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A Crimson Rosella inspects a hollow in The Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve. Photos: Dave Newman
By Dave Newman
SPRING is a great time to visit the Western Port Woodlands, with birds nesting, orchids flowering and plenty happening in the bush.
In The Gurdies this week we saw a great variety of birds checking out the hollows, including a pair of Blue-winged Parrots. It’s a privilege to see these rare birds nesting in our woodlands.
A female Blue-winged Parrot checks out some hollows.
Crimson Rosellas and Laughing Kookaburras were also inspecting the hollows for suitable nesting sites.
This Scarlet Robin is a regular at the Dunbabbin Road car park in The Gurdies.
During autumn and winter we get Tasmanian Boobooks, Swift Parrots and Orange-bellied Parrots coming up from Tasmania, but most of our migrants start turning up in spring.
Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve.
One of our Woodlands rarest birds, the Brown Gerygone. Even though this species is not endangered, they are very rare in our reserves, seemingly only occupying one small area in The Gurdies reserve.
Fan-tailed Cuckoos are typically among the first to arrive. They can turn up in quite large numbers, along with Rufous Whistlers, and both can be heard calling constantly through spring and summer.
What arrives here can be influenced by climatic conditions further north, but spring is certainly one of the best times of year for birdwatching in the woodland reserves.
As the weather warms, we can expect everything from Rufous Fantails and Sacred Kingfishers to Olive-backed Orioles and various cuckoo species.
The rarely seen Crescent Honeyeater, Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve
Some visitors, such as Satin Flycatchers and Sacred Kingfishers, are usually present in low numbers. Occasionally something much rarer turns up, such as a Scarlet Honeyeater.
Spring is prime time for orchids too. On a visit to Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve last weekend, we saw hundreds of flowering Nodding Greenhoods.
In Adams Creek, we also saw a young Lowland Copperhead. Despite their reputation, these snakes are inoffensive and will retreat from humans.
Save Western Port Woodlands is taking a walk in the Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve on Sunday morning. All welcome but remember you’re responsible for your own safety. Email savewesternportwoodlands@gmail.com for details.