Black honeyeater, Goschen Bushland Reserve (Dec 2013)
Goschen was gazetted to be a town. Streets were planned. A hall was built, a tennis court asphalted, a cricket oval marked out.
Goschen seems to be in the middle of nowhere, in the Victorian version of the outback, now miles and miles of wheat fields. The gazetted area is now a small bushland reserve, an oasis of dry country bush in a "desert" of wheat fields.
I visited Goschen for a few hours in December 2013 and was amazed at seeing birds I had not known you could see in Victoria. Highlights were "lifers" Black honeyeater and White-fronted honeyeater. While I "dipped" on Budgerigar and Pied honeyeater I was more than happy with other friends not often seen in Victoria (by me): Grey-crowned babbler, Rainbow bee-eater, Hooded robin, Spiny-cheeked honeyeater, Singing honeyeater and White-browed woodswallow.
Black honeyeater
The closest I have been to Cockatiel ever, Goschen (December 2013)
A slightly different angle and a little sun & blue sky … Cockatiel (Dec 2013, Goschen, Vic)
Another small group of cockatiel can be just made out in a dead branch, two thirds of the way up the picture centrally.
and here's a close up!
Hooded robin can be vary obliging. This one seemed to follow me (it also seems to have a thing for cockatiel)!
Singing honeyeater
White-browed babbler
Distant view of a Rainbow bee-eater
Awful picture of a White-fronted honeyeater makes the post only because it was a LIFER!
Some Goschen scenes to put you in the picture:
The dilapidated hall
The old tennis court was surrounded by flowering gums
The edge of the reserve with adjacent wheat field
Same location as above looking out from the fence along the lines of stubble.
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!
Here's a final selection of photos from our time at Middle Lagoon in August 2012. I have never seen corellas look so grubby!
Little corella
Grey-crowned babbler
Little friarbird admires the sunrise
Little friarbird (left) and Diamond dove
Yellow silvereye in the mangroves
Also seen readily in the mangroves was Broad-billed flycatcher (above and below)
I reckon I had a great shot of the male Mangrove golden whistler but there was no card in the camera AAARRgh! I went back for it but only found the female.
Why did the Long-tailed finch cross the road?
Singing honeyeater (above) and Brown honeyeater (below) were the predominant smaller honeyeaters at the time
Music, great coastline, festival fun ....... and birds. Yes, this may become an annual post topic (see Mr Qwirk & the kestrels)!
We have just returned from this year's festival. Today I noticed this banner which captured all things good about the PFFF!
The festival can be as big or as intimate as you like. I am a big fan of the American folk-blues singer Eric Bibb (along with thousands of others). He easily filled the largest stage:
Highlight in this performance? "Don't you ever let nobody drag your spirit down". Youtube clip features an earlier performance (some other festival, some other person's camera).
But often it's the gems you take away from more intimate stages that you remember most. He we see Liz Fencham, April Verch (Canada) and the Australian-Irish duo Hat Fitz and Carla Robinson pictured here with Jeff Lang (right) adding a second guitar.
"But where are the birds?" I hear you complain! The images selected are those readily seen at Port Fairy and were captured within the town area.
Long-billed corella (Cacatua tenuirostris)
This Buff-banded rail (Gallirallus philippensis) wasn't sure whether it should cast a shadow or a reflection for the most interesting shot!
Singing honeyeater (Lichenostomus virescens)
I'm tickled when birds sit on television antennae. I like to think that there must be something good on! On this occasion it is the introduced European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). This Black-shouldered kite (Elanus axillaris) was hunting overhead as we walked to the festival arena.
Hoary-headed grebe (Poliocephalus policephalus)
I did that thing where you pretend you're not interested in the diving bird until he dives - then you scurry to a better position! When he pops up again you can see them think "Crikey! (ozzie bird) I thought you were way over there!" The Hoary -headed grebe can dive with an unnaturally large explosion of water for such a little bird "Pop!"
Black-faced cormorant (Leucocarbo fuscescens)
I have only seen this species twice - both times at Port Fairy
where they are readily seen
And yes Mr Quirk was a Port Fairy sighting again this year!
