Newell's Paddock, Footscray

It was used as a holding yard for cattle and sheep from Newmarket Saleyards for the Abattoir owned by William Angliss. The land has been restored to contain the natural waterholes that existed here before white settlement and it is now preserved as a natural wetlands park. Landscape architect Dr. Jill Orr-Young did the initial landscape design in 1980's. Friends of Newell's Paddock was formed in 2014.

• Odonata spp. Dragonfly Dragonfly or Damselfly

  17 Sep 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  

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• Chalcites basalis Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

  29 Aug 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Noticed the two different calls. The background noise were from trains and apartment construction nearby.

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  1. David Francis  Clearly showing the dark stripe through the eye and ear-coverts and barring missing from a wide area of the middle of the breast which distinguishes it from the similar Shining Bronze Cuckoo.

     Reply • 30 Aug

  3. David Francis  Sparrow-like chirrup at first with main call starting at about 38 seconds from start.(Descending, repeated whistle).

     Reply • 30 Aug
• Falco cenchroides Australian Kestrel Nankeen Kestrel Windhover

  27 Jul 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Nankeen kestrel having a rodent for breakfast.

  

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• Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant

  12 Jul 2017 • Thomas N.

  A flock of little black cormorants flew over the wetlands.

  

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• Trichoglossus haematodus Rainbow Lorikeet

  29 Jun 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  First observation of Lorikeet using the nest box in Newell's Paddock.

  

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  1. Andrew Brown  Nice camouflage paint on this nest box.

     Reply • 01 Jul

  2. • Thomas N.  The boxes were built by the local men shed group.

       Reply • 12 Jul
• Falco cenchroides Australian Kestrel Nankeen Kestrel Windhover

  20 Jun 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Regular visitor in early winter.

  

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• Corixidae spp. Water Boatman Water-boatman

  26 May 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Water bug taken from above.

  

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  1. David Francis  Corixidae spp. species id suggested

     Reply • 26 May
• Myxogastrea spp. Plasmodial Slime-moulds

  19 May 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Some part of the slime-mould from observation (http://natureshare.org.au/observations/591d93dfed2a893e6b00144d) have turned black.

  

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  1. David Francis  Mature spores are black.

     Reply • 19 May
• Falco longipennis Australian Hobby

  19 May 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  

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• Myxogastrea spp. Plasmodial Slime-moulds

  18 May 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  One of two clusters of fungi(?) about 15cm across. Growing on mulch.

  

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  1. David Francis  Slime mould in the fruiting body (sporangia) stage of its life cycle.

     Reply • 18 May

  3. David Francis  Not classified as a fungus as it doesn't have a mycelium/hyphae but instead consists of an aggregation of coordinated amoeba-like cells. in the migratory phase.

     Reply • 18 May

  5. David Francis  Similar to Diachea spp. such as Diachea leucopodia

     Reply • 19 May
• Falco peregrinus Peregrine Falcon

  05 May 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Peregrine falcon is back on its observation tower (top of high-tension electricity pylon) in Newell's Paddock.

  

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• Ardea ibis Cattle Egret

  20 Apr 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  First sighting in Newells Paddock Wetlands

  

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• Nephila edulis Australian Golden Orb-weaving Spider Golden Orb Weaver

  14 Apr 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  

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• Thyridia repens Creeping Monkey-flower

  07 Apr 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  

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• Aythya australis Hardhead

  05 Apr 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  One of a pair of hardhead. They had not been sighted since last winter.

  

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• Egretta garzetta Little Egret

  30 Mar 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Little Egret? Black legs, black bill. Smaller than the great egret spotted in the same area.

  

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  1. David Francis  Yes, agree - Little Egret. Will you please edit the id, Thomas

     Reply • 30 Mar

  2. • Thomas N.  Thanks, David.

       Reply • 31 Mar
• Cryptocheilus bicolor Orange Spider Wasp

  28 Feb 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  An orange spider wasp dragging a large spider across the path to the grassy area.

  

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• Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant

  14 Feb 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  First sighting for 2017, catching fish from the wetlands.

  

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• Hemicordulia tau Tau Emerald

  16 Jan 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  A pair of dragonflies.

  

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  1. David Francis  Hemicordulia tau?

     Reply • 16 Jan

  3. David Francis  Hemicordulia tau species id suggested

     Reply • 27 Jan
• Austrolestes psyche Cup Ringtail

  12 Jan 2017 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  

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  1. Chris Clarke  Female as per http://photos.rnr.id.au/2013/11/01/damselfly_Austrolestes_psyche_f_Glenelg131101-3566.jpg

     Reply • 28 Jan

  3. David Francis  Austrolestes psyche species id suggested

     Reply • 01 Feb

  5. David Francis  id by Chris Clarke

     Reply • 01 Feb
• Zygoptera spp. Damselfly

  04 Dec 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  

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• Gerridae spp. Water Strider

  27 Nov 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  I think this is a different insect. It has longer legs and different colored head.

  

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  1. David Francis  Gerridae spp. species id suggested

     Reply • 27 Nov 2016
• Brachydeutera spp. Brine-flies Shore-flies

  27 Nov 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Are they the same Ephydridae spp as an earlier observation? They were in the wetland area, some of them were walking on water.

  

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  1. David Francis  Yes, it looks the same as your previous observation. Brachydeutera sp. Family: Ephydridae

     Reply • 27 Nov 2016

  3. David Francis  Brachydeutera spp. species id suggested

     Reply • 28 Nov 2016
• Notonectidae spp. Backswimmer

  27 Nov 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Small water insects. Maybe water boatman.

  

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  1. David Francis  If swimming on its back on the surface of the water it is a Back-swimmer, not a Water Boatman.

     Reply • 28 Nov 2016
• Vulpes vulpes Fox Red Fox

  25 Nov 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Have not spotted in the area during the day for awhile.

  

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• Brachydeutera spp. Brine-flies Shore-flies

  16 Nov 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  A swarm of these tiny flies on the stagnant water. The closest id is family Ephydridae (Atlas of Living Australia)

  

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  1. Mark Helle  Possible Brachydeutera sydneyensis a widespread Ephydridae species

     Reply • 17 Nov 2016

  3. David Francis  Thomas and Mark. Thanks. This is a new one for me. Yes, definitely Ephydridae - these flies have water-repelling hairs that allow them to suspend themselves on the water surface and draw in algae etc. from the water surface. Often occur on newly flooded sites. I'll add this group to the NS database as it hasn't been recorded before. Fantastic observation!

     Reply • 17 Nov 2016

  5. David Francis  see http://anic.ento.csiro.au/insectfamilies/getmultimedia.aspx?id=4179

     Reply • 17 Nov 2016

  7. David Francis  Need detailed close-ups to identify the genus and species

     Reply • 17 Nov 2016

  9. David Francis  Ephydridae spp. species id suggested

     Reply • 20 Nov 2016
• Accipiter cirrhocephalus Collared Sparrowhawk

  11 Nov 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  Identified by the shape of its tail and eyes.

  

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• Eurema smilax smilax Bordered Sulphur Small Grass-yellow

  30 Oct 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  

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• Cacatua tenuirostris Long-billed Corella

  19 Oct 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  

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• Fulica atra Eurasian Coot

  14 Oct 2016 • -37.8,144.9 • Thomas N.

  

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