GEELONG NATURALIST Vol. 37 No. 1 
May 2001 
13 
MID-WEEK BIRD GROUP 
EXCURSION REPORT 
19 April, 2001 
...Polly Cutcliffe 
Melbourne Water Farm, Werribee. 
Kay found us an Orange-bellied 
Parrot, Craig gave us many 
identification tips, there were 
Welcome Swallows and Pink-eared 
Ducks everywhere, and we lost Ray 
(temporarily!) 
The twelve members and two 
visitors who came on the outing 
certainly had a day to remember. 
Kay took us first to the Austin Road 
Ponds. On one side of the road 
there was quite deep water with 
Swans, Shelducks, Shovelers, Pink- 
eared Ducks and Grey Teal, Hoary- 
headed Grebes; and, hugging the 
shallow edge, Black-winged Stilts. 
Craig spotted a White-winged Black 
Tern. On the other side an almost 
dried out pond had a big flock of 
Red-necked Stints (some in 
breeding plumage) sheltering 
amongst the weeds, accompanied 
by Double-banded Plovers. One 
Red-capped Plover was sighted. At 
this stage Ray (who had missed the 
turn-off) arrived, having used his 
ingenuity and some guesswork to 
find us. 
A short drive around the pond 
revealed two Nankeen Kestrels 
‘buzzing’ something in a boxthorn. 
After a minute or two of concerted 
effort, they put up a Brown Falcon. 
Greenshanks heard ‘tew tew-ing’ 
were eventually spotted. 
We then crossed to the Spit area. 
Lined up on the Spit were Chestnut 
Teal, Pied Oystercatchers, Crested 
Terns, Silver Gulls, Pelicans, 
Cormorants and a flock of Fairy 
Terns (identified by Craig by the 
pale edges to the primaries). 
At the turn into Beach Road on the 
way to Kirks Point, there was a flock 
of Red-rumped Parrots and two 
quite exhausted. We had ample 
time to study the identifying 
features before it took off again. 
It was high tide at Kirks Point, but 
the cormorants were still finding a 
footing on the rocks — a good 
opportunity to compare Pied and 
Little Pied Cormorants. Way out 
in the bay Craig spotted two Arctic 
Jaegers. 
After a tea break, Kay had to 
leave for a dental appointment, 
but the rest of us decided to 
continue on to Paradise Road and 
Lake Borrie. 
Paradise Road added Cattle 
Egret, Red-browed Finch, Purple 
Swamphen, Red-necked Avocet 
and Banded Stilt to the list. Many 
of the species we had already 
seen were also there in great 
numbers. 
At Lake Borrie we had wonderful 
views through the ‘scopes of the 
Pink-eared Ducks; and the 
perching Australasian Shovelers 
showed off their bright orange 
legs to perfection. Once again, 
many other species present. Just 
as we were packing up, a 
Peregrine Falcon put in an 
appearance, bringing our raptor 
total to seven (others not already 
mentioned were Whistling and 
Black-shouldered Kites, Swamp 
Harrier and Australian Hobby). 
Our total for the day was 65 
species. This is a wonderful bird- 
watching area; we are very lucky 
in Geelong to have it so 
accessible, and a permit for two 
years still costs only $20.00. 
Many thanks to Kay Campbell for 
once again acting as leader and 
getting us through the gates; and 
to Craig Morley for his expertise 
and patient assistance with 
identification. 
NEXT MID-WEEK BIRD 
GROUP EXCURSION 
Thursday, 17 May 
SPECIAL MIDWEEK BIRD 
GROUP OUTING 
Thursday 3 May, 2001 
Blue Circle Southern Cement, 
Waurn Ponds. 
Hans and Pat Streefkerk are 
members of the Community Liaison 
Committee at the cement works. 
One of the issues receiving input 
from this group is the Environment 
Improvement Plan, which is 
intended to include such things as 
rabbit and fox control, weed control, 
revegetation of the quarry wall area, 
protection of the Peregrine Falcons, 
which next under the conveyor belt, 
and best use of the area including 
the settling ponds which attract 
considerable birdlife — so we are 
told. 
The cement works is at present 
employing an agronomist on a part 
time basis to co-ordinate this Plan 
and they are very keen to have input 
from the Field Naturalists in areas 
such as bird lists and revegetation 
advice. This extra outing is intended 
to make a start on the birdlist and 
obtain an overall idea of the property 
and the possible value of the settling 
ponds as a wetland area. This 
needs to start as soon as possible 
while they have their agronomist to 
show us around. It sounds as if it 
may be a very interesting area, 
which is not normally open to public 
access. 
If you would like to take advantage 
of this opportunity, or to have some 
input, meet at Waurn Ponds 
Shopping Centre, behind Green 
Grub Nursery, at 8.30 am or at the 
Blue Circle entrance gate in 
Reservoir Road at 8.50 am. Finish 
about 12 midday. Bring morning 
tea. 
Enquiries: Pat Steefkerk 5264 5235 
or Polly Cutcliffe 5244 0182 e 
NEXT BIRD GROUP 
MEETING 
Crested Pigeons. Almost to Kirks 
Point, Kay flushed what she thought 
was an Orange-bellied Parrot. 
There was much searching of the 
vegetation until it was spotted — 
sitting in the middle of the road! It 
was a young bird and appeared 
Meet at Corio Village Shopping Centre 15 May, 2001 
(southwest corner) at 8.30 am, or at 
the carpark near Geelong Grammar, 
adjacent to the Yacht Club toilets, at 
8.50 am. Finish about 12.30 pm. 
Bring morning tea. 
Enquiries: Polly Cutcliffe 5244 0182 
Paul MacDonald will 
be speaking on Brown 
Falcons. 
