Lake Hattah - Apostlebirds, Regent Parrot

Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea)

There are not many places in Victoria where you can see Apostlebirds. The day picnic area and campground at Lake Hattah is apparently a pretty reliable spot.

I think the genus name comes from "Struth it just took my sandwich!" as they are quite keen around a picnic table.

I visited a few weeks ago and was hoping to camp at the Lake Hattah campground. Late Hattah is a flood plain lake. It is often dry but when flooded supports Red gum bushland. Currently there is a program of deliberate environmental flooding to keep this habitat healthy. Several roads and camping areas are closed as a result.

My first visit became a brief reconnaissance mission due to some pretty blustery rain storms that were coming through. It was good to catch up with these guys though at the picnic area.

iPhone shot - another bird has just left the table. Note the flooded trees in the background

The road to Lake Hattah Campground

Spirits improved when I spotted a Regent Parrot (female or immature) up high among the red gums in the lake. Gotta love a "Lifer" from a picnic table!

I only lasted about 10 minutes at the picnic area before retreating to the shelter of the car. In addition to observing the Apostlebird and Regent parrot I also saw Little corella, Hoary-headed and Great-crested grebe, Grey teal, Pink-eared duck, Crimson rosella (the yellow form). This was all from the (partial) shelter of the picnic tables or the car!

As my kids pointed out the pictures above are of the exact same location grebes heading one way, Pink-eared duck the other within seconds of each other!

Little corella

Crimson rosella (Yellow form) Platycercus elegans flaveolus

Back in the car .... good conditions for birding don't you think ....?

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday

Bird On!

Birds of Sugarloaf Reservoir

Wedge-tailed eagle, Sugarloaf Reservoir Park (31 July 2013)

I think I have found a place close enough to home (which is in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne) that provides birding a little different from my immediate haunts. The bush around Sugarloaf Reservoir has sections of dry open forest and grassland. This provides for different birding from the tall forests and dense fern gullies of the Dandenongs for instance.

Here is a Park Guide. I have just visited for a second time. On both occasions the visit was in winter and I enjoyed walking the first 1km or so of the Chris Phillips Walk (leaving from the Saddle Dam Picnic area).

Pied currawong

White-winged chough have a great habit of nonchalantly wandering away from the observer - slow enough to get you interested but rarely presenting a favourable perspective! 

Missed the opportunity! Out-of-focus White-winged chough

Crimson rosella

White-eared honeyeater

Brown-headed honeyeater

Golden whistler

Superb fairy-wren 

Female Scarlet robin - the "insurance shot"

Managed to get a little closer to the male - Scarlet robin

"Bye!" Scarlet robin

Australian pelican

Great habitat for bush birds!

Eastern grey kangaroo

Bird on!

Yellow robins, Sherbrooke

Eastern yellow robin, Dandenong Ranges National Park, Sherbrooke

Eastern yellow robin are really at home in the Sherbrooke Falls area of the Dandenongs east of Melbourne. They are readily seen and are enchanting to watch as they perch in classic robin poses!

I love to photograph them - they are both handsome and obliging. They tend not to fly too far away while hunting. On occasions a curious bird won't mind perching right in front of you if this allows a good view of a potential feed (see above!). They may only perch briefly but generally long enough to get settings and focus correct! Most importantly when perched they are extremely still - a blessing given that their preferred habitat often involves shaded forested areas with dull light!

I have not been at Sherbrooke's picnic areas on busy days but the local Crimson rosellas must be receiving food from the visiting public. They are extremely tame around the picnic tables.

A new bird for the blog and my Victorian life list is the charming Large-billed scrubwren. 

I knew there was something different about this bird. At the time of viewing my only ID conclusion was "not a Brown thornbill". In my experience of this area, this is what nine out of ten small brown birds in the under-storey turn out to be! It's always good to be reminded that it's worth a second look to check for the "10 percenters"

White-throated treecreeper

The feeble winter sun shone briefly in Melbourne earlier this week!

Bird on!

Birdsong from Doongalla in The Dandenongs

You sort-of "had to be there" but I felt immersed in bush and birdsong at the Doongalla section of the Dandenong Ranges earlier last week. The video doesn't really do it justice (you may turn your speakers up a little ....)

What can you hear?

I do remember the first time I heard a Crimson rosella making its "Honky tonk" call. "What was that?" This was the first time I had been able to watch a bird at close range make the call. I was intrigued that such little bill movement was required for such a resonant piping!

Crimson rosella

Laughing kookaburra perching and stretching a wing. Another flew to the ground having spotted something of interest. 

Australian King-parrot

Eastern yellow robin not far from its nest

Not a great shot of a Red-browed treecreeper but I see these infrequently so this was a good day!

You can read more about the history of the Doongalla homestead here (go to page 3 of this pdf file which is a chapter from a local history written by a Richard Coxhill). The house was destroyed by bushfire in 1932 and the property eventually bought by the State Government. I cannot believe that it once looked like this:

Doongalla Homestead c1910 from Richard Coxhill's "History of the Basin" (photo credited to a Fergus Chandler)

Bird on!