Its been quite a while since the last up date, so this one includes the outing to the You-Yangs, our end of year break-up and New Year's eve outing to the Royal Botanic Gardens, as well as plans for the first part of 2012.

Merrilyn Serong led the outing to the You-Yangs while I was on holidays - thank you Merrilyn.

Most fortunately, we had a fine day for our You Yangs visit; there has been much rain there of late. Thirteen people, including Paul from the US, recorded a total of 50 bird species that we could positively identify. There were a few mystery birds as well.
We spent the first couple of hours near the Park Office, then drove around the Great Circle Drive to Gravel Pit Tor and our lunch table then to the Eastern Flats for the rest of the afternoon.
A highlight was watching birds coming to drink and bathe at a small dam. A Diamond Firetail, New Holland Honeyeater and White-plumed Honeyeater forgot their differences long enough for most of us to take a photo of them. It was very pleasant waiting there quietly in the shade of some nearby trees. Even the ants didn’t really bother us. Thanks to everyone for a great day. Paul later sent an email from the US to say what a memorable time he had. We all did, I think.

Photos Merrilyn Serong and John Stirling

Most of us met at the Lower Plenty Hotel for a counter tea and then joined the rest at my place where we shared 3 of our favourite images each for the year. The standard has risen since last year, so well done everyone. Well done too to our youngest member, Erica, who used her photos for a school project about birds. Judging from the comments of her classmates, they were as impressed as we were.

On New Year's Eve we met at 7.30 and enjoyed a walk round part of the Royal Botanic Gardens followed by breakfast on the lawn. The bird count wasn't one of our higher ones, but most of us found it worth getting up early on a lovely summer morning to make the most of one of Melbourne's most pleasant parks.

Thanks to John Van Dorn, David Jenkins and Marg. Bosworth for the photos.

Our next outing will be our visit to Bunyip State Park on Saturday, February 4, with the evening being led by Steve Davidson to find Nightjars and possibly owls and other night life! Details being finalized. Email me if interested.

Hannah, our former member who has moved to Gladstone for work, sent an email before Christmas. She and her partner have bought a house so have room for passing birders! John Stirling caught up with her on his recent trip to Queensland and both enjoyed their outing together. She will be down in Melbourne for a wedding in the autumn, so might have a chance to catch up with some of us again. She sent the underneath photos with her email.

March: John Barkla has agreed to run his wader study night followed by a Saturday at Werribee with him putting our skills into practice. The dates for this are to be finalised shortly.

Any queries about these activities or if you'd like to join the group, please contact me, Sonja, sonja.ross@yahoo.com.au or 9496 5380.