Possible Tasmanian Morepork in Victoria

["Mike Carter" <>]

I'd be surprised if Pink Robin wasn't a trans-Bass Strait migrant. Back in 
the 1960's & 70's when our seabird observations were land-based we 
(including Chris and others) made regular, perhaps weekly visits to Cape 
Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. We came to 'expect' to find 
a brown Pink Robin or two each autumn in the bigger shrubs on the otherwise 
relatively bare tip of the promontory in the same sort of place one would 
look for migrants on a UK headland. They were also found at Sorrento in 
rather less bleak surroundings. Other regular migrants were Silvereyes and 
Grey Fantails but strangely I recall few Flame Robins. Vagrants possibly or 
assumed to be from Tasmania found there included Olive Whistler and 
interestingly, a Boobook. Vagrants clearly from inland Australia included a 
Pied Butcherbird, an Elegant Parrot, a Yellow-tufted Honeyeater and a 
White-backed Swallow. So the origin of the Pink Robins is not certain but is 
highly suggestive.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza  VIC 3930
Tel  (03) 9787 7136