Phillip Island honeyeaters

Well two of them - Eastern spinebill and New Holland honeyeater.

A wide range of habitats on this reasonably large island means that you can end up with local specialities. At Silverleaves, the predominant honeyeater species are wattlebirds, Eastern spinebill and New Holland Honeyeaters.

Eastern spinebill "family" share an old clothesline at Silverleaves, Phillip Island

The Eremaea cumulative list for the whole of Phillip Island includes no less than 16 honeyeater species. It pleases me no end to see that Noisy miner feature in <1% of lists (hope it stays that way!):

Honeyeaters
Eastern Spinebill	5%	Noisy Miner	<1%	New Holland Honeyeater	32%
Yellow-faced Honeyeater	8%	Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater	4%	White-naped Honeyeater	11%
Singing Honeyeater	2%	Red Wattlebird	47%	Brown-headed Honeyeater	<1%
White-eared Honeyeater	13%	Little Wattlebird	27%	Noisy Friarbird	<1%
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater	<1%	White-fronted Chat	23%
White-plumed Honeyeater	24%	Crescent Honeyeater	<1%

I am interested in those species with sighting rates less than say 4%. I have not seen Singing honeyeater this far east. Nor have I ever seen Spiny-cheeked honeyeater on the island (nor anywhere in Victoria I think for that matter). On the other hand I can claim to be one of only three people who have made an Eremaea recording on Phillip Island of Noisy friarbird (thereby contributing to it's <1% status)!

A few shots of immature Eastern spinebill

Eastern spinebill (adult male) with a bit of tongue poking action

Anything you can do..... New Holland honeyeater & the tongue thing

& gone

Got a problem?

Bird on!