5 to 30 Sittella; Varied (Daphoenositta chrysoptera) 3 to 5 Treecreeper; Brown (Climacteris picumnus) 5 to 30 Triller; White-winged (Lalage sueuri 12 Wagtail; Willie (Rhipidura leucophrys) 2 Wattlebird; Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) 3 to 5 Wattlebird; Red (Anthochaera carunculata) 3 to 5 Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris) 3 to 5 Whistler; Rufous (Pachycephala rufiventris) 5 to 30 Winter; Jacky (Microeca leucophaea) 2 Woodswallow; Dusky (Artamus cyanopterus) 3 to 5 Woodswallow; Masked (Artamus personatus) 3 to 5 Woodswallow; White-breasted (Artamus leucorhynchus) 3 to 5 Woodswallow; White-browed (Artamus superciliosus) 5 to 30 Wren; Superb Blue (Malurus cyaneus) 3 to 5
NOTES: This trip was on Sunday to the camp area just south of Kiata and was well represented by the bird population. We divided into two groups, one walking a loop track, and the other staying around the camp area. There were several interesting birds seen. The group which atayed at the camp ground noticed the large number of birds drinking at on the roof of the camp shelter. This had a gutter on the roof which obviously held water, and the birds were drinking from the gutter in quite large numbers. The Tawny Frogmouth was noticed because a Willie Wagtail was bombing it and drew attention, otherwise it would not have been seen.
FILE TITLE: Water treatment plant Nhill Vic
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: Longitude +141°39'39" Latitude -36°19'04" DATE OF COLLECTION: Sunday, 31 October 2004 NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED AT SITE: 6 LIST OF SPECIES: Dotterel; Red-kneed (Erythogonys cinctus) 3 to 5 Duck; Mountain (Tadorna tadornoides) 5 to 30 Grebe; Hoary-headed (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) 5 to 30 Plover; Spur-winged (Hoplopterus miles) 30 to 100 Sandpiper;Sharp-tailed (Calidris acuminata) 5 to 30 Stilt; White-headed (Himantopus leucocephalus) 30 to 100
NOTES: A few members visited the treatment plant after our other trips, and despite no telescope saw a number of birds. Numbers are approx, as I was not there and did not get the statistics.
I was given the name Sharp-tailed Godwit, and cannot find it on the programme, so is the sandpiper the same. It was in breeding plumage.
FILE TITLE: Glenlee reserve Nhill Vic
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: Longitude +141048'48" Latitude -36012'17" DATE OF COLLECTION: Sunday, 31 October 2004 NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED AT SITE: 14 LIST OF SPECIES: Babbler; White-browed (Pomatostomus superciliosus) 5 to 30 Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus) 5 to 30 Hawk; Brown (Falco berigora) 1 Honeyeater; White-plumed (Meliphaga penicillata) 3 to 5 Magpie (GymrlOrhina tibicen) 5 to 30 Martin; Tree (Hirundo nigricans) 5 to 30 Parrot; Red-rumped (Psephotus haematonotus) 5 to 30 Pigeon; Crested (Ocyphaps lophotes) 3 to 5 Robin; Hooded (Melanodryas cucullata) 3 to 5 Swallow; Welcome (Hirundo neoxena) 3 to 5 Swift; Common (Pelopidas agna) 5 to 30 Treecreeper; Brown (Climacteris picumnus) 3 to 5 Wagtail; Willie (Rhipidura leucophrys) 2 Woodswallow; White-browed (Artamus superciliosus) 3 to 5
NOTES: It was very hot some 36degrees, and we did a short walk after lunch and found a few interesting birds. One thing to note the readings for northing and southerns are very approximate. and are limited to the map on the programme, which in all cases is not very accurate.
FILE TITLE: Kiata reserve Nhill Vic
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: Longitude +141045'45" Latitude -36020'06" DATE OF COLLECTION: Sunday, 31 October 2004 NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED AT SITE: 9 LIST OF SPECIES: Bee-eater; Rainbow (Merops ornatus) 2 Chough; White-winged (Corcorax melanorhamphos) 5 to 30 Currawong; Grey (Strepera versicolor) 1 Galah (Eolophus roseicapillus) 3 to 5 Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) 2 Kite; Black (Milvus migrans) 2 Kookaburra; Blue-winged (Dacelo leachii) 2 Pardalote; Striated (Pardalotus striatus) 1 Whistler; Rufous (Pachycephala rufiventris) 2
NOTES: We visited the Kiata reserve for a short time on the Sunday, and it was very hot, about 36 degrees, and the birds rightly were having their siesta. so we had our lunch and moved on.
FILE TITLE: Horse shoe bend Dimboola Vic
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: Longitude +142ø03'03" Latitude -36ø27'00" DATE OF COLLECTION: Monday, 1 November 2004 NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED AT SITE: 18 LIST OF SPECIES: Bee-eater; Rainbow (Merops ornatus) 5 to 30 Cuckoo-Dove; Brown (Macropygia amboinensis) 2 Dotterel; Black-fronted (Elseyornis melanops) 2 Dove; Peaceful. (Geopelia placida) 3 to 5 Duck; Pacific Black (Anas superciliosa) 2 Flycatcher; Restless (Myiagra inquieta) 1 Honeyeater; White-plumed (Meliphaga penicillata) 5 to 30 Kingfisher; Sacred (Halcyon sancta sancta) 2 Lorikeet; Musk (Glossopsitta concinna) 3 to 5 Miner; Noisy (Manorina melanocephala) 3 to 5 Parrot; Red-rumped (Psephotus haematonotus) 5 to 30 Robin; Hooded (Melanodryas cucullata) 2 Scrub-robin; Southern (Drymodes brunneopygia) 1 Treecreeper; Brown (Climacteris picumnus) 3 to 5 Triller; White-winged (Lalage sueurii) 1 Whistler; Rufous (Pachycephala rufiventris) 3 to 5 Winter; Jacky (Microeca leucophaea) 5 to 30 Woodswallow; Dusky (Artamus cyanopterus) 5 to 30
NOTES: This was an interesting walk along section of the Wimmera river, containing River Red Gum, and away from the river, mixed Black Box with other spp. One interesting observation made by Bob Tate was looking for the source of a high-pitched single note. It turned out to be a Southern Scrub Robin making a contact call. By the time others had arrived it dropped down to the ground and was lost. Pizzey and Knight describe the call I heard.
FILE TITLE: Snape Reserve, Dimboola. Vic
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES: Longitude +141°55'55" Latitude -36°28'04" DATE OF COLLECTION: Monday, 1 November 2004 NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED AT SITE: 20 LIST OF SPECIES Babbler; White-browed (Pomatostomus superciliosus) 5 to 30 Bee-eater; Rainbow (Merops ornatus) 5 to 30 Firetail; Diamond (Emblema guttatum) 2 Goshawk; Brown (Accipiter fasciatus) 1 Hawk; Brown (Falco berigora) 2 Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) 3 to 5 Mistletoe Bird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) 3 to 5 Pardalote; Striated (Pardalotus striatus) 3 to 5 Parrot; Red-rumped (Psephotus haematonotus) 5 to 30 Raven; Australian (Corvus coronoides) 2 Robin; Hooded (Melanodryas cucullata) 2 Rosella; Eastern (Platycercus eximius) 2 Scrub-robin; Southern (Drymodes brunneopygia) 1 Shrike-thrush; Grey (Colluricincla harmonica) 1 Thornbill; Yellow-rumped (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) 3 to 5 Treecreeper; Brown (Climacteris picumnus) 3 to 5 Wagtail; Willie (Rhipidura leucophrys) 2 Wattlebird; Red (Anthochaera carunculata) 3 to 5 Whistler; Rufous (Pachycephala rufiventris) 3 to 5 Winter; Jacky (Microeca leucophaea) 3 to 5
NOTES: Snape reserve is a very large property of some several thousand acres, which has been purchased by the Trust for Nature organisation, and has been destocked for at least the last two years. The regrowth and the replanting work is incredible, and the property will be a magnificent asset in years to come. The bird life although not prolific was very interesting and varied.
ABN 23 918 778 150
Incorporation No A0044963D