... Healesville Sanctuary to be precise.
Seven of us including Jack's goddaughter, Claire, from the UK, congregated at the cafe just inside the Sanctuary entrance by 9.30 and off we went. The main thrust of the day was birds, both free-flying and captured, although Claire did manage to see our icon species -- platypus, roos and wallabies, wombat, dingo, Tassie devils, fruit bats, koalas and echidnas. Our bird list was a modest 27 species but it was the ones in the enclosures that were spectacular. Orange-bellied Parrots alongside Helmeted Honeyeaters sucking up a nectar/honey mixture. Princess Parrots and Inland Dotterels.
The highlight, though, was the Flight Arena where we saw both shows. Black Kite [River] or Whistling Kite introduced hosts, knowledgable and funny, who then free flew ...
- a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo [Swazi]
- a Pink Cockatoo
- a male and female Red-tailed Black-cockatoo
- a Barking Owl [Timber]
- a "performing" Long-billed Corella named Kev
- Black-breasted Buzzard [Bernice, Beatrice] cracking a plaster Emu egg
- a male and female Eclectus Parrot, Les and Akela
- a 44 yo male and 17 yo female Wedge-tailed Eagle
The show was very well done. It was also good to have Jim with us, bubbling with stories of his recent trip up Cape York peninsula on various birding sorties. Below are some images of the day.
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| Western Grey Kangaroo from Kangaroo Island |
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| Nesting Bush Stone-curlew |
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| Star Finch - Fighting Extinction Aviary [FEA] |
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| Helmeted Honeyeater - FEA |
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| Orange-bellied Parrot - FEA |
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| One way to clinch an ID |
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| Barking Owl |
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| Tawny Frogmouth |
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| Brush Bronzewing |
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| Plumed Whistling-Duck |
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| Inland Dotterel |
We had a great day. Thanks to Peter for organising it. Next outing is at Peach Flat on Monday 21 September, meeting at Briagolong Bakery at 9am. Let me know if you are coming.
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