Dave's Hill, Winton Wetlands, Chesney Vale Hills

It has been very humid and raining of late, still I thought I'd brave the weather and head out this morning to Dave's Hill and the Winton Wetlands. It was quite dull and windy, especially at the Winton Wetlands but I still managed to see some good birds.

Dave's Hill near Thoona is a mixture of grassland, granitic woodland with Blakley's Red Gum and creek woodland with Grey Box. It alwaus has quite a good mix of species.Just after I arrived I noticed quite a few White-throated Needletails over Mt Meg. The humid and tropical conditions this week mean great conditions for this species. There were approximately 120 in the flock. Other interesting sightings here were 2 Rainbow Bee-eaters, the reliable Southern Whiteface, Red-capped Robin, and lots (10) Diamond Firetails. Three Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoos were also a surprise. Red-browed Finches were here too. 47 species here.

Next stop was the Land for Wildlife Swamp along the Glenrowan-Boweya Rd. Australian White Ibis were breeding here last year and a few nests were left. Also interesting to see breeding were Little Black Cormorant and White-necked Heron, with three young. It has been a great season for White-necked Herons. Three Cockatiels along the road also great to see.



I moved onto Lake Mokoan/Winton Wetlands (above) and stopped at the duck pond, on the north east side of the wetlands first. Straight away I noticed a cloud of Needletails overhead. Over 200 birds, great numbers and a spectacular sight. It was very windy at the duck pond but I did notice Darters with a nest and many Stubble Quail were calling. A Black Kite was also noticed along the Lake Mokoan Rd (below) where it is regularly seen.



I headed off nest to the boat ramp area which was quite windy as well with showers coming over, which you can see below. A White-bellied Sea-Eagle was breifly seen, a single Pink-eared Duck, White-breasted Woodswallows, Golden-headed Cisticolas, Peregrine Falcons (which I had a good morning for, also at Dave's Hill) and a Brown Quail calling were highlights. The wetlands are still very full and with the rain so far this week, and more forecast, it will only stay that way.





Finally made my way up into the low hills behind the Winton Wetlands to the Chesney Vale Block of the Mt Meg Nature Conservation Reserve (same reserve as Dave's Hill, but abouyt 5km to the south west). I have known of this site for a while but have not really explored it till a few months ago. It's a great little spot for bush birds and today with no exception with Painted Button-quail, Turquoise Parrot, Speckled Warbler, Western Gerygone, Buff-rumped Thonrbill and Red-capped Robin some highlights.

100 species exactly for the day. A great mix of bushland and wetland species.
It is pouring with rain outside now so I think I made it home just in time.