Birding the RBG

Usually when I go birding on the weekend I'm getting away from the city. But a couple of weeks ago I did the opposite and caught an early tram in to towards the CBD. My mission was to explore another place I'd never birded - the Royal Botanic Gardens.

morning view from Birrarung Marr

I started at Birrarung Marr where there was nothing too unexpected. Lots of Eurasian Coots, Silver Gulls, and Noisy Miners harassing most other birds not in the water.

corella and Eureka Tower

Crossing Princes Bridge a solo Long-billed Corella called from on top of a street light. And in keeping with the usual corella modus operandi of greatly annoying people, this one was sitting just outside my 5MR. I had Little on my 5MR list, but not Long-Billed. After a few minutes it flew off down Southbank and remained not on my 5MR list.

I continued through Alexandra Gardens and then the colourful Queen Victoria Gardens.

ooooooh pretty

I found Magpie-larks and Crested Pigeons on the lawn, and Wood Ducks, Pacific Black Ducks and a couple of Chestnut Teals in the ponds.

two of the PBDs

And I have to say that one of the most numerous birds hanging out in all this exotic, landscaped finery were the also exotic but not so fine Common Myna.

yep

Next was King's Domain. Here there were a few big eucalypts in flower and each one was full of Rainbow and Musk Lorikeets going bananas.
And then, up near the Sydney Myer Music bowl, I found some more corellas sitting on some bare branches - Long-billed again! Ten of them! And all inside the 5MR this time, hurrah! They also flew off after a bit, maybe to go find old mate from the street light.

I finally made it to the actual Botanic Gardens, or more specifically the Observatory Gate, where there was a big ball and three dalmatians.

entrance, visitor centre, gift shop, ball etc.

It was working out my 5MR that made me realise I'd never been birding at the Royal Botanic Gardens and that I probably should check it out. It is right near the city but it's a big area with regular eBird lists posted and some interesting birds reported. And a few other more unexpected things have shown up too. Plumed Whistling Ducks, anyone?

Great Egret, bonus reed

I didn't really have a plan of attack except to generally head to the lake and explore as I went. On my way I found a Great Egret in smaller pond. And arriving at the Ornamental Lake itself there were two Australasian Darters and both Little Black and Great Cormorants.

*preen preen*

In the gum trees above a patch of native vegetation, the 'Lower Yarra Habitat', Bell Miners were belling away.
I had hopes for an often-reported Little Grassbird but had to be content with more common wetland birds, and there sure were plenty of those, including Australasian Grebes, Australian Wood Ducks, heaps of Eurasian Coots and a solo Black Swan.

you can kinda see the swan in this picture

there were also lots and lots of Dusky Moorhens (although one of these is a coot)

and Australasian Swamphens ie. Dinosaurs

After a circuit of the lake, I headed back to the same entrance, made it through the St Kilda Road works and trammed it back home again.

I left the Botanic Gardens with a list of 32 species but I don't feel that total really represents their birdy potential. Could do better - I'll be back!