To Birding Aus Birders :
Yesterday afternoon did a quick round to a few birding spots in Western
Sydney :
SHANES PARK (west of Blacktown and about 50 km west of Sydney) - Here was a
Crested Hawk (Pacific Baza) flying low overhead calling and perched briefly
in a Eucalypt, Speckled Warbler singing to its hearts content, a
White-throated Warbler completing its nest with cob webs gathered from the
base of a Eucalypt.
McGRATHS HILL STW ( approx. 50km west of Sydney, near Windsor) - No sign of
the Bairds Sandpiper, seen during the week (though I did see one at Bushells
Lagoon 2 years ago), but saw a Pacific Golden Plover and Lathams Snipe.
SCHEYVILLE NP ( approx. 50km west of Sydney, near Windsor) - Quite a number
of birds here including Common Bronzweing; Cicadabird; Leaden Flycatchers;
Brush, Fantailed, Golden-bronze and Pallid Cuckoo's; Speckled Warblers and
saw and heard several Painted button-quail at several locations within this
National Park. They were making a booming like call (like that of a Brush
Bronzewing) before sunset.
Also on Saturday, I made a brief visit to BOAT HARBOUR (east of Cronulla and
about 10km south of Sydney). Seen here were Black-browed Albatrosses, a
Great-winged Petrel and hundreds of both Wedge-tailed and Short-tailed
Shearwaters out at sea with the strong southerly breeze driving them fairly
close to shore. On the rocks was a lone Lesser Sand (Mongolian) Plover and 2
Kelp Gulls. In the swampy heath vegetation behind Boat Harbour were some
Southern Emu-wrens and Bar-shouldered Dove.
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Edwin Vella
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