Although unseasonal weather suppressed bird activity during this survey, leading to a lower than usual species count, there were some interesting observations. The number of Welcome Swallows is significantly higher than all recent surveys since February 2024 with an estimated 80 counted. Moreover, half the male Superb Fairy-wrens counted were blue, most of which would be young males supporting a family group. This indicates favorable habitat conditions no doubt due to abundant food such as insects and other invertebrates. These young males rapidly revert to brown ‘eclipse’ plumage when conditions become harder with less food available.

Water levels in both main lakes are very high. From observations on the large freshwater lake both grebe species have indicated breeding intentions but cannot find anywhere suitable for nesting due to the rising water level covering almost all the protruding grass stumps and other semi submerged vegetation. The images below nicely capture the grebes and their behavior in response to these conditions.

The male Powerful Owl, first seen in the June survey and last seen on 21 November appears to be continuing its presence in the park. It is reassuring to have an image of a Common Ringtail Possum with two young in a drey, indicating that Westgate Park’s possum population is breeding thus providing a reliable supply of food for the Powerful Owl.

Clearing the HWT site next door has encouraged an increased number of Noisy Miners to move in, but they remain confined to the park’s boundary with that site. The planned data centre however, reportedly proposed to be eight stories high, could be detrimental for bird activity in the north-east corner of the park. Currently the site usually hosts a big population of Silver Gulls.

Today’s survey took place in poor weather although the rain held off. However, general rains and accidental flows over the last six weeks have filled both major water bodies. The greater depth discourages several water bird species and there are few mudflats for waders such as dotterels. These are the main factors responsible for the somewhat smaller bird tally than usual. However, frogs are back in numbers.

On the other hand, thanks especially to Ursula’s observational skills, the number of additional sightings is as encouraging as ever. A highlight is the appearance of a White-browed Wood Swallow, a first for the Park, and a recent visit by a Barn Owl.

The September photo gallery below shows that this has been an outstanding month for bird observations in Westgate Park. However, what started as an unpromising October day, concluded with a near ‘personal-best’ figure for the Westgate survey team. The last time we recorded a higher count was in October 2024, with 61 species observed in one day and 14 additional opportunistic sightings over the last month, totaling 75 species.

Overall, 2025 has been a good year for daily species totals, with eight out of ten months recording counts of 50 or more species on the survey day. Only February and September fell short, with 45 and 46 species observed, respectively.

Highlights for today include the White-winged Triller, which occasionally ventures south from northern Victoria in the spring months, a single Eastern Rosella, two Sacred Kingfishers and a Buff-banded Rail in Railway Dam.

Recent rains have raised water levels, eliminating much of the shoreline habitat – accordingly, no dotterels were sighted this survey.

The highlight of the day was a Mistletoe-bird (above) frequenting a spray of Wiry Mistletoe growing in one of the park’s largest and oldest Black Wattle trees. (During the 5 May survey this species was heard calling.) About three years ago, Gio Fitzpatrick inoculated many of Westgate’s trees with seeds from various mistletoe species. Obviously, his efforts have been successful.

One apparent aspect of the last several surveys is the continuing and satisfying observation of smaller bird species such as Brown Thornbills, Red-browed Finches, Greenfinches and Golden Whistlers. On the other hand, the numbers of White-plumed and New Holland honeyeaters remain numerous, but somewhat reduced.

Yellow-tailed black cockatoos are appearing all over City of Port Phillip at present, eating seeds, nuts and insects, which are found by stripping bark off trees. Also of note was a pair of Fairy Martins amongst a flock of approximately 20 welcome swallows.

An irrigation line burst or water main breakdown that has been continuing for several days has resulted in significant drainage into the saltwater lake, causing subsequent increases in water levels. This needs to be attended to urgently by the responsible authority.

Recent rains have re-invigorated the park, with recent monthly surveys registering 60 bird species or more, but for today and over July the total has dropped slightly to 58. Today’s survey revealed some notable sightings including the Powerful Owl still present in the park now making it a total of two and a half months after the initial sighting on 19 May, two raptor species – a Black-shouldered Kite and Peregrine Falcon, and finally at least three Crested Tern in flight over the river feeding on small fish.

Whereas possum numbers are under pressure thanks to the presence of the Powerful Owl (or owls), it is heartening to note a reported sighting of a Rakali Hydromys chrysogaster, spotted by Mark Heath a park volunteer, and of various reptiles – this month a Weasel Skink Saproscincus mustelinus. Rakali are a beautiful aquatic rodent frequently seen in the vicinity of St Kilda pier, but have also been spotted in Albert Park Lake, Elwood Canal and Hobsons Bay foreshore from Port Melbourne to Elwood.

Two images taken in the 1980’s recently brought to our attention show what Westgate Park looked like over forty years ago – a treeless wasteland. They clearly indicate what can be achieved in three to four decades to create a natural landscape consisting of lakes and indigenous vegetation that now provides habitat for over 170 recorded bird species (still increasing!) just 5 kilometers from Melbourne’s CBD.

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.