After a long cool and wet spring, summer is definitely here in Victoria. Rare waders are popping up, the first White-throated Needletails have been sighted, and there are young birds of most species everywhere after such a good breeding season.
Sightings of Plains Wanderers between April and June on the northern plains of Victoria. Unfortunately conditions for this bird deteriorated through spring after high rainfall.
The dry of summer continued on into autumn, with finally some good rains arriving in the south of the state in early April, but the mallee missed out, as it often does.
A lot of action this summer has been focussed around the coastline, especially Werribee, and scarcer coastal waders.
The annual eight day "Off with the Birds" Victorian Megatour has been highly successful once again with 232 bird species recorded as well as 14 mammal species. See attached for a detailed trip report.
Some positive news this season with evidence of successful breeding by the few remaining Plains Wanderers hanging on in Northern Victoria.
7 days and two hundred and eighteen species around Victoria
Recent tours around the Melbourne area have once again proved what a world class destination it is for wildlife viewing.
Spring is a popular time to go birding in southern Australia and for good reason as the local resident birds are joined by more migratory and nomadic species taking advantage of the excellent conditions as the weather warms up.
During a recent survey of private property on the northern plains of Victoria two adult female and one adult male Plains Wanderer were located and banded.
A recent report released updating the current state of play for this species in Victoria gives some cause for optimism, however the population, if it can now be called that, remains desperately low.
Winter in Victoria can be cold, wet, and some birds certainly have left the state for warmer climes, however there is still plenty to keep the keen birder interested.