​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

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 

​"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

Our final birdwatching outing for the year was to the Broken River Natural Features Reserve on Thursday 14 November. Ten of us made the short trip from Benalla, and enjoyed visiting what was a new spot for many. There were a lot of birds in this reserve, with its mix of Grey Box and Red Gum trees. We had close views of a flock of Buff-rumped Thornbills on a large stump, and above them a group of Varied Sittellas working their way along the branches of an adjacent tree. A pair of Leaden Flycatchers were taking turns sitting on their nest in a large Grey Box, while several male White-winged Trillers were seen by most in our group. We then headed to the river bank for morning tea, while finding some different birds in this area. Someone noticed 2 Rainbow Bee-eaters on the embankment across the river. Stunning birds in the sunshine.  A pair of Australian Reed-warblers perched on a dead branch in front of us, while a Sacred Kingfisher dived for fish in the river. We eventually located the Dollarbird that was calling from a tall perch.

It was a lovely morning with 30 bird species recorded. The list can be viewed on eBird at https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S61697061
​
Kathy Costello