7 July bird survey

With cold weather in the offing, the surveyors expected a modest result, but in fact were very pleased. There are large numbers of waterfowl in the freshwater lake, and far more than usual along the saltwater shoreline. Despite the advent of rain, both major bodies are still low, but have not declined to the minima of earlier periods. Significant sightings today include a Whistling Kite flying over the park, Collared Sparrowhawk, Pied Oystercatcher in flight over the Yarra River and a Darter beside the Yarra River. Chestnut and Grey Teal are present in higher than usual numbers on both major lakes

We hope to deal with the Red Fox, which is most likely the culprit to have killed half a dozen cygnets. The single surviving cygnet was last photographed on 6 June by Ursula and has not been sighted since. Work is underway on re-creating native grassland close to where the railway passed under Westgate Bridge. We have never seen birds on that particular triangular patch, until now when Willie Wagtails have frequented the site, feeding around the upturned soil.

It appears that the two Powerful Owls, first a female seen on 19 May followed by a male that was recorded during the 2 June survey are both still in the park. They have been seen regularly throughout June, but only on one day, 9 th June both, a female and a male were seen in two separate trees not too far apart. On all the other days only one of them was seen. The male has been more frequently sighted (six times) on June 6, 9, 11, 16, 18 and July 2. On two of those days the male had prey under his foot, a Magpie Lark on the 11 th and a Ringtail Possum on the 16th . The female was recorded twice on 9 th June with a Ringtail Possum under her foot, and again on 28 th June.

In addition to the Powerful Owls other significant records for June are two raptors, a Brown Goshawk and Black-shouldered Kite, Buff-banded Rail, Royal Spoonbill, White-necked Heron and a Rufous Whistler. Of interest were numbers way higher than usual of House Sparrows at 150+ on 28 th June and Chestnut Teal at 110 on 2 nd July.