Eastern whipbird

Eastern whipbird, Psophodes olivaceus, Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges

Many Australians know the sound of this bird's call but would not know what the Eastern whipbird looked like. The resonating whip-crack call can emanate from a patch of bush right in front of you but the bird(s) may never appear. I "out waited" this bird in the Sherbrooke section of the Dandenongs recently and finally got a photo - it took a good 20 minutes!! The dim light added to the difficulty and even with a clear view through my monopod-perched camera I still only managed one photo with which I was happy.

I do enjoy field guide quotes when well-written. Here is a selection relating to the Eastern whipbird:

Pizzey: Noisy but secretive (!)
Morcombe: Loud ringing whip-crack call of this species is one of the most common, widely recognised eastern bird calls. From male, a long whistle building up to an explosive whip-crack; instantly answered with sharp "tchew-tchew" from female.
Australian Bird Names (Fraser & Gray): Psophodes olivaceus (Latham 1802) so-FOH-dehz o-li-VA-se-us "olive-green noisy-bird"

Near Sherbrooke Falls, Dandenong Ranges, Vic

While this audio piece by "Wild Ambience" doesn't really do the explosive whip-crack justice (compared to hearing it at close range in the forest) it is a beautifully presented narration which demonstrates the male-female interaction well. Four minutes well spent!

Bird on!

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!