Intro

Birds are a key component of many eco-systems – and being in general large and easily seen they are an important indicator of the health of the area. We are fortunate to have a large variety of birds in the NatureWest area – more than one third of Australia’s bird species have been seen at one location, whilst the region as a whole has played host to at least 330 species of bird (more than 40% of the Australian total), ranging from Australia’s smallest bird (the Weebill) to one of the largest (the Brolga) and one of the rarest (the Orange-bellied Parrot).

Many of our birds are residents, and stay in the area all year round, but others are migrants who come and go with the seasons. Their paths to us are many and varied – some spend the winter here and the summer in Tasmania (such as the Swift Parrot, although that often just passes through on its way further north), the High Country (the Flame Robin) or even New Zealand, whilst others come for the summer – either from further north in Australia or SE Asia or the Arctic! Yes, many birds – in a group called waders, which includes the Red-necked Stint – spend our winter months in the Arctic breeding and then, as the cold creeps in, fly to Australia for our summer months before heading back again to repeat the cycle.

Great places to bird include the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee (generally recognised as one of the best places to see birds in Australia, although access is by permit only), the You Yangs, Serendip Sanctuary, the Brisbane Ranges, Newport Lakes, Jawbone, Lerderderg Gorge and various remnant woodlands between Werribee and Melton.

The region is home to an active birding club – BirdLife Werribee, formerly known as the Werribee Wagtails, who run around 20 birding activities each year. In addition Hobson’s Bay and Melton Councils run birding activities, and other organisations such as the Geelong Field Nats and branches of BirdLife Australia often come to this area to go birding.

For the Ultimate Beginner's Guide, click here

Activities

We have a program of events for birders - Click here for details

Bird List

The region is home to more than 330 species of bird as listed below. This data has been compiled using eBird (formerly Eremaea), the Checklist of the birds of the Western Treatment Plant and other sources.
Photos are from BirdLife Photography and will open in a new tab/window. Descriptions are from Birds In Backyards (where available) and will also open in a new tab/window. Both of these sites are run by BirdLife Australia - Australia's main birding organisation - and we would encourage anyone interested in birds to join them.
Sighting information is from the eBird online database - for technical reasons the map covers an area bigger than the NatureWest area. Click on a marker to get details of records at that spot - the default is all sightings in the last 10 years, but you can adjust that using the screen controls. (Note that for species which have not been seen in the specified timeframe the map will be expanded to show sightings in other areas).
Note that eBird,BirdsInBackyards and BirdLifePhotography are not controlled by NatureWest and we can take no responsibility for the information on their sites.
Note that different sites use different names for some birds and some of these are given in parentheses. The birds are in what is called a "taxonomic sequence" - similar birds are grouped together in families - rather than alphabetically. Species marked as "Rare" have occurred in the area but are unlikely to be seen - some of these are normally found in other parts of Australia (where they may be quite common) whereas others come from other countries. Some birds are widespread in the area, and others have very specific habitat requirements and only occur at a few locations.

 

Stubble QuailCoturnix pectoralisPhotosSightings
Brown QuailCoturnix ypsilophoraPhotos DescriptionSightings
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusIntroduced, almost certainly extirpatedPhotos
Magpie GooseAnseranas semipalmataPhotos DescriptionSightings
Plumed Whistling DuckDendrocygna eytoniRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Cape Barren GooseCereopsis novaehollandiaePhotos DescriptionSightings
Black SwanCygnus atratusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Freckled DuckStictonetta naevosaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoidesPhotos DescriptionSightings
Pink-eared DuckMalacorhynchus membranaceusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Maned Duck (Wood Duck)Chenonetta jubataPhotos DescriptionSightings
MallardAnas platyrhynchosIntroducedPhotos DescriptionSightings
Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australasian ShovelerAnas rhynchotisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Northern ShovelerAnas clypeataRarePhotosSightings
Grey TealAnas gracilisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Chestnut TealAnas castaneaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Hardhead (White-eyed Duck)Aythya australisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Blue-billed DuckOxyura australisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Musk DuckBiziura lobataPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little Penguin (Fairy Penguin)Eudyptula minorRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Southern Giant PetrelMacronectes giganteusRarePhotosSightings
Fairy PrionPachyptila turturRarePhotosSightings
Fluttering ShearwaterPuffinus gaviaRarePhotosSightings
Hutton's ShearwaterPuffinus huttoniRarePhotosSightings
Short-tailed ShearwaterPuffinus tenuirostrisPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-faced Storm PetrelPelagodroma marinaRarePhotosSightings
Common Diving PetrelPelecanoides urinatrixRarePhotosSightings
Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiaePhotos DescriptionSightings
Hoary-headed GrebePoliocephalus poliocephalusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australian White IbisThreskiornis moluccaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Royal SpoonbillPlatalea regiaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipesPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australasian BitternBotaurus poiciloptilusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-backed Bittern (Little Bittern)Ixobrychus dubiusRarePhotosSightings
Nankeen Night HeronNycticorax caledonicusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Eastern Cattle EgretBubulcus coromandusPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-necked Heron (Pacific Heron)Ardea pacificaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Great EgretArdea albaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Intermediate EgretEgretta intermediaPhotosSightings
White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiaePhotos DescriptionSightings
Little EgretEgretta garzettaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australasian GannetMorus serratorPhotos DescriptionSightings
Brown BoobySula leucogasterRarePhotosSightings
Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucosPhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-faced CormorantPhalacrocorax fuscescensPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostrisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australian Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax variusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiaePhotos DescriptionSightings
Nankeen Kestrel (Australian Kestrel)Falco cenchroidesPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australian HobbyFalco longipennisPhotosSightings
Brown FalconFalco berigoraPhotos DescriptionSightings
Grey FalconFalco hypoleucosRarePhotosSightings
Black FalconFalco subnigerPhotos DescriptionSightings
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Eastern OspreyPandion cristatusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-breasted BuzzardHamirostra melanosternonRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-shouldered Kite (Australian Kite)Elanus axillarisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Letter-winged KiteElanus scriptusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Black KiteMilvus migransPhotos DescriptionSightings
Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurusPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-bellied Sea EagleHaliaeetus leucogasterPhotos DescriptionSightings
Swamp HarrierCircus approximansPhotos DescriptionSightings
Spotted HarrierCircus assimilisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Grey GoshawkAccipiter novaehollandiaePhotos DescriptionSightings
Brown GoshawkAccipiter fasciatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Collared SparrowhawkAccipiter cirrocephalusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audaxPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little EagleHieraaetus morphnoidesPhotos DescriptionSightings
Buff-banded RailGallirallus philippensisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Lewin's RailLewinia pectoralisPhotosSightings
Baillon's CrakePorzana pusillaPhotosSightings
Australian Crake (Spotted Crake)Porzana flumineaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Spotless CrakePorzana tabuensisPhotosSightings
Purple SwamphenPorphyrio porphyrioPhotos DescriptionSightings
Dusky MoorhenGallinula tenebrosaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-tailed NativehenTribonyx ventralisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Eurasian CootFulica atraPhotos DescriptionSightings
BrolgaGrus rubicundaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Painted ButtonquailTurnix variusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red-chested ButtonquailTurnix pyrrhothoraxRarePhotosSightings
Bush Stone-curlew (Bush Thick-knee)Burhinus grallariusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Pied OystercatcherHaematopus longirostrisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Sooty OystercatcherHaematopus fuliginosusPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-headed Stilt (Black-winged or Pied)Himantopus leucocephalusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Banded StiltCladorhynchus leucocephalusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red-necked AvocetRecurvirostra novaehollandiaePhotos DescriptionSightings
Banded LapwingVanellus tricolorPhotos DescriptionSightings
Masked LapwingVanellus milesPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red-kneed DotterelErythrogonys cinctusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulvaPhotos DescriptionSightings
American Golden PloverPluvialis dominicaRareSightings
Grey Plover (Black-bellied)Pluvialis squatarolaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red-capped PloverCharadrius ruficapillusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Double-banded PloverCharadrius bicinctusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Lesser Sand Plover (Mongolian Plover)Charadrius mongolusPhotosSightings
Greater Sand PloverCharadrius leschenaultiiPhotosSightings
Oriental PloverCharadrius veredusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Hooded Dotterel (Hooded Plover)Thinornis rubricollisRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-fronted DotterelElseyornis melanopsPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australian Painted SnipeRostratula australisRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Plains-wandererPedionomus torquatusRarePhotosSightings
Latham's Snipe (Japanese Snipe)Gallinago hardwickiiPhotos DescriptionSightings
Asian DowitcherLimnodromus semipalmatusRareSightings
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPhotosSightings
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaRarePhotosSightings
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little CurlewNumenius minutusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Eastern Curlew (Far-eastern Curlew)Numenius madagascariensisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Common GreenshankTringa nebulariaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesRarePhotosSightings
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Terek SandpiperXenus cinereusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPhotos DescriptionSightings
Grey-tailed TattlerTringa brevipesRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPhotos DescriptionSightings
Great KnotCalidris tenuirostrisPhotosSightings
Red KnotCalidris canutusPhotos DescriptionSightings
SanderlingCalidris albaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red-necked StintCalidris ruficollisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little StintCalidris minutaRarePhotosSightings
Long-toed StintCalidris subminutaPhotosSightings
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisRareSightings
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPhotosSightings
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataPhotos DescriptionSightings
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusRarePhotosSightings
Broad-billed SandpiperLimicola falcinellusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Buff-breasted SandpiperTryngites subruficollisRarePhotosSightings
RuffPhilomachus pugnaxPhotosSightings
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusRareSightings
Australian PratincoleStiltia isabellaRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Oriental PratincoleGlareola maldivarumRarePhotosSightings
Silver GullChroicocephalus novaehollandiaePhotos DescriptionSightings
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanRarePhotosSightings
Pacific GullLarus pacificusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Kelp GullLarus dominicanusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Greater Crested TernThalasseus bergiiPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little TernSternula albifronsPhotos DescriptionSightings
Fairy TernSternula nereisPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-fronted TernSterna striataRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Common TernSterna hirundoPhotos DescriptionSightings
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaRarePhotosSightings
Whiskered TernChlidonias hybridaPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-winged Tern (WW Black Tern)Chlidonias leucopterusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Black TernChlidonias nigerRareSightings
Great Skua (Brown Skua)Stercorarius skuaRarePhotosSightings
Pomarine Skua (Pomarine Jaeger)Stercorarius pomarinusRarePhotosSightings
Parasitic Jaeger (Arctic Jaeger)Stercorarius parasiticusPhotosSightings
Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)Columba liviaIntroducedPhotos DescriptionSightings
African Collared Dove (Barbary Dove)Streptopelia risoriaIntroducedPhotosSightings
Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensisIntroducedPhotos DescriptionSightings
Common BronzewingPhaps chalcopteraPhotos DescriptionSightings
Brush BronzewingPhaps elegansPhotos DescriptionSightings
Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotesPhotos DescriptionSightings
Diamond DoveGeopelia cuneataRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Peaceful DoveGeopelia placidaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Yellow-tailed Black CockatooCalyptorhynchus funereusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Gang-gang CockatooCallocephalon fimbriatumRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
GalahEolophus roseicapillaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Long-billed CorellaCacatua tenuirostrisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little CorellaCacatua sanguineaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Pink Cockatoo)Lophochroa leadbeateriRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galeritaPhotos DescriptionSightings
CockatielNymphicus hollandicusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Rainbow LorikeetTrichoglossus moluccanusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Scaly-breasted LorikeetTrichoglossus chlorolepidotusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Musk LorikeetGlossopsitta concinnaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little LorikeetGlossopsitta pusillaPhotosSightings
Purple-crowned LorikeetGlossopsitta porphyrocephalaPhotosSightings
Australian RingneckBarnardius zonariusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Crimson RosellaPlatycercus elegansPhotos DescriptionSightings
Eastern RosellaPlatycercus eximiusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red-rumped ParrotPsephotus haematonotusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Blue-winged ParrotNeophema chrysostomaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Elegant ParrotNeophema elegansRarePhotosSightings
Orange-bellied ParrotNeophema chrysogasterPhotos DescriptionSightings
Swift ParrotLathamus discolorPhotos DescriptionSightings
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australian King ParrotAlisterus scapularisRarePhotosSightings
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriDubious?Sightings
Pacific Koel (Asian, Eastern or Australian)Eudynamys orientalisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Horsfield's Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx basalisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-eared CuckooChrysococcyx osculansRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Shining Bronze CuckooChrysococcyx lucidusPhotosSightings
Pallid CuckooCacomantis pallidusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Fan-tailed CuckooCacomantis flabelliformisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Brush CuckooCacomantis variolosusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Eastern Barn OwlTyto delicatulaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Eastern Grass OwlTyto longimembrisRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Powerful OwlNinox strenuaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Barking OwlNinox connivensRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Southern BoobookNinox boobookPhotos DescriptionSightings
Tawny FrogmouthPodargus strigoidesPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-throated NightjarEurostopodus mystacalisRarePhotosSightings
Australian Owlet-nightjarAegotheles cristatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-throated NeedletailHirundapus caudacutusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Fork-tailed Swift (Pacific Swift)Apus pacificusPhotosSightings
Oriental DollarbirdEurystomus orientalisRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineaePhotos DescriptionSightings
Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red-backed KingfisherTodiramphus pyrrhopygiusRarePhotosSightings
Azure KingfisherCeyx azureusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Rainbow Bee-eaterMerops ornatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-throated TreecreeperCormobates leucophaeaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Brown TreecreeperClimacteris picumnusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Superb FairywrenMalurus cyaneusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Yellow-faced HoneyeaterLichenostomus chrysopsPhotos DescriptionSightings
Singing HoneyeaterLichenostomus virescensPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-eared HoneyeaterLichenostomus leucotisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Yellow-tufted HoneyeaterLichenostomus melanopsPhotos DescriptionSightings
Yellow-plumed HoneyeaterLichenostomus ornatusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Fuscous HoneyeaterLichenostomus fuscusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
White-plumed HoneyeaterLichenostomus penicillatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Bell MinerManorina melanophrysRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Noisy MinerManorina melanocephalaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-chinned HoneyeaterMelithreptus gularisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Brown-headed HoneyeaterMelithreptus brevirostrisPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-naped HoneyeaterMelithreptus lunatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Spiny-cheeked HoneyeaterAcanthagenys rufogularisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little WattlebirdAnthochaera chrysopteraPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red WattlebirdAnthochaera carunculataPhotos DescriptionSightings
Painted HoneyeaterGrantiella pictaRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Crescent HoneyeaterPhylidonyris pyrrhopterusPhotos DescriptionSightings
New Holland HoneyeaterPhylidonyris novaehollandiaePhotos DescriptionSightings
White-fronted HoneyeaterPurnella albifronsRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Gliciphila melanopsRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Eastern SpinebillAcanthorhynchus tenuirostrisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Black HoneyeaterSugomel nigrumRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Scarlet Myzomela (Scarlet Honeyeater)Myzomela sanguinolentaRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Orange ChatEpthianura aurifronsRarePhotosSightings
White-fronted ChatEpthianura albifronsPhotos DescriptionSightings
Spotted PardalotePardalotus punctatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Striated PardalotePardalotus striatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren (Chestnut-rumped Hylacola)Calamanthus pyrrhopygiusPhotosSightings
Striated Fieldwren (Striated Calamanthus)Calamanthus fuliginosusPhotosSightings
Speckled WarblerPyrrholaemus sagittatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-browed ScrubwrenSericornis frontalisPhotos DescriptionSightings
WeebillSmicrornis brevirostrisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Western GerygoneGerygone fuscaRarePhotosSightings
White-throated GerygoneGerygone olivaceaRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Brown ThornbillAcanthiza pusillaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Chestnut-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza uropygialisRarePhotosSightings
Buff-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza reguloidesPhotosSightings
Yellow-rumped ThornbillAcanthiza chrysorrhoaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Yellow ThornbillAcanthiza nanaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Striated ThornbillAcanthiza lineataPhotos DescriptionSightings
Southern WhitefaceAphelocephala leucopsisPhotosSightings
Grey-crowned BabblerPomatostomus temporalisRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
White-browed BabblerPomatostomus superciliosusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Spotted Quail-thrushCinclosoma punctatumPhotosSightings
Grey ButcherbirdCracticus torquatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Pied ButcherbirdCracticus nigrogularisRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicenPhotos DescriptionSightings
Pied CurrawongStrepera graculinaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Grey CurrawongStrepera versicolorPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-breasted WoodswallowArtamus leucorynchusRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Masked WoodswallowArtamus personatusPhotosSightings
White-browed WoodswallowArtamus superciliosusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Dusky WoodswallowArtamus cyanopterusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-faced CuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiaePhotos DescriptionSightings
White-bellied CuckooshrikeCoracina papuensisRarePhotosSightings
Common CicadabirdCoracina tenuirostrisRarePhotosSightings
White-winged TrillerLalage tricolorPhotos DescriptionSightings
Varied SittellaDaphoenositta chrysopteraPhotos DescriptionSightings
Crested ShriketitFalcunculus frontatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Olive WhistlerPachycephala olivaceaRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Gilbert's WhistlerPachycephala inornataRarePhotosSightings
Australian Golden WhistlerPachycephala pectoralisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventrisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Olive-backed OrioleOriolus sagittatusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Grey ShrikethrushColluricincla harmonicaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Willie WagtailRhipidura leucophrysPhotos DescriptionSightings
Grey FantailRhipidura albiscapaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Rufous FantailRhipidura rufifronsPhotos DescriptionSightings
Black-faced MonarchMonarcha melanopsisRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Magpie-larkGrallina cyanoleucaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Leaden FlycatcherMyiagra rubeculaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Satin FlycatcherMyiagra cyanoleucaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Restless FlycatcherMyiagra inquietaPhotos DescriptionSightings
House CrowCorvus splendensRareSightings
Little RavenCorvus melloriPhotosSightings
Australian RavenCorvus coronoidesPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-winged ChoughCorcorax melanoramphosPhotos DescriptionSightings
Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Hooded RobinMelanodryas cucullataRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Jacky WinterMicroeca fascinansPhotos DescriptionSightings
Rose RobinPetroica roseaRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Pink RobinPetroica rodinogasterPhotos DescriptionSightings
Flame RobinPetroica phoeniceaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Scarlet RobinPetroica boodangPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red-capped RobinPetroica goodenoviiPhotos DescriptionSightings
White-backed SwallowCheramoeca leucosternaRarePhotosSightings
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaRarePhotosSightings
Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxenaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Fairy MartinPetrochelidon arielPhotos DescriptionSightings
Tree MartinPetrochelidon nigricansPhotosSightings
Horsfield's Bush Lark (Singing or Australian Bush-lark)Mirafra javanicaPhotos DescriptionSightings
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Golden-headed CisticolaCisticola exilisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Little GrassbirdMegalurus gramineusPhotos DescriptionSightings
Rufous SonglarkCincloramphus mathewsiPhotos DescriptionSightings
Brown SonglarkCincloramphus cruralisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Australian Reed Warbler (Clamorous)Acrocephalus australisPhotos DescriptionSightings
SilvereyeZosterops lateralisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Common MynaAcridotheres tristisIntroducedPhotos DescriptionSightings
Common Starling (Eurpean Starling)Sturnus vulgarisIntroducedPhotos DescriptionSightings
Bassian Thrush (Olive-tailed Thrush)Zoothera lunulataRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Common Blackbird (Eurasian Blackbird)Turdus merulaIntroducedPhotos DescriptionSightings
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosIntroducedPhotosSightings
MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceumPhotos DescriptionSightings
House SparrowPasser domesticusIntroducedPhotos DescriptionSightings
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusIntroducedPhotosSightings
Beautiful FiretailStagonopleura bellaRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Diamond FiretailStagonopleura guttataPhotos DescriptionSightings
Red-browed Finch (Red-browed Firetail)Neochmia temporalisPhotos DescriptionSightings
Star FinchNeochmia ruficaudaDubious!PhotosSightings
Zebra FinchTaeniopygia guttataPhotos DescriptionSightings
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Chestnut-breasted Munia)Lonchura castaneothoraxRarePhotos DescriptionSightings
Eastern Yellow WagtailMotacilla tschutschensisRarePhotosSightings
Australian PipitAnthus australisPhotos DescriptionSightings
European GreenfinchCarduelis chlorisIntroducedPhotosSightings
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisIntroducedPhotos DescriptionSightings

 

Our History and Newsletters

This page is under development - newsletters will be uploaded progressively.

The history of the Werribee birding group - which has had a few name changes but has mostly been called the "Werribee Wagtails" is best seen through its newsletter - the "Werribee Wag-tales". Since the inception of the group until mid-2014 this was edited by Shirley Cameron - the founder and for many years President of the group. Unfortunately some newsletters are missing, and others are only in a bound volume and impossible to copy, so this is a fragmented account - any contributions will be gratefully received.

Thanks to Shirley Cameron, Denis O'Connor and Carole Popham for their assistance with this article.

 

1995

Carole records that the group went to Pt Wilson in Feb 1995 and Ballarat in April - the earliest document I can find is a bird list apparently from April of that year which is presumable from the Ballarat trip. It also details future outings to Serendip in May and the You Yangs in June – both of which involved admission fees in those days.

The June newsletter advertises a talk by local birder Rohan Bugg, and proposes trips in August to the Saltworks, in September to the Brisbane Ranges and on the Community Bus to Clarkesdale (Linton) in October. The group was now called the Werribee Older Adult Bird Watchers – apparently because the bus was for “Older Adults”!

The next newsletter dates from July – (when Carole’s records have the group going to Trentham and Daylesford), but unfortunately we have no record of the May, June and July outings and makes arrangements for the Pt Lillias (Avalon Beach) and Kirk’s Pt outing in August. The August newsletter has a brief report on this outing, and makes arrangements for a September trip to the Brisbane Ranges – unfortunately we have no record of that trip.

Our next newsletter reports on the October trip to Clarkesdale (Linton) and the final newsletter of the year reports on the Cheetham Wetlands/Pt Cook outing in November and discusses the plans for a WTP trip in Dec – which we have no record of.

 

1995 Newsletters
April Download
June Download
July Download
August Download
October Download
December Download

1996

A very lean year for reports unfortunately. The only newsletter contains details of a trip to the WTP in December and refers to the places that were visited in the year.

1996 Newsletters
December Download

1997

The year got off to a slow start – the first newsletter (in March – only a paper copy exists) states that there have been no outings so far. The next newsletter (April) has full details of a visit to the Bellarine peninsula and makes arrangements for a May walk on the Werribee River, but we have no report on that – presumably it is in the missing 3rd edition of the year. The 4th edition in June details a further walk on the Werribee River (from Riverbend to Shaw’s Rd) and makes plans for another river walk in Jul – which is presumably reported on in the missing 5th edition. The 6th edition details an August outing to the Mansion, and the next edition reports on a Sep trip to Cobbledicks and has plans for a slide night. The 8th edition reports on a bus trip to Jells Park and Westgate Park in October – we only have a paper copy of this. We know the group planned to go to Anakie Gorge in November but there is no record, and the year ends with a bird list (but no report) of a Dec trip to Pt Lillias (Avalon Beach) and Kirk’s Pt.

1997 Newsletters
April Download
June Download
August Download
September Download
December Download

 

1998

We have reports of a March visit to the WTP, an April visit to the You Yangs (paper only), May to Anakie Gorge, June to Newport Lake (paper only), July to Melboure Zoo, August to the Werribee River, September to Cherry Lake, October to Point Cook/Cheetham Saltworks and a bus trip to the WTP and a bird list for another visit to Pt Cook in November. There were plans for a visit to Melbourne Botanic Gardens in December but no report is available.

1998 Newsletters
March Download
May Download
July Download
August Download
September Download
October (Pt Cook) Download
October (WTP) Download
November Download

 

1999

A full calendar apart from January and December – and I know that for some years the group did not go out regularly in those months. We have newsletters for January (no outing but a report on bird-banding at the WTP), the outings in February to Barwon Heads (including the news that the group had seen 143 species since starting),  March to Avalon Beach and Kirk’s Pt, May/June to Newport Lakes, Altona Beach and Cherry Lake and Cobbledicks Ford (along with articles on the problems of rubbish dunping at the WTP and the Black Swan banding project which is still running today (2014)) and a bird list which I believe to be the July trip to Werribee Gorge.

We have no reports on the April trip to Eynesbury and only paper newsletters for the August (Hovell’s Creek), September (Jawbone and Westgate), October (Organ Pipes) and November (WTP) outings.

1999 Newsletters
January Download
February Download
March Download
May/June Download
July Download

 

2000

The first activity of the year was to Laverton Lakes (? – possibly Cheetham wetlands?) and Jawbones, and is described in the first newsletter along with some notes about the “Bird Observer” and forthcoming destinations.

There is only a paper newsletter for the Match (or was it April?) outing to Pt Lillias and Kirk’s Point (there seem to have been a lot of trips there in the early days – nowadays the road is almost impassable except with a 4WD so maybe it was better then?). There is also an article on a visit to the You Yangs in “late Indian Summer” which I have guessed at April – but Carole thinks could be June! There is no report on a late April visit to Braeside unfortunately or the June visit to Long Forest.

We have a July list for the visit to Jerringot, Ironbark Basin and Anglesea and a brief August report of a trip on parts of the Werribee River. There is a brief report of the September trip to Anakie gorge but nothing for the October Healesville and November WTP visits – apart from a bird list that is presumably from the WTP.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

The first newsletter of the year has Dave Torr shown as President, so obviously there was a changeover at some time - when is not recorded!

2010 Newsletters
March

Jan - Basin Reserve (Drysdale), Lake Lorne, McLeod's Waterholes and Point Henry
Feb - Cheetham Wetlands
Mar - Altona
Also "a hunt for a Hylacola", "Pinkerton Survey"

Download
June Apr - Barringo Reserve, Day's Picnic Ground, Macedon Memorial cross
May - Werribee Gorge
Jun - Werribee River and Riverbend Park
Also "BOCA Echuca camp"
Download
August Jul - Werribee River
Aug - You Yangs (and Shirley gets an award)
Download
October Sep - Jerringot, Connewarre Lake and Barwon Heads
Oct - Grampians Camp
Also - a "twitch" for a Northern Shoveller and one for an Ostrich, visits to the WTP, Chiltern and Gluepot and a report on banding.
Download
December Nov - WTP
Dec - You Yangs
Also a trip to Kangaroo Island
Download

2011

2011 Newsletters
January Jan - Geelong
Also reports on catching and banding stints, the travels of a Ruddy Turnstone and Baringhup after the floods
Download
April Feb - Bannockburn
Mar - WTP
Apr - Bacchus Marsh
Also a brief Indian trip report
Download
June May - Laverton Creek, Truganina Swamp, Apex Park and Newport Lake
Jun - Werribee River Park
Also - Christina's trip to Botswana, "Meet Susan Myers", an update on the BOCA-BA merger and a report on the May Western Woodlands survey
Download
August Jul - Eynesbury
Aug - Brisbane Ranges (Spring Creek, Boar Gully, Beremboke and Stony Creek)
Also - a "twitch" for a Northern Shoveller and one for an Ostrich, visits to the WTP, Chiltern and Gluepot and a report on banding.
Download
November Sep - You Yangs
Oct - Inverloch Camp
Oct - Werribee River
Also - WA trip report
Download
December Nov - WTP
Dec - Pt Cook
Download

2012

2012 Newsletters
February Jan - Jerringot, Balyang and Pt Henry
Feb - WTP Ticking the Tasmanian Endemics and Pt Cook brochure
Download
April Mar - Fyansford Common and private property near Connewarre
Mar - Spotlighting at Eynesbury
Apr - Gisborne area
Download
July May - Pt Addis, Great Otway National Park and Distillery Creek
Jun - Werribee River
Jul - Pt Cook
Also - "Pink or Rose Robin", "Liz at Menindee" and "Mt Rothwell in TV"
Download
October Aug - You Yangs
Sep - Woodlands
Also - "Liz, Dave and Iian in Broken Hill"
Download
November Oct - Chiltern Camp
Nov - Western Treatment Plant
Also - "Dave and Iian in Peru"
Download

 Note the December outing to Altona is covered in the first newsletter of 2013.

2013

2013 Newsletters
March December 2012 outing to Altona,
January to Werribee River and Mansion,
February to Ballarat
and March to the WTP
Download
April Newport Lake and Kororoit Creek Download
May Avalon Beach, Lara Lake & Dog Rock Batesford Download
June Bacchus Marsh Download
July Cobbledick's Ford and Eynesbury Download
August Westgate Park and Melbourne Botanic Gardens Download
September You Yangs Download
October Echuca Camp Download
November Western Treatment Plant Download
December Point Cook Download

 

2014

In August David Jenkins took over as editor, taking over from Shirley who had done the job since the group started. In the same month our application to become a branch of BirdLife Australia was approved, making us part of a mational organisation with 65,000+ supporters (and an international organisation of 10 million+ supporters), and we also celebrated 10 years of surveys at Pinkerton Forest with PLEG.

As from December, we have been issuing the newsletter in a small and large version - the large version contains higher resolution photos which are much more suitable for display on large monitors, but the files are typically mre than 10 MB where as the small versions are around 1 MB and quite suitable for mobile devices and small monitors

2014 Newsletters
January Werribee River Download
February Kororoit Ck and Newport Lake Download
March Balliang, Lake Connewarre and Barwon Heads Download
April Western Treatment Plant Download
May Anakie Gorge, Stieglitz and Durdidwarrah Reservoirs Download
June Werribee Mansion, K Rd and River Mouth (only a bird list is available) Download
July RAAF and Spectacle Lakes and Pt Cook beach area Download
August You Yangs
Articles on a UK trip, Harriers, Kestrels, twitching the Bustard in Victoria, the Mt. Rothwell Bird Survey and a brief review of "Where Song Began"
Download
September Gisborne and Macedon
Also a leucistic Fairywren at the WTP, 10 years of Pinkerton surveys, Martin identification, Shirley and Sean Dooley, Book Review - "Where Song Began", Mute Swans in Scotland
Download
October Warrnambool Camp, Broken Hill report, King Island trip, Flinders Ranges trip Download
November WTP outing, NSW trip report, Broken Hill report, The 28 Parrot Download
December Melton outing, Werribee River Park, Long-billed Dowitcher, Werribee Zoo, Pinkerton Survey, WTP Open Day, Bronze-cuckoos, Broken Hill report, Semipalmated Plover and Cape Gannet Download (small)
Download (large)

2015

2015 Newsletters
February Ballarat Outing, Digital Photo policy, Broken Hill, Pinkerton survey, New begiiners outings, A twitch to Nowra Download (small)
Download (large)
March Geelong Outing, Hooded Plovers, Broken Hill, 2 Kororoit Ck outings, Twenty-eight parrot Download (small)

Pinkerton Surveys

 

We have been doing quarterly bird surveys at Pinkerton Forest and Bush's Paddock (in association with PLEG) for the last 10 years, and for most of that time we have also been surveying the birds in Eynesbury forest.

 

This summary shows our findings overall and for some key birds.

Shell Collector Cards

Collectible Bird Cards

I found this set at my local Op Shop.  I thought I should share - Colleen Miller