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Birding trip report Anglesea Heathland and Otway Ranges; Brisbane Ranges Richard was visiting from Singapore. Originally from Britain, he had worked for many years in Asia and had visited Australia previously. During our tours, our discussions ranged widely. Richard informed me about his time in Japan, with interesting stories of the habitat and birds of Japan and Asia and some great yarns about finding rare species in some out-of-the-way places, while I helped introduce him to many Australian species and the Australian bird scene. Richard had two days to see the region. The weather was fine and after a quick stop at Jeringot wetland we moved on to the Ironbark Basin. During late April, a mass movement of honeyeaters occurs in this area as the birds leave the Otway forests. The main species involved are Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, White-naped HE, White-eared HE and Brown Headed HE. Some birds over-winter locally in the more open woodlands where the Ironbarks and Yellow Gums are in flower. Many flocks of birds continue east, past Point Lonsdale and across Port Phillip Bay. It appears that honeyeaters all along the eastern coast of Australia move in a generally northerly direction, following flowering eucalypts. At the Ironbark Basin, we were able to observe large numbers of birds passing through. Many hundreds of Yellow-faced, White-naped, Crescent, New Holland, Brown Headed and White-eared Honeyeaters were seen in the heathland along the scenic cliffs near Point Addis. There were also hundreds of Eastern Spinebills, easily noted by their colourful plumage and loud, distictive calls. Red Wattlebirds dominated the Ironbarks, trying in vain to chase away the other honeyeaters. Richard's sharp eyes spotted the resident Peregrine Falcon perched on the cliff and we were also able to find a Southern Emu-wren in the same area. It was an excellent birding morning. We picked up Scarlet Robin and Flame Robin, plus many woodland birds such as Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail, Buff-rumped Thornbill at the Anglesea Heathland and then we moved further into the Otway Ranges to view the wetter forest. Highlights of the Otways were Forest Raven, Bassian Thrush and terrific views of a white-morph Grey Goshawk. Blue-billed Duck and Great Crested Grebe were noted at a wetland and, as the sun was setting, we found Double-banded Plover and Striated field Wren at 13th Beach.The next day began with a quick visit to see Banded Stilt and Red-necked Avocet and a check on some roosting Nankeen Night Herons before stting off to the dry forest areas north of Geelong. The flowering Sugar gums and Yellow Gums in the You Yangs attracted many parrots. Purple-crowned and Musk Lorikeets, Red-rumped Parrots, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Galahs were seen. Honeyeaters were abundant, with Spiny-cheeked and White-plumed Honeyeater added to the list. A trip around the You Yangs yielded Jacky Winter, White-winged Chough and the delightful Diamond Firetail finch. After a short trip across the Werribee plains, we entered the Brisbane Ranges National Park. In a gorge that had been burned by the bushfires of January 2006, Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters were plentiful. At one spot in the gorge we were able to note Flame, Scarlet and a "brown" Pink Robin within a 50 metre area. As we drove through the rugged ranges, we noted more than 10 pairs of Scalet Robins. The only disappointment was no sighting of the elusive Spotted Quail-thrush. As we drove across the flatter plains towards the airport, we noted Richard's Pipit and Crested Pigeons.
It had been a memorable two days; thanks for your company and enthusiasm Richard. Barry |
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