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Beautiful Firetails and Brush Bronzewings in NSW

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Subject: Beautiful Firetails and Brush Bronzewings in NSW
From: "Allan Morris" <>
Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 20:30:42 +1000
Hi Birders,
Ihave been interested in the comments about the presence of Beautiful Firetails in the Capertee Valley. Based on information provided to the editors of the NSW Bird Reports, the first records for the species in the Valley was 1 seen east of Capertee by Neal & Judy Russill on 30 April 1994 and one at the property "Rockview" Glen Davis on 7 August 1994, seen by Barry Pascoe. It was noted at the time that this represented an extension of the known range of the species. The previous known north-west limit of range was from the Cox's River across to the Colo River and north to the Widden Valley (Morris, McGill & Holmes 1981 Hndlist of Birds in New Sout Wales).
Since 1994, the bird has been recorded gain at "Rockview" Glen Davis when 4 were seen on 2 April 1995; 2 same place 5 April-25 May 1997 by Barry Pascoe, Elizabeth Karplus et al; In 1998 Chris Gladwin  recorded them in the "Capertee Valley" 1 June & 5 July, (I have not completed compiling the 1998 Bird Report as yet so there may be more records for 1998 and also for 1999). However it looks as if the bird is well established in the southrn part of the Capertee Valley at present. In 1997David Geering recorded a further extension of range to the north east when he found them on theWomerah Trail, Parr SRA on 18 April. This is the first occasion that they had been found east of the Putty Road and north of the Hawkesbury River. It is most probable that actual northern limit of their range has yet to be fully defined.
 
I was surprised to read about the Brush Bronzewing near Maroubra. At first I thought that surely there must be some records for Botany Bay National Park around Cape Banks & Henry Head. However my research showed no records for  that stretch of the coast from South Head to Cape Banks. However they are regularly sighted in bushland on the northern side of Sydney Harbour and south of Port Hacking. As more sections of the coastal strip between South Head and Cape Banks are permanently reserved and the coastal heath allowed to grow back, maybe the Brush Bronzewing at Maroubra is the first of a return to a resident population.
 
Alan Morris
NSWFOC Records Officer
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