A very wet Saturday morning turned into perfect weather (with almost no rain) to explore Torquay reserves.

We started at Grass Tree Park where the Emu-wrens eluded us again but we did find 20 species of birds and some interesting plants.

Impressive Mistletoe

Fungi

The highlight was a White Goshawk which turned into two Goshawks and we followed them as they moved around the central area.

White Goshawk

We hope they are a pair thinking of nesting.

… On to Rice Reserve in Horseshoe Bend Rd where we were delighted with a group of Flame Robins, with the brilliant reds of the males against the grey day.

Finally a quick visit to nearby Dan’s Reserve, where the 3 Darters resting on dead trees over the water were a nice finish to a lovely birding morning.

Dan's Reserve

We identified a total of 32 species for the morning:

Rice Reserve

1. Black Swan
2. Grey Teal
3. Little Corella
4. Crimson Rosella
5. Red-rumped Parrot
6. Superb Fairy-wren
7. Red Wattlebird
8. White-plumed Honeyeater
9. Australian Magpie
10. Grey Shrikethrush
11. Willie Wagtail
12. Little Raven
13. Flame Robin
14. Welcome Swallow
15. Silvereye
16. Red-browed Finch

 

Grass Tree Park

1. Australian White Ibis
2. Grey Goshawk
3. Masked Lapwing
4. Galah
5. Crimson Rosella
6. Superb Fairy-wren
7. Eastern Spinebill
8. Yellow-faced Honeyeater
9. Red Wattlebird
10. White-plumed Honeyeater
11. New Holland Honeyeater
12. Spotted Pardalote
13. White-browed Scrubwren
14. Grey Butcherbird
15. Australian Magpie
16. Grey Shrikethrush
17. Magpie-lark
18. Little Raven
19. Silvereye
20. Common Myna

 

Dans Reserve

1. Australasian Darter
2. Whistling Kite
3. Australasian Swamphen
4. Dusky Moorhen
5. Red-rumped Parrot
6. Superb Fairy-wren
7. New Holland Honeyeater
8. Welcome Swallow

Alison Watson