TWITTERINGS BirdLife Warrnambool Branch Newsletter Volume 4 Number 2 March 2019 BRANCH OUTING LAKE PERTOBE, WARRNAMBOOL Saturday 2 February 2019 KEN EDWARDS With wonderful weather for our first outing of the year, sixteen birdwatching enthusiasts attended the afternoon’s walk at Lake Pertobe in Warrnambool. Three people from Melbourne, who were holidaying in Peterborough, joined the merry throng. Everyone seemed to enjoy the two hours spent circling the main pond with a total of forty species spotted. Australasian Swamphen Photo Graham Dixon One highlight was observing a breeding pair of Australian Grebes, with a couple of young ones in tow, sharing the waterway with energetic paddle boaters. The waterway near the broken concrete remains of the old bird hide turned out to be productive enough to set up the scopes and a solitary Wood Sandpiper emerged from behind two snoozing Royal Spoonbills. A greater variety of ducks were utilising this pond, away from human activity and the cacophony of calling Eurasian Coots. As we prepared for the bird call, we were lamenting the lack of raptors and just as the words were uttered the local Brown Goshawk obligingly circled over the car park; a suitable finale to a pleasant and productive afternoon’s birding before heading back home to freshen up for the Branch AGM at the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery. BIRDLIST BirdLife Warrnambool Branch Outing Saturday 2 February 2019 LAKE PERTOBE, WARRNAMBOOL Black Swan, Australian Shelduck, Pink-eared Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Hardhead, Musk Duck, Australasian Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe, Australian White Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Great Egret, White-faced Heron, Australian Pelican, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Brown Goshawk, Australasian Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Wood Sandpiper, Silver Gull, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Grey Fantail, Magpie-lark, Welcome Swallow, Australian Reed Warbler, Silvereye, Common Starling, Common Blackbird, House Sparrow, European Goldfinch (40 species)
Transcript
TWITTERINGS BirdLife Warrnambool Branch Newsletter Volume 4 Number 2 March 2019
BRANCH OUTING
LAKE PERTOBE,
WARRNAMBOOL
Saturday 2 February 2019
KEN EDWARDS
With wonderful weather for our first outing of the year,
sixteen birdwatching enthusiasts attended the
afternoon’s walk at Lake Pertobe in Warrnambool.
Three people from Melbourne, who were holidaying in
Peterborough, joined the merry throng.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the two hours spent circling
the main pond with a total of forty species spotted.
Australasian Swamphen Photo Graham Dixon
One highlight was observing a breeding pair of
Australian Grebes, with a couple of young ones in tow,
sharing the waterway with energetic paddle boaters.
The waterway near the broken concrete remains of the
old bird hide turned out to be productive enough to set
up the scopes and a solitary Wood Sandpiper emerged
from behind two snoozing Royal Spoonbills. A greater
variety of ducks were utilising this pond, away from
human activity and the cacophony of calling Eurasian
Coots.
As we prepared for the bird call, we were lamenting
the lack of raptors and just as the words were uttered
the local Brown Goshawk obligingly circled over the car
park; a suitable finale to a pleasant and productive
afternoon’s birding before heading back home to
freshen up for the Branch AGM at the Flying Horse Bar
and Brewery.
BIRDLIST
BirdLife Warrnambool Branch Outing
Saturday 2 February 2019
LAKE PERTOBE, WARRNAMBOOL
Black Swan, Australian Shelduck, Pink-eared Duck,
Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal,
Chestnut Teal, Hardhead, Musk Duck,
Australasian Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe,
Australian White Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Great Egret,
White-faced Heron, Australian Pelican,
Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant,
Brown Goshawk, Australasian Swamphen,
Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Wood Sandpiper,
Silver Gull, Superb Fairywren,
New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird,
White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill,
Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Grey Fantail,
Magpie-lark, Welcome Swallow,
Australian Reed Warbler, Silvereye, Common Starling,
Common Blackbird, House Sparrow,
European Goldfinch
(40 species)
BirdLife Warrnambool
2 Twitterings March 2019
Superb Fairywren, Lake Pertobe Photo Graham Dixon
2019 ANNUAL
GENERAL MEEETING
Saturday 2nd February 2019
GRAHAM DIXON
Once again, our venue was the Flying Horse Bar and
Brewery; they looked after us well, providing a private
room with AV facilities. Twenty-five people attended
the dinner and meeting.
Our current office bearers were re-elected unopposed;
the only change being Ken Edwards, who was
nominated and accepted the position of Vice-president.
Peter remains as President and Editor of Twitterings,
Lynn as Treasurer, Graham as Secretary and Heather
as Program Coordinator.
After some discussion about the need for a Committee,
it was felt that it has a role, as there are times when it
is useful to bounce issues about in an inner sanctum.
Helen, Shirley, Judy, Rhonda, Werner and Wally all
accepted positions on the Committee.
General Business consisted of going around the table
with each member having a chance to raise issues.
Some of the points discussed were:
A need for better club walkie-talkies. There was a
general acceptance that we should buy four new ones
with a better range. Graham is to investigate.
It was suggested that we have some spare
binoculars so that visitors can be better included in our
activities. It was generally felt that this would be too
expensive for the club. A number of members have
extra sets, so people are encouraged to bring spares
along to outings. Perhaps we can keep our eyes open
for cheap ones at garage sales, op shops etc?
If you haven’t been receiving emails from our
Goolge Group, give your email address to Graham to
get onto this mailing list.
Emmy requested the year’s outings be sent out as a
single document as it is easier for printing and sharing.
That was agreed to (and has been done).
Heather reminded us we are having a mixture of
starting times this year. It was generally felt that
birding is better earlier and if the travel isn’t too great
then why not.
It was felt that Lake Pertobe needs a better viewing
area. It was decided to approach Warrnambool City
Council to see about the possibility of constructing
viewing mounds.
Racehorse training on the beaches issue was
discussed.
Ongoing Issue: Horses on Beaches Photo Patricia Scott
African Wattled Lapwing Photo Peter Barrand
After the conclusion of the meeting, I showed a short
video of photos taken during our outings during 2018.
BirdLife Warrnambool
Twitterings March 2019 3
2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The highlight of the evening was a presentation given
by Werner about the birds of South Africa. He showed
photos of the amazingly varied habitats, from desert to
rain forest and the bird photos were stunning.
I think we were all amazed that some families of birds
had almost indistinguishable species, how the many
weaverbirds could be easily identified by the shape and
size of their nests and the twenty-something species of
starlings present in southern Africa. And I thought
corvids were tricky!
Thanks Werner, it was a tremendous talk, thoroughly
enjoyed by all.
Greater Blue-eared Starling Photo Peter Barrand
2019 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
PETER BARRAND
BirdLife Warrnambool’s 2018 started with a February
afternoon’s birding at Killarney followed by dinner and
our Annual General Meeting at the Flying Horse Bar &
Brewery. Rhonda and I organised an early exit from
our fire towers and for the first time in many years
actually dined with the rest of the group.
We had an enjoyable and informative evening with
Helen providing a pictorial quiz, Graham putting on a
duck identification video which proved that even
birdwatchers have trouble identifying ducks from brief
flight views, Jock speaking on his stint as Warden at
BirdLife Australia’s Gluepot Reserve and Graham
finishing proceedings with a short slideshow
highlighting our outings during the previous twelve
months.
All our incumbent Office Bearers were re-elected
unopposed.
2018 saw BirdLife Warrnambool mount two very
successful Branch Expeditions; Norfolk Island in March,
organised brilliantly by Helen and Lynn and our third
tour to Christmas & Cocos Keeling Islands in
November, once again organised and led by myself
and Rhonda.
Our regular monthly outings were generally well
attended during 2018. Port Fairy in March was an
entertaining day, local reserves around Warrnambool
in April, while not attracting a crowd, was attended by
one new birdwatcher and produced some good birds,
those who braved the inclement weather in May to
visit Portland were rewarded with close encounters at
the Australasian Gannet colony at Point Danger and
June’s outing to Tower Hill State Game Reserve was
held in weather described as “magical”.
In late April a few members attempted unsuccessfully
to twitch a Rose Robin in the Cobboboonee National
Park; they were somewhat more successful in
attracting leeches! May also had members chasing a
report of Australian Bustards north of Port Fairy, which
ultimately proved to be White-necked Herons.
Our outing to Timboon in July was a great day out,
despite the adverse weather; Satin Bowerbirds and a
fine lunch in the Timboon Railway Shed Distillery while
hailstones battered the roof were highlights and
Outings Coordinator, Heather, used the get-together to
start to organise our 2019 program.
There was a good turnout for our outing to Dunkeld in
August and a small group welcomed spring with a sixty
species day out in Port Campbell National Park for our
September excursion.
Rhonda and I departed Australia in late July for China
and Mongolia, returning in early September. Over one
hundred and seventy bird species and walk away views
of a Snow Leopard in the Jargalant Massif in western
Mongolia made for an unforgettable adventure.
Several BirdLife Warrnambool members ventured to
Eungella in mid-September to attend the, from all
reports, highly successful Eungella Bird Week,
organised by Wild Mob and BirdLife Mackay Branch.
Another report of Australian Bustard in September,
this time at Wangoom, proved to be the real deal and
members and Victorian domiciled twitchers made the
most of this rare visitor to the south west.
The biennial Cross Border Campout, held at the end of
September and hosted by BirdLife Nhill Branch, was
very well attended by BirdLife Warrnambool members
and we all had a great weekend with good birds and
better company.
In October we visited Lake Condah and the Tyrendarra
Indigenous Protected Area, another good turn-out with
good weather and good birds and Heather and Graeme
organised and led a magnificent weekend outing to the
Western Treatment Plant and You Yangs Regional
Reserve in November, again with plenty of members
participating.
BirdLife Warrnambool
4 Twitterings March 2019
2019 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Our annual Christmas barbecue was also well attended
but only a small band of birders participated in the
Challenge Bird Count.
During the year we again conducted surveys along the
Green Line for the Basalt to Bay LandCare Group. I
think we are learning that survey work can be fun and
certainly helps the Branch finances. We will be
continuing these surveys in 2019.
Perhaps members will be encouraged to assist with
BirdLife Australia surveys in PF Olsen blue gum
plantations in October?
During 2018 I produced five editions of our Branch
newsletter, “Twitterings” plus a bumper January 2019
issue on our Branch Expedition to Christmas and Cocos
Keeling Islands. Our newsletter is very well received
and the mailing list is still growing both with local
readers and interest from further afield. I would like to
thank everyone who has contributed articles,
photographs and sightings during the year. Editing
isn’t a chore when there is a ready supply of articles.
Twitterings is a great communication tool and keeps
the readers up to date with Branch activities and
hopefully encourages more people to join in our
adventures.
I am also into my eighth year of writing a monthly
column for the Heywood Community Newsletter,
promoting birds and birdwatching in Heywood and
district and from the feedback I have received, the
articles are the most popular page in the newsletter.
I would like to thank the Branch management team,
Secretary Graham, Treasurer Lynn and Event
Coordinator Heather for keeping the club running
smoothly for another year and to everyone who has
organised, led and participated in our outings and
events during 2018; without member support all the
best laid plans amount to naught and I hope we will all
still be out there promoting birdwatching and providing
a bright future for Australia’s birds in 2019.
2019 SECRETARY’S REPORT
GRAHAM DIXON
During the year our group participated in local outings
and further afield adventures. In March eight members
ventured to Norfolk Island. The Cross-border campout
was organized by the Nhill Birdlife club in September
and they did an outstanding job. Attending inter-club
events is a great way of meeting new people. In
November we explored the Western Treatment Plant
and the You Yangs as an extended campout. Five
members joined in the Eungella Bird Week where they
met many other birders. After enjoying the rainforest,
it saddened us to see on the news fires destroying
much of the habitat we saw. The BirdLife Warrnambool
Expedition to Christmas Island ran again.
Congratulations to the members who have actively
tried to promote our club. In November Heather
Saunders and others gave a presentation at Archie
Graham Community Centre. The audience showed
great interest with a follow-up presentation to be given
in March this year. Helen organized two walks around
Lake Pertobe as part of Warrnambool’s summer
activities. Both days were well attended and may lead
to new members.
A number of members participated in the Greenline
Survey. This raises money for our club. The club will
again participate in the survey this year, on two
occasions. Members should consider participating.
A full range of activities has been planned for next
year and can be found in the December 2018 edition of
Twitterings. Anybody with ideas for future outings
should present their ideas to Heather Saunders.
Thanks to Peter who has done an outstanding job
producing Twitterings, leading us on expeditions and
being our President. Thanks also to Lynn for being
Treasurer and to Heather for being Program
Coordinator and to all those who have led outings and
written reports.
Little Pied Cormorant, Lake Pertobe Photo Graham Dixon
TRIVIA
DECEMBER’S ANSWER
The world’s smallest wader is the Least Sandpiper.
There are no accepted records for Australia.
A bird considered to be this species was reported in
NSW in 2011 but the identification was not accepted
by the Birds Australia Rarities Committee (Submission
No 745).
BirdLife Warrnambool
Twitterings March 2019 5
LAKE PERTOBE
WALKS
HELEN DIXON
As part of the Warrnambool Council Summer Program,
BirdLife Warrnambool members led two walks around
Lake Pertobe in January, pointing out some of the
birdlife to the participants. We were delighted to have
close to twenty interested people, mostly locals, join
us each time and it was lovely to have some children
along.
Some of the birding highlights were sightings of Black-
tailed Nativehen, Freckled Duck, Blue-billed Duck, the
resident Brown Goshawk and a European Greenfinch,
which sat patiently displaying itself for all to see.
Freckled Duck Photo Peter Barrand
Thanks to Graham and Heather for leading the walks
and to the members who were able to come along and
assist. The feedback from participants has been very
positive.
TRIVIA
MARCH’S QUESTION
My eyes are the largest of all living land animals (and
bigger than my brain).
I am ?
WANTED
AUSTRALASIAN BITTERN SIGHTINGS AND LOCATIONS
BOB GREEN
The Glenelg Hopkins CMA is managing a project to
better understand bittern distribution, population and
habitat requirements, including habitat improvements
over the next few years.
We are seeking information on Australasian Bittern
sightings and locations in the Glenelg Hopkins CMA
region, we have been accessing various databases and
searching social media platforms, but feel that there
are still locations and records that we are likely
missing during those searches.
We need your help to build a more complete inventory
for this species, Nationally it is listed as Endangered
under the EPBC Act (1999), and in Victoria it is listed
as Threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee
Act (1988).
To be able to manage habitat for the species we really
need a detailed understanding of the variety of
wetlands and habitats they are using at all times of the
year, therefore any sightings - including one off chance
observations are important. The now famous “Robbie”
(Bittern in Rice Project – radio-tracked bittern) who
moved from Coleambally in the NSW Riverina to Pick
Swamp and Long Swamp near the SA/Vic border, back
to NSW and again returned to Pick Swamp, showed
along his journey that a number of wetlands are used
as temporary stopovers, and so all of these are
considered important habitat.
Even if you feel that a certain wetland may be known
to us we would be grateful for information on any sites
BirdLife Warrnambool
6 Twitterings March 2019
WANTED – AUSTRALASIAN BITTERN
and dates of sightings, even more historical
information will be helpful. We may not know about
them! As I said we are sure many have been
overlooked or not reported.
Also we will be holding more information sessions, and
asking for volunteers to assist with surveys for this
species, particularly during the breeding season when
booming males are easily detected, but for surveys
conducted at any time while in suitable habitat we
would love for you to let us know, even if you don’t
record bitterns. Negative reports are also important to
us and give us a measure of the number of areas that
have been covered.
I would happily receive a phone call or email with
information about sites that you know about or
consider as a possibility as a bittern location, (maybe it
just looks right but you’ve never seen a bittern there).
If you would like to assist with surveys for this species
please get in touch, or if you would like to be kept in
touch on developments from the project, let me know
and I will keep you all posted.
I’m happy to come and talk to local groups as well so if
you think that might be beneficial get in touch with
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