Mt Rothwell – Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER

Werribee Wagtails: Bird Count at Mt Rothwell

January 17, 2021January 17, 2021Posted in Dusky Woodswallows, Mt Rothwell, Rainbow Bee Eater, Scarlet Robin, Weebill, Werribee Wagtails, Whistling KiteTagged Mt Rothwell, Werribee Wagtails16 Comments

Werribee Wagtails Header — Werribee Wagtails have been in much of a hiatus due to that ‘c’ word.

One of the activities of that we have always enjoyed are the quarterly bird counts at several local sites.

It is good to be able to see the effects of changing seasons at each of the locations. And of course to see the variation in the bird activity through the year.

We started 2021 with a day out at Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre

The weather was kind, coolish and a tad of sunshine to keep things pleasant.
Good bird action in some areas, and of course a few areas that were a bit barren for birds.
All in all a good start for Wagtails for 2021

Scarlet Robin female Photo Courtesy of EE

Red-browed Finch Juvenile Photo Courtesy EE

Rufous Whistler female. Carrying a snack. Try as we might we didn’t discover the secret

Whistling Kite, coming by to see the fuss

Whistling Kite, enjoying the view in the sunshine

Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby. Showing off its its best asset

Counting Birds at Mt Rothwell

October 22, 2018November 13, 2018Posted in Mt Rothwell, Rainbow Bee Eater, Striated Pardalote, Tawny Frogmouth, Uncategorized, Werribee WagtailsTagged Birdlife Werribee, Mt Rothwell, Werribee Wagtails4 Comments

My local bird group, BirdLife Werribee, or more affectionately known by the previous name, “Werribee Wagtails” has for many years been doing bird surveys once a quarter at various sites.
This weekend we surveyed the Mt Rothwell Conservation and Research Centre just to the north of the You Yangs range.
To quote Peter Sellers from “Balham Gateway to the South”,
—It is exciting work and my forefathers have been engaged upon it since 1957—

The previous few days of rain had managed to get past the You Yangs rainshadow and give the area decent drink. As we assembled, we were joined by a group from BirdLife Australia, Ovens and Murray.

And the bush seemed to respond to our enthusiastic banter as we walked over the various tracks that lead through the park.

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Postcards from Mt Rothwell

January 28, 2018January 28, 2018Posted in Mt Rothwell, Superb Fairy-wrenTagged Emu, Mt Rothwell, Superb Fairy-wren, Varied Sittella10 Comments

We don’t need to know what it looks like (whatever it is), 
but what it might mean—what it might feel like. 
More than ever, we need images that speak to a deeper part of our humanity 
than the thirst for details. 
We need, and hunger for, context, insight, hope, 
and the kind of visual poetry that stirs our hearts, 
sparks our imaginations.
David DuChemin

Posted 28 Jan 2018

A few days before our sojourn up to the ‘old’ country, we were part of Werribee Wagtails quarterly bird count at Mt Rothwell.

In line with the weather all around, it was hot. But we managed some good numbers in the first morning walk and at lunch time were sitting in the shade of the office area. The ranger in charge (Should that be hyphenated?) Ranger-in-charge. There—setup a hose and sprinkler to give the little garden area a bit of relief. This one action of course brought all the small bushbirds out for a bit of a cool off.

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