Birds of Prey at Mary Glen.

The most birds of prey we have encountered so far during our Bird Trails surveys was at Mary Glen, a working cattle property in the Mary Valley. Seventy three species of birds were recorded during our stay, including Black-shouldered Kite, Spotted Harrier, a new species for me, Whistling Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brown Goshawk, and we heard a Barn Owl calling during the night.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

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Waiting Game.

Went out to Lake Alford the other day to see what photos I could get of the local bird life. Spotted this Pied Cormorant in among some White Ibis, and you would not believe it, the White Ibis kept walking and standing in front of the Cormorant just when I was about to take the photo. After much talking, with me saying to the Ibis " just move a bit more to the right keep going I can still see you look it's getting hot just move it will you", I was able to get this photo. 

Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius)

You can see the tail end of the Ibis to the right.

Click on photo to enlarge.
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Phillip Island Cont.

As we wandered along one of the boardwalks of Phillip Island, we saw this Kelp Gull in the distance. 

This post is for Wild Bird Wednesday

  Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus)

When we reached one of the lookouts we saw this pair of Pacific Gulls on a rocky outcrop.

 Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor)

This Little Penguin was taken on the mainland at St Kilda.

On Phillip Island we were lucky enough to see one in its burrow, they have a Penguin Parade at sunset. Go to the link below to read more about the penguins, and the relocation of people and their homes from the penguin breeding grounds, these being given back to the penguins. This was made as a TV series.

 http://www.360degreefilms.com.au/assets/files/penguin-island-presskit.pdf

The water looked clear, cold, and rough.

Phillip Island coastline

Seal Rocks

Mangrove Walk Rhyll Inlet

Some of the vegetation beside the boardwalk.

The end of the boardwalk were the water channels through the mangroves

Phillip Island Victoria

This post is for Wild Bird Wednesday
As we were driving around Phillip Island we came across these Cape Barren Geese at one of the roundabouts.
Click on photos to enlarge.

Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae)

These Cape Barren Geese were at the Phillip Island Nature Park. 

After we left here we went to Rhyll Inlet and the Mangrove Walk where in the early 1980's there was a captive breeding programme for Cape Barren Geese and Magpie Geese to build up numbers after a decline. The remains of the enclosure are still there.

As the above photo shows, the programme has been successful as this one had 5 chicks in the wild.

Click on the link and scroll down to the Autumn Seasonal Walk article for more information on this area. 

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~piconsoc/newsletter206.htm 

  

Part of the coast line of Phillip Island

The Nobbies with a sea fog 

The Nobbies after the fog lifted

More of the coast line