Birrarung Park Before Iso

A few weeks ago, when it looked like we were heading for some kind of lockdown, I took my chance to go out birding while I still could.

I decided on Birrarung Park. I hadn't been there for ages but I used to visit a lot when I first started birding - I saw my first Mistletoebird, Olive-backed Oriole, White-winged Triller and my one and only Song Thrush there.

It was overcast, gloomy weather - stand-by for some fuzzy pictures! Also, there was only one car in the carpark when I arrived so it seemed good for social distancing.

bush bird potential

After a check around the carpark for Tawny Frogmouths, I headed up the gravel track that leads off the main asphalt path around the park. It follows the river bank and has a bit of bush on either side. It seemed very quiet for birds - but a one lone Red-browed Finch was nice!

It's also good to check the power lines along here, but nothing too interesting this time.

I've seen Dusky Woodswallows here before

I scanned the paddocks way over on the other side with my binoculars and found some macropod friends were out for breakfast.

Eastern Grey Kangaroos - from a great distance!

I went down to the riverbank to the spot where I once saw a platypus. Some ripples coming from the very edge of the river bank turned out to be a Little Pied Cormorant.

it posed nicely on a branch for me - as did that piece of rubbish :( 

2019 5MR Challenge Catch-up + Wrap-up

So we're 4 months into the new year and I'm just now checking in with my 2019 5MR total... oops! It is a bit overdue, but first: a catch-up of the last few months of the challenge!

After my success at Wilson Reserve and Yarra Bend Park during the colder months, and the bonus Eurasian Tree Sparrow, I didn't expect to be able to add many more species to my list before the end of the year. I did however have a rather optimistic idea of seeing a 5MR platypus so did a few hopeful stakeouts along the Yarra once the days got longer.

platypus potential?

I didn't see any platypus but this did lead to me being able to add a few more final birds. On one evening visit to Bolin Bolin Billabong in October, a Fan-tailed Cuckoo was calling loudly. It proved a bit hard to locate despite its persistent calls but we finally found it - I think my first of the season and for sure my first for 2019 in the 5MR.

On a walk around the inside of the billabong that evening we also came across a Tiger Snake sunbathing on the side of the track just ahead of us.

only have a cropped phone pic - sorry :(