14 GEELONG NATURALIST Vol. 37 No.1 May 2001 
BIRD OBSERVATIONS April 2001 
-- compiled by John Bottomley 
As was the case in February we had far too many reports to publish this month, (only one sixth are listed here). The rest will be used 
in the Annual Bird Report. Highlights this month include large numbers of Pink-eared Ducks and Cape Barren Geese to the West of 
Geelong, further reports of both Spotted Harriers and Black Falcons and a good variety of waders, many in breeding plumage. Our 
winter Cattle Egrets have returned, and both Corellas and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos appear to forming the larger groups typical 
of wintertime. We continue to receive reports of Crested Pigeons and there seems little doubt that these have expanded into the 
Geelong region from their stronghold North of the Dividing Range. Orange-bellied Parrot numbers are increasing around the Lake 
Connewarre delta with twenty present in mid-month. Swifts have remained elusive this year with only one report of significant 
numbers from Anglesea. The Long Forest continues to turn up interesting sightings. This month it was Swift Parrots and a Fuscous 
Honeyeater. Keep your eyes open and the reports coming in. We use them all. 
Observations were submitted by (BAt) Bryant Attwood, (BH) Brian Hart, (CGo) Colin Goldburg, (GW) Gwendolyn Hall, (HS) Hans 
Streefkerk, (JB) John Bottomley, (JCo) Joan Cohan, (MHe) Marilyn Hewish, (MAC) Margaret Cameron, (PSt) Pat Streeflerk, (RBa) 
Ray Baverstock, (RBu) Rohan Bugg, (RMc) Rob MacKenzie, (RH) Rachel Turner, (VC) Vernon Cohan. 
Species No. Date Comments Observer 
Cape Barren Goose 116 14/2/01 40 at Lake Weering. 76 at Lake Martin. RMc, MAC 
Pink-eared Duck 120 7/3/01 Lake Modewarre. RMc 
Cattle Egret 9 7/2/01 Reedy Lake. RMc 
Yellow-billed Spoonbill 18 1/3/01 Reedy Lake. RMc 
Spotted Harrier 1 15/2/01 Laverton Lake Reserve. RBu 
2 7/3/01 Lake Modeware. One adult and one brown juvenile. RMc 
Black Falcon 2 26/2/01 Lake Corangamite. RMc, JB 
1 26/2/01 Inverleigh, 8 km west of town. RMc, JB, MAC. 
1 3/3/01  Curlewis. RMc 
1 7/3/01 Lake Modewarre. RMc 
1 15/4/01 Lara, St.Laurence Park. CGo 
Brolga 2 10/4/01 7 km north of Winchelsea. HS, PSt 
17 14/2/01 Lake Weering. RMc, MAC 
Spotless Crake 2 5/2/01 Jerringot. Also on 28/2/01. RMc 
1 23/3/01 Lara. Also 15/4/01. CGo 
Black-tailed Native-hen 1 11/10/00  Bellbrae. GW 
Black-tailed Godwit 1 14/3/01 Swan Bay. Near Duck Island. RMc 
Bar-tailed Godwit 100s. 14/3/01 Swan Bay. Near Duck Island. RMc 
Whimbrel 2 19/3/01 Swan Bay. Near Duck Island. RMc 
Great Knot 70+ 14/3/01 Swan Bay. Near Duck Island. RMc 
Red Knot 100s. 14/3/01 Swan Bay. Near Duck Island. RMc 
Banded Stilt 12,000+ 14/2/01 Lake Martin. RMc, MAC 
Pacific Golden Plover 46 14/3/01 Swan Bay. Near Duck Island. A few showing breeding plumage. RMc 
Grey Plover 22+ 14/3/01 Swan Bay. Near Duck Island. RMc 
Double-banded Plover 13 20/2/01 Lake Victoria. RMc 
12 15/3/01 Hospital Swamp. RMc 
Gull-billed Tern 1 14/2/01 Lake Martin. RMc, MAC 
Crested Pigeon 2 15/4/01 Staughton Vale Road at entrance to Anakie Gorge. MHe 
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo 28 25/3/01 Bacchus Marsh. This is a large flock for this location. MHe 
Gang Gang Cockatoo Up to 14/1/01 - Leopold. Feeding on seeds of Ironbark, Tallowood & White Cedar. RMc 
23. 20/3/01 
3+ 9/4/01 Highton. Feeding on green seed capsules of Liquid Amber. RBa 
Swift Parrot 6 28/03/01 Long Forest on Djerriwarrh Creek. RBu 
2 29/03/01 Long Forest in flowering Grey Box on Djerriwarrh creek. MHe 
Orange-bellied Parrot 3 26/3/01 L. Connewarre / Barwon River, Also 11 on 2/4 and 20 on 10/4/01. RMc, JB 
White-throated Needletail 6-8 6/3/01  Mt.Duneed - Angelsea Rd. 7pm - humid evening. RT 
100+/- 20/3/01 Anglesea. RMc 
2 24/3/01 Leopold. Flying North. RMc 
Fork-tailed Swift 1 16/3/01 Leopold. Flying South. RMc 
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren 1 15/4/01 Anglesea on No 2 Road. BH 
Speckled Warbler 1-2 24/3/01  Coimadai Creek, Oldhouse, Long Point and Sheep Tracks. MHe 
Southern Whiteface 3 1/3/01 You Yangs. RMc 
Fuscous Honeyeater 3 12/4/01 Long Forest on Coimadai Creek. Also 1 on 13/4/01 MHe 
Jacky Winter Several. 25/3/01 You Yangs. JCo, VC 
2 4/4/01 Buckleys Falls. Also one on 12/4/01. BAt 
Red-capped Robin 2 11/3/01 Long Forest on Djerriwarrah Track. (2 on 29/3/01 MHe) RBu 
Flame Robin 6 23/3/01 Ocean Grove Nature Reserve. Brown birds. BH 
1 30/3/01 Werribee, Pt Wilson Rd. male bird in full breeding plumage. JB 
4 3/4/01 Begola Wetlands. Brown birds. BH 
Dusky Woodswallow 2 25/3/01 You Yangs. JCo, VC 
Singing Bushlark 3 7/3/01 Lake Modewarre. RMc 
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