Our final activity for 2020 was held on Thursday 12 November, when our group of 6 visited the Broken River Natural Features Reserve for a morning walk. This small reserve close to Benalla supports a good variety of native birds. The vegetation is a mix of large Grey Box trees, River Red Gums, understorey shrubs, plus grassland and of course the Broken River.
We had good views of White-throated Treecreepers and a Varied Sittella. Both these birds probe the bark on eucalypt tree for insects. The treecreepers usually work their way up the tree trunk, while the smaller sittellas start high and work down the tree. The raucous screeches of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos made it hard to hear other birds. We did see Australian King-Parrot, plus Eastern and Crimson Rosellas, and had good views of several Olive-backed Orioles, a new bird for our list for this reserve. Also seen were Brown-headed Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote, a male Rufous Whistler singing from a high branch, and a Black Duck which flew out of a hollow in a River Red Gum.
We recorded 33 bird species for the morning. Our bird list can be viewed on eBird.
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S76173519
Andie pointed out a patch of native Blue Devil plants (Eryngium ovinum) which are easily mistaken for thistles.
We had no luck tracking down any Scarlet Honeyeaters which are rare spring visitors to northern Victoria. But one of our members had a very brief visit of a Regent Honeyeater to her bird bath several weeks ago. That’s an even rarer bird in Benalla.
Our morning walk was followed by a most enjoyable morning tea at Green n Grow Garden Centre.
On a sad note, our thoughts are with Rupe Cheetham on the recent loss of his wife Gwen after a long illness. Rupe has been a regular member of the Birdwatching group since it started.
Kathy Costello
We had good views of White-throated Treecreepers and a Varied Sittella. Both these birds probe the bark on eucalypt tree for insects. The treecreepers usually work their way up the tree trunk, while the smaller sittellas start high and work down the tree. The raucous screeches of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos made it hard to hear other birds. We did see Australian King-Parrot, plus Eastern and Crimson Rosellas, and had good views of several Olive-backed Orioles, a new bird for our list for this reserve. Also seen were Brown-headed Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote, a male Rufous Whistler singing from a high branch, and a Black Duck which flew out of a hollow in a River Red Gum.
We recorded 33 bird species for the morning. Our bird list can be viewed on eBird.
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S76173519
Andie pointed out a patch of native Blue Devil plants (Eryngium ovinum) which are easily mistaken for thistles.
We had no luck tracking down any Scarlet Honeyeaters which are rare spring visitors to northern Victoria. But one of our members had a very brief visit of a Regent Honeyeater to her bird bath several weeks ago. That’s an even rarer bird in Benalla.
Our morning walk was followed by a most enjoyable morning tea at Green n Grow Garden Centre.
On a sad note, our thoughts are with Rupe Cheetham on the recent loss of his wife Gwen after a long illness. Rupe has been a regular member of the Birdwatching group since it started.
Kathy Costello
"Bird-watching in the Broken River Reserve. There were plenty to be be heard, and a good few seen. A lovely outing, and a little more knowledge might have soaked in for some of us..."
Photographs by Andi Stevenson
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