Gouldiae's Blog

There's a Rail In The Garden!

2012-01-15T07:30:00.000+11:00

G’day www People,

The number of sightings reported this season of birds we don’t normally see too many of, is a good indicator of how different the weather has been for the last several months. Farmers dams are full, lagoons are brimming, even golf courses are green, yey!

I have quite regularly spotted White-necked and Nankeen Night Herons, Great Egrets and Buff-banded Rails around the dams and waterholes in the district but I was chuffed to have a rail run across the driveway at home here a few days back. We have a small garden dam in the front yard that catches water tank overflow and grey water from the house, and the Buff-banded Rail dashed from a garden on one side of the driveway into the dam paddock.

Over the ensuing days I ‘monitored’ things for a bit and discovered there was a pair. I’d seen a rail or two on the golf course next door and assumed ‘my’ pair were occasional visitors from the course.

The garden birds seemed to be present too consistently to be visitors and then I noticed they were getting grubs and insects from the mulch in the garden and returning to the dam paddock with beaks full. Could it be? Some more intensive monitoring was required.

Eventually I caught a glimpse of two small black balls of fluff dash across the driveway with dad ahead and mum behind. Too quick for my camera work – I have lots of close up shots of the gravel in my driveway if anyone would like to see?

Late one evening, I sprung the family a little further away from the dam than usual. Instead of dashing across, they ‘went to ground’ in the garden and it became a matter of waiting for them to break cover. As time passed, the light began to fade dramatically and I was struggling to get an image on the camera without using the flash. This was the best I could do and I’ve decided to leave them alone for a bit now.

Nice to have them so close to home, I’ve been entertained for hours without having to drive anywhere.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Heyfield Birdwatchers January 2012

2012-01-10T07:48:00.002+11:00

G’day Birdos,

A small band of committed birdwatchers braved the bad weather forecast and assembled in Sale on Sunday morning.

We were heading for Giffard and had just got over the Latrobe River on the Longford causeway when a large mob of water birds caught our eye. No doubt about the difference to the season this year. There were Egrets, (by the 100s), Spoonbills, Herons, Pelicans, Swans, various ducks and waterhens in great profusion. Whistling Kites and Swamp Harriers were cruising above looking for some prey.

Despite the roaring of the passing traffic, many of whom probably wondered what we were looking at, we stood and absorbed the scene for some time.

At Giffard we entered a property that was earmarked by Basslink as an offset requirement for their easement from McGauran’s Beach to Loy Yang. This large block of deteriorating farmland has been re-vegetated and is recovering brilliantly. All the usual whistlers, wrens, thornbills and honeyeaters, etc have moved in. The approaching weather front even heralded our first Needle-tail Swifts for 2012.

After a cuppa we headed for Jack Smith Lake and did a quick survey of the spit near the car park before scurrying back into our cars to dodge the rain.

When the front had passed it was on with the coats, off with the ladder, and across the creek. White-fronted Chats, Red-capped Dotterels, Skylarks and a small flock of Blue-winged Parrots were ticked as we did the walk along the fenceline on the western bank of the lake.

Several of us were probably 15 minutes from the cars when the next rain front arrived and there is no cover what-so-ever. We sloshed our way back to the others sitting warm and dry in the vehicles, so we told them of the Eclectus Parrots, Red-bellied Pittas that we saw!

Oddly, at this point we decided to head for home. Our car deviated, (which it frequently does when I’m driving), to McGaurans Beach – a small flock of ENORMOUS Pacific Gulls – and to the Swing Bridge at Sale that was just closing from its weekly opening event.

Latrobe R on the left, Thomson R on the right. Guess which one passes through the ~~Latrine~~ Latrobe Valley.

As I drove up the driveway at home, a family of Buff-banded Rails dashed across the track in front of me – more of that later.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

A Short Moment Away

2011-12-31T07:08:00.000+11:00

G’day,

I snuck away from a very busy golf course for a few hours the other day and visited a little bit of bush nearby that DF and I have sometimes checked for odonata and wildflowers. It was nice to be out and about!

I’d just got going and spotted …

… a Blue-winged Parrot way up on top of an old dead spar. Never seen them in this location before and never seen them more than a few feet off the ground. My first surprise.

My next surprise came when I met this guy …

Two more steps and I would have been right on him but he didn’t budge. It was early in the day and I guess he was still warming up. I could tell he was aware of me, but didn’t seem to move a muscle. Even seemed to nod off for a few moments? I was able to get down to his level for some close ups.

How about those claws? I’m glad he didn’t decide to make a run for it over the top of me.

The birds were active in pockets. I’d walk for 5 minutes or more without seeing anything then there’d be a flurry of mixed species working the foliage or dashing from under the shrubbery. I watched one of my favourite aerialists for a time, a group of Dusky Woodswallows, and noticed a couple kept returning to the same tree for a bit. A nest was in attendance of course.

There were Yellow-faced Honeyeaters everywhere and every now and then I caught the 'shirp-shirp' call of the beautiful White-naped Honeyeater too. Eventually one came down low enough and stayed still long enough for an acceptable pic.

I kept getting glimpses or long distance views of a Chestnut-rumped Heathwren – we’d seen one near here before – but couldn’t manage a picture worth publishing. This shy and elusive bird is beginning to become a bit of an obsession for me. They might have been nesting too, for they spent quite a bit of time chasing off other birds from their own patch. Hmmm, wonder how busy the golf course will be tomorrow?

Regards and happy new year,

Gouldiae.

Commitment?

2011-12-03T22:01:00.000+11:00

G’day Readers,

You may think the title of this post a bit odd for what is basically a blog about birds. Commitment can come in many forms and some we like and some we don’t. The commitment I’m referring to here is one I enjoy thoroughly.

Duncan and I do some regular bird surveys for different bodies. On Friday we were helping Martin from Greening Australia and were surveying a block at Marlay Point close to Lake Wellington and the Clydebank Morass. Martin is ‘re-veging’ the block. (Speaking of commitment – Martin’s level of commitment to the environment is inspiring.)

We began at the lower end of the paddock where there is a small stand of large red gums that are struggling a bit in some cases, but still surviving. It seemed that each tree we came to had its attendant population of hollow-lovers… Tree Martins, Striated Pardalotes, Sacred Kingfishers, Galahs, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Crimson Rosellas, etc. We so need those large old trees with their hollows!

Tree Martin

Striated Pardalotes (red spots!)

Sacred Kingfisher

As we moved toward the now inundated lower country we sprung a nice population of about 30 Latham’s Snipe – first I’ve seen this season I think.

Back out into the re-veg area of the block it was good to tick a pair of Stubble Quail and Richard’s Pipits. A whistling Kite was soaring overhead uttering its distinctive shrill call while Martin and Duncan had their heads down in the Wallaby Grass checking the growth of various species that Martin had seed sown 3-4 months previous.

Richard's Pipit

Afterwards we had a cuppa and ducked around to another site beside the morass that Martin had commenced about 5 years ago – you might like to see the birds we got there by checking Duncan’s blog!

Commitment? Nah, more like a labour of love.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Around The Lake (Guyatt)

2011-11-27T08:46:00.000+11:00

G’day Folks,

I’ve been spending some time visiting the Sale Hospital in recent days and during the 2 hour rest time for patients in the middle of the day you can probably guess what I do. Well, the camera is always with me, 2 hours to kill, what did you expect?

A couple of Pelicans entertained me for a time as they swam and dipped in unison.

A little family of Brown Thornbills got agitated when I positioned myself beside their patch of scrub to get a better view of the lake.

Just around from the lake there is a backwater of Flooding Creek that is often worth a look. I sprung a White-necked Heron and two Nankeen Night Herons from the shoreline. These two species seem to be increasingly common in these parts this season. I only managed some acceptable shots of a White-faced Heron as it patrolled its own patch of Water Milfoil.

The adjacent reed beds are alive with Clamorous Reed Warblers in full voice at present.

OK, back to the patient – she will want to see some of the images on the camera too. Oh, I’d better go get her a tub of that fruit salad she likes from the café – I think we’ll go halves.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Gluepot Diary #9

2011-11-19T14:31:00.002+11:00

G’day All,

This was to be our final day at Gluepot. Up early as usual and we headed for a bit of different territory in the north west corner. The eremophilas in particular were a stand-out just at the start of the track, (a blog focusing on the plants is coming shortly).

Hadn’t been going long and a Gilbert’s Whistler entertained us for a bit, but wouldn’t let me get near enough for a picture. Red-capped Robins seemed to feature around here too. While perusing the plants, a small group of the little Southern Whitefaces were busily popping up to the tops of the shrubs to check the invaders, (yet another first tick for me). Had to be quick with the camera.

A Brown Treecreeper, (I think), flew in onto a rough-barked tree and posed briefly. If I’ve got the ID’s right this is the second of the two treecreepers we got for the reserve.

Next it was back to camp and reluctantly begin packing up. Jo and I wanted to visit slightly different places on the way out, so we agreed to rendezvous back at the Waikerie Caravan Park. On the way out a monitor and a mulga seemed to wish me a speedy return – you bet!

The track takes you through at least one adjoining property which means passing through several gates. Somewhere near the second gate, a small family of emus scurried across and were nearly hidden by the growth on the vegetation.

Back at Waikerie I immediately crossed the road to Hart Lagoon and checked the ponds. Native Hens, stilts, ducks etc were all still there as well as the ~~Black-fronted~~, (thanks Dunc), Red-kneed Dotterels and Spotted Crakes …

One more go at Banrock Station tomorrow on the start of the trip home.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

...to be continued.

Heyfield Birdwatchers November 2011

2011-11-17T07:11:00.000+11:00

G’day Birdwatchers,

This will be a birdwatchers blog without a picture of a bird!

Last Sunday, the HBWs travelled to the dizzying heights of Balook where Richard very kindly invited us to stroll the garden, (wow), on his property right across the road from the Tarra-Bulga NP. Some contrast to where Jo and I had just come back from.

The Mighty and the Minuscule

Richard has a magnificent property that he works extremely hard at maintaining its natural integrity. Favourite trees and shrubs are enclosed with guards while they are young, weeds are constantly eradicated, indigenous species are planted in re-vegetation plots, fences are constructed to keep out wombats and wallabies, etc.

We wandered the paths, up hill and down dale, through dense native forest to the tunes of Golden Whistlers, Eastern Whipbirds, Lyrebirds, Lewin’s Honeyeaters, various thornbills, wrens, Silvereyes, etc, without ever seeing them too often and if we did spot a bird it was for a very brief moment before it hopped a few millimeters to be behind another bit of foliage.

Mostly we were looking up in awe at the majesty of the mighty Mountain Ash …

… and sometimes we were down on our knees to inspect the beautiful little Green Bird Orchids.

Mosses, lichens and fungi occupied every nook and cranny – of course I had the long bird lens on the camera.

We all had a wonderful day Richard, thanks, and if you will have us back, we’d love to return in the near future.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Summer Visitors

2011-11-12T18:01:00.000+11:00

G'day,
I was giving the wetlands crew a hand this morning - I knocked off from spraying on the golf course to give a hand .... spraying. Lot of it going around!

As usual I was trying to identify many of the bird calls I was hearing - BFCuckoo-shrike, Little Grassbird, etc and suddenly heard the 'dek, dek, dek', of the Sacred Kingfisher. I looked around for the nearest bare tree to see a pair surveying the spraying team. It was nearly smoko so I grabbed the camera and took a couple of shots.

Nice to have these sort of birds so close to town. Our wetlands are nearly surrounded with residential homes and light industry. The summer visitor list is getting quite long - all welcome though!

Regards,
Gouldiae.

Gluepot Diary #8

2011-11-11T08:06:00.000+11:00

G’day Readers,

Jo and I decided to give the location of the Scarlet-chested Parrot another go so once again we were up before dawn and away. Some may ask why we were putting in this kind of effort for one bird. Here’s an extract from Birds Australia …

This brilliantly coloured little parrot is an avicultutal favourite, but it is rare in the wild and has proved to be among the most difficult of all Australian birds to see in its natural habitat.

More than two decades ago Scarlet-chested Parrots on Gluepot Station were the target of an illegal trapping ring which was broken by the SA wildlife authorities. The parrots have been seen there in the last year, but with over 25,000 of them breeding in captivity, wild birds are now less of a temptation for trappers.

The parrots have been seen on Gluepot in a number of areas and are believed to breed in the more remote areas of the Reserve. In recent years they have appeared in greater numbers and were observed for up to three months, resulting in a great 'influx' of bird observers to Gluepot. Very little is known about the biology of this species. Altered fire regimes may have reduced the species' abundance, while greater availability of water in semi-arid rangelands may have favoured more water-dependent parrots to the disadvantage of the Scarlet-chested Parrot.

The Scarlet-chested Parrot is an unobtrusive bird that quietly feeds on the ground and goes mostly unnoticed unless flushed. Often the bird is found far from a water source, gaining its water from chewing arid plant species that store moisture.

Confession Time

We set off on the track moving slowly so as not to miss too much. I got distracted by chasing some woodswallows and budgies, (would you believe), having not seen a budgie in the wild before.

Jo went ahead and would wait as I caught up later – b… photographers. After about 15 minutes of scrub bashing for a budgie photo I looked around for signs of the walking track. I spotted a marker post in the distance and headed toward it expecting to have to turn left when I reached the track in order to catch up with Jo. It was extremely overcast – no sun at all. When I got to the track and turned left, the marker was pointing opposite to the direction I wanted to go. The markers were coloured differently on each side. The urge to ignore the marker and keep going left was very strong, however I turned right and moved on quickly to find Jo, but the feeling I was heading the wrong way persisted for some time. I had never been so disoriented in the bush before.

Finally

After walking halfway around the loop track we opted to return the way we’d come as this would take us back through the area where we’d heard the parrot had been seen. Jo got the first sighting and called me up. I swung the bins up to my eyes and there was a brilliant male scarlet chested – BIG tick! We stood in awe for a time and I suddenly realized I had a camera around my neck. The bird was a fair way off and we didn’t want to disturb it too much.

We watched the pair feeding on the ground for quite a while before the male eventually flew off. The female stayed and was a little more obliging for the camera.

After lunch back at camp I headed to another nearby spot and got some sightings of Hooded Robins, Rainbow Bee-eaters and White-browed Treecreepers, but I was still a bit pumped about that parrot.

Slept well.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

… to be continued.

Pop's Puddles

2011-11-08T20:50:00.000+11:00

G’day,

This morning it poured – something like 50mm in a couple of hours. Of course I’d had the sprinklers on the greens last night! Oh well. Now the grass will bolt away again and the mowers will be going full time once the place dries out a little.

Late morning I jumped on the bike to check the usual gullies etc for wash outs and spotted a couple of rare visitors – a family of Nankeen Night Herons and a lone White-necked Heron.

The adult NNHeron had some breeding plumage still present too.

That heading of Pop’s puddles? Well, the grand kids stopped in for lunch on their way off on some holidays with their mum and dad. What do kids do when there are puddles? Of course, didn’t you?

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Gluepot Diary #7

2011-11-07T07:15:00.001+11:00

G’day Readers,

On Friday, Jo and I decided to take the Grasswren Walk that heads north from near our campsite and takes you right through to the north boundary fence of the reserve.

www = ‘Wonderful World of Wrens’

Just as we were heading off, PB who happened to be in the same area at Picnic Dam, gave us the news that he and E had spotted a White-winged Wren just down the road, did we want see it? Well yes. Another first for me, what a stunning little bird, such a pity my photography doesn’t do it justice.

We set off on the walk and soon had some good sightings – a Red-capped Robin feeding its young, a small family of Splendid Wrens and a little group of Variegated Wrens, Rufous Whistlers, White-browed Babblers, ... and some feral goats.

We also spotted this juvenile bird that had us flummoxed for a time. When we consulted the oracle and compared calls etc, we think it could be a young Black-eared Cuckoo? Dunno!

This walk brings you back to near the Grasswren hide and we were passing some time in the vicinity when Jo spotted an unusual daytime bird.

Later that evening after getting some advice from a ranger we headed into a patch of acacia and sprung a Southern Scrub-robin loudly proclaiming his territory from a convenient perch.

I slept well after one of the nicest birding days I can remember and some light rain on the tarp-fly.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

… more yet.

Gluepot Diary #6

2011-11-05T06:35:00.000+11:00

G’day,

We got the ‘heads up’ from the rangers on the location of all the recent sightings of the exciting Scarlet-chested Parrot, so just on dawn we headed out and met Alwyn – who must have woken all the guests in the Waikerie caravan park as she drove off even earlier than Jo and I.

THE parrot eluded us, despite three pairs of pretty good eyes. Heaps of other stuff though including this pair of reptiles equally camouflaged for their habitat of sand and spinifex.

We’d heard that the SCParrots were frequently seen on the earlier part of the 5.5km circuit and when we didn’t succeed in pinning them down continued to complete the whole walk. The cuppa and piece of Nancy’s cake back in the car park was very welcome.

Back to camp and a new strategy was drawn up. We spent a fair bit of time that afternoon in the nearby bird hide where we met another couple from Victoria. After a bit the conversation got around to what we each did – retired default golf course greenkeeper and photographer. “Photographer”, exclaimed I, “Where’s your camera?” The quick reply was, “I’m on holidays!” I guess Peter was right, I certainly wasn’t going to mow greens at the Waikerie golf course while I was away.

Brown-headed Honeyeaters kept coming in for a drink in good number and at one point a raptor that confused us for a time swooped in and everything else beat a hasty retreat.

Another raptor was spotted just down the road from the hide too. I guess the hides would make for good hunting territory for the birds of prey.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

… to be continued.

New One For Me

2011-11-02T22:44:00.001+11:00

G’day Folks,

John G gave me a yell about a couple of strange birds in his Mulberry tree. He told me what they were and it is a new species for me, so I jumped off the mower for an hour and ducked out to his place.

The birds were in the tree as I approached but they sprung us pretty quickly and flew off squawking loudly.

We went for a quick 10 minute walk in the nearby bush and got WwTrillers, Sittellas, Dusky Woodswallows, Rufous Whistlers and more. John and Marg’s little bit of bush on the bank of the lake always seems productive.

We had a cuppa and decided to pick some mulberries anyway. Suddenly the loud squawk was back in a nearby euc. – Channel-billed Cuckoo. There’s been a few sightings this year and I’m guessing it is the same pair each time, for I doubt there would be whole population of this rare visitor to this part of Gippsland. This time I got some good views of one.

The lake is full and present and is splashing over the gates at the wall.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Gluepot Diary #5 (Wed 19th Oct)

2011-11-01T07:35:00.001+11:00

G’day Readers,

This morning, before heading for Gluepot, I had one last go at Hart Lagoon across the road from camp. While watching the Spotted Crake from afar, a Buff-banded Rail strolled by. Once it strayed within the crake’s territory, the much smaller crake chased the rail off very smartly.

Time To Head North

Very shortly after hitting the track that leads due north to the reserve, we were welcomed by a pair

of true Mallee dwellers, the Shingleback Lizard. At this time of year the male will follow the female around for days on end.

After quite a few stops we eventually entered the reserve, (is that a collective “At last”, I hear?).

We checked in at the info centre and Alwyn took us to see an Owlet Nightjar in its hollow just near the rotunda. She had noticed the bird when she arrived a few days earlier on one of her track reconnoitering trips.

Bullens Circus!

The next exercise was to set up camp at Bellbird, one of the three campsites. Although Bellbird is the remotest site, I’d previously found the variety of habitat in the region to be very rewarding.

Shortly after lunch we headed to ‘Grasswren Hide’ and it wasn’t long before the typical mallee birds were arriving for a drink. Amongst the usual Yellow-plumed and Brown-headed Honeyeaters, we managed to tick the fairly unusual Striped Honeyeater.

At the end of the session, my camera card was near full of my favourite, the Mulga Parrot.

After planning the next day, Alwyn headed back to Waikerie and Jo and I uploaded our photos, made dinner in the dark and retired pretty well replete.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

… to be continued.

Gluepot Diary #4

2011-10-31T07:19:00.000+11:00

Hart Lagoon – Waikerie

G’day All,

After getting a good night’s sleep without the wind, we opted to spend part of the day hunting up supplies for the camp at Gluepot where there is no fuel, power, water, supermarkets and no fires allowed. But first we took the track beside the Hart Lagoon, directly across the road from the caravan park. Like the wetlands at Banrock Station, Hart Lagoon was different to the last time I saw it – it had water too.

The water birds were in abundance – stilts, dotterels, grebes, ducks, herons, egrets, spoonbills, terns and gulls were all ticked pretty readily. The trees and scrub beside the track contained habitat for wrens, parrots, treecreepers, woodswallows, honeyeaters, etc and a small squadron of raptors seemed to be ever constant.

A couple of small settling ponds not 100m from camp were ideal for some camera subjects…

Gluepot tomorrow – I promise.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

… to be continued.

Gluepot Diary #3

2011-10-30T08:06:00.000+11:00

Neds becomes Banrock

G’day,

On Monday morning, Jo and I met up in Mildura and headed west along the Sturt Highway. Our plan was to turn off about halfway to Renmark and check out Ned’s Corner for a few hours. A large ‘road closed due to flooding’ sign put an end to that plan. After a quick roadside discussion we pressed on and called in to Banrock Station for a late lunch.

On the last two occasions that I’ve visited the wetlands here they were mostly dry but we all know what has happened since. On the track down the escarpment we were welcomed by one of the local reptiles. Since it doesn’t have feathers I’m not too sure of its identity but I’m going for a Central Bearded Dragon.

It was nice to see quite a large colony of Black-tailed Native Hens on the edge of the first lagoon. I think they are only very occasional visitors to Gippsland.

We were warned of some recent sightings of large snakes in the area and we were able to confirm those sightings as a LARGE brown one slipped off into the scrub. I was being pretty cautious as I worked my way closer to a nearby tree that was the lookout perch for a Sacred Kingfisher.

Once on to the board walk, the cacophony of reed warbler calls and the mournful whistle of the Little Grassbird took over. The reed beds were very popular with theses little birds. We spent some time scanning the edges of the reeds for a glimpse of the grassbird and Jo suddenly spotted another skulking little bird of the reeds, a Baillon’s Crake. It’s always been a challenge for me to get a decent picture of a Baillons. The challenge remains!

That afternoon, the boardwalk was pretty well deserted, so a local Gould’s Monitor decided to use it for ready access to his next port of call. Once he sensed us he took to the water very readily and swam to a nearby tree to wait for us to pass.

Our camp for the night was the Waikerie Caravan Park where we caught up with Alwyn shortly after we pulled in. It was cuppa and a chat time while the camera and laptop batteries were on their chargers.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

… to be continued.

Gluepot Diary #2

2011-10-29T07:50:00.001+11:00

Hot and Windy

G’day,

After arriving at Lake Mournpall in the Hattah-Kulkyne NP on Saturday, a strong wind got up and ruined birdwatching and made camping uncomfortable too. It blew much of the night but had eased considerably by dawn – time to go walking.

I chose a walk that would take in a variety of habitat to give me a good chance of spotting a representative of local species. The first part of the 9km track took me into the typical mallee scrub country and the classic Eastern Ringneck Parrot often sprung up from feeding on the ground where they are extremely well camouflaged and they almost always saw me before I saw them.

The Yellow Rosella is confined to a small range that takes in the large Red Gums beside the Murray River. This bird is basically a yellow form of the Crimson Rosella. It has the same blue cheek patch, blue wings and black mottling on the back, but the head and body are yellow rather than crimson. There was a nesting pair near my tent.

I kept hearing a rapid machine-gun like call similar to one I’m familiar with, the Lewin’s Honeyeater. I finally pinned down the culprit – the Singing Honeyeater. The one I got the best picture of is a young adult I think and hadn’t yet ‘earned his stripes’.

The middle section of this walk took me down by the lake system where the big Red Gums were dominant. I scanned the hollows regularly hoping for perhaps a Regent Parrot – probably not in this tree but …

It got pretty hot by mid morning and the wind was returning. I headed back to camp and had my encounter with the Blue-faced Honeyeater which is just about on the limit of its range. I was meeting up with Jo in Mildura the next day so decided to head north and find a sheltered park for the night.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

… to be continued.

Gluepot Diary #1

2011-10-27T07:52:00.001+11:00

G’day Everyone,

Just back from my pilgrimage – Gluepot.

I was away for about a fortnight and had a great time. As I process the images I will upload an occasional blog to give some idea of the experience. This is the first one.

Big Sky Country

I got to Bendigo on day one and have always enjoyed the experience just north of there, of looking at the horizon. Not much horizon in most of Gippsland.

Lake Tyrrell just out of Sea Lake is always worth a look to see the expanse of Victoria’s largest salt pan. This year there was water, albeit a bit pink!

The little grain towns are fascinating places to a Gippslander. Their skyline is dominated by monstrous grain silos and huge mounds of something – grain I suspect – covered with plastic? At Nullawil a grain train was loading at the silo – 55 trucks and 5 engines!

Breakfast With The Birds

I pulled in to the camp site in Hattah Kulkyne NP late in the afternoon and managed a short walk before dark. I rose early next morning and headed off on a long walk through part of the park – some more details later. When I got back to camp about mid morning I prepared ‘brunch’ and sat among the campground birds with my cuppa.

I started doing the dishes and a Blue-faced Honeyeater flew in to help. What a delight!

Regards,

Gouldiae.

…To be continued.

"Tanks Danny"

2011-10-07T22:04:00.000+11:00

G’day Readers,

I hope the nature lovers that sometimes pop in here to see what’s been happening in the district will forgive me this entry, but this is the conclusion of what has been driving Glen and me crazy for the past few weeks. We discovered a crack in our concrete water tank! The leak was big enough to require us to bail out by bucket about 600L a day, (and night), of our precious drinking water from a sink hole I’d dug under the crack. Time to call in the experts.

It took me a few days of hard graft to remove years of rampant Wonga Vine and sundry ferns and trellis from around the tank and then I called D&D Moulton Tanks of Maffra.

Danny arrived with his crew right on the appointed time at 830am and got stuck in right away. A new small tank was to be installed on the shed/computer room, some water pumped from the concrete tank into the new tank, empty the concrete tank and install a liner. Of course the concrete tank was full.

They got the pump going straight away and I prepared some drains for the ensuing flood.

The new tank went in quickly and was connected to the shed and 5000L of water transferred. Pumping out the concrete tank continued until the level was low enough for Troy to get inside and stir up the years of sediment that inevitably collects from off the roof at each rain event. Delicious!

Frogs and golf balls were discovered in the sludge.

An underlay material was placed on the bottom and the liner was dropped in, unfolded and pinned into place.

The old roof went back on temporarily, tools collected – job done! Wonderful work and all finished before 3pm.

A little rain in the next few days would suit nicely now. And, we don’t have to be around 24hrs to bail out! I’d better go, there’s a nice little job waiting – FILL IN THE SINK HOLE – YEAH!

Regards,

Gouldiae.

JSLake with Latrobe Field Nats

2011-10-05T22:27:00.000+11:00

G’day,

Still alive here at Heyfield.

Had a beaut day with the Latrobe Valley Field Nats/bird group yesterday. I caught up with them just out of Woodside and while I waited for their arrival I was entertained in the nearby Mullundung Forest by a charming Eastern Yellow Robin. Always a delight to chase one of these…

We headed into Jack Smith Lake where there was some water for a change! The glasswort species were in beautiful condition, richly green and juicy – they didn’t crackle underfoot.

Coots, Swans and several duck species occupied the main lake. A pair of Hoary-headed Grebes wouldn’t stay on the surface long enough for a decent photograph. On the nearby mudflats the ever reliable Red-capped Plovers were dashing about and some sightings of Red-necked Stints were ticked too. Crested Terns, Silver Gulls and an occasional Pacific Gull would coast in for a rest on the posts in the middle.

A few of us managed to glimpse briefly a Striated Field Wren as it dashed for cover – another bird I’ve yet to get a decent picture of.

On the walk beside the private property and around to the open area we scored Blue-winged Parrots, White-fronted Chats, Common Skylarks and a ? Quail – Stubble we think.

July last year.

August '09

Silvereyes, Brown Thornbills, New Holland Honeyeaters and others would interrupt lunch when they suddenly appeared in the nearby scrub.

After a walk to the beach we convoyed down to the Won Wron State Forest for some plant ticks that included Thick-lipped and Southern Spider Orchids, Brown Beaks, Wax Lips, Running Postman etc, and some of the fattest brightest Common Correas we’d seen.

We said our goodbyes and wended our various ways home, tired and replete – well I was anyway!

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Won Wron With Glen

2011-09-27T21:54:00.000+10:00

G'day Readers,
I'm still finding it difficult to find the time to get out and about and then to blog something. Last Sunday I did catch Glen at a weaker moment and convinced her to journey south for an hour or two and see the display of flowers currently on show in the Won Wron State Forest. She was not disappointed.

Blues, reds, yellows, purples... were assaulting the eyes at almost every stop. I was familiar with the territory from past years and also had Duncan and Mitch show me some special locations just a week or so earlier.

Donkey Orchid

Love Creeper

Southern Spider orchid

Wax-lip Orchid

Wax-lip (pale version)

In addition to the examples above, we saw heaps of Finger Orchids, Running Postman, Happy Wanderer, Brown-beak Orchid, Pink Bells, (Tetratheca), Creamy Candles, (Stackhousia), Appleberry, numerous peas and wattles, Correa, Rice Flower, Twining Glycine and Twining Fringe-lily, Milkmaids, Guinea Flower, several Heaths, Trigger Plant, Greenhoods. A very incomplete list in fact. It was quite a picture.

Regards,
Gouldiae.

Gouldiae Has Been Tardy!

2011-09-22T18:29:00.000+10:00

G’day All,

Apologies for the lack of entries of late. A couple of small health issues, busy times on the golf course – including mower breakdowns, heaps to do around home – including trying to fix a leak in our concrete tank, the only water tank we have, trying to prepare a little for an upcoming camp – Gluepot again, has all meant not a lot of energy seems to be left over for blogging.

A short summary of a couple of little things I’ve noticed …

A pair of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos were ripping into a small wattle on the roadside. I don't like the chances of a few of the wattle's branches surviving the grub attack.

Glen and I did find time for half a day to visit Jo's beautiful 'Open Garden' in Metung. What a lot of hard work? The result is stunning!

When watering one night, I caught some glimpses of a pair of young Ringtail Possums frolicking on a low branch. By the time I returned with the camera, all I got was mum poking her head of a nearby parrot nest box. She may have called the youngsters indoors, as I couldn't spot them anywhere in the tree.

There are heaps of different wildflowers on the golf course this season. Here's one example of the Wax-lip Orchid that exists in several colonies among the red box.

Regards,
Gouldiae.

Heyfield Birdwatchers - September 2011

2011-09-12T06:52:00.000+10:00

G’day Birdwatchers,

A small but hardy flock of birdos braved the cold winds and showers - some with hail – yesterday, and explored the Flooding Creek track at the Sale Common. Just before we left the meeting point at Lake Guthridge, Jane pointed out the young Swan that seems to have imprinted to a Goose.

There wasn’t much activity at Lake Guyatt as the water was too high, covering all the mud flats. This situation probably suits many of the recreational walkers/joggers/cyclists who seem to think the controlled water level in this lake should be this high at all times, having scant regard or understanding for the needs of waders and other species that enjoy the food source provided by the periodic exposure of the mud flats. We headed around to the Common.

With a little more protection from the winds here, we began seeing some of the resident bush birds – wrens, fantails, honeyeaters, thrushes, thornbills, etc. In the reed beds adjacent to the track there were reed warblers and Little Grassbirds constantly calling. Part of the team spotted a Koala and Ross and I were entertained for some minutes watching a very handsome Imperial White butterfly dash about but refusing to land low enough for a decent photograph.

Next it was a hot cuppa to warm the insides at least, then into the cars and around past the swing bridge to the gate at the Heart Morass beside the Latrobe. (Anyone from the trustees that run this place reading this – surely it’s time to put in some form of access for pedestrians at this point?)

We were confronted with a stunning view in the distance. First there was water in the place – we have had a great start to spring in Gippsland. On the water were thousands of birds. After discussing it for a bit, we decided that there were several flocks/carpets of Eurasian Coots alone that must have totaled MANY thousand! Hundreds and hundreds of Swans, many with cygnets, ducks of several varieties and to complete the scene, circling Swamp Harriers and Whistling Kites that would occasionally dive down into the masses and split them asunder.

The ground was too soft to approach for a closer picture, but the image below is just one SMALL fraction of what we could see in front of us. And, this was just on the edge of the very first part of a very extensive wetland. Who knows what lay beyond?

We stood there and oohed and aahed for a while, and then I noticed we went quiet as I suspect we were each in awe of the grandeur that Mother Nature sometimes throws up to us.

On the way back out, Jane and Shane capped the day off very nicely for us by showing us a Tawny Frogmouth on its nest high up in an old Red Gum. Great finish to a cold but rewarding day for a small bunch of stalwarts!

Regards,

Gouldiae.

And Then There Was Five!

2011-09-08T20:55:00.001+10:00

G’day,

Today I had occasion to spend most of the day in Traralgon while a job was being done on the ute. You are probably not surprised that I spent a fair bit of the day with the camera at the beautiful Traralgon Res Wetlands on the outskirts of town. This piece of formerly neglected swampland has been turned into a wonderful wetland habitat that is a real bird magnet for quite a range of species.

My first encounter was with a charming Black Duck family, mum and six ducklings, on one of the lower ponds. They were a little wary of me at first, but I managed to sit quietly for a while and they became relatively accustomed to me and I snuck a few family portraits …

As I went to move on they swam off a little into a nearby bed of reeds. Suddenly there was a commotion and a Purple Swamphen shot out …

I felt a bit responsible, as it was my moving away that caused mum to take the family into cover. The duckling was well and truly alive as I chased the swamphen for a bit, but it wasn’t letting go. Eventually it flew to the opposite bank and along with a couple of mates settled down to enjoy a meal of fresh duckling as I slunk off.

Cutting through the bush up to the main pond, a small group of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos were surprised to see me and flew off to a nearby tree and a Willie Wagtail flew in to scold me for entering it's territory.

The main pond was alive with coots, moorhens, swamphens Black Ducks, Chestnut Teal, a Swan or two and a few ferals. One of the first reed warblers for the season was dashing about the reed beds being oddly very quiet.

Very pleasant spot, but tonight I'm still feeling a little guilty for probably causing the demise of one duckling.

Regards,
Gouldiae.

Beautifully Bizarre

2011-09-01T20:29:00.001+10:00

G'day Readers,

I apologize if you are one of the many who check in both here and at Duncan’s Ben Cruachan Blog to see what has been going on in this little corner of Gippsland. DF recently blogged the Duck Orchids and today he took me to see exactly where he found them. I know there are some followers of this blog that just look in occasionally to see what I’ve been up to and where I’ve been. This entry is for you, as you may have missed DF’s blog about these strange looking orchids.

Weird aren’t they?

According to Jeanes and Backhouse, (Wild Orchids of Victoria, Australia), the Large Duck Orchid is a member of the Caleana genus and though widespread is relatively uncommon. They are capable of growing in a variety of habitats. These were in a pretty dry, (normally), box-ironbark-stringybark piece of bush just north of home. Haven’t seen them on the golf course, but you never know!

There were plenty of ‘wash your mouth out Glenis’, (but that’s another story), Nodding Blue Lilies in flower too. Some were very strongly blue, others were much paler.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Evening Walk

2011-08-28T07:55:00.000+10:00

G'day Readers,
The spring orchids are beginning already and I took the camera on the walk last evening. I've got some trails swept through the patches of Red Box bush at the back of the course, and it was difficult in some places not to tread on the beautiful little Cyaniculas ...

The Pink and White Finger Orchids were beginning too, ( or is that the Pink-whites or the White-pinks?)...

There are lots of large patches of the beautiful low growing Gold Dust Wattles that in previous years have struggled to flower. It's different story this year with the recent rains ...

The sun was getting very low as I headed for home and the lone Pelican on the 18th Dam caught my eye ...

I wonder do the golfers see this sort of stuff?

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Cattle Egrets by the Score

2011-08-23T19:49:00.000+10:00

G'day,
I found a big mob of Cattle Egrets on a farmer's dam this afternoon - around 200 I got to before they spooked. No individuals seemed to have any hint of breeding plumage. I think they are only winter migrants down here and head north to breed in the warmer parts.

Interesting bird. Always associated with stock as they scramble for insects that are stirred up by the feet of the cattle. I love discovering these little 'associations' that some birds have.

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Lovely Weather For ....

2011-08-22T06:49:00.000+10:00

G'day,
The recent rains have done wonders for the countryside in this corner of the continent. Despite the negative remarks from some, most people around here appreciate the return to near normal weather patterns - at least for the time being.

On a return trip from Sale yesterday, I took some favourite little back lanes that go through farming country on the flood plains of a couple of rivers. All the lagoons and depressions in the paddocks were brimming full and many were covered with bird life! One mob of hundreds of ducks contained at least 6 species that I had time to ID.

The banks and trees were covered with ibis, cormorants and raptors. One distant lagoon was a mass of white egrets and spoonbills. Swans and Pelicans dotted the paddocks.

Might be a good season!

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Only Just Around The Corner

2011-08-17T07:55:00.001+10:00

G'day,
It's not hard to find subjects for the camera on my walks around the golf course at present. All the indications are that spring is not far away. As usual, the purple flowering plants seem to be among the early bloomers - Hardenbergia, Twining Glycine, Austral Indigo, etc.

Austral Indigo

Guinea Flower

Hardenbergia

Rice Flower

Trigger Plant

Golden Wattles are in full bloom and the Gold Dust Wattle looks like being in profusion this year. I don't think I've seen so many examples of Juniper Wattle in flower on the course for the past 9 years at least.

The birds are loving it too.


Rainbow Lorikeet

King Parrot

Might be a good season,

Regards,

Gouldiae.

Heyfield Birdwatchers - August 2011

2011-08-14T18:26:00.000+10:00

G'day Birdos,

Heyfield Birdwatchers today had their ‘birds in gardens’ day for 2011. Thanks go to John and Marg, Mike and Dinny and Errol and Jenny for allowing the hordes to invade your beautiful native gardens.

The stunning view of Lake Glenmaggie from J&M’s property was complimented by sightings of pipits, several honeyeaters, Musk Lorikeets, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Thornbills, etc and a Jacky Winter busily getting the nest together for the breeding season. This was followed by coffee on the deck!

Jacky Winter

Richard's Pipit

The native plants in Mike and Dinny’s place are stunning. The saying that you never have to have a time of year without a native plant in flower is certainly borne out here. Grevilleas, callistemons, eremophilas, acacias, correas, … were all well attended to by the resident spinebills, new hollands, white-napes, etc. Blue Wrens dashed in out of the shrubbery and a family of Red-browed Finches darted out onto the lawns when they thought it was safe.

New Holland Honeyeater

The ‘house garden’ at Errol and Jenny’s place is a testament to the obvious hard work these keen gardeners put in. Lunch in the sunshine with the chorus of frogs from the nearby dam was just a delight. Crimson Rosellas and Rainbow Lorikeets dashed in every now and then and the various honeyeaters were busily drawing their dose of nectar from the flowering natives.

Jenny then took us for a short walk into her bush block to see pardalotes, whistlers, thrushes, thornbills … and a family of Flame Robins that wouldn’t quite get into camera range for me. I might just have to take up Errol and Jenny’s offer to return ‘at any time’.

Male Flame Robin - in the distance!

Female flame

A couple of us then briefly explored the bush part of the local golf course where we were accompanied for a while by next door’s pet macropod. Out on one of the fairways, the Wood Ducks showed signs of pairing up for the coming breeding season.

Polly!

Wood Ducks pairing

Top day, 40+ species, thanks to all concerned.

(In case you are new here, click on all images to enlarge)

Regards,

Gouldiae.