Avian Liquorice All-sorts, Port Fairy

Within 5 minutes and 20 metres of each other were a collection of peculiarly coloured birds at Port Fairy the other weekend. All three were birds I don't often see. Three times I found myself thinking how strangely these birds were "put together".

The always nervous Black-tailed Native hen is mostly drab but has an alarming yellow eye, green and red bill and striking red legs (and it gets it's name from a black tail!?).

Black-tailed native hen - no large groups here but 5-6 birds momentarily in bright sunlight.

A single Pink-eared Duck refused to cooperate but its impressive shovelling bill can be made out on this photo as can it's zebra markings and pink "ear".

Australian Spotted crake was equally noncommittal but also has some garish colourings on bill and leg.

Australian Spotted Crake

All birds were seen at Port Fairy's Russell Clark Reserve which was conveniently located between our digs and the Port Fairy Folk Festival. We walked past daily. The reserve is actually used as a temporary  car park for the festival.

I sat for a while to view and photograph the crake which was on yonder island ….

… the usual local gang of thugs was also present ….

… and came to check me out (iPhone shots now) …..

 ….. which of course attracted the attention of the constabulary. So much for going under cover!

To my left our rented house, my right the music festival, behind me the Southern Ocean, in front of me a wetland!
Alas only one long weekend!

"Reverse charge call". The first time I've seen a Hoodie's nesting area roped off on the "dune" side preventing access to the shore line. The scrape was apparently on a short peninsula. The dune is behind me! We watched the hoodie for a while (sans camera, we were actually at the beach swimming!) and were thrilled to count five Ruddy Turnstones as well.

Returned the next day but found none of the above but a White-faced heron ...

 …. and some other locals. Always impressed at that bill! Long-billed corella.

Between Acts, Stage 1, Sunday Evening, Port Fairy Folk Festival

Decidedly birding theme to this year's festival featuring local gull, "mutton birds" (Short-tailed shearwaters), Hooded Plover and Pied Oystercatcher. Wins my vote! I wonder home many of the 12,000 patrons were as impressed as me!

Experience more at the website Port Fairy Folk Festival Worth a look! Hear some tunes!

Bird (& folk) on!

Yambuk shorebirds

Identifying small shorebirds still takes me a little while. It took me some time to realise that there were three species among the dozen or so birds I was observing at Yambuk recently. The cogs turn slowly …. "Red-capped plovers (easy) .… and I think a single Red-necked stint …. but what is that other slightly larger plover I haven't seen here before?" (context is everything)

Subsequently Double-banded plover was readily confirmed and I will now be more confident when I next come across these guys having spent some time observing on them on this occasion!

Double-banded plover, Yambuk estuary, Vic

DBP with Red-necked stint and Red-capped plover at rear.

1-2 birds only per lump of seaweed please!

Red-capped plovers with stint

Typical Southern Ocean "breeze" - wind-blown sand and sea spray affecting visibility. I often remind myself that the birds live in these conditions 24/7.

The walk back to the car park can be either along the beach or the raised dune has a fenced nature trail. This affords views across Yambuk Lake (Great egret, pelican, cormorant species, Royal spoonbill and Musk duck). The coastal scrub provides habitat for species other than shorebirds...

The call of the Singing honeyeater has a slightly musical note at times but it does not "sing"!

Silvereyes look to be catching the late afternoon sunshine

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday!

Bird on!

Southern Emu-wren at Deen Maar

Another Port Fairy Folk Festival meant another trip to Deen Maar. This is a gorgeous coastal wetland area centred on the Eumeralla River and Yambuk Lakes. It is an Indigenous Protected Area which means that permission must be gained before entry. This is currently arranged through the Framlingham Aboriginal Trust.

It is cited as a spot to see bittern so I am always hopeful but have remained disappointed in this regard! However I have found it a reliable spot to see Southern Emu-wren (see, but not photograph)! These birds give just distant glimpses and seem to spend most of their time in the middle of, or on the other side of a bush!

Here are the few shots I managed that at least show some identifiable features!

GOTCHA! Heard something that sounded a little like Superb fairy-wren and after a minute saw lilac/brown instead of black/blue! 

Southern emu-wren, Deen Maar, Yambuk, Vic

Another distant view of a pair of birds just showing the tail's six long "emu feather" plumes

 As in previous visits to Deen Maar the cisticola provide some great poses ….

Golden-headed cicticola, Deen Maar, Yambuk

White-browed scrubwren

Willie wagtail

"Ummm… Whaddaya say we add bird watching to the list?"

Eumeralla River looking west

Eumeralla River looking East (downstream towards Yambuk Lake and the estuary)

I heard what might be an Emu-wren somewhere in there! 

The Codrington Wind Farm turbine provides a constant backdrop. A cisticola and silvereye are perching on the shrub. 

Bird on!