Hi Frank et al
Wood Sandpipers in the past were fairly
regular at both Bushell’s and Pitt Town Lagoon
but with the drought/drainage of both wetlands recently they appeared to have
moved elsewhere. I have seen 3 Wood Sandpipers together on one occasion at Pitt
Town Lagoon but I know Keith has had more sightings than me of this bird in the
Hawkesbury.
Edwin
-----Original Message-----
From:
[ On Behalf Of Frank Hemmings
Sent: Monday, 20 February 2006
3:16 PM
To:
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] NSW -
Hawkesbury area - 18th Feb
Visited the quail site in the
paddock at the corner of Cuppitts lane and Cornwallis Rd along with Dave Hair
and Alastair Poore on Saturday 18th feb. Spent about an
hour walking through the paddock in grass that was up to chest height at
times (but frequently much less). Saw a single Brown Quail which was
flushed from the roadside by cyclists passing by. After a while we
flushed several King Quail in shorter grass on the rise towards the tree line
marking the end of the property (opposite to Cornwallis Rd edge). Between
us I'm sure there were at least six birds, and this included one definite male
(not seen by me). Also a single Stubble Quail flushed from the same
general area (not seen clearly by all of us). King Quail appeared to be
the most numerous of all, in keeping with Edwin et al's sightings on the
following day. Also, didn't see any button-quail of either sort.
Incidentally, for those who are
interested, the tall grass in the paddock with the sticky seeds is actually
Johnson Grass (Sorghum
halopense), and much of the lower grass in the area
where we flushed the King Quail was largely Sporobolus creber, but
also some African Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula).
Also visited Pitt Town Lagoon, with
many interesting birds. My highlights were: most finches which could
be expected (Zebra Finch, Double-barred Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin,
Nutmeg Mannikin & Goldfinch); large numbers of Shovelers; a small flock of
Red-necked Avocets; 7 Red-kneed Dotterels.
Also checked out the pond closest to
the road at the off-limits McGraths Hill treatment plant. Couldn't see
the hoped for Wood Sandpiper, but saw a few other birds including an Australian
Spotted Crake.
And finally, whilst driving home on
Old Windsor Rd with dense newish suburbia on one side of the road (Parklea?), a
flock of White-winged Choughs flew up from the other, yet-to-be-developed side
of the road (before the traffic lights at Miami Rd).
Frank Hemmings
Curator
John T. Waterhouse Herbarium
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of New South Wales
UNSW SYDNEY 2052
AUSTRALIA
Tel +61 2 9385 3274
Fax +61 2 9385 1558
CRICOS Provider Code:00098G
