Rifle Range and Bryans Swamp

Leader: Rod Bird. Half day excursion.

The group drove along the Victoria Valley Rd to the south end of the Rifle Range and parked by the lane to the west and walked across the road and up the closed track to the range (a distance of about 400 m). We saw very few birds and our total of 14 species was fewer than the exceptionaly large number of orchids seen (22). The group were more than delighted with the wildflower display.

BIRDS SEEN AT THE RIFLE RANGE

Brown Thornbill

Common Bronzewing

Crimson Rosella

Eastern Spinebill

Emu

Grey Shrike-thrush

Horsfields Bronze-cuckoo

Mistletoebird

New Holland Honeyeater

Scarlet Robin

Rufous Whistler

Spotted Pardalote

Superb Fairy-wren

Yellow-faced Honeyeater
ORCHIDS SEEN AT THE RIFLE RANGE

Caladenia carnea (many)

Caladenia clavigera (several)

Caladenia parva

Caladenia phaeoclavia

Caladenia gracilis (many)

Caladenia iridescens (1 only)

Caladenia venusta (many)

Caleana major (1 only)

Calochilus robertsonii (bud)

Corybas incurvus (leaves)

Diuris orientis

Diuris pardina (many, esp. on range)

Glossodia major (100s)
Leptoceras menziesii (leaves)

Pterostylis concinna

Pterostylis melagramma

Pterostylis nana

Pterostylis nutans

Pyrorchis nigricans(leaves)

Thelymitra antennifera

Thelymitra pauciflora (bud)

Thelymitra sp (leaves – Blotched Sun-orchid?)

Our tour then proceeded via Crawfords Rd, past a farm wetland to McIntyres crossing -Vic Valley Hall Rd, then left at the T junction and followed around to Bryans Swamp. This route gives a good view of the adjacent wetlands (Marneys Swamp and others – all drained but still holding water). We viewed birds from behind a pine tree 100m west of the Church. The swamp was full and frogs in fine voice. The most prolific waterbird was a raft of 800 Eurasian Coot. Rufous Songlarks were seen and heard, along with Eurasian Skylark. In all, 39 species of bird were seen at or near the swamp.

Australian Magpie

Australasian Pipit

Australian Shelduck

Australasian Shoveller

Black-shouldered Kite

Black-tailed Native Hen (Crawford Rd)

Black Swan

Blue-billed Duck

Brown Songlark

Emu

Eurasian Coot

Eurasian Skylark

Forest Raven

Great Egret

Grey Shrike-thrush

Grey Teal

Hoary-headed Grebe

Little Eagle

Long-billed Corella

Magpie-lark

Masked Lapwing

Musk Duck

Royal Spoonbill (Crawford Rd dam)

Rufous Songlark

Pacific Black Duck

Straw-necked Ibis

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Superb Fairy-wren

Swamp Harrier

Welcome Swallow

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Whistling Kite

White Ibis

White-faced Heron

White-fronted Chat

White-necked Heron

White-plumed Honeyeater

Willie Wagtail

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Crawford Rd)