I observed the following species while on my way to and from the  
electoral booth this afternoon
Peewee
Rainbow Lorikeet
Pied Currawong
Spotted Turtledove
Noisy Miner
Butcherbird spp
Aus Magpie
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Figbird
 Not a big list, but you don't expect to get too much at 3.30 pm.  My  
biggest dip was Crested Pigeon.
 Earlier, I popped out to the Manly wader roost for the dawn high  
tide.  A flock of ~ 20 Magpie Geese flew down the coast as I made my  
way to the birds.  There were 68 golden plovers at the fresh water  
pool, while the Grey Plover was hanging out with the godwits on the  
island in the tidal pool.
 It wasn't a particularly high tide, so wader numbers were down on the  
previous week.  However, I did notice a lot more immature Double- 
banded Plovers this week.  The Curlew Sands were busy feeding, with  
many coloured up, so I guess they may be heading off before too long.
 I was scratching my head when I came across an actively feeding godwit  
with an all-black bill.  I thought it was an odd time of year for an  
immature bird.  Then I realised that its bill and part of its forehead  
was coated in the black oily muck lurking round the edges of the  
lake.  I suspect the contamination has come from the adjacent boat  
harbour.
 I called into the Thornside wader roost on the way home and came  
across many of the "missing" loafing at the edge of the receding tide.
Regards, Laurie.
 PS, I found a Tawny Frogmouth on the side of the bitumen on Whites Rd  
where it runs along Lota Ck on my way to the roost.  I couldn't tell  
whether or not it was crook, so I moved it off the road and placed on  
some bare ground behind the fence on the creek side of the road where  
it could blend in.  (I wasn't sure whether it would fall off if I  
placed it on a branch).  It was in the same location when I drove back  
a couple of hours later, but seemed to be sitting (up) comfortably.   
It was also alert to my presence, so I decided that leaving it there  
was the best course of action.
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
 To unsubscribe from this mailing list, 
send the message:
unsubscribe 
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: 
===============================
 
 |