Looking for a Long-Toed Stint

At the end of February a Long-toed Stint was spotted at Seaford Swamp by Sean Dooley and Andrew Silcocks on a Birdlife survey. I'd been hoping to see one of these little guys. I'd learnt at different wader ID things that they look like mini Sharpies - sounds cute and like a wader I could probably indentify!

That sighting was on a Wednesday, and for the rest of the week there were reports of not just one, but two LTS at the site. However reports were also that the little remaining water in the swamp was drying out quickly... eep!

Yep, pretty dry!

Luckily when I got down there the following Sunday I found that the small remnant of water was still there amongst the reeds.

a hidden oasis

Unluckily though all wading birds were all the way at the far end... 

With the binoculars the Red-kneed Dotterels were pretty obvious, and through the scope I could see quite a few Red-necked Stints. One did seem to have noticeably different plumage and when it finally ran out across the open water I could also make out the yellow legs of a Long-toed Stint - yay, lifer!

Unfortunately it was running out across the open water to go hide in the reeds on the other side with the other Stints and Dotterels.

it may or may not be in this photo

I entertained myself phonescoping Royal Spoonbills and their White Ibis friend while I waited for the waders to come out again.

Royal Spoonbill x 1

Feast of the Figs

In summer my mediocre backyard bird list gets a boost - it's fig time!

Both the Red and Little Wattlebirds that usually come for the grevillea have another food source, and are happy to add a bit (or a lot) of fruit to their diet.

an obviously red-wattled bird

But there are also some much more colourful visitors...

Hello in there!

Rainbow Lorikeets only come down into my garden when there are figs to be had even though they're always around, flying over or high up in the neighbours' trees. They can be super stealthy when they want to be creeping around after figs, but most of the time don't mind having their photo taken.

Diamond Dove!

Back in early February two Diamond Doves were spotted at a dam in the Kamarooka section of the Greater Bendigo National Park.  I've been lucky to see these lovely little doves in north-west Western Australia but they aren't so common in Victoria.

Many successful stake-outs at the dam suggested that the doves were hanging around, and up to three individuals had been seen by some birders. It seemed like a great chance to see these little guys again - and much closer to home this time. Hello, Bendigo birding trip!

Crusoe Reservoir

Actually, it wasn't just a birding trip.  I dropped a non-birder and his MTB off in Harcourt to ride the rest of the way so I couldn't head straight up to the dam in Kamarooka.  But that's ok - there's Crusoe Reservoir!

View from the start of my walk...things looking pretty dry!

I'd always found Crusoe to be very birdy, but this time it was much quieter.  Perhaps it was the forecast 34 degrees, or maybe there wasn't enough flowering to bring in the number of honeyeaters I've seen on previous visits.

Unfortunately I didn't see any of these little Yellow-footed cuties either.

Out West

Last weekend I was hoping to catch up with some Rainbow Bee-eaters in the You Yangs before they left for the season. It was pretty cool and overcast, not overly birdy, and after a while I thought I must have been too late.

Hovells Creek in the Western Plantation

Luckily, just I was walking back to the car I heard the call and briefly saw a small group of Bee-eaters flying overhead.  They were more silhouette than rainbow, but I guess that counts as successful?  And I did see a few other things too, I guess.

Next was nearby Serendip Sanctuary for lunch. With their captive birds, the resulting freeloaders, and wetlands with hides, there was some pretty reliable birdiness to be had there.

speaking of freeloaders

On the Wildlife Walk we found Australian White Ibis, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and a Magpie Goose in the Brolga enclosure.

the Magpie Goose was in a tree

this Brolga preened and ignored

And then on to the birdhide!

Little + Red

So my backyard is not really very birdy.  I don't have a very big yard list, but what I do have is a grevillea.  And therefore I have Wattlebirds - they love that sweet nectary goodness!

Red Wattlebird

Mmm, nectar!

The grevillea is very conveniently just outside my kitchen window so lately I've been keeping my little secondhand Canon SX50 handy in the kitchen to see what I can capture.

Apollo Bay Birding

A kinda spontaneous pre-Christmas trip meant last weekend I ended up in Apollo Bay with a non-birder. But of course I had packed my binoculars and done a little eBird research...

No, you are not getting a chip.

Not sure you can call it birding, but the first stop along the Great Ocean Road on Friday night was Anglesea for some non-fish fish and chips. The local Silver Gulls greeted us and our dinner at the foreshore park and there were also some nice Crested Terns and a few Pacific Gulls. 

Towards town

The next morning in Apollo Bay we wandered down the beach from the caravan park to check things out and saw a few birds. Nearing the mouth of Wild Dog Creek we came across the local Hooded Plovers. There were at least four that we could see. Hopefully they have a successful nesting season!

Little Bittern!

Back in October, like many Melbourne birders, I spent some time standing around a reedy pond in an industrial estate in Braeside.  And then obviously took a while to post about it...

Anyway, an Australian Little Bittern wasn't being as skulky as usual so was getting quite a few visitors. Luckily, when I went to have a look I didn't have to wait too long for the female bird to show herself and I had great views of her preening and enjoying a bit of sun before she snuck back into the reeds.  And yes! There was phonescoping!