Scaly-breasted Lorikeet & Gang-gang Cockatoos - June 2015

Back at Macleod I was on the hunt for the Scaly-breasted Lorikeet. A few people had posted some photos of these birds whilst looking for the Swift Parrots and I had managed to get some info on where I might just find them. Unfortunately they weren't in the trees I had been directed to, but I did meet up with another birder who helped me find them.

They were in a tree full of noisy Rainbow and Musk Lorikeets - something I would have easily overlooked had it not been for this other birder. She checked out every single bird in that tree through her binoculars until she saw something a little bit different right up at the very top of the canopy.

They were hard to see so high up and obscured by branches and leaves but the few photos we got gave us a positive ID.

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus

I'll be keeping an eye out for them in the area in the hopes of getting a better photo.

We also ran into another birder who had just photographed some Gang-gang Cockatoos a little way up the road. I headed off in that direction but by the time I found them they were hanging out up the top of some very large gums. I got a few distant shots but will try again next time I'm there to get something better.

Gang-gang Cockatoo, Callocephalon fimbriatum

Gang-gang Cockatoo, Callocephalon fimbriatum

Both species are new to my list, bringing my total tally to 223.

Woodlands historic park - June 2015

A few weeks ago, Sarah and I tagged along on a Birdlife Melbourne outing to Woodlands historic park. It's a place that has been on my list to visit for a while and to have experts show us around was the perfect opportunity.

There were about 20 of us and I was doubtful that we would see much with such a big noisy group - how wrong I was! We saw so many more species than if we had been there by ourselves thanks to some amazing birders that could identify any bird from just their call or body shape in flight.

First up was a tree filled with quick, tiny birds. I immediately assumed Thornbill but no, it was in fact a Weebill which is even smaller! It's actually Australia's smallest bird - and quick. No wonder I couldn't get a decent shot.

Weebill, Smicrornis brevirostris

White-naped and Brown-headed Honeyeaters flew high up in the canopy - once again making it difficult to photograph. This is when we started to realise that there is usually more than one species hanging out together and we should take more time to look and identify before moving on.

White-naped Honeyeater, Melithreptus lunatus

Brown-headed Honeyeater, Melithreptus brevirostris

Brown-headed Honeyeater, Melithreptus brevirostris

In an open area we saw Flame and Red-capped Robins together. Unfortunately we didn't see any Pink or Rose Robins which have also been reported in the area.

Red-capped Robin, Petroica goodenovii

Flame Robin, Petroica phoenicea

Brown-headed Honeyeater (juvenile), Melithreptus brevirostris

Brown-headed Honeyeater (juvenile), Melithreptus brevirostris

Red-capped Robin (female), Petroica goodenovii

Another highlight was seeing a Speckled Warbler happily sit on an exposed branch long enough for everyone to get some nice photos.

I was pretty excited to see a Crested Shrike-tit. It's only the second time I've seen one but this time I was able to get some clear shots of it as it devoured a spider.

Crested Shrike-tit, Falcunculus frontatus

Crested Shrike-tit, Falcunculus frontatus

White-plumed Honeyeater, Lichenostomus penicillatus

We saw two Little Eagles soaring high in the sky - one was a light morph and the other was dark. Apparently they are a breeding couple so it will be interesting to see what color their offspring take.

Little Eagle, Hieraaetus morphnoides

The Striated Pardalote was my 3rd new species for the day. They were also high up in the canopy so not my best shots of the day.

Striated Pardalote, Pardalotus striatus

Striated Pardalote, Pardalotus striatus

Golden-headed Cisticola, Cisticola exilis

69 species were recorded that day. I was only able to photograph a handful of those but I did manage to pick up 3 new birds for my list - Weebill, Striated Pardalote and Little Eagle - bringing my total up to 221. 

It was a beautiful place to walk around and definitely somewhere I would like to go back to.

Swift Parrots at Macleod - June 2015

The endangered Swift Parrots are currently hanging out in the flowering gums a short walk from home. I've popped down a few times now to photograph them. A flock of between 20-40 move around from tree to tree eating the lerps that are in abundance right now.
The parrots breed in Tasmania and only come to the mainland (VIC & NSW) over Winter. De-forestation and Sugar gliders have been blamed for their endangered status.

Swift Parrot, Lathamus discolor