First we birded the outskirts of Hobart visiting a small wooded nature reserve, very cold and windy. Despite the weather we quickly picked up Tasmanian Native-hen and Black-headed Honeyeater, Forty-spotted Pardalote took longer to find but find it we did. A pair of Yellow-tailed black Cockatoos flew slowly over and a gang of Green Rosella fed in the trees above. While watching the Rosellas four honeyeaters flew into the same tree, very handsome Yellow-throated Honeyeaters.
We grabbed a take away breakfast and headed for the ferry over to Bruny Island, at the dock we added Black-faced Cormorants and some of the group had lifer views of Greenfinches – introduced here from Europe and doing very well.
Only a twenty minute crossing so luckily Alan’s breakfast remained inside! New birds came thick and fast once ashore. We drove slowly checking fields for robins, it was not long before we spotted a Dusky Robin. As we watched this rather subtle bird a flash of red caught our attention as a Flame Robin popped up on a fence wire. What a cracking little bird, red breast, white patch above the bill, blackish upperparts with white wing panel, just great. As we neared a narrow neck of land Iain predicted the next new bird, Pied Oystercatcher, less than a minute later we were watching a Pied Oystercatcher! Not far away we found our first Hooded Plover feeding on a beautiful white sand beach. We then headed into a forest area where birding was slower but we kept at it and added Scrubtit, Tasmanian Thornbill, Olive Whistler and Crescent Honeyeater. Star bird here though was another robin, this time a superb Pink Robin.
Back down to the shoreline and a visit to the public loos, some people kept birding and spotted a dark bird low in the water out in the bay. Scope was quickly set up but only a Black-faced Cormorant popped up, keep scanning, then, Little Penguin! How lucky was that? A bird we had not expected to see on this trip. The penguin kept diving repeatedly, spending only a moment on the surface. It took a while but we all got pretty good views in the end and headed for the beach café to celebrate. Back on Tasmania proper we added Black Currawong to complete a great day's birding.Bird species total 3712Posted 4th November, Hobart, Tasmania