Last month we visited the always wonderful Melbourne Treatment Plant at Werribee.

Despite being cool and very windy, plus early rain, we had a great day and saw masses of birds…43 species.

Braving the elements

An early highlight was sighting two Glossy Ibis. Later in the day it was the turn of a pair of Brolgas which we saw three times…or six different Brolgas!. These elegant birds with wind-ruffled feathers, half dancing along the sand banks were such a delight to see.

Brolgas

In between times we saw masses of mainly waterbirds, but were not able to identify any rarities.

Sharp-tailed Sandpipers

We followed a different route from usual, though with about 200 kms of roads there are lots of choices, and stayed mostly near the sea.

At lunch time we found a second bird hide which most of us had never seen before. After a cursory look at nearby birds we hunkered down inside, enjoying a respite from the wind.

Lunch

After lunch we were really disappointed to find that the large flock of about 100 splendid Avocets had all flown, and we did not see them anywhere else.

However a small colony of Jewel spiders sheltering in a corner of the hide passageway surprised us with their complex web structure. At the base of their dense combined cobweb they had suspended a small stone, presumably to help stabilise the web in the wind… and what a testament to the strength and versatility of spider silk.

Jewel Spider

Below are all the birds identified on this walk:

1. Black Swan
2. Australian Shelduck
3. Australian Shoveler
4. Pacific Black Duck
5. Gray Teal
6. Chestnut Teal
7. Hoary-headed Grebe
8. Eurasian Coot
9. Australasian Swamphen
10. Brolga
11. Pied Stilt
12. Red-necked Avocet
13. Pied Oystercatcher
14. Masked Lapwing
15. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
16. Curlew Sandpiper
17. Red-necked Stint
18. Marsh Sandpiper
19. Silver Gull
20. Little Pied Cormorant
21. Little Black Cormorant
22. Australian Pelican
23. Great Egret
24. White-faced Heron
25. Little Egret
26. Glossy Ibis
27. Australian Ibis
28. Straw-necked Ibis
29. Royal Spoonbill
30. Yellow-billed Spoonbill
31. Little Eagle
32. Wedge-tailed Eagle
33. Swamp Harrier
34. Superb Fairywren
35. White-fronted Chat
36. Crow/Raven sp.
37. Fairy Martin
38. Little Grassbird
39. Silver-eye
40. European Starling
41. House Sparrow
42. Zebra Finch
43. Bar-tailed Godwit

Ellinor Campbell

Photos by Alison and Phil Watson