Box-Ironbark Birding

18/09/2024

Today it was the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater's turn at the Grass Tree flower.
Meanwhile, in the front yard, the Diamond Firetails were busy renovating last year's nest in the grapevine.
Always something interesting happening at home 😀

16/09/2024

The flowering Grass Tree that I wrote about last month had the largest flower spike pushed over in the strong winds we had 2 weeks ago, but luckily it didn't break and it's now flowering in its new grounded position. The end of the spike has even started growing upwards again. The other spikes have also started flowering and today a Little Lorikeet came to visit.

12/09/2024

I wandered down to the shed today and unfortunately disturbed a Grey Shrike-Thrush that had built its nest on top of my Post Hole Digger. I quickly took a photo with my phone and got everything out of the shed that I might need in the next month or two so I hopefully won't need to disturb them again.
Also passing by were 3 Emus this afternoon. Photo taken through the loungeroom window.

24/08/2024

Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea sp.) are renowned for their slow rate of growth, which is said to be about 1cm/year in favourable conditions. Not so their flower spikes! Below is a series of photos demonstrating their growth rate. All photos are of the same plant which is just outside our laundry window.
The first photo taken on 10 July shows an emerging flower spike.
By 26 July a second spike can be seen emerging to its right.
On 10 August two additional spikes can be seen emerging to the left of the tallest spike.
The final photo taken this morning, 24 Aug, clearly shows all 4 spikes. In this 45 day period, the tallest spike has grown approximately 150cm, which translates to over 3cm/day!

13/08/2024

We found evidence earlier this year that suggested deer had arrived at our property. Overnight we have received photographic proof that indeed they have arrived. Ignore the date on the picture - I forgot to set the correct date in the camera. I'm not real good with my deer ID's, but leaning towards Sambar. Perhaps someone can confirm?
The log with the rubbed off bark is the same log as the one in the deer photo.
The Xanthorrhoea photos (taken 31 May 2024) show what we suspected was deer browsing, with the outer fronds bitten off and strewn around, presumably to allow the perpetrator to gain access to the more succulent fresh inner frond shoots.

09/07/2024

You may recall in previous posts we have had Emus and King Parrots visiting the two Olive trees that straddle our driveway, to partake in the bounty of fruit this year. In past years we often harvested the crop for our own consumption, however this year's crop, whilst large in quantity, was of very small fruit, hence we decided to leave it on the trees. Crimson Rosellas visit the trees every day, and in the last 2 weeks some surprise olive consumers included Grey Butcherbird and Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, with the former visiting daily. Today we witnessed a Butcherbird beat the olive on a branch before swallowing it whole. The Rosellas on the other hand munch on the flesh and leave the seed behind.
A group of six White-browed Babblers also spent an hour or two in our front garden this morning, no doubt finding some worms after the rain, whilst the Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters had sentinels on duty alerting all and sundry to the presence of the Butcherbird.

29/06/2024

Work continues on ensuring our property continues to improve its wildlife protection credentials. This time it's removal of barbed wire from a section of fence where, as the picture indicates, it serves absolutely no purpose. Scrub has overtaken both sides of the fence. We had removed all internal barbed wire fences not long after acquiring the property, however when it's an external fence involving neighbours, it becomes a little more complicated.
We once rescued a Sugar Glider that had its gliding membrane viciously entangled in the barbs. It would no doubt have been predated or died a horrible death had we not stumbled across it in time.

19/06/2024

It was minus 2 degrees here this morning and the Tawny Frogmouth has sought out the sunniest spot for its daytime roost!

15/06/2024

We have a billabong that usually retains water through most of summer and attracts many species for a bathe and drink, so we thought it might be a great site for our first bird hide. We will place some logs across the billabong to provide perching opportunities.

09/06/2024

For those of you who know me reasonably well, I am not renowned for my photography skills, in fact I rarely take a camera with me. On the other hand, I am never too far away from my binoculars. So it was yesterday when I went for a walk in the winter sunshine, I did have my iphone with me so was at least able to record this use of one of our Nestboxes by a Yellow-footed Antechinus. I had long suspected that they were using our Nestboxes, but had never managed to confirm it. I tried to move a little closer after the first photo, but that prompted it to retreat back to the safety inside the Box.

26/05/2024

Rather special day for us today - came across this roosting Barking Owl on our property. We had seen a pair a couple of times in the area before, but this is the first time we've seen one on the property.

21/04/2024

A population of King Parrots established itself in our area quite some years ago and has been expanding ever since.

We first recorded them on our property in 2021, and in increasing frequency since then. Every year since that first sighting they have come to visit our Olive trees when they are fruiting.

Below are a couple of pictures taken today of an immature male enjoying some Olives. A second individual was also in the tree doing the same, though it managed to avoid the camera lens.

19/04/2024

The flowering of the Ironbarks is often a feature of our area at this time of year, bringing in hordes of nectar feeders.

So far this season there is little sign of any Ironbark flowering, so it might turn out to be on "off year" for them.

Instead, the Long-leaf Box, Eucalytus goniocalyx, have been flowering well recently, and the picture below is of blossom on one of this species that I planted along our creek about 25 years ago.

18/04/2024

A pair of Gilbert's Whistlers have been active in our garden over the last couple of weeks. Yesterday I managed to grab a couple of photos of the female as she beat an insect she had captured on a branch before swallowing it.

17/04/2024

A male Common Bronzewing was lurking under a Golden Wattle, probably looking for the Wattle seeds they love to eat.
This photo was taken in our direct seeded paddock, which reminded me of the time immediately following the direct seeding back in 2018 when I discovered a number of Bronzewings in that paddock. At first this perplexed me, as it was highly unusual to find Bronzewings out in the middle of a grassy paddock, until I noticed they were walking along the direct seeding lines, picking out the seeds they could find. It never ceases to amaze me how birds (and wildlife in general) can quickly locate a new food source even if not within their normal habitat.

16/04/2024

Came up close and personal today with a young Wedge-tailed Eagle on our property. There was no wind to speak of, so I think putting up with my close proximity outweighed the energy expenditure required to get airborne. Estimated distance approx. 50m.

08/04/2024

I spoke too soon! Only a day after lamenting how the Brown Quail had eluded my camera, today the planets aligned and I had my camera with me when I came across them in their usual haunt. In fact, the area in which I have seen them over the last few months has largely been within a one hectare area. If I'd had one of those fabulous lenses that some of our customers have, I would have got some even better shots, as I managed to get reasonably close.

06/04/2024

Three months into the year and the total of indigenous species recorded sits at 99, with 85 recorded in the month of March alone. Following a wet December and January, Feb and March produced only 15mm between them, however a few deeper billabongs along the creek still retained water.
A highlight of this period has been a covey of Brown Quail, that I have now seen numerous times sunning themselves on one of our tracks along the creek, however every time I take the camera they are of course nowhere to be seen lol.
Below are a couple of birds I have managed to get a photo of during this time. The Hooded Robins have been sighted at the bird bath during the dry period and the Diamond Firetails are continuing their population increase with many juveniles following their parents whilst begging for food.
The Brown Falcons seem to have relocated to another part of the property (I have never recorded them using the same nest in consecutive years), which has allowed a Black-shouldered Kite to take control of the house paddock and we see it daily perched on one of the paddock trees. I saw it swallow a mouse one time.

06/04/2024

A male Emu brought his 7 youngsters to enjoy some olives this morning 😀

01/01/2024

As we start the New Year we reflect on what was another fabulous year for us in 2023. The total number of indigenous species recorded on the property for 2023 was 128, taking top spot away from 2021's 126 species. A further 5 non-indigenous species brought 2023's total to 133.
With only a handful of hours remaining in 2023, a small covey of Brown Quail, flushed from the tall grass along the creek flats, managed to squeeze themselves onto the 2023 list yesterday evening.
Highlights of the year included two of those seldom seen species, the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren and the Spotted Quail-thrush. Always reassuring to know they are still hanging on. A short-lived visit by a few Painted Honeyeaters in October was another highlight, as visits by this species here seem to have dwindled over the years.
A second sighting of Crescent Honeyeater (the first was in 2021) perhaps suggests that this species is an ocassional cooler month visitor rather than a vagrant.
The most satisfying and rewarding experience of the year has been the apparent acceptance of our front garden as suitable habitat by Diamond Firetails. A number of pairs successfully nested simultaneously in the lemon tree, the olive tree and the grapevine. From being a not so common sighting in the early years here, they are now sighted daily. Who can forget our posting a couple of months back of 16 Firetails on our driveway!
Happy New Year to all our friends and followers out there. We wish you great birding and that we get to catch up sometime!
No bird pics today, but a reminder of how well the bush is looking after the last few years of above average rainfall; mind you, 2023 only sneaked into the above average category with the 80mm we had at Christmas. Still, an amazing outcome given the El Nino forecasts that were around from quite early in the year.

26/08/2023

Sixteen Diamond Firetails on the driveway this morning. The flocks are getting bigger!

19/08/2023

19/08/2023

A Little Wattlebird has been here in our garden for a few days now. Have only recorded it on the property once before in April 2013.

05/08/2023

Today I went to see if I could get a photo of an Owlet Nightjar I had come across yesterday in a hollow in an Ironbark. Well, as most birdwatchers know, things seldom go to plan. However, it is usually the case that something unexpected pops up. In this case, the unexpected still involved the target species, just not according to plan.... As I manoeuvered around to the side of the Ironbark where the hollow was, I brushed past a dead tree, and an Owlet Nightjar flew out of a hollow limb of the dead tree and into the hollow in the Ironbark that I was there to check on! But of course it disappeared into the hollow and was obviously not keen to see me again.
The sun was low on the horizon, so I started to make my way back to the house. I stopped to check on an old nestbox that I had ceased maintaining quite some years ago. Its entrance plate had dislodged long ago, but I had left the box in the tree, and who should be peering out of it today? Another Owlet Nightjar of course! I have other more suitable (in my view) Nestboxes in the vicinity, so I'm at a loss why it chose this box with a gaping wide entrance open to the elements! Maybe the housing accommodation crisis is more critical than I thought!

03/08/2023

Mr & Mrs Restless Flycatcher popped in for a visit again today.
Also on the driveway were 10 Diamond Firetails, the largest group I can remember for a while. In the photo there are four of them at the birdbath, where they usually go for a drink after each feed. They seem to be increasing in numbers here - always happy to claim some credit for a species benefiting from the regenerating habitat. 😀
Also of interest a couple of days ago (31 July to be exact), was a Red-bellied Black Snake out and about in the sunshine. First time I've seen a snake out in July in Central Vic. The alarm calls of the Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters alerted me to its presence.

02/08/2023

Been a great few months since the last post and lots has been happening - April's monthly tally was 94 indigenous species, which was equal second with Aug 2021 and Oct 2010. Oct 2021 still retains first place with 97. July's tally this year was a respectable 80, including only the second ever record of Crescent Honeyeater.
Ironbark flowering has been quite prolific this year, bringing in hordes of nectar feeders. By end of July some, such as Little Friarbirds had left entirely, and there were only a few Noisy Friarbirds still around. Lorikeet numbers had also dwindled and Swift Parrots haven't been seen now for a week or two.
A day out with Lawrie produced two lifers for him in the first 20 mins - Swift Parrot and Little Lorikeet! But that only meant that the rest of the day was all uphill from there!
A small group of Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters (an uncommon visitor in these parts) turned up in April and are currently still here.

07/03/2023

Hey guys, we are seeing significant Ironbark bud development, so it could be shaping up to be another significant flowering event this year. Similar events in past years have resulted in the cooler months being the most prolific for birding, with hordes of nectar feeders descending on the area, including Lorikeets, Swift Parrots and a multitude of Honeyeaters. The previous such event even saw the Grey-headed Flying Foxes from the Tatura colony flying all the way here each evening for a period of about 6 weeks to partake in the bounty. It really was a 24 hour smorgasbord!
We will post updates as the season progresses, but if you want to ensure a spot in our birding calendar this year, book your stay now! 😀

11/02/2023

We seem to have an influx of Diamond Doves at the moment. Rattana waited patiently at a waterhole and managed to get a decent photo of one as it came down for a drink.
Only other record of the species on our property in the last 26 years was a single bird in Dec 2016, Interestingly, that was also a summer sighting following a wet year.

08/01/2023

Four King Parrots were enjoying the very late Boysenberry season this morning. 😀
I suspect they have bred, and that the pair we had seen around last year have now brought the kids.

06/01/2023

2022 The Year in Review
2022 will remain etched in our memories for the 255mm record monthly rainfall that fell in October. It was the highest monthly rainfall of any month since our records for the property commenced in 1997. The annual total of 827mm was only eclipsed by the 2010 total of 903mm.
In terms of birding statistics, a total of 123 indigenous species were recorded, 3 less than the 126 in 2021 and the same as the 123 in 2020. A further 5 non-indigenous species were recorded.
No new species were added to the property list during the year, which still stands at a respectable 172 indigenous species.
Ignoring the May and June totals, which were affected by our mid-year caravan sojourn up north and west, the average monthly number of species recorded was 80, ranging from 71 in Dec to 91 in both Aug and Oct.
A highlight of the year was finding the Barking Owl roosting site and the wonderful display of wildflowers following the wet Spring.
Brown Quail that were both heard and seen during Dec were a species that had not been recorded since the 2010/11 floods.
A significant boost to regeneration of native vegetation also seems evident at the moment as a result of the wet conditions.
Following is some pictures of frequent garden visitors, plus some wildflowers and grasses.
The Diamond Firetails seemed to bring brood after brood into the garden, as every couple of months the adult pair were surrounded by a fresh bunch of youngsters. 😀