Hahns Macaw - The smallest macaw, about the size of a Rainbow Lorikeet, is a recent addition to the zoo collectionOur visits to Melbourne Zoo have given us some enjoyable birding moments. There was the time we went to visit a baby mandrill and was alerted to a Boobook Owl roosting in the 'African Rainforest' canopy by a group of alarmed White-plumed Honeyeaters. And the time we went to visit the tigers and heard the melodious call of the Golden Whistler and found it just off the path in the 'Asian Rainforest'. On another occasion I was waiting outside a marquee in which Jane Goodall was due to give a talk and a flock of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo descended on the giant pine which resides in the Carousel Park. One summer an Olive-backed Oriole could be heard calling near the rail gate in the mornings, one of the keepers informed us that it was nesting in a Palm Tree nearby. Guinea Fowl acting as a sentry in the Giraffe exhibit

These are unusual sightings for the Melbourne Zoo, however there are also some interesting birds that can be found regularly. A feral species that can usually be found is the Tree Sparrow, they used to frequent the Zoo Bistro but now they can more often be found around the elephant paddock which is situated next to the main barn. A better view of the Tree Sparrows can probably be had from outside the zoo around the south west corner, on our morning walks we are currently seeing the sparrows perched on the wall and flying to the seeding grasses opposite the tram line.

Song Thrush can occasionally be found especially around the African and Asian rainforests. Also in the Asian rainforest is the 'Pelican Lake', the pelicans here belong to the collection but the Great Cormorants and colony of Nankeen Night-Herons are wild birds. In 1916 Dudley Le Souef wrote 'When the gardens were first formed, more than 50 years ago, Nankeen-night Herons used to camp during the day in the the Eucalyptus trees and they and there descendants have continued to do so ever since' and they still do today. During the summer months the adults nest somewhere on the zoo grounds, most often this is in the trees surrounding the great flight aviary.

Juvenile Nankeen Night-Heron

During Autumn and Spring other small birds such as Grey Fantail, Eastern Spinebill and Silvereye can also be seen, while on migration during change of seasons. Rainbow Lorikeets are always present and Musk Lorikeets and Little Lorikeets can often be seen during late Summer to Winter.

For a list of birds seen at the zoo check out the Bird List .

Eastern Koel in the Great Flight Aviary

After the rush of Christmas I decided to have a quiet Boxing Day bird watching along the banks of the Yarra in Yarra Bend Park .

I began my walk in Yarra Bend Park at Dights Falls Park. I sat for a while in the Koori Garden and watched a Great Cormorant fishing at the base of the falls, Australian Reed-warbler could be heard calling from the reeds on the opposite side. I walked along the Capital City Trail, there weren't many interesting birds to be seen along this stretch but I did find a flock of Brown Thornbills, some Superb Fairywren, on the river were Pacific Black Duck and Dusky Moorhen.

View over the Yarra River

I crossed the river at Johnson Street Bridge and took the unpaved path which follows the other side of the river. I expected to see more birds in this area although it was still very quiet bird wise, I did see a Kookaburra, a Grey Butcherbird and at one point a Nankeen Night Heron flew high over the river. I climbed a steep section of the path to reach the Yarra Boulevard. This section of the road is closed to traffic and is frequently used by cyclists. A monument sits at the highest point which provides a fantastic view over the river and the park, Spotted Pardalote were calling in the Eucalypts bordering the monument.

I walked along the Yarra Boulevard towards Galatea Point, and found a small flock of Dusky Woodswallows diving down to catch insects along the roadside, as I watched them I spied a Grey Currawong stealthily and quietly moving through the scrub. Tawny FrogmouthsThings got better from here on. Near the top of Galatea Point a Sacred Kingfisher was perched in a tree, an adult and juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike flew through making beautiful chirring calls. ]I took the path towards Galatea Point and was a little disappointed to see that most of the area was dominated by Noisy Miners but was pleased to find a pair of Tawny Frogmouth in a tree above the point in the river. I continued along the path and caught the bus home from Studley park road.
Yarra Bend Park has a lovely feeling of isolation for a park so close to the city.

Steerage sculpture overlooking the Yarra River

Herring Island is a small island located in the Yarra River 3km from the city. You can access the Island by private boat or Parks Victoria operate a punt across the river during the summer months. While waiting on the jetty the island looked like a promising inner city birding destination. The arriving punt disturbed several Little Pied Cormorants which circled around looking for somewhere to settle, Dusky Moorhen and Pacific Black were on the river and on the other side there was a promising patch of reeds, although it's a little late in the season for Australian Reed Warblers I wouldn't be surprised if they are located here in summer. Once we arrived on the island very few birds could be located, although it was already 11am (time the first punt arrives) and the best part of the day had already gone. Rainbow Lorikeets, Red-rumped Parrots, Grey Butcherbird and Willie Wagtail could be heard nearby. We caught a quick glimpse of what we thought were Superb Fairy-Wrens. Welcome Swallows, Australian Magpie and a Noisy Miner flew overhead and on one occasion we saw a White-plumed Honeyeater.

Falling Fence sculpture

Best bird of the day was the Brown Gashawk we spotted in the distance circling over South Yarra, while sitting in the picnic area.

Although we saw few birds on the island a list on Eremaea indicates that others have been luckier. There are various outdoor sculptures in the park and an art gallery which makes the island an interesting visit if you happen to be in the area.

Location of Herring Island

Westgate Bridge over the backwash

Stony Creek Backwash is in a small park which lies under the Westgate Bridge where the creek meets the mouth of the Yarra River. You can access it by Hyde Street, where there is a small car park, or you can walk from Spotswood or Yarraville train stations.

White Mangroves

A small stand of White Mangroves grows there. The original mangroves where killed off by an oil spill in the 80's but have been replanted, and as it is a hardy species it is currently thriving.

The backwash provides shelter to a few interesting birds. Today, a Great Egret was resting perched on the submerged historic barge which lies in the backwash and Chestnut Teal were loafing in the lagoon.

Great Egret

As we walked out along the wooden boardwalk we saw Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants perched out on a rocky spit.

A Nankeen Night heron was seen fishing under the bridge over Hyde Street and an Australian Pelican flew overhead. On other occasions Pacific Gull, White faced Heron, Dater and New Holland Honeyeater have been seen here.

Stony Creek Backwash Bird List

Map of Stony Creek Backwash

The Escarpment on a foggy morning.
Today Friends of Royal Park held the 5th of their bi-monthly bird surveys of the Trin Warren Tam-boore area. The wetlands are around three years old and were installed as part of the 2006 Commonwealth Games Village. Since then they have become well established and support an increasing diversity of bird species.
Today the wetlands were slightly below capacity with some mudflats exposed, as we stated off an Australian Hobby flew overhead. At the Treatment Pond our first surprise for the day was a Great Egret standing knee deep in the pond, the first time this species has been recorded on our surveys. As we walked around the pond we recorded a number of water birds including Australasian Grebes, Purple Swamphen and Black Duck. Other smaller birds were present too, such as Superb Fairy-wren and White-plumed Honeyeater. Clamorous Reed Warblers had returned for the summer, we watched as a pair flew to and from their nest within the reeds. Little Grassbirds were calling but being as elusive as ever.
The next section of the walk took us through the 'Skink Habitat'. The White's Skink were once widespread in Melbourne but now only thrive in a few areas around Melbourne, they were 'rediscovered' some years ago during a clean up program of this area and may be the only long term viable population close to Melbourne. A small creek runs alongside this habitat, it's one of the best place to see little birds. Today we saw a pair of Spotted Pardalote and a New Holland Honeyeater, last week when I walked through this area Grey Fantails and Silvereyes were present, but there was no sign of them today.
As we walked up the bike path towards the 'Woodland Escarpment' area a Grey Butcherbird was chased into a dense bush by a Red Wattlebird. Red Wattlebird was the predominant species present on the escarpment today, but we also saw a small party of Superb Fairy-wren and heard a Grey-shrike Thrush and a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo calling.
The last section of the walk took us to the Storage Pond, the water here is deeper and more open so the species present are often different from those on the Treatment Pond. Today we recorded our first pair of Grey Teal. The Hardhead ducks, not present all winter, had returned, we counted 8 of them. There were several Australasian Grebe on nests and best of all, another new record for our list, was the pair of Black Swans who now have a large nest floating on the water at the edge of the reed beds. Other birds present were Eurasian Coots, Dusky Moorhen, Black Ducks, Clamorous Reed-warblers and Little Grassbirds.
Our total species count for the day was 34.
Trin Warren Tam-boore
Information about Royal Park and Trin Warren Tam-boore can be found on the City of Melbourne website at http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=25&pa=1273&pg=1300