U3A Benalla and District Inc.
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April - Our Outing to Euroa

13/4/2019

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Picture
Photograph: Andi Stevenson (Pink-eared Ducks (the stripy ones) with several Pacific Black Duck & Grey Teal).

10 of our group made the trip to Euroa on a mild autumn morning. As we looked into the Euroa Water Treatment ponds, we saw good numbers of ducks, including Australasian Shoveler, a threatened species in Victoria, and Pink-eared Duck which has a lovely striped body. Also seen were several Hoary-headed Grebe, a pair of Chestnut Teal, and a few Black Duck and Grey Teal. An adjacent pond had 17 Black-fronted Plover on the mudflats. Details of birds recorded at the plant can be viewed on the eBird web site at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55195784

We then headed to the Euroa Arboretum just across the road, where the very dry conditions meant few birds were seen. A White-faced Heron was seen well beside the dam, and a few Red Wattlebirds, Eastern and Crimson Rosellas flew past us. A Grey Fantail was also seen well. Some of us then bought a few plants from the Arboretum nursery. The Arboretum bird list can be viewed on eBird at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55195449
Photographs: Margaret Walshe
Our next outing will be to Reef Hills State Park on the outskirts of Benalla, on Thursday 9th May 2019.  We will meet at the Seniors Building car park at 9.30am for a morning walk. We will visit an area of the park that is closed to vehicle access from June to November.

Please wear sturdy shoes and bring your binoculars and any food or drink you require for the morning. A folding chair would also be useful as we plan to spend time watching birds visit one of the dams in the park.
​​Kathy Costello
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Euroa Arboretum, Seven Creeks walking track followed by a welcome hot meal by the fire at the Seven Creeks Hotel

25/6/2018

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​U3A Bird watching group finally made it to Euroa on Thursday 31 May, after our planned outing earlier in May was cancelled due to bad weather.

The Euroa Arboretum is located south of the town, between the freeway and the old Hume Highway. Although we had fine weather, there was a cold southerly wind, so our group of seven headed for the Arboretum nursery to check out the plants for sale. They have an impressive range of local native plants propagated mainly from seed collected in the area. After we loaded our purchases into our vehicles, we then went looking for birds. Good numbers of Superb Fairy-wrens live in the grounds and were easy to see. Not so the other little birds. We had a fleeting glimpse of 2 Weebills, Australia’s smallest bird, and heard a Grey Shrike-thrush. Several Red Wattlebirds and White-plumed Honeyeaters were also seen, but it was a good day for bush birds to shelter from the wind.

Our next stop was at the Seven Creeks walking track. We started our walk near the Euroa caravan park, and headed south towards the freeway, enjoying the sunny, sheltered conditions. Best birds here were a male Golden Whistler, a Crimson Rosella and good views of a flock of Striated Thornbills feeding at eye level beside the track. They are usually in the tree tops. In the bird field guide, we compared Weebills and Striated Thornbills, and came away with a better knowledge of two of our smallest bush birds.

We then headed to Seven Creeks Hotel for a welcome hot meal in front of a warm fire, and so ended U3A Bird watching activities for Semester 1.

U3A Bird watching resumes on Thursday 13 September 2018.
​
Kathy Costello
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    Birdwatching

    If you would like to know more about birds in the Benalla district and would appreciate help in identifying birds, this group could be for you.  The program involves mainly morning walks in local habitats rich in a range of bird life such as Reef Hills, Winton Wetland and Benalla Lake.  There may also be an all day outing to a more distant location.  Bring along a pair of binoculars to gain more value and enjoyment from this activity.  ​

    Convenor and contact details

    Picture
    Kathy Costello 5762 5755 Mobile 0447625755
    coskoy@bigpond.com
    Photographs -  Andi Stevenson

    Meeting Times

    Six meetings:
    Semester 1 - March, April and May.  
    Semester 2 - September, October, November.

    2nd Thursday 9.30am to 12 noon

    Meet at the car park behind the Benalla Senior Citizens Community Centre. Check newsletter for times and details. 

    Please note that outing arrangements may be altered if pandemic regulations change and are automatically cancelled on days of total fire ban.

    New members

    If you are new to the birdwatching group, check out Birdwatching - Notes for Participants - you will also find a video link in the notes which may assist you to adjust your binoculars

    Outings etc....

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    Baddaginnie
    Benalla Golf Course
    Birds Of Benalla
    Broken River
    Broken River Reserve
    Chesney Vale
    Christmas Break Ups
    Course Description
    EBird List
    End Of Year Lunch
    Euroa
    Euroa Arboretum
    Glenrowan West
    Honey Suckle Creek
    How To Use Binoculars
    Killawarra Forest
    Lake Benalla
    Loombah Weir
    Mokoan Hub Cafe
    Molyullah
    Moorngag
    Mt Meg Reserve
    Nason Springs
    Notes For Participants
    Pangarang Track
    Private Property Visits
    Rare Sightings
    Reef Hills
    Reef Hills State Park
    Sam's Creek Valley
    Seven Creeks
    Upotipotpon
    Violet Town
    Warby Ranges
    Winton Wetlands

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We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay our respects to their elders - past, present and emerging.
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​Photographs - U3A members; Benalla Art Gallery website; ​Weebly 'Free' images;Travel Victoria and State Library of Victoria