The great run of weather for the monthly bird walk continued with nice sun and light winds. We were off to nearby Point Addis. We walked along the Jarosite Track which is at the rim of the Ironbark Basin. It is a popular and wide path with runners and cyclists, and good views of the ocean and Point Addis half way along.
Plenty of bird calls including an oriole doing its thing; and a great day for experiencing the endless variations of Crimson Rosella calls. But more difficult to capture the birds in the binoculars. But it is a very pleasant walk and also a good place for wildflowers and orchids with lots of Wax-lip orchids flowering. We also saw a few Pink Fingers (Caladenia carnea). The list of birds is given below, and included good sightings of male (see photo) and female Spotted Pardalote, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike and Eastern Rosellas (fairly unusual for the area).
Spotted Pardalote male
We had morning tea near the car park, and confirmed the bird list count. Some people left at this point, and the remainder drove down to Point Addis itself, where the main drawcard for many people was the surfing conditions. Getting out of the car there was a flash of Rufous Bristlebird at the front of the car, and then plenty of calling while we were there. A few gannets were out working the ocean, and also an albatross or two, but too far out to identify the actual species. Also, a Nankeen Kestrel floating in the wind, and Great Cormorants sitting on the rocks enjoying the ocean view.
It was a great morning of bird watching, even if the bird list was a bit disappointing. Unfortunately, there were no photographers on the team this month, and the photo of the male Spotted Pardalote is from the Angair collection.
James Orton
Jarosite Track – Bird List
The table below (from eBird) shows the names and count of birds seen and/or heard along the Jarosite Track.
| Species | Count |
| Shining Bronze-Cuckoo | 1 |
| Laughing Kookaburra | 1 |
| Gang-gang Cockatoo | 2 |
| Galah | 2 |
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo | 1 |
| Crimson Rosella | 15 |
| Eastern Rosella | 2 |
| Rainbow Lorikeet | 1 |
| White-throated Treecreeper | 2 |
| Superb Fairywren | 2 |
| Red Wattlebird | 5 |
| White-eared Honeyeater | 2 |
| Spotted Pardalote | 6 |
| Brown Thornbill | 1 |
| Black-faced Cuckooshrike | 2 |
| Grey Shrikethrush | 3 |
| Rufous Whistler | 1 |
| Olive-backed Oriole | 1 |
| Grey Butcherbird | 2 |
| Australian Magpie | 4 |
| Pied Currawong | 5 |
| Grey Fantail | 3 |
| Little Raven | 4 |
Point Addis – Bird List
The table below (from eBird) shows the names and count of birds seen and/or heard at Point Addis.
| Species | Count |
| Shy/Salvin’s/Chatham Albatross | 1 |
| Australasian Gannet | 4 |
| Great Cormorant | 6 |
| Nankeen Kestrel | 1 |
| Crimson Rosella | 10 |
| Superb Fairywren | 2 |
| Rufous Bristlebird | 1 |
| White-browed Scrubwren | 1 |
| Little Raven | 2 |
| Welcome Swallow | 3 |
James Orton
Photo: John Lenagan