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It will be good to meet up for another bird watching activity

30/9/2020

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​U3A Birdwatching outing Thursday 8 October 2020

After a 2 month COVID shut down, it will be good to meet up for another birdwatching activity on Thursday morning 8 October. It was originally planned for August and can now proceed with a limit of 10 participants. We will visit the southern section of the Warby Ranges off Taminick Gap Road, just north of Glenrowan. Please meet in Glenrowan at 9.30am at the car park near the public toilets in the main street (Gladstone St). As usual bring any food and water you need for the morning, and binoculars if you have them.

We will be walking along Ridge Track, which leads to a communication tower and has wonderful views of the surrounding area. We should see some lovely spring wildflowers, and with a bit of luck maybe a Turquoise Parrot or two.

Please book with me by 6pm on Wednesday 7 October if you would like to attend. If anyone wants to drive direct to the Ridge Track carpark on Taminick Gap Road, please advise me when you book.
​
Kathy Costello
Ph 5762 5755, Mobile 0447 625755, email coskoy@bigpond.com
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Our August visit to the Warby Ranges to be rescheduled

1/8/2020

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Our birdwatching visit on Thursday 13 August to the southern section of the Warby Ranges off Taminick Gap Road, just north of Glenrowan, has been cancelled due to the introduction of Stage 3 Covid-19 restrictions.  The walk, which was to start at the track to the communication towers known as the Ridge Track, will be rescheduled after current restrictions are lifted and it is possible again to have groups of 10 participants.  Hopefully, spring wildflowers will still be in bloom and we can see Turquoise Parrots in this area.

Keep an eye on emails, the next newsletter and the website for updates.  Kathy Costello 5762 5755, Mobile 0447 625755, email coskoy@bigpond.com.
​
Kathy Costello
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Report of July outing at the inlet channel to Winton Wetlands.

27/7/2020

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​Nine people attended our walk along the bike track to Winton Wetlands 4km out of Benalla, on Thursday 11 June 2020. The weather was mild and sunny which made for a pleasant morning stroll.

There have been extensive plantings of native shrubs along the channel, and quite a few birds are making good use of this habitat – among them Superb Fairy-wrens, Grey Shrike-thrush, Red-browed Finches and Yellow-rumped Thornbills. We saw 2 Whistling Kites fly overhead, and several Australian Ravens and Little Ravens.
Andi’s photo of an Australian Raven shows its diagnostic throat hackles
Picture
​And her a photo of a Welcome Swallow allowed us to identify the Tree Martin perched near it.
Picture
Rupe explained that concrete structures along the inlet channel lower the water level as it gets closer to the Winton Wetlands. We looked at one structure which allows Kennedy Creek to flow unimpeded above the channel as it heads west towards the railway line. It was flowing strongly after good autumn rains. We walked 2.6km and recorded 25 bird species for the morning. Details on eBird list https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S71771259

​
Kathy Costello
Photographs and caption comments - Andi Stevenson
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Birdwatching in July -  a section of the bike track to Winton Wetlands, starting on Sydney Road

29/6/2020

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After a successful outing in June, there will be another birdwatching activity on Thursday morning 9 July.

Due to the latest COVID19 restrictions, the group will be limited to 10 participants. We will walk a section of the bike track to Winton Wetlands, starting on Sydney Road where runs beside the old inlet channel about 4km out of town, and before the Yarrawonga Road turnoff.

​We will meet at 10am in the car park on the left, opposite Price Road. This section of the bike track has well established native shrubs along the channel so it provides habitat for a number of native birds, and the adjacent paddocks can be a good area to see raptors.

As usual bring any food and water you need for the morning, and binoculars if you have them.
Please book with me by 6pm on Wednesday 8 July if you would like to attend.

Kathy Costello
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A surprisingly good morning of birding after weeks of lockdown

22/6/2020

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Seven people attended our outing to Winton Wetlands on Thursday 11 June 2020. We were lucky to have a mild sunny morning for our walk along part of the dam wall, near the outlet channel.

The birding was surprisingly good, even though waterbirds were few - just some Black Swans and Black Duck on one of the ponds. We saw quite a few birds in the red gum saplings below the dam wall: Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Superb Fairywren, Striated Pardalote, Yellow-rumped Thornbill and White-plumed Honeyeater.

The most surprising find was a covey of nine Brown Quail sunning themselves on the rocks of the dam wall, until we disturbed them and they flew down into the long grass below. Another good sighting was a Golden-headed Cisticola, a bird that lives in long grass or reeds in wetland areas. It is a tiny bird, about the size of a fairywren. We also recorded several Zebra Finches and 3 Black Wallabies.
​Altogether 21 bird species made it into our eBird list for the morning. 
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S70372923
It was good to enjoy a morning walk with friends after weeks of COVID19 lockdown. Five of us went on to have lunch at the recently reopened Mokoan Hub café.
Picture
Kathy Costello
Photographs:  Birding along the old dam wall at Winton Wetlands. Andrea Stevenson
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Reactivating our mothballed program--Winton Wetlands,11 June

1/6/2020

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U3A Birdwatching rescheduled to Thursday 11 June 2020.  Visit to Winton Wetlands dam wall and outlet channel.

Now that the Victorian government is allowing groups of up to 20 to gather outdoors from 1 June, it is a good opportunity to reactivate our mothballed U3A Birdwatching program.
We will travel to Winton Wetlands to look for birds around the dam wall area off Lake Mokoan Road. Because of social distancing requirements, we will not be car pooling. If you know how to get there, I suggest you drive in time to meet the group there at 9.45am. It will be a morning walk, so bring binoculars if you have them, any food and water you need for the morning, and wear sturdy shoes. Some parts of the walking track could be a little muddy.

Because the group is limited to 19 (plus leader), please book in with me by 6pm on Wednesday 10 June.

How to get there -  Drive north east through Benalla for a few kilometres and turn left into Yarrawonga Rd. Drive a few kilometres, passing Link Rd and Thales on your left. Take the right turn to Winton Wetlands, along Lake Mokoan Road. You can see the long low old dam wall across the paddocks on your right. Turn right at the first Winton Wetlands sign and wait for the group in the parking area near the road. We will then drive in convoy about a kilometre to the outlet channel, where there is parking for quite a few cars.

For those who would prefer to travel in convoy from Benalla, I will meet you at the carpark behind the Seniors building at 9.30am.

Looking forward to seeing you again, and here’s hoping for a mild sunny day.

Kathy Costello
Ph 0447 625755, email coskoy@bigpond.com
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'Our lake continues to be a treasure for birdwatching...'

25/3/2020

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Photographs:  Andrea Stevenson  Naming/comments:  Kathy Costello
24 people attended our birdwatching outing on Thursday 12 March 2020. The group enjoyed a morning stroll around the southern section of Lake Benalla. We set out from the library towards Jaycee Island and returned via the main bridge in town. We saw several Australasian Darters on our walk, and it was interesting to compare these waterbirds with the Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants which were also present on the lake. Andi Stevenson took a lovely photo of a darter drying its wings.

The group also had good views of the two treecreepers found in the woodland area, the White-throated and the Brown Treecreeper. A number of Grey Fantails were seen well as they flitted above our heads, catching insects among the wattles and red gums. The Western Gerygone remained hidden from view, although its beautiful song was oh so close.   

​Our lake continues to be a treasure for birdwatching. We recorded 32 bird species for the morning. Details can be viewed on this link to our list on the eBird website  https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S66153812

Although U3A activities have ceased until further notice, birdwatching is an enjoyable pursuit which I hope some in the group will be able to continue, without an organised outing.

Kathy Costello
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'Using binoculars makes birdwatching much more enjoyable'

14/3/2020

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Binoculars make birdwatching much more enjoyable, helping us to see the smaller birds along the track.  

​
Here is a link to a help sheet put out by Nikon on how to adjust and focus binoculars. I hope you find it helpful.
https://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/sportoptics/how_to/guide/binoculars/using/using_01.htm

If you have any questions about using binoculars, I’m happy to assist at our outings.
​
Kathy Costello
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Our first outing... a morning walk at Lake Benalla on 12 March

25/2/2020

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The birdwatching group will meet for 3 outings in semester 1, 2020. These will run on Thursdays March 12, April 9 and May 14.

Our first birdwatching outing will be a gentle stroll around part of Lake Benalla on Thursday 12 March 2020.   The lake at Benalla provides an excellent introduction to the waterbirds and bush birds of the area.

For most of our outings we meet at the car park behind the Seniors Community Building, but for this one please meet at the edge of the lake behind the library, at 9.30am.

Locations for April and May will be advised nearer the time and advertised in the monthly U3A Newsletter.  Possible places include Reef Hills State Park, Winton Wetlands or other reserves or private properties near Benalla.  
​
What to bring?  Binoculars make birdwatching much more enjoyable.  If you have binoculars please bring them. You should also wear sturdy walking shoes and a hat.  Bring a water bottle and any food you require for the morning.

Please note that if it is a day of Total Fire Ban, the activity will automatically be cancelled.

Kathy Costello
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'Our first outing - Benalla Lake - Thursday 12 March'

25/1/2020

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The birdwatching group will meet for three outings in Semester 1, 2020. These will run in March, April and May.

Our first birdwatching outing will be a morning walk at Lake Benalla on Thursday 12 March 2020. For most of our outings we meet at the car park behind the Seniors Community Building, but for this one please meet at the edge of the lake behind the library, at 9.30am.

If you have binoculars please bring them. You should also wear sturdy walking shoes and a hat. Bring a water bottle and any food you require for the morning.

Please note that if it is a day of Total Fire Ban, the activity will automatically be cancelled.
​
Convenor:   Kathy Costello
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Broken Boosey Catchment Management Network Calendars now available

3/12/2019

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I have obtained copies of the 2020 calendar just published by the Broken Boosey Catchment Management Network. Because the 2019 calendar was well received, I have again obtained a supply and have put them in the RedB4 bookshop for U3A Birdwatching participants. If you would like a copy, just ask at the bookshop.
​
Each year local people are encouraged to submit their photos of native plants, birds and other interesting animals for possible publication, and the best of them are published in this calendar.
 
For those who would like to see a list of the birds observed at our outings in September, October and November this year, I have attached the lists entered in the eBird database.
Kathy Costello
 
Mt Meg Nature Conservation Reserve, Chesneyvale Road Block
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S60882378
 
Killawarra Forest
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S60882270
 
Broken River Natural Features Reserve


​Kathy Costello
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Broken River Natural Features Reserve - a new spot for many

26/11/2019

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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
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Coming up - Broken River Natural Features Reserve - Nov 14

10/11/2019

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Greetings

We will finish our birdwatching program for 2019 at the Broken River Natural Features Reserve on Farrell Road just south of Benalla. I have visited this reserve several times recently and have been impressed by the number of birds present. A few are currently nesting.

Please meet at the Seniors Building car park at 9.30am on Thursday 14 November and bring water and any food you need for the morning. Sturdy shoes, a hat and binoculars are recommended. I hope we have time to sit by the river for morning tea, so if you have a folding chair, bring that also.

The entrance to Farrell Road is on the Midland Highway opposite Reef Hills State Park. The turnoff is on the left about a kilometre past the freeway entrance.

Kathy
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October - "We found lots of birds enjoying the springtime"!

25/10/2019

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Nine people attended our trip to the Mt Meg Nature Conservation Reserve on Chesney Vale Road on 9 October 2019. The reserve is located in the Chesney hills overlooking Winton Wetlands. It was a lovely spring morning, and we enjoyed watching the bird activity all around us, as well as the spring wildflowers.

​Three Rufous Whistlers constantly called and chased each other. We observed 2 pairs of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, several Grey Fantails and later a Striated Pardalote, all feeding on insects in the canopy. A colourful male Mistletoebird perched in the sun and was admired by everyone. We did well to find a pair of Western Gerygones, small grey warblers with a beautiful song. It was also good to see several spring migrants from northern Australia; 2 male White-winged Trillers and a pair of Sacred Kingfishers.
Photographs - Andrea Stevenson
The walk into the reserve led to Lawford’s Hill. We only followed the track part of the way, but a few people were interested in making another visit to explore this lovely reserve a little further. Most of the group then headed to the nearby Mokoan Hub café for lunch and a coffee.

Our full bird list can be viewed on eBird at https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S60882378

Next outing Thursday 14 November 2019
​

We will make a morning visit to the natural features reserve on the Broken River, off Farrell Road just south of Benalla. Please meet at the car park behind the Seniors’ building at 9.30am. You will need a hat and sturdy footwear, a water bottle and binoculars if you have them.
​

Kathy Costello
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Coming up. Chesney Vale--coffee/lunch at the Hub Cafe anyone?

10/10/2019

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We will make a morning visit to a small bushland reserve on Chesney Vale Road near Winton Wetlands, next Thursday 10 October. Please meet at the car park behind the Seniors building at 9.30am. You will need water, sunscreen, a hat, sturdy shoes and binoculars if you have them.

Would you like to go to the Winton Hub Café for a coffee afterwards, or maybe lunch?? Please let me know if you are interested.

 Kathy Costello
 0447 625755
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September - Killawarra Forest

28/9/2019

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Eight members of our bird watching group made an enjoyable visit to Killawarra Forest at the northern end of the Warby Ranges on 12 September. Instead of our usual morning outing, this time we each brought lunch to make the most of a lovely place for spring bird watching. As we approached the forest, a magnificent Wedge-tailed Eagle flew up from the roadside, carrying a small rabbit. It flew across the road in front of us, then dropped its prey as it was pursued by a magpie.
 
Our best sighting in the forest was a pair of Hooded Robins flying around Irishtown Track. This is a declining woodland bird that is disappearing from places it has been found in the past. We had good looks at a Pallid Cuckoo calling from high in a dead tree, and were surprised to see a pelican flying over the forest. Some of the other birds we saw included Jacky Winter, Grey Fantail, Rufous Whistler, Dusky Woodswallow and a flock of 18 White-winged Choughs. There were also good numbers of honeyeaters and thornbills which are always a challenge to observe. We also saw a few Leopard Orchids, Pink Fingers and Blue Fingers while walking at the old oval. At one point we were looking for babblers, and someone (was it Bev?) described us as a group of Grey-crowned Babblers. Much laughter.
Picture
​Photo Andrea Stevenson
Next outing Thursday 10 October 2019 to Chesney Hills
 
This will be a morning visit to a reserve off Chesney Vale Road. Please meet in the car park behind the seniors building at 9.30am, bringing water and any food you need for the morning. As usual, sturdy shoes, a sun hat and sunscreen are advised.
 
Kathy Costello
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'A visit to the lovely Killawarra section of the Warbys' - Bev

16/9/2019

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"Thursday's U3A Bird Watching Group visited the lovely Killawarra section of the Warbys. Knowledgeable leader Kathy's keen eyes spotted many birds our eyes missed, and she identified those we couldn't see just by their calls. Early wildflowers underneath golden wattles in full bloom also provided pleasant viewing.

One sudden clap of thunder early in the morning was followed by a perfect day. We even fitted in lunch under the trees, before another 
round of bird watching at The Oval clearing. Thanks Kathy for an enjoyable day's outing."
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*P.S. Thanks to Rupert for teaching us a new dance...the Ants Nest Hip Hop.


Bev Thornell 
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August - U3A Goulburn Valley birdwatchers visit to Reef Hills

2/9/2019

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​Report of visit by Goulburn Valley U3A Bird-watching group to Reef Hills State Park on Wednesday 21 August 2019.

Six members of our Benalla Bird-watching group joined the visitors from the GV U3A, on a visit to Reef Hills. We spent a mild, sunny morning in the south west corner of the park. There was a lot of bird activity here, as a number of White Box trees were flowering, attracting a number of honeyeaters and lorikeets. As we walked along the track we came across a number of smaller bush birds, such as wrens, thornbills, treecreepers and sittellas. Most people headed off about lunch time, but some of us also visited a drier part of the park in Wattle Road, finding a few more birds in that area. It was good to have a chance to chat with another group like ours. Perhaps we can arrange another joint activity sometime in the future.

Here is the link to the bird list for the day, compiled by GV group leader Don Roberts. 31 bird species were recorded.       https://ebird.org/australia/view/checklist/S59168734
​

Kathy Costello
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Coming up on Thursday 12 September - Killawarra Forest

2/9/2019

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​On Thursday 12 September 2019, we will visit Killawarra Forest, a box ironbark forest in the northern section of the Warby-Ovens National Park.

Please meet at 9.30am in the car park behind the Seniors building. Killawarra is a great place to visit in springtime, with lots of bird activity and a lovely display of wattles and other native shrubs. For this reason, we will stay and have lunch in the forest, so bring your lunch and a folding chair if you have one.

​Kathy Costello
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​Goulburn Valley U3A Birdwatching group to visit Benalla

30/7/2019

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Goulburn Valley U3A Birdwatching Group, based in Shepparton, will visit Benalla on Wednesday 21 August 2019. They will spend most of the day at Reef Hills State Park on the southern edge of Benalla. Our Benalla U3A Bird-watching group has been invited to join them for the morning, and to stay on for lunch and beyond if interested. I will accompany the group for their visit, and bring my own lunch and a chair. If you would like to join our GV visitors, please meet at the Rose Gardens near Weary Dunlop at 10am.

Our own bird-watching program resumes on Thursday 12 September, with two more outings in October and November. Details will be provided in the September newsletter.
​
Kathy Costello
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Birdwatching in May - Reef Hills State Park

12/5/2019

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Our trip in 9th May to Reef Hills on the southern outskirts of Benalla was the final outing for our group this semester. Eight of us, rugged up on a cold, cloudy day, headed to the south west area of the park around Baines and Centre Roads. Red Wattlebirds were present in large numbers, feeding in a few flowering eucalypts and keeping smaller honeyeaters at bay. We had good views of two groups of White-browed Babblers as they crossed the road in front of us. It was much easier than craning our necks looking for small birds in the tree tops in poor light. We finally left the Wattlebirds behind, locating several Yellow-tufted and White-naped Honeyeaters in the canopy, as well as two beautiful male Golden Whistlers. Thanks to those who brought some home-made slices for an enjoyable morning tea to finish the outing.

Details of the 13 bird species recorded at Reef Hills can be viewed on the eBird web site at https://ebird.org/australia/view/checklist/S56645504
Photos Margaret Walshe
U3A Bird-watching will take a winter break, resuming on Thursday 12 September, with 2 more outings in October and November. We have also been invited to join the Goulburn Valley U3A Bird-watching group which will visit Benalla on Wednesday 21 August. More details later.

​

Kathy Costello
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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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March - Lake Benalla, 'a drought refuge for birds over summer'

24/3/2019

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Fourteen participants attended our outing on 14 March, enjoying a leisurely walk around the southern half of Lake Benalla. The lake has been a drought refuge for birds over our very hot and dry summer, and we were pleased to record 32 different species for the morning.  There were a lot of small bush birds around the bridge on to Jaycee Island, including Spotted and Striated Pardalotes, Red-browed Finches, White-browed Scrubwren, White-browed Treecreeper and a good number of Superb Fairy-wrens. And there was the beautiful Azure Kingfisher which flashed past under the bridge and quickly disappeared downstream. 
​Thanks Margaret Walshe for the photos. For a complete list of the birds recorded, please see our eBird list at https://ebird.org/australia/view/checklist/S54160519

Next outing Thursday 11 April 2019 to Euroa. 

Please note we will not be able to do the planned walk along Holland’s Creek via Willis Little Drive. Instead we make a morning visit Euroa, looking over the fence for water birds at the water treatment plant, then going to the nearby Euroa arboretum.

We will meet as usual in the car park behind the Seniors Building in Benalla at 9.30am on Thursday 11 April. Please wear comfortable footwear and bring binoculars and any food and drink you require. The arboretum will be open for native plant sales when we visit.

​Kathy Costello
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March 14 - 'a walk around Lake Benalla's southern section'

7/3/2019

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Our first activity for 2019 will be on Thursday 14 March. I only recently found out I had written the wrong date on the hand out on U3A enrolment day, so 7 March is wrong. Apologies for the confusion. Our walks will be on the second Thursday in March, April and May.
 
Please meet in the car park behind the Seniors Building at 9.30am, for a morning walk around the southern section of Lake Benalla, which includes Jaycee Island. The lake track provides an excellent introduction to the birds of our region, because it supports a good variety of water birds and bush birds. Please bring a water bottle and any food you require. You will enjoy the walk more if you have binoculars and comfortable shoes.
​
Please note that the walk will be automatically cancelled if it is a day of Total Fire Ban.
 
Kathy Costello
Mobile 0447 625755
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November's enjoyable and productive visit to Glenrowan West

25/11/2018

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​Visit to Glenrowan West Thursday 8 November 2018
 
Our final activity for the year was a visit to Pauline and Brent’s property at Glenrowan West, on a cool but sunny morning. Pauline led us to the bushland area of the property on a steep hillside, then to a dam with mature eucalypts and wattles providing shelter for birds coming in to drink and bathe, before we returned to the house to admire the views and enjoy a shared outdoor lunch.
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Honeyeaters were a feature of the visit, with 8 species recorded. The best of them was a male Black Honeyeater feeding near the dam. This tiny bird is a rare visitor from inland Australia, perhaps driven south by drought conditions there. Others included Fuscous, Yellow-tufted, Yellow-faced, Brown-headed and White-plumed Honeyeaters. Of interest also were White-winged Trillers and White-browed and Masked Woodswallows feeding on the ground in a paddock and perched along a fence. We had good views of a pair of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes and an Echidna. Smaller bush birds such as Weebills, Buff-rumped Thornbills and White-throated Gerygones were more difficult to observe. There were also plenty of birds around the house with bottlebrushes and grevilleas in flower.
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Thanks to our hosts for a most enjoyable morning.  An impressive 39 bird species were recorded. Thanks to Andrea Stevenson for providing the photos!

Kathy Costello

Bird List - Minjara at Glenrowan West - November 9 2018
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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

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    Kathy Costello 5762 5755 Mobile 0447625755
    coskoy@bigpond.com

    Meeting Times

    2nd Thursday 9.30am to 12 noon

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

    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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    Birds Of Benalla
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    How To Use Binoculars
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    Mt Meg Reserve
    Notes For Participants
    Pangarang Track
    Private Property Visits
    Rare Sightings
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    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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