Woolamai honeyeaters

There is a section of the Cape Woolamai circuit that passes through a stand of banksia. Having been observing shorebirds, surf and then coastal heath one is suddenly immersed in the calls and territorial disputes of honeyeaters. The raucous shouts of wattlebirds dominate. Little wattlebird appeared to outnumber Red wattlebird on this occasion.

Little wattlebird, Cape Woolamai

Stand of banksia, Cape Woolamai

Also vying for honeyeater supremacy in this pocket of banksia were New Holland honeyeater and White-plumed honeyeater. A check of my observations reveals that I am yet to see Spiny-cheeked honeyeater in Victoria which is also "commonly" seen here (10% of Eremaea lists ... good enough reason to return in my book).

New-Holland honeyeaters discussing tactics

Moving back into coastal shrubs and heath gives the opportunity to see Singing honeyeater. In my opinion Singing honeyeater has a memorable distribution! Some of my fondest memories have occurred in outback Australia and also along the SW coast of Victoria. Guess where this bird occurs?

I reckon if I'm seeing Singing honeyeater I'm in a good place!

Singing honeyeater, Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island

Seeing this bird recently at Cape Woolamai, Phillip Island marks my most easterly sighting. I'll add this to my list of feel-good places!

Bird on!

Double-banded plover at Silverleaves

I've had a few instances in recent times noticing something a little bit different about the shorebirds at Silverleaves. It is possibly that I'm getting better at recognising the "odd bird out" having become very familiar with the most commonly seen locals, Hooded and Red-capped plovers. As well as the recent Visit from Red-necked stints I'm also noticing Double-banded plover on the beach. Last weekend several Double-banded (left below) and Red-capped plovers were grouping and moving together.

One day while bathing, Reg noticed the other birds were different.
Double-banded plover with Red-capped plover at Silverleaves, Phillip Island

I'm impressed that while the four small shorebirds mentioned above are similar in size and in choosing to frequent the same bit of Westernport beach, they differ vastly in their movements and range:

Red-capped plover - a predominantly Australian coastal bird, it breeds throughout the country, even inland if conditions suit. Abundant in some areas individual populations may be either sedentary or nomadic.

Hooded plover - endangered shorebird of Southern coasts, breeds spring & summer, stays put or disperses locally.

Red-necked stint - abundant summer migrant to Australia (most in NW or SE) leaving to breed in Arctic Siberia and Alaska during the Australian winter although some "overwinter" in Australia.

Double-banded plover - breeds in New Zealand. The birds we get in Australia apparently migrate annually from New Zealand's South Island to our slightly warmer southern coasts for winter.

Quite sensible really!

Away from the beach the bushland birds of Silverleaves perhaps tend not to vary as much!

New Holland honeyeater "hawking" for insects

Back on the perch

Acrobatic Silvereye

Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo

Little wattlebird

Grey currawong

 Bird on!

Mouth of Powlett River

Many and varied honeyeaters seen at the Ti-tree car park allowing good views and photo opportunities. A nice surprise was a Crescent honeyeater, a Victorian first for me.

Leaving the coastal banksia and ti-tree habitat a short trudge over the dune reveals a magnificent surf beach. Returning via the Powlett River estuary enables views of estuarine, reeds and salt-marsh habitats.

Today the flowering coastal banksia around the Ti-tree and Echidna car parks provided the best birding.

I have placed this car park on my list of Great Birding Car Parks!

Red wattlebird (Anthocaera carunculata)

Red wattlebirds seemed to be outnumbering Little wattlebird 10 to 1.

Little wattlebird (Anthocaera chyrsoptera)

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) 

Crescent honeyeater (Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus). Not a great photo but I was surprised to find one.

Looking west towards Kilcunda

There were a dozen or so surfers at the time.
Mouth of Powlett (below).  I was expecting a sand barred entrance but the river does flow to the sea. It has even cut a channel through the rock platform.

Sooty oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus) 

Eastern grey kangaroo footprints (My guess - based on the 2 metre distance between prints and seeing some roos locally)

 

Little wattlebird

Wattlebirds must like wattle. Right? I assumed so as a kid. That's how they got their name, yes?

Wrong. I now understand that these honeyeaters are so named because of the bits of coloured flesh that hang from each side of their neck which are of course called ... "wattles". When Australians hear the word "wattle" they think of trees and shrubs belonging to the genus "Acacia".

To confuse things further we have here the Little wattlebird whose wattles are so "little" they are non-existant!

These pictures from last weekend were taken using the bathroom window as a hide while this fellow was feeding on a planted garden grevillea.

Brutal sunlight & 35 deg celsius outside. 

Head rush anyone?

This is how I get my rufous wing patch.