After birding New Zealand I spent an excellent two weeks in southeast Australia, mainly in Victoria and Tasmania. I was particularly fortunate in having considerable local assistance and hospitality from Margaret Cameron, Peter Lansley and Barry McLean, plus days out with Susan Myers and Tony Palliser, to all of whom I am extremely grateful. I also spent a very rewarding “Plains-wanderer weekend” with Phil Maher.
This year there had been a major invasion to Victoria of inland species such Budgerigar, Cockatiel, Orange and Crimson Chats, Black and Pied Honeyeaters, and White-browed and Masked Woodswallows in September. Unfortunately, most had finished breeding and left by the time I arrived, so I was only able to catch the tail-end of this spectacle. However, I did have many great sightings: flocks of Red-necked Avocets, Banded Stilts and Banded Lapwings, the female Plains-wanderer, Inland Dotterel, Hooded Plover, Lewin’s Rail, Malleefowl, Black Falcon, Owlet-Nightjar, Powerful Owl, Eastern and Rufous Bristlebirds, Crimson and Orange Chats, Pied and Painted Honeyeaters, Diamond and Beautiful Firetails, and many woodswallows, robins and parrots.
The sites are well covered in the literature, such as Thomas & Thomas and Wheatley, and there is a multitude of trip reports available. Hence I will not waste space on this aspect. I can thoroughly recommend this region for relatively easy and rewarding birding. Two excellent guides who operate commercially in the northern area are Phil Maher (mahert [at] patash.com.au) and Barry McLean (bmclean [at] vic.ozland.net.au).
In addition to those already mentioned, I would like to sincerely thank Charles and Joan Sandbrink, Phil Maher, Tonia Cochrane and Tim Reid for their help.
Jon Hornbuckle 35 Grove Road, Sheffield S7 2GY
Nov 28 17.00 arrived Melbourne from Christchurch, bus to Geelong.
29 Southwest Victoria, returning to Geelong.
30 Southwest Victoria, returning to Geelong.
Dec 1 North to Goschen, southwest to Bendigo, northwest to Lake Tyrell.
2 Ouyen, Murray Sunset NP, Hattah-Kulkyne NP, Mildura.
3 Trentham Station, Wentworth, Mildura, Lake Tyrell, Bendigo, Rushworth
4 Rushworth ringing / banding camp.
5 Rushworth, Kamarooka SP, Melbourne.
6 Melbourne Bot Gdns, Toolangi State Forest, Melbourne.
7 Fly to Hobart, Tasmania, Bruny Island: Adventure Bay.
8 Bruny Island.
9 Ferry to Kettering, Snug Teirs, Fern Tree, Orford, Hobart.
10 Snug Teirs, Hobart, fly to Melbourne, Bot Gdns, bus to Deniliquin.
11 Plains-wanderer weekend around Deniliquin.
12 Gulpa Is. State Forest, Deniliquin SF, fly to Sydney.
13 Sydney, with ferry trip to Manley, fly to Noumea (New Caledonia).
17 Return to Sydney, Bot Gardens.
18 Blue Mts, Sydney.
19 Barren Grounds NR, Catumba, Botany Bay, fly home.
Nov 28 Arrived in Melbourne on time at 17.00, Gull airport bus (prebooked) to Geelong. Met by Margaret Cameron, stopped at saltworks for Red-necked Avocet en route to her house, my base for the next 3 days, during which Margaret generously showed me a host of good birds.
Nov 29 First stop Queenscliff where we had hoped to see some wader-banding with the legendary Clive Minton but the tide/ wind combination was unsuitable, saw Striated Field-Wren and White-fronted Chat but no Fairy Tern; Black-faced Cormorant and Pacific Gull at Pt Lonsdale. Toured southwest Victoria for the rest of the hot and sunny day: Eastern Curlew at Ocean Grove; Bancoora; Blue-winged Parrot, Satin Flycatcher and Dusky Woodswallow at Ironbark Basin; Hooded Plover at Anglesea Coalmine; Brush Bronzewing and Gang Gang at Angahook NP, Rufous Bristlebird at Airey’s Inlet lighthouse; Pollocks Ford; Bannockburn bush; Banded Stilt at Geelong Saltworks and Oz Crake at Pt Henry.
Nov 30 Another grand tour, encompassing Colac, Carlisle Heath, Beauchamp Falls, Cundare road, Inverleigh Common, Lake Lorne and back to Geelong golf course where Black-fronted Dotterel had nest with eggs. Highlights were Southern Emuwren on Carlisle Heath, Pink Robin and Olive-tailed Thrush at Beauchamp Falls, and Cape Barren Goose at Lake Lorne.
Dec 1 Liz joined us today for a long drive north on another hot day via Mia Mia, Lake Eppalock (Cockateil and Rufous Songlark) and Knowsley (Black-chinned Honeyeater) to Goschen Brushland Reserve where Crimson Chat, Black and Pied Honeyeaters, and many White-browed and Masked Woodswallows were still to be found – the last known place in the state! Westwards to Kamarooka SP gave Gilbert’s Whistler and Diamond Firetail, while Native-hen and Oz Crake were seen at Bendigo SF. I hired a small car at Budget in Bendigo – expensive as unlimited mileage unavailable on a 2-day hire; said a grateful farewell to Margaret, and drove north to Lake Tyrell. Here saw White-winged Fairy-Wren and White-backed Swallow before sleeping out in the insect-free open.
Dec 2 No sign of Redthroat, reported to be at Lake Tyrell, so carried on to Ouyen to rendezvous with Barry McLean, as arranged by Margaret. A drive around the Flora and Fauna Reserve gave good views of 2 Malleefowl, with other mallee birds but no definite Southern Scrub-Robin. Emu was seen near Pink Lakes in Murray Sunset NP, along with a good selection of parrots including Pink Cockatoo, and a pair of Black Falcon, despite the searing heat and strong wind. Had a good look at the west side of Hattah-Kulkyne NP where Grey Falcon had been reported but no luck – only Brown Falcon, Crimson Chat and White-backed Swallow of note. Regent Parrot and Yellow Rosella were found at nearly dry Lake Hattah, while the Old Calder Highway north was seething with Budgies and woodswallows; a Chestnut Quail-Thrush crossed the track but Mallee Emuwren and Striated Grasswren would not show, possibly because of unfavourable weather conditions. The final stop was at Castles Crossing Reserve, 38km south of Mildura, which had had a great breeding season according to Barry, and here we flushed 2 Owlet-nightjar, a badly-needed species. Reached Barry’s house at 21.00, for a welcome delicious meal and beer.
Dec 3 A change in the weather today – dull with some rain. To Trentham Station, via Golgol, for White-browed Treecreeper but no luck in seeing the occasionally calling Crested Bellbird. Across the mighty Murray into NSW towards Broken Hill on Fletcher’s Lake Road, finding Orange Chat at last – c20 but numbers greatly down on a few days earlier. Hunted for White-fronted Honeyeater at John Hobbs' Eremophila Patch, Wentworth, where they had bred along with Pied and Black Honeyeaters, but all had gone. Returned to Mildura to collect my car, farewell to Barry and Roberta, and back to Lake Tyrell with a stop for Red-backed Kingfisher 13.5 km NW of Benniwillock. Found Rufous Fieldwren in saltbush at the lake, then on to Bendigo to return the car. Peter Lansley collected me at 19.30, we stopped to look for Purple-gaped Honeyeater in Kamarooka SP, found fish and chips with difficulty, and reached Rushworth campsite at 11p.m.
Dec 4 All day at Rushworth ringing / banding camp in hot, windy conditions - rather slow, with the ringing high-spot a Brown Goshawk, and saw Shy Hylota and Square-tailed Kite. Good, sociable meal at the pub afterwards.
Dec 5 Slow morning again at Rushworth, with Brown Treecreeper and Rufous Whistler ringing highs. No new birds in the forest so returned to Kamarooka SP where eventually found Purple-gaped Honeyeater on Millwood Rd. In Whipstick SP saw Black-chinned Honeyeater and Crested Shrike-Tit but failed on Crested Bellbird again. Red-kneed Dotterel was at Bendigo SF, then back to Peter’s in Melbourne.
Dec 6 Picked up by Susan Myers to visit Melbourne Bot Gdns to look for Powerful Owl – no joy but pleasant spot, then to Toolangi State Forest (700m) – Crescent Honeyeater, Grey Currawong, Pink Robin but no Pilotbird or Flame Robin; back to Peter’s at 16.00. Finally caught up with Banded Lapwing with Peter, I feeding in a horse paddock on Leake’s Rd, west Melbourne.
Dec 7 08.20 flight to Hobart, Tasmania, a little late. Avis car $A66 (£27.5) a day using ABA discount no. AWD-A 843000. Drove south to Kettering just in time for 11.05 ferry to Bruny Island: Arctic Skua, Pacific Gull and Great Crested Tern. Drove north, stopping 3-4km before Dennes Pt just below quarry: good numbers of honeyeaters – 5 endemics including a 40-spotted Pardalote, with my first ever echidna up the gated track. South to Adventure Bay, picking up Green Rosella, Pallid Cuckoo and Dusky Robin, checked in at Lumeah YHA. Up to Mt Mangaria (570m) – Brown Scrub-Wren, Tasmanian Thornbill, Olive Whistler, Crescent Honeyeater, with 2 Black Currawong by the road on the way down to Inala, but no Swift Parrots! Ended at Cookville campsite, beyond Adventure Bay: flowering gums but still no Swift Ps.
Dec 8 100s of New Holland Honeyeaters at the campsite, a few Yellow Wattlebirds; no Bushtit at Mavista Nature Trail; Flame Robin near Cloudy Bay; Short-tailed and Fluttering Shearwater at Cape Bruny; Beautiful Firetail at Inala; probable Scrubtit at Mavista NT; Black-faced Cormorant at Dennes Pt; Short-tailed Shearwaters and Oz Gannet off S Bruny NP; many Shearwaters at dusk at the isthmus penguin parade, with c30 Little Penguin in after dark.
Dec 9 Barnes Bay to look for parrots and pardalotes without success; 07.15 ferry, north to Margate, then left on Van Morey’s Rd for 10km into hills, walk left for 2km to Snug Teirs to look for Ground Parrot but failed to find exact site – Brush Bronzewing and Heathwren. To Fern Tree where spent some time on the Bower Walk looking for Bushtit before finding a pair on the main upwards track to the left of the church. Drove through Hobart to Orford on coast – 3 pairs of Fairy tern nesting on the spit with a pair of Hooded Plover; scenic route back through Sandspit River Reserve – walked nature trail in beautiful relict forest with tree ferns. Night at palacial Adelphi YHA, N Hobart after dusk on Pittwater Road near the airport for Masked Owl but no joy (other active site is Waterworks Reserve, Huon Rd, S Hobart).
Dec 10 Up at 04.50 for another trip to Snug Teirs, finding the bunch grass area this time and getting thoroughly soaked while tramping in it – no parrot but Emuwren, Flame Robin, Beautiful Firetail and Black Currawong. At Hobart, took 10.05 flight to Melbourne; Skybus to Spencer St where left bags, tram + walk to Bot Gdns – Powerful Owl at last! Bus to Deniliquin 1735-2135 from Spencer St, met by Phil Maher and taken to YHA.
Dec 11 The Phil Maher “weekend” ($A150) started at 07.00 with a couple from Mildura, 2 ladies from Melbourne and me, starting in irrigation land E of Deniliquin with 2 Oz Bittern in paddy, White-backed Swallow, then 4-6 Bittern over reedbeds, a Black-backed Bittern and a Spotless Crake; Avalon Rd then open Casuarina forest with a good selection of birds but nothing new for me. Joined by Peter Crossing, an ex-Brit from Sydney after the 13.30-15.00 lunch break, north up Cobb Hwy to Wanganella – Painted Honeyeater, Boobook, Collared Sparowhawk; Zara Station – Black-eared Cuckoo, Chestnut-crowned Babbler, White-winged Triller, Striped Honeyeater; Warwillah Road – 13 adult and 10 juv Emu, 200 Banded Lapwing, an Oz Pratincole on the nest. After dark we drove round for at least 3 hours, seeing 5 Inland Dotterel, 1 female and 2 imm. male Plains-wanderer, 1 Stubble Quail, 1 Little Buttonquail plus larks and pipits, before driving the 70km back to Deniliquin.
Dec 12 08.00-13.30 Gulpa Is. State Forest: 8 Superb Parrot over wheatfields, Western Gerygone, Gilbert’s Whistler, Diamond Firetail, then to Island Sanctuary on outskirts of Deniliquin – Azure Kingfisher but no Dollarbird. At 17.15 Phil took Peter and me to the airport via the Sewage Farm where there was a good selection of ducks including Oz Shelduck and Pink-eared but no Freckled Duck; 17.55-19.25 Horizon Airlines flight to Sydney where I was eventually collected by daughter Jo.
Dec 13 Rang Calin Air and discovered flight to Noumea, New Caledonia, was delayed from 16.30 to 22.30 so went sightseeing in Sydney and took ferry to Manley, walked to headland to sea-watch: shearwaters, Brush Wattlebird, Red-whiskered Bulbul. Nice meal with Jo in Balmain before going for the flight, which was now on time.
Dec 17 Arrived back in Sydney at 11.15, minibus to town, toured fine Bot Gardens, photoing some tame birds. Pleasant evening at Jo’s Professor’s Xmas bash, with string quartet.
Dec 18 09.00-18.00 Blue Mts with Jo – pleasant walk and scenery but no Pilotbirds or Spotted Quail-Thrush.
Dec 19 07.20-17.50 with Tony Palliser, mostly in heavy rain and strong wind. Barren Grounds NR: Eastern Bristlebird near car park, heard but failed to see Pilotbird near entrance, Black-faced Monarch, then major trek for Ground Parrot in atrocious conditions, successful after c.1 hr!! Spent some time at Catumba trying for Lewin’s Rail, then ditto at Botany Bay, succeeding at last gasp! Good flight home at 22.00 on Korean Air with 6 hour stop in Seoul where saw Naumann’s Thrush, Bull-headed Shrike, Daurian Redstart and Pallas’s Bunting.
Taxonomy, names and sequence based on Birds of the World: A Checklist by JF Clements (1991) except where indicated.
Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
5 Hattah, 2 Murray Sunset NP, 1 Trentham Station, 13 + 10 juv Deniliquin, I Gulpa Island State Forest.
Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
1 Lake Lorne, 2 Melbourne Bot. Gardens, 1 Deniliquin.
Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus
Common SW Victoria, 12 Deniliquin.
Little Penguin Eudyptula minor
30 Bruny Island.
Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris
100s Bruny Island, 5 Sydney/ Manley.
Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia
A few Cape Bruny.
Australian Gannet Morus serrator
1 Airey’s Inlet, 4 Bruny Island.
Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Locally fairly common in Victoria, common Deniliquin.
Black-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens
3 Point Lonsdale, 8 Bruny Island.
Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius
Fairly common SW Victoria, 2 Orford.
Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
A few SW Victoria
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
A few SW Victoria, Melbourne and Bruny Island.
Australian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
2 Melbourne, 1Deniliquin.
Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
A few SW Victoria, 10 Deniliquin.
Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni
50+ Deniliquin.
Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis
2 + 3 juv Lake Lorne.
Musk Duck Biziura lobata
4 SW Victoria, 6 north Victoria, 3 north of Hobart, 1 Deniliquin SF.
Black Swan Cygnus atratus
Fairly common throughout.
Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae
5 Lake Lorne.
Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides
A few Southwest Victoria, 1 Deniliquin SF.
Maned Duck Chenonetta jubata
100 Hattah, 20+ Trentham Station and a few elsewhere.
Grey Teal Anas gracilis
Small numbers throughout.
Chestnut Teal Anas castanea
A few SW Victoria and Deniliquin, 4 Bruny Island.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
2 Bruny Island, overlooked elsewhere.
Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
Fairly common locally throughout.
Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus
2 + 5 juv N Vic, 2 pairs Deniliquin area.
White-eyed Duck Aythya australis
2 Southwest Victoria, 5 Melbourne BG, 2-4 Deniliquin area.
White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae
A few throughout but common around Deniliquin.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
1 SW Victoria.
Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia
2 Deniliquin at 2 sites.
Great Egret Ardea alba
A few SW Victoria and Deniliquin.
Pacific Heron Ardea pacifica
2 singles north Victoria but common around Deniliquin.
Rufous Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus
4 Deniliquin.
Black-backed Bittern Ixobrychus novaezelandiae
1 Deniliquin.
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus
6+ Deniliquin.
Australian Ibis Threskiornis molucca
Fairly common throughout Victoria and NSW.
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
Fairly common throughout Victoria and Deniliquin.
Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
A few Southwest Victoria, 1 north Victoria, 2 Deniliquin .
Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes
3 north Victoria, 1 Hattah, 10 Deniliquin.
Australian Kite Elanus axillaris
1 Southwest Victoria and near Barren Grounds, 2 Deniliquin.
Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura
1 Rushworth.
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Up to 8 throughout north Victoria and Deniliquin area.
Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus
3 north Victoria, 1 Deniliquin.
White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Singles Melbourne, Bruny Island and over Gulpa Island State Forest.
Swamp Harrier Circus approximans
2-4 daily except N Vic. And Rushworth.
Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis
Singles SW Victoria and Hattah.
Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus
Singles north Victoria, Rushworth and Bruny Island.
Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus
2 Deniliquin, 1 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax
1 Southwest Victoria, north Victoria and Deniliquin, 2 Bruny Island and Gulpa Island State Forest.
Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides
Singles Trentham Station and Deniliquin.
Brown Falcon Falco berigora
Up to 5 most days.
Australian Kestrel Falco cenchroides
Up to 5 daily in Vic, only 1 Deniliquin.
Australian Hobby Falco longipennis
1 Deniliquin.
Black Falcon Falco subniger
2 Murray Sunset NP.
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
1 Deniliquin.
Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata
2 Ouyen.
Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis
1 Deniliquin.
Painted Buttonquail Turnix varia
1 Rushworth.
Little Buttonquail Turnix velox
1 Deniliquin.
Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
1 SW Victoria.
Lewin's Rail Rallus pectoralis
1 Botany Bay.
Australian Crake Porzana fluminea
Singles Pt Henry (Geelong), Bendigo SF and Deniliquin.
Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis
2 Deniliquin.
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
A few Victoria, 1 Bruny Island, common Deniliquin.
Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
A few throughout Victoria and NSW.
Black-tailed Native-hen Gallinula ventralis
7 Bendigo SF, 1 Deniliquin.
Tasmanian Native-hen Gallinula mortierii
Common Bruny Island.
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
A few throughout.
Brolga Grus rubicunda
2 Lake Lorne.
Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii
Singles Pt Henry and Deniliquin.
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
1 Ocean Grove, SW Victoria.
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
1 Ocean Grove, 6 Deniliquin.
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
2 Ocean Grove and Deniliquin.
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
1 Anglesea, SW Victoria.
Sanderling Calidris alba
8 Orford, Tasmania.
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
Common Ocean Grove and L. Lorne.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
6 Queenscliff.
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
A few Queenscliff.
Plains-wanderer Pedionomus torquatus
2 imm. males and 1 superb female Deniliquin.
Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
Fairly common SW Victoria and Bruny Island.
Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus
A few SW Victoria, 4 Bruny Island.
White-headed Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
Common Deniliquin.
Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
200 Geelong.
Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
50 Geelong.
Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella
1 on the nest Deniliquin.
Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus
12+ SW Victoria, 8 Orford.
Hooded Plover Charadrius rubricollis
1 pair Anglesea and Orford.
Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus
2 Bendigo SF, 20 Deniliquin.
Inland Dotterel Peltohyas australis
5 spot-lighted at Deniliquin.
Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops
A pair nesting Geelong Golf Course, 2 north Victoria and Deniliquin, 1 Bendigo SF.
Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor
1 Melbourne, 200 Deniliquin.
Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles
Fairly common throughout.
Pacific Gull Larus pacificus
5 Pt Lonsdale and Bruny Island.
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
Common on coast.
Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae
Very common on the coast.
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
20+ Southwest Victoria and L. Lorne.
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
4 SW Victoria
Great Crested-Tern Sterna bergii
1 Anglesea?, 100 Bruny Island.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
2 Queenscliff.
Little Tern Sterna albifrons
A few Queenscliff.
Fairy Tern Sterna nereis
3 pairs nesting at Orford.
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
1 Bruny Island ferry.
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Fairly common throughout Victoria and NSW.
Brown Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia phasianella
2 Barren Grounds.
Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera
1 SW Victoria and north Victoria, a few Hattah, Trentham Station and Rushworth area, 1 Bruny Island.
Brush Bronzewing Phaps elegans
Singles Angahook NP and Snug Teirs (twice).
Crested Pigeon Geophaps lophotes
Locally fairly common in Vic and NSW.
Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida
2 Murray sunset NP, 8 Deniliquin.
Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis
10 Blue Mountains.
Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii
8 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus
6 Hattah Lake.
Mallee Ringneck Barnardius barnardi
8 Murray Sunset NP, a few Trentham Station.
Green Rosella Platycercus caledonicus
Fairly common throughout Tasmania.
Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans
Fairly common SW Vic.
Yellow flaveolus form: 2 Hattah, 4 Deniliquin and 15-20 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
A few throughout.
Bluebonnet Northiella haematogaster
10-15 Murray Sunset NP, Hattah, Trentham Station and Deniliquin.
Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus
Small numbers throughout Vic and common around Deniliquin.
Mulga Parrot Psephotus varius
10 Murray Sunset NP and Trentham Station.
Blue-winged Parrot Neophema chrysostoma
A few Iron Bark Basin and N Victoria.
Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus
10+ north Victoria, 50+ Hattah, a few Fletcher’s Lake Road.
Ground Parrot Pezoporus wallicus
1 flushed at Barren Grounds – the hardest bird of the trip!
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus
6 SW Victoria and Blue Mts, 3 Bruny Island.
Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum
16 Southwest Victoria, 20 Barren Grounds.
Galah Eolophus roseicapillus
Common throughout Victoria and NSW.
Pink Cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri
40 Murray Sunset NP, 2 Trentham Station.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
Locally common SW Victoria, a few Gulpa Island State Forest.
Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris
Fairly common throughout inland Victoria and NSW.
Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus
10 north Victoria, Murray Sunset NP and Hattah, 50+ Deniliquin and several elsewhere in Vic.
Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus
Common Sydney - Barren Grounds / Blue Mts, Melbourne but apparently scarce elsewhere.
Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna
2 SW Victoria, 10 north Victoria, a few Trentham Station, Bendigo and Hobart.
Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta porphyrocephala
10+ Geelong University.
Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidus
Up to 8 daily on Tasmania, 1 Deniliquin.
Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis
1-2 Bruny Island, 1 Barren Grounds, 1 heard SW Victoria.
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus
4 heard SW Victoria.
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalis
2 Trentham Station, 1 heard SW Victoria.
Black-eared Cuckoo Chrysococcyx osculans
1 Deniliquin.
Australian Koel Eudynamys cyanocephala
1 Sydney airport.
Powerful Owl Ninox strenua
1 Melbourne Bot. Gardens.
Southern Boobook Ninox boobook
1 Deniliquin.
Australian Owlet-Nightjar Aegotheles cristatus
2 flushed from the same tree at Castles Crossing Reserve, Mildura.
Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea
1 Deniliquin park.
Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
Small numbers throughout.
Red-backed Kingfisher Todirhamphus pyrrhopygia
2 S of Mildura.
Sacred Kingfisher Todirhamphus sanctus
Singles SW Victoria, 2 Rushworth and Deniliquin, 3 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus
2 Toolangi State Forest, a few Murray Sunset NP, Hattah and Deniliquin.
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
1 Catumba.
White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaeus
4 SW Victoria daily, 2 Gulpa Island State Forest.
White-browed Treecreeper Climacteris affinis
2 Trentham Station.
Red-browed Treecreeper Climacteris erythrops
Heard Toolangi and Blue Mts.
Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus
Small numbers throughout Victoria and NSW.
Superb Lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae
1 Barren Grounds, heard Toolangi State Forest.
White-winged Fairywren Malurus leucopterus
5-6 Lake Tyrell and Deniliquin, 1 Fletcher’s Lake Road.
Superb Fairywren Malurus cyaneus
Fairly common throughout.
Splendid Fairywren Malurus splendens
6 Ouyen.
Variegated Fairywren Malurus lamberti
6 Hattah, 1 nesting in Barry’s garden Mildura, 1 Barren Grounds.
Southern Emuwren Stipiturus malachurus
2 Carlisle Heath and Snug Teirs, heard Barren Grounds.
Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus
1 Goschen Brushland Reserve.
Forty-spotted Pardalote Pardalotus quadragintus
2 Bruny Island.
Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus
1 Deniliquin.
Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus
1 Barren Grounds.
Rufous Bristlebird Dasyornis broadbenti
3 Airey’s Inlet, 1 heard Carlisle Heath.
Pilotbird Pycnoptilus floccosus
1 heard Toolangi State Forest and 3 heard Barren Grounds.
White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis
Fairly common throughout Victoria and NSW in suitable habitat.
Brown Scrubwren Sericornis humilis
Fairly common Tasmania.
Rufous Fieldwren Calamanthus campestris
1 Lake Tyrell.
Striated Fieldwren Calamanthus fuliginosus
4 Queenscliff, 1 Snug Teirs.
Chestnut-rumped Hylacola Hylacola pyrrhopygius
1 Rushworth.
Shy Hylacola Hylacola cauta
Singles Ouyen and Kamarooka State Forest.
Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides
10 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla
Common SW Victoria, Toolangi State Forest and Blue Mts.
Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis
Singles Hattah and Trentham Station.
Tasmanian Thornbill Acanthiza ewingii
Common in forest on Tasmania.
Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
A few SW Victoria, Hattah, Deniliquin and common Gulpa Island State Forest.
Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis
5-6 Trentham Station and Deniliquin.
Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana
5 Deniliquin, 2 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata
A few SW Victoria, 1 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris
A few Hattah, Rushworth and Gulpa Island State Forest.
Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca
2 Kamarooka SP and Gulpa Island State Forest.
Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis
10 Murray Sunset NP and Deniliquin, 5 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Black Honeyeater Certhionyx niger
6+ Goschen Brushland Reserve.
Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus
A pair Goschen Brushland Reserve.
Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii
1 Botany Bay.
Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops
Fairly common SW Victoria.
Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens
2 SW Victoria, common Goschen Brushland Reserve, a few Hattah, Trentham Station and Deniliquin.
White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis
Common SW Victoria, a few Rushworth.
Yellow-throated Honeyeater Lichenostomus flavicollis
A few Bruny Island.
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops
Several Rushworth.
Purple-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitius
5+ Millwood Rd, Kamarooka SP.
Fuscous Honeyeater Lichenostomus fuscus
A few Millwood Rd, Kamarooka SP.
Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus ornatus
Common Murray Sunset NP, a few Trentham Station.
White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus
Fairly common Victoria, a few Deniliquin and Gulpa Island State Forest.
White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus
Common in Victoria.
Black-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus affinis
Fairly common Bruny Island.
Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis
5 Knowsley, 2 Whipstick SP.
Strong-billed Honeyeater Melithreptus validirostris
A few Bruny Island.
Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris
1 SW Victoria, a few Kamarooka SP.
Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis
2 Deniliquin.
Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus
4 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Crescent Honeyeater Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera
1 Southwest Victoria, 2 Katoombi, 6 Bruny Island, 2 Snug Teirs, heard Blue Mts.
New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Common SW Victoria, Tasmania and Manley.
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Phylidonyris melanops
1 Goschen Brushland Reserve and Kamarooka SP.
Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata
2 Deniliquin.
Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta
2 Deniliquin.
Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
1 Bruny Island, 2 Melbourne Bot Gdns.
Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis
2 Deniliquin.
Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys
1+ Bruny Island.
Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala
A few throughout with a large roost at Hobart.
Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula
1 Goschen Brushland Reserve, 2 Murray Sunset NP, 1 Trentham Station.
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis
A few Victoria and 2 Deniliquin.
Little Wattlebird Anthochaera lunulata
1 SW Victoria, a few South of Sydney.
Brush Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera
A few Manley.
Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
Common throughout Victoria.
Yellow Wattlebird Anthochaera paradoxa
Up to 8 daily on Bruny Island.
Orange Chat Ephthianura aurifrons
20 Fletcher’s Lake Road.
Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor
2 Goschen Brushland Reserve and Trentham Station, 8 Hattah.
White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons
4-8 SW Victoria including Queenscliff, 2 Bruny Island.
Jacky-winter Microeca fascinans
Singles Hattah and Gulpa Island State Forest.
Scarlet Robin Petroica multicolor
1-2 Ironbark Basin and Beauchamp Falls.
Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii
2 Trentham Station, 1 Rushworth, 5 Deniliquin, 4 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea
4 Bruny Island, 1 Sandspit River Reserve and Snug Teirs.
Rose Robin Petroica rosea
2 heard Beauchamp Falls, 1 Katoombi.
Pink Robin Petroica rodinogaster
4 Beauchamp Falls, 1 Bruny Island and Toolangi State Forest.
Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata
3 Goschen Brushland Reserve and Trentham station, 2 Hattah.
Dusky Robin Melanodryas vittata
Up to 4 Bruny Island, 2 Van Morey’s Road en route to Snug Teirs.
Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis
Several in woodland in SW Victoria and NSW.
Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera
1 Ironbark Basin, 3 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus
1 Whipstock SP, 3 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis
2 heard Kamarooka SP, Trentham Station and Rushworth.
Olive Whistler Pachycephala olivacea
1 Bruny Island and heard Beauchamp Falls and Toolangi.
Gilbert's Whistler Pachycephala inornata
1 Kamarooka SP, 2 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis
Several throughout Victoria and Tasmania.
Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris
Common Ironbark Basin and a few in woodland elsewhere.
Grey Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla harmonica
1 or 2 in woodland throughout.
Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis
Deniliquin, 10 Gulpa Island State Forest.
White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus
Several Goschen Brushland Reserve, Murray Sunset NP, Rushworth and Gulpa Island State Forest.
Chestnut-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus ruficeps
1 Murray Sunset NP, 4 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus
A few heard Barren Grounds.
Chestnut Quail-thrush Cinclosoma castanotus
1 Hattah and a probable Ouyen.
White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos
20 north Victoria, common Trentham Station and Toolangi, 6 Deniliquin and Gulpa Island State Forest.
Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea
5+ Trentham Station and Deniliquin.
Willie-wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
Fairly common throughout Vic. And NSW.
Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa
Fairly common SW Victoria, a few Bruny Island, 3 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons
1 Barren Grounds.
Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsis
1 Barren Grounds.
Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula
I heard Gulpa Island State Forest.
Satin Flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca
3 Ironbark Basin and Beauchamp Falls.
Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta
1 heard Ironbark Basin.
Australian Raven Corvus coronoides
A few north Victoria and Deniliquin, common Sydney area.
Little Raven Corvus mellori
Common in Victoria, a few Deniliquin.
Forest Raven Corvus tasmanicus
1 Southwest Victoria, common on Tasmania.
White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
2 north Victoria, 8 Deniliquin.
Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus
2+ Goschen Brushland Reserve, 10+ Hattah and a few Trentham Station.
White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus
200 Goschen Brushland Reserve, 300 Hattah, 50+ Trentham Station, 4 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus
1 Ironbark Basin, 2 Rushworth and Bruny Island, 4 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus
Singles Hattah and Fern Tree.
Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
Scattered singles southwest Victoria, Trentham Station and Gulpa Island State Forest, 2 Deniliquin.
Australasian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
Fairly common throughout.
Pied Currawong Strepera graculina
1 SW Victoria, a few Sydney area.
Black Currawong Strepera fuliginosa
2 twice Bruny Island and near Snug Teirs.
Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor
2 SW Victoria and Rushworth, 4 north Victoria and Toolangi State Forest.
Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca
Fairly common throughout.
Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus
1 Rushworth.
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae
Up to 5 most days.
White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor
1 Goschen Brushland Reserve, 2 Deniliquin, 4 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Olive-tailed Thrush Zoothera lunulata
Singles Bruny Island and Beauchamp Falls.
Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula
Locally common throughout.
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Locally common throughout.
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Common south Victoria and Sydney.
White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosternus
4 Lake Tyrell at dusk, 1 Hattah and Deniliquin.
Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
Common in Vic and fairly common NSW.
Tree Martin Hirundo nigricans
Singles SW Victoria and Hattah, common Bruny Island, a few Gulpa Island State Forest.
Fairy Martin Hirundo ariel
1 SW Victoria, 20+ Goschen Brushland Reserve.
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
1 Manley.
Silver-eye Zosterops lateralis
Fairly common Victoria and Bruny Island, a few Gulpa Island State Forest.
Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis
Common SW Victoria.
Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis
A few Deniliquin, I heard Southwest Victoria, 1 Catumba, NSW.
Little Grassbird Megalurus gramineus
A few heard Deniliquin.
Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis
3 Hattah, 1Trentham Station, 4 Deniliquin.
Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi
3+ Lake Eppalock, 4 Deniliquin, 2 Gulpa Island State Forest.
Australasian Bushlark Mirafra javanica
1 southwest Victoria, 2 Deniliquin.
Sky Lark Alauda arvensis
Common southern Victoria.
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Common near habitation throughout.
Beautiful Firetail Stagonopleura bella
Singles Bruny Island and Snug Teirs, Tasmania
Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata
Singles Kamarooka SP and Gulpa Island State Forest.
Red-browed Firetail Neochmia temporalis
3-6 SW Victoria, 2 Barren Grounds
Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata
3 Deniliquin.
Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
A few throughout.
Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum
2 Deniliquin.
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
A few SW Victoria and Bruny Island.
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Common SW Victoria and Bruny Island.
Short-nosed Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus 1 Bruny Island, Tasmania
Western Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus Several in Victoria
Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus A few throughout
Red-necked (Bennett’s) Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus Several Bruny Is.
Red Kangaroo Macropus rufus A few near Deniliquin
Fat-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata 1 while spotlighting near Deniliquin
Grey-headed Flying-Fox Pteropus poliocephalus Common in Melbourne and Sydney Botanical Gardens