Re:Interesting birds at Mason Park Wetlands

[Chris Shinton <>]

Hi Andy and Birding-ausers
I've birded regularly at Mason Park for some years and have not seen
or heard of a Diamond Firetail in the locality. It may well be an escapee
- there is a house on the opposite side of the canal to the wetlands with
a garden aviary of native birds and this could be the source.
I also saw a Sacred Kingfisher in my back garden in nearby Concord
on 29/3/00, feeding on skinks. It was a great sighting - the bird stayed
for more than 30 minutes, perching on the Hills Hoist and the garden furniture,
and defending itself very vigorously against a resentful Noisy Miner.
The nearest mangroves are about 2 kilometres away, where I have seen
this species regularly for the past couple of months.

Cheers
Chris Shinton.
 
 
 

Andy Burton's Bush Tours wrote:

> ................However a visit to Mason Park, a
> wetland adjoining the Olympic Games site at Homebush Bay saw things improve
> a little. Of particular interest was a Diamond Firetail seen
> in an area of weeds in which Fennel Foeniculum vulgare  was
> prevalent. This lone bird might be assumed to be an escapee but does anyone
> have any other ideas. Other species of interest here included a
> Sacred Kingfisher, this being either a late departing migrant or perhaps
> an overwintering bird. Overwintering Sacred Kingfishers in Sydney tend
> to be found in mangroves and this one was seen near mangroves.