You Yangs - Scarlet robins, Rufous whistler

I battled the Sunday morning fitness army at the You Yangs last weekend. The place was swarming with cyclists and runners. Without even locating the Tawny frogmouths I left the car park throng after only a few minutes (do they still hang around there?).

I was pleased to eventually find a little solitude around the gravel pits area near where Kurrajong Ave leaves the Great Circle Drive. Restless flycatcher, Striated thornbill, Dusky woodswallow and a few choughs were active here. New Holland and White-plumed were the only honeyeaters identified. I had seen Diamond firetail here in the past but not today.

The next place I stopped was to walk a 100m or so along the Branding Yard Rd. It was here that I had a lovely time with a Rufous whistler and a pair of Scarlet robin. A Shining bronze-cuckoo was hanging around but avoided my camera.

Rufous whistler giving it all, You Yangs, 21 Sept 2014

That was pretty good huh!?

Scarlet robin (male), You Yangs

Scarlet robin - female

Female Superb fairy-wren reaches for a better view of the camera man

Superb fairy-wren

White-naped honeyeater on to something stuck between two leaves 

Striated thornbill was good for my year list

Striated thornbill

A peculiar collection of leftovers include Red-rumped parrot, Pied currawong, Dusky woodswallow and Restless flycatcher ...

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!