Birds of Sherbrooke Forest

These photos were taken in the evening of two consecutive warm days in Melbourne. The kick-off point was Grants Picnic Area (see Grants on Sherbrooke) which has become known as a destination for parrot feeding. There are barbecues, picnic tables,  a cafe, shop and the opportunity for photos of the family with rosellas perching on the head or any bodily appendage available.

Several trails leave from Grants. These photos were taken along the Lyrebird and Neumann Tracks. The Lyrebird track in particular provides good viewing of excellent lyrebird habitat (a male's explosive calling & mimicry was heard but none seen on this occasion).

On this day I enjoyed some good views of White-throated treecreper

Aren't those talons amazing!

Rufous fantail

The Eastern whipbird has an amazing call but its skulking behaviour amongst the bracken makes it hard to get a decent photograph. I'll keep trying!

Eastern whipbird (above & below)

Eastern yellow robin seeking directions

Eastern spinebill atop a treefern

Closer to Grants Picnic area one starts to come across birds that are accustomed to human contact such as this Crimson rosella.

Galahs look for scraps after "feeding time" is closed. 

Sulphur-crested cockatoo

Below are a couple of shots of what I take to be the official "feeding area" after closing. I didn't see it in full swing but there are feeding trays, information signs and parking for buses!

Echidna - seen on a few occasions

Bird on!

Bunyip State Park - forest birds

I really enjoyed a visit to Bunyip State Park last Friday. In the picnic ground itself were good views of Dusky woodswallow and a nesting Olive-backed oriole near the amenities block. Exploring the marked trails heading north from Dyers Picnic Ground I found that:

• the mapped but not signposted Russells Track would have been a useful walking pad running parallel to a creek but was impassable due to growth (lyrebird heard in this area)
• Dyer Creek trail provided excellent birding with views of Scarlet honeyeater, Rufous fantail, Red-browed treecreeper, Eastern whipbird and a brief encounter with a male Lyrebird
• there was very little evidence in this area of severe damage from the 2009 bushfires (Parks Victoria states 40% of the park was burnt).
• the downloadable pdf file reads quite well on the iphone using the suggested Avenza pdf map reader app which positions you on the Parks Victoria map (useful on the unmarked trails)

Taken on 28 December this photo of a Rufous fantail would have to be one of my favourite pics for the year!

When I started seeing the tinciest of honeyeaters I wondered what I might see when a mature male showed up ...

Surprise! Scarlet honeyeater - a Victorian first for me!

Immature birds were a feature and I seemed to be seeing a lot of Red-browed finch without red brows.

I was thrilled when a subsequent sighting turned about to be Beautiful firetail:

Satin flycatcher (female)

Silvereye

An Olive-backed oriole was nesting in the dark green tree seen to the left of the amenities block.

Leaf litter, trail bike tracks and a Red-browed treecreeper

Dyer Creek Track is apparently used for trail bike riding (as is much of the Bunyip State Park). I heard distant motorbikes on 2-3 occasions but met no-one on my journey this day.

At right can be seen the large lizard that crossed Black Snake Creek Rd in front of the car.

I'll be back!

Bird on!