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Last Saturday, whilst myself and Lorne Johnson
spotlighting in the rainforest at Katandra Reserve in NSW Central coast (about
80km north of Sydeny CBD), we heard about 2-3 Sooty Owls, being
very vocal for the whole 2 and 1/2 hours we were there (from the very moment we
go out of our car till the time we left there. See also my report on Katandra -
13th Jan. 2001, "Spotlighting at Erina and Bobbin Head NSW Jan 2001").
The Owls first betrayed their prescence by a couple of "falling bomb"
calls and was followed most of the time by 'high-pitched screams" (quite
similar to those of the Lesser Sooty Owl call on the BOC tape - cassette 6) and
by rasping calls by possibly a young bird (as that given in the last 12 seconds
of the Sooty Owl call on BOC tape - cassette 6). We never played
any of the tapes/made any immitations of their call during the time,
but quoting these tapes as references for anyone interested. I did manage a
brief glimpse of the bird in flight at the time, but the Owls were mainly away
from us.
We most likely also heard a Poweful Owl give one or
two notes and Tawny Frogmouth, but definately heard a Boobook Owl and Owlet
Nightjars. several Sugar Gliders, Mountain Brush-tailed Possums (possibly
heard?), Grey-headed Flying fox (feeding on Bangalow Palm fruits), Eastern
Froglets (Crinea signifera), Dwarf Green Tree Frogs (Litoria fallax), Leaf Green
Tree Frogs (Litoria phyllochroa), Weasel Skink (Saproscincus mustleina) (one
found perched on tree sleeping?) and a quite a large red crayfish that
Lorne spotted, were also present.
Edwin Vella
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