Phil Marley
On our last visit to Banyule Flats in May 2019, we endured cold and fog. This time we enjoyed warm spring sunshine. Lovely.
To begin, our elite group of nine set off from the Somerset Drive carpark to view the Banyule Swamp. Fed by stormwater drains and the Banyule Creek, it was full of water and looking like a proper lake – very different to the dried-up mudflats we saw in 2019. The birds were happy.
The dead trees in the middle of the lake provided perches for Red-rumped Parrots and a small flock of Little Corellas. On the water, Hoary-headed and Australasian Grebes dived for food, along with some Hardheads. A couple of Pink-eared Ducks and a few Eurasian Coots and Dusky Moorhens kept Chestnut Teals company, while dozens of Silver Gulls looked on.
On the far edge of the lake abutting the Grotty Pond, several Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage were seen.
The impressive Banyule House on the escarpment to the west maintains its commanding view across the swamp and the flats below. The house on the Banyule Estate was built in 1846 by Joseph Hawdon and the flats had been drained in the mid-1800s for cattle grazing.
At that time little vegetation grew around the swamp and the billabong. Concern about the future of the wetlands led to the formation of the Warringal Conservation Society in 1970, which organised numerous plantings over the years, including a megaplanting in 1989. The results are the extensive woodlands and vegetation around the swamp, the Banyule Billabong and the Yarra River to the south that we see today.
Sadly, the hundred or so Latham’s Snipes seen in 1978-79 surveys were nowhere to be seen on this visit.
After the swamp, we headed through the West Paddock down to the Yarra. Eastern and Crimson Rosellas watched on as we strolled past.
On entering the trees and thick vegetation along the Yarra banks, more species were seen – Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Silvereyes, Red-browed Finches, Brown Thornbills, White-browed Scrubwrens, Black-faced Cuckooshrikes and a Brown Goshawk.
Many more were heard – Spotted Pardalotes, Grey Shrikethrushes, a Shining-bronze Cuckoo and Olive-backed Orioles.
We strolled along the river edge past the South Paddock to the Goat Track in the East Paddock and back up to the Main Yarra Trail.
Taunted by the lilting sounds of the Orioles, we made a short detour down the Windmill Track to find one for the group to photograph – successfully. Back near the carpark, we also successfully found a couple of Tawny Frogmouths posing indifferently. A highlight of the walk was seeing two Powerful Owls well-hidden in deep shadows in a tree.
Time for lunch, so we drove the 10 mins round to Birrarung Park on the other side of the Yarra. Suitably rested and fortified, five of the group stayed on for walk along the south side of the Yarra in the afternoon.
The highlights here were successfully tracking down a Shining-bronze Cuckoo and a Golden Whistler, whose incessant calls enables us to find both. A Laughing Kookaburra was also spotted with a frog which it took back to feed two young.
Overall 49 species were seen on the day and the small group meant we stayed together throughout our wanderings, which made for good company. The strong sunlight and windy conditions provided some challenges for photography, but several people saw some species for the first time ever, which was rather special.
Our thanks to Anthea Fleming for her interesting comments on the history of Banyule Flats Reserve and the terrific work of the Warringal Conservation Society and for the maps and to Phil Marley who led the outing while Peter and John searched for birds near Broome.
birdlifemelbphotography 