I made two visits to the Royal Botanical Gardens during my stay, and on both occasions I was rewarded with some fantastic birds. Introduced species are certainly a major part of Melbourne's avifauna, and in the gardens, Spotted Doves, Feral Pigeons, House Sparrows, Common Starlings, Common Blackbirds and of course Common Mynas were abundant. Along with these, an Australian introduction, the Long-billed Corella, was also seen.
Common Blackbirds. Their melodic singing was ubiquitous around the gardens and in combination with the miserable grey and rainy weather, certainly reminded me of the UK!
Another European introduction, the Common Starling.
And an Asian introduction, probably Melbourne's most common bird, the Common Myna.
Native passerines were also present in fantastic numbers, not least the raucous Red and Little Wattlebirds, while Bell Miners seemed to be jingling from every bit of vegetation. The loud roaring of Sulpur-crested Cockatoos and screeching of Rainbow Lorikeets were regular overhead, while Laughing Kookaburras giggled, Pied Currawongs and Willie Wagtails whistled and Little Ravens cawed. It really was incredibly loud! The undoubted passerine highlight, however, was hearing, and later seeing, my first-ever Pacific Koel, a very skulking member of the Cuckoo family. It took over 45 minutes of standing under the tree from which it was calling for it to finally reveal itself!
Pacific Koel at Melbourne's Royal Botanical Gardens, a very pleasing lifer for me!
Other passerines seen included White-browed Scrubwrens, stunning Eastern Spinebills, Brown Thornbills, Grey Fantails, abundant Magpie-Larks, Noisy Miners and Welcome Swallows and singles of Grey Butcherbird and Australian Reed Warbler. I also saw several White-plumed Honeyeaters nearby along the Yarra River walkway.
With numerous ponds, waterbirds are also a feature of the gardens. Silver Gulls, Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants are abundant, along with many Eurasian Coots, Dusky Moorhens and Australasian Swamphens.
Australasian Swamphen in the gardens
Two Australasian Swamphens with a Dusky Moorhen in front at the gardens. What magnificent, prehistoric-looking birds to have so common in the middle of a large city!
Ducks were present in fantastic numbers, especially the Pacific Black and Maned, along with Hardheads. Approximately 20 Grey Teals and two Chestnut Teals were also seen, both additions to my challenge total!
Grey Teal in Melbourne's Royal Botanical Gardens
It was incredibly pleasing to also find a Nankeen Night Heron skulking deep inside some pond-side vegetation, along with an Australian Hobby that flew rapidly overhead. What a fantastic place to have right in the centre of Melbourne!
After six days in the city, I flew to Queenstown to begin the next, very exciting stage of my adventure in a country that is incredibly close to my heart!
No comments:
Post a Comment