It is several years since we have walked around Lake Benalla as a group, so that is what we will do on Thursday 10th October. The lake is an excellent place for finding birds, with huge old red gums, a mid-storey of various wattles, grasses for small birds like finches, and of course the all-important water required by all our local birds. With the warmer weather, we will meet half an hour earlier, at 9am at the carpark behind the Seniors and Community Centre.

Kathy Costello

​Our September outing was to Reef Hills State Park, on the southern edge of Benalla. Although the morning was sunny, there was a cold wind blowing, so we had to work hard to identify birds in the waving branches. We moved to a more sheltered area and started seeing a few more birds. They’re not silly.

​Our birding highlight was a pair of Varied Sittellas; thanks Brian for spotting them. Unlike the treecreepers which move up a tree probing the bark for insects, the smaller sittellas land high in the branches and work their way down the bark. Other birds seen included a pair of Rufous Whistlers, Brown Thornbills, Grey Shrike-thrush, White-winged Choughs, Grey Fantails and several honeyeaters. We looked hard for a Mistletoebird which was calling above us, but failed to locate it. All up 14 species recorded.

​We then drove to the nearby Broken River Natural Features Reserve, and found some different birds near the river. It was nice to see and hear a pair of Western Gerygones here. These small birds are nearly all summer breeding migrants to our area. Another summer migrant, the Australian Reed-Warbler, had also arrived and was calling from the reedbeds where it nests. We had good views of a pair of Striated Pardalotes in a dead tree near the river – they nest in small hollows – while a Black-Faced Cuckoo-shrike flew down river. Eight species recorded here.

​Our eBird checklist for  

• Reef Hills  https://ebird.org/checklist/S196197393
• Broken River Natural Features Reserve  https://ebird.org/checklist/S196198143

 
Kathy Costello

We had planned to walk the Seven Creeks track at Euroa for our outing on 8th August, but at the last minute we ended up at the Euroa Arboretum instead. And what a great decision that turned out to be. Although it was cold and cloudy, the birds and plants made the visit a pleasure.

There were two bird highlights: Swift Parrots and Diamond Firetails.

We had a small flock of Swift Parrots in trees along the track to the nursery. These fast-flying endangered birds breed in Tasmania over summer, and fly to the mainland for the winter, following flowering eucalypts as far as SE Queensland if necessary in their search for food. The Diamond Firetails have been breeding at the Arboretum for several years. They like to feed on the seeds of native grasses and can find suitable nesting sites in spiky native shrubs. Andie did well to get photos of both species.

We also had great views of Spotted Pardalotes and Yellow Thornbills beside the large dam near the entrance. A flock of 25 Straw-necked Ibis circled overhead, while Red Wattlebirds and White-plumed Honeyeaters were common. All up, 22 species were recorded.

The Birdwatching group will resume from a winter break with a trip to Euroa on Thursday 8th August. We will walk the southern section of the track beside Seven Creeks, starting from the carpark in Foy Street around the corner from the Seven Creeks Hotel. The walk is about 3.5 kilometres, and provides suitable habitat for a good range of bird species. If the weather co-operates, we can look forward to a pleasant morning walk on a well-maintained track. There is one steep section to an elevated bridge at the southern end.
 
Please meet at the car park behind the Benalla Seniors and Community Centre at 9.30am. Bring any food and drink you need for the walk, and bring binoculars if you have them.
 
Kathy Costello
0447 625755

The Birdwatching group visited Shadforth Reserve at Violet Town on Thursday 9th May 2024. Nine members enjoyed the morning in this reserve which has an impressive  variety of trees, shrubs and native grasses. We admired some massive Yellow Gum and Grey Box trees.

A highlight of the morning was watching a group of Grey-crowned Babblers feeding quietly on the ground. They are listed as threatened in Victoria, and Violet Town is a good place to observe them.

We had excellent views of a Black-shouldered Kite perched at the top of a dead tree. These raptors are more often seen in our area when there are mice around.

Several groups of Musk Lorikeets were glimpsed flying and feeding in the reserve. Not many trees were flowering and honeyeaters were few. We also observed several White-faced Herons flying overhead, a flock of White-winged Choughs and several Grey Fantails.

​We only had time to investigate the eastern end of the reserve, before heading into town for morning tea.

We then visited the gallery next to the café where one of our members, Helen Ogilbee, had an art exhibition through May. A variety of paintings and some beautiful Batiks were much admired.

The Birdwatching group will have a break over winter. After consulting members, we will add an extra outing in semester 2, starting on 8th August, instead of resuming in September.  

Thanks Andi Stevenson for the photos of Grey-crowned Babbler and Black-shouldered Kite in the Newsletter and the wonderful collection above and on the U3A Benalla Facebook Page.

Attached is a link to the eBird checklist for the birds seen at Shadforth Reserve:
​
https://ebird.org/checklist/S176869936
​

Kathy Costello

The group visited Winton Wetlands on Thursday 11th April. It was a clear sunny morning, which gave us great views of the main wetland and a range of waterbirds at the Boat Ramp on Lake Mokoan Road. With the help of a telescope, we were able to identify 16 different waterbirds. There were plenty of Black Swans, Coots and Grey Teal, plus several Great Egrets, Plumed Egrets and Yellow-billed Spoonbills, while a Whistling Kite flew overhead. Helen M did well to spot a beautiful Turquoise Parrot which flew into a small eucalypt. ​Altogether we recorded 28 species for the morning. Then it was off to the Mokoan Café to enjoy coffee and cake.

​The next outing for the U3A Birdwatching group will be held on Thursday 9th May at Shadforth Reserve, Violet Town. We will meet in the car park behind the Seniors and Community Centre at 9.30am for the drive to Violet Town. Shadforth Reserve is on the northern edge of town off Shiffner Street. With a good mix of mature trees, understorey shrubs and open grassland, it is a very good birdwatching site. Please bring a hat, water and binoculars if you have them, and wear sturdy walking shoes.

Kathy Costello

​A successful first outing for the birdwatching group in 2024 was held on Thursday 14 March. We managed to fluke a mild morning for our Ovens River walk in Wangaratta. Fourteen people attended including a few new members. We recorded 21 bird species along the river; a highlight for me was a pair of Azure Kingfishers perched on a log, just above the water. They are beautiful little birds.

​The walking track has good views of the river and showcases some of the massive River Red Gums that line its banks.

Some people stayed on in Wang for shopping, and the rest of us enjoyed coffee at a nearby café.

Here is a link to the eBird list for our walk.
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S165091467

Our first outing for 2024 will be to Wangaratta, for a walk along the Ovens River. Please meet at the carpark behind the Seniors Building at 9am on Thursday 14 March. Note earlier time than advertised, in case the day is hot. We will car pool where possible for the drive to Wangaratta.
​​
The Ovens River flows through Wangaratta and provides good birding in an attractive setting along a walking track. Please bring water and whatever food you need for the morning. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Binoculars are very helpful if you have them, for identifying birds on the walk. I’m hoping we will have time for a coffee at a café after the walk.
 
Kathy Costello

Our end of year outing on 9 November was to Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve, on Old Euroa Rd, south west of Violet Town. It is a grassland reserve with patches of old eucalypts and casuarinas, a good shrub understorey in places and some depressions which fill with water after good rains. We started along a water-filled channel near the southern boundary and were pleased to see two Nankeen Night-Herons there. The heavily streaked juvenile bird landed in a red gum, where Andi got a couple of photos of it. 

​A good start to our wanderings.

We recorded 22 bird species. Here is a link to the eBird list.  https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S155008375

​On the way home we stopped at the Violet Town for a welcome coffee and a chat at the Museum Cafe.


​Kathy Costello

​On 12th October the group visited private property west of Benalla in the Upotipotpon area. We visited ‘Girral’ in 2018, and were very pleased that the owners were able to lead us again on a walk around the property. This time we walked an area with a lot of native shrubs underneath mainly Grey Box and Red Box eucalypts. We had good views of Rufous Songlarks which were calling loudly as they flew overhead, before landing in a tree. They are spring migrants from northern Australia. Some people got a glimpse of a pair of Yellow Robins and an Eastern Shrike-tit, and along the roadside was a pair of Jacky Winters. We heard Peaceful Doves calling a number of times. Mike said they used to be occasional visitors, but are now resident on the property. They are uncommon birds in our area.  Ann told us they had Grey Shrikethrushes nesting in the carport.

Helen Repacholi took this photo of a Brown Treecreeper, one of several we saw during the morning.

We recorded 23 species during our visit. Many thanks to our hosts for allowing us to visit their property.
​
Here is the link to the eBird checklist of the birds we recorded on the property
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S153015092
 
Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve
 
Our next outing on Thursday 9th November will be to Balmattum Nature Conservation Reserve, an area of grassland with wooded areas. The reserve is a few kilometres south west of Violet Town, has an impressive bird list and is a new location for our group. Please meet at 9.30am in the carpark behind the Seniors Building, bringing water and any food you need for the morning. Bring binoculars if you have them.
 
Kathy Costello

We enjoyed a fine sunny morning on 14 September, when seven of us travelled to Killawarra Forest, in the northern section of the Warby Ovens National Park. The forest has large stands of ironbark eucalypts, so is quite different from the Warby Ranges to the south.

We didn’t have to walk far to see a good variety of birds. A Shining Bronze-Cuckoo was hunting caterpillars in a Golden Wattle. It is an attractive small cuckoo, with an iridescent green back. We had good views of a pair of Jacky Winters flying overhead and perching close by. They are active grey and white flycatchers. Eastern and Crimson Rosellas and a King Parrot were also recorded. Honeyeaters present included Brown-headed and White-plumed Honeyeaters and a Noisy Friarbird. We found Wood Duck and Black Duck at a small dam on the edge of the forest, and enjoyed a display of orchids nearby.

It wasn’t until later that I identified one bird that made a number of loud calls when we first arrived at Killawarra. It was a Pacific Koel. Quite a surprise to hear it in native forest, as it has become better known as a regular summer migrant to urban areas and towns in Victoria, including Benalla. On our way back to Benalla we stopped for a very welcome late morning tea the Mokoan Café.

Spring is nearly here and the wattles are looking wonderful. It’s a lovely time for birdwatching.

We start our program for semester 2 on 14th September with a visit to Killawarra forest northwest of Wangaratta.Because of the travel involved, I would like us to meet at 9am, instead of 9.30am, at the carpark at the back of the Seniors Building.

Please bring the usual things for outdoor activities – a hat, water, binoculars if you have them and wear sturdy footwear. You may want to bring a sandwich or snack in case we do not get back to Benalla by lunchtime.

​If you are a passenger, please bring a small amount of money to pay your driver.
 
Kathy Costello
Mob 0447 625 755

The plan to run an extra outing in June unfortunately came to nothing because of wet weather. But six of the group enjoyed a get together at the gallery café instead. A very pleasant morning.
​
The birdwatching group will resume activities on Thursday 14th September. More details later. Meanwhile, keep a look out for Eastern Spinebills visiting flowering correas and camellias in winter.
 
Kathy Costello

Next outing is to Shadforth Reserve, Violet Town on Thursday 8th June
 
Shadforth Reserve is on the northern outskirts Violet Town, and supports an interesting variety of birdlife. One reason is that it contains a nice mix of grassland, some very old Grey Box and River Red Gums, a planted Community Forest and a few dams. In a past life it has been a racecourse and a golf course. One bird I am especially looking for is the Grey-crowned Babbler, a known resident of the reserve.

Please meet in the car park behind the Seniors Building at 9.30am on Thursday 8th June, for the drive to Violet Town. Wear sturdy shoes, and bring water and any food you need for the morning. I am hoping we will also have time for a coffee in Violet Town after the walk.

I was unable to run our May outing as I was enjoying a birdwatching trip to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Thanks Andi Stevenson for hosting an informal bird walk May during my absence.

This June trip to Shadforth Reserve is an extra in our program, as promised during our visit to Reef Hills in April.

​
Kathy Costello

Andi Stevenson

The Birdwatching group made the short drive to Reef Hills State Park on the southern edge of Benalla for their April outing on the 13th. This 2400 hectare park hosts a large variety of birds and is well worth a visit.

​Some Grey Box is flowering heavily at present, drawing a number of honeyeaters to feed. We spent our time birding along Wattle Road, and after a quiet start saw a good number of small birds. Many were attracted to puddles in the road.

We had great views of 2 pairs of Scarlet Robins. The males were chasing each other, perhaps in a territorial dispute.  Thanks Jim Burnell for the lovely photo of one of the Scarlet Robins.

​There were a lot of Grey Fantails, with pardalotes and thornbills often heard but difficult to see. Fuscous and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were feeding in the Grey Box blossom and a flock of Red Wattlebirds flew overhead.

​Here is the link to our list on eBird
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S134920973
 
Please note there will be no outing in May, as I will be away on a birding trip to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Instead there will be an outing on Thursday 8th June. Details to be advised.
​
Kathy Costello

Fourteen people attended our first outing for 2023 on 9th March on a mild, sunny morning. We drove to the base of Mt Samaria, then walked around the Samaria Well campground area and the along Brown Rd. A King Parrot flew past our group, then Jim found a few honeyeaters and a small flock of Varied Sittellas in a flowering eucalypt in the campground. The rest of the bush was initially quiet apart from a few calling White-throated Treecreepers. We finally started to see groups of birds on our return walk. Three Gang Gang Cockatoos and a flock of Crimson Rosellas landed nearby. Striated Thornbills and Grey Fantails were feeding in a low wattle, and an Eastern Spinebill found some nectar in a flowering mistletoe hanging low over the road. As we drove out of the campground some of us saw a Jacky Winter and Willie Wagtail on the fence of the adjacent paddock.

​Altogether 23 species were recorded. Here is the link to the bird list for the morning. https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S131254908
 
Next outing to Reef Hills State Park on Thursday 13 April.

We will meet in the car park behind the Seniors Building at our usual meeting time of 9.30am. Reef Hills is on the outskirts of Benalla and supports a variety of birdlife. The Grey Box is starting to flower and should attract a number of nectar-feeding honeyeaters and lorikeets.

Remember to wear sturdy footwear, and bring any food and drink you require for the morning.


​Kathy Costello

The U3A Birdwatching group will kick off for 2023 on Thursday 9th March with a visit to Mt Samaria.

We will drive to Mt Samaria and look for birds around the Samaria Wells campground at the base of the mountain and along the adjacent roadside. The area has a lovely mixed forest, with the chance of finding some cooler country birds we don’t see in the Benalla area.

Meet in the car park at the rear of the Seniors building at 9.00am.  Note this is half an hour earlier than our usual meeting time. It’s worth making the most of the cooler mornings at this time of year.

Please wear sturdy shoes and bring a water bottle and any food you need for the morning. If you have binoculars, they will add greatly to your birdwatching experience.


Kathy Costello 
Mobile 0447 625755

Nine people were able to attend our extra outing in December, with a bird walk at Winton Wetlands on Thursday 1 December, followed by lunch at the Mokoan Hub café. We spent a warm sunny morning birding around the boat ramp area not far from the café. A few people were surprised to see water part way up the boat ramp. There is certainly a lot of water at the wetlands at present.

I did not expect to see many waterbirds, telling the group that the birds have half of Australia to choose from at present so could be anywhere.

To my surprise we actually did quite well with waterbird sightings. We had excellent views of groups of White-necked Herons and Australian White Ibis, plus two White-faced Herons and a Yellow-billed Spoonbill, all close to shore. There were a few ducks; Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck and a pair of Hardhead, plus 2 different cormorants. And we saw one Black Swan. Brown Quail were calling loudly in the long grass near the boat ramp, but they stayed well hidden, as did the calling Little Grassbird. We had good views of Sacred Kingfishers and Red-rumped Parrots.

​​We recorded 28 bird species on our walk. Here is a link to the eBird list:              
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S123583827

​Other animals seen were Grey Kangaroos and a Black Wallaby. We were surprised to see a large Eastern Bearded Dragon in the middle of the walking track. This reptile is listed as Vulnerable in Victoria, so we were lucky to see one.

We had an excellent birdwatching outing to Nason Springs, on Taminick Gap Road in the southern Warbys, on 10 November. In the first 15 minutes we had views of four raptors: pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles, a Whistling Kite, a Little Eagle and a Brown Falcon. This is a great area to view raptors as they fly above the hills. When they had all disappeared from view, the woodland birds appeared along the track beside the gully. It was a day for black and white birds. In addition to Australian Magpies, Magpie-larks and Willie Wagtails, we had lovely views of 2 of our rarer black and white woodland birds: Restless Flycatcher and a male Hooded Robin. Then a beautiful small finch, the Diamond Firetail, landed nearby. We walked a little way up the hill for eye-level views of a tiny female Mistletoebird. Attached photo by Andie Stevenson. Other birds of note included Rainbow Bee-eater, Brown Treecreeper, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and Red-rumped Parrot. All up we recorded 26 bird species for the morning.

Here is the link to the bird list on the eBird website: https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S122324294


Kathy Costello

​Unfortunately our October outing to the northern part of the Warby Ranges was cancelled due to wet weather. It’s hard to plan outdoor activities with any confidence during our soggy spring!  Let’s hope we have some fine weather for our last activity for this year. 

​In October, we will travel to the northern part of the Warby Ranges for a forest walk. After plenty of rain, the forest in springtime is looking a picture, with lots of wildflowers and plentiful birdlife.

Meet as usual in the carpark behind the Seniors building at 9.30am. Bring any food and drink you require for the morning, wear sturdy shoes and a hat. Binoculars if you have them will add to your ability to identify birds in the field.
 
Kathy Costello

After wet weather caused the cancellation of this outing in May and again in September, we arranged a later date in September which six people were able to attend.  It was overcast on Wednesday 21 September but we stayed dry, and enjoyed a stroll along a quiet bush road, enjoying the birdlife and a good variety of native roadside plants in flower.

We recorded 21 bird species, the highlight being a Diamond Firetail which perched on an overhead wire. This beautiful small finch is not common in our area, so we were lucky to see one.

The dull light made bird identification difficult in the roadside trees, but we did see several White-browed Treecreepers, Grey Fantails, Kookaburras, Eastern Rosellas, a Striated Pardalote and a few too many Noisy Miners.  

​Here is the direct link to the eBird list - https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S119435911

Have you noticed the Sacred Kingfishers have arrived back at Lake Benalla. They are summer breeding migrants to southern Australia, and start arriving in our area in late September. Listen for their loud kek kek kek kek calls, as they look for a partner and a suitable tree hollow for nesting.

Kathy Costello

Following a rainy day on Thursday 8th September and my request for suggestions for a replacement birdwatching outing in September, the date that suits most people is Wednesday 21 September.  Apologies to those of you who cannot attend that day.
 
We’ll try again to get to the Moorngag area for a morning walk. Meet at the Seniors building carpark at 9.30am. As usual, wear sturdy walking shoes, carry water and bring any food you require for the morning. Binoculars will add greatly to your ability to view and identify birds.
 
Here’s hoping for a fine day on the 21st.


Kathy