Birdline NSW Weekly Update

Birdline NSW

Published sightings for the week ending 20 Mar 2011.

Sun 20 Mar	Speckled Warblers Longneck Lagoon (Scheyville NP) (approx. 55km NW of Sydney CBD) I visited Longneck Lagoon for an hour or so this afternoon and saw 5 Speckled Warblers that were foraging with the Red-browed and Double-barred Finches. I have not seen Speckled Warblers at Scheyville for a very long time (though other birdo's have here recently) and seeing 5 together is not bad. Edwin Vella
	Pied Butcherbird Acacia Gardens (approx. 4 km north of Blacktown CBD) While having lunch, my ears were tuned to the unmistakable call of a Pied Butcherbird from outside the house. This is my first record for the Blacktown LGA. These birds appear to be slowly establishing themselves in the Sydney region. I heard a pair a few weeks ago from the golf course at Wisemans Ferry and there has been several other sightings over the past year or so within the Sydney area (DeeWhy, Richmond etc). Edwin Vella
	Topknot Pigeon Wellbank St. Concord Flock of fifty flying over in tight formation-good for the house list! Dion Hobcroft
Sat 19 Mar	White-throated Needletails Bulga (NSW Hunter region) Many seen flying over (at times just over the trees) throughout the day.also present were Red-capped and Hooded Robins, numerous Speckled Warblers, flocks of Grey-crowned Babblers, Striped Honeyeaters, Little Lorikeets, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Brown Tree-creeper, lots of Mistletoebirds etc. Cicadabird and Scarlet Honeyeaters also heard. It was great to escape the Sydney rain on Saturday! Edwin Vella and Tony Dawe
	White Throated Nightjar Wharf Road, Port Macquarie Several White Throated Nightjar's and a single Owlet Nightjar were calling during a great night under the big full moon. Tim Morris
	White-throated Nightjar (2) Powerful Owl (1) Mitchell Park, Cattai National Park Excellent views of both species were highlights of a nocturnal search. Dion Hobcroft and Dr. Stuart Summers
	Black-necked Stork Pioneer Dairy Wetlands near Tuggerah The adult female Black-necked Stork first reported at Mardi near Wyong on 17/3, had moved to Pioneer Dairy Wetlands about 1 km to the east on 18/3 and was still there today. The last previous record for the Central Coast was at Pioneer Dairy Wetlands in August 2002. The photo was taken by Ella de Jong. Alan Morris & Ella de Jong
Fri 18 Mar	Wood Sandpiper, Common Koel, Black Falcon, Little Button-quail Lake Cargelligo and surrounds There was good birding in the lake Cargelligo area on 18/3/11 including a Wood Sandpiper, Juvenile Dollarbird at the STW, there was a Common Koel on private property at Curlew Waters, first record for the area? At Chat Alley there were 2 Black Falcons at Chat Alley, Ground Cuckooshrike x 3 near Murrin Bridge intersection, Little Buttonquails on road to Lake Brewster early morning Lots of raptors following mouse plague -- 8 Black-shouldered Kites on field behind Chat Alley - many many Kestrels & Spotted Harriers on many fields. Little Eagles and, Whistling Kites. . Yellow Rosella at Lake Brewster Weir Nevil Lazarus
	Hoary-headed Grebe, Red-necked Avocet Deep Pond (Kooragang Island, Newcastle) Single Hoary-headed today during the monthly count at Deep Pond, in breeding plumage. Also 6 Aussie Grebes (for first time back here in 12 months). 48 Red-necked Avocets which are likely the first birds to return to the Hunter Estuary since Feb 2010. Also nice was 101 Black-tailed Godwits (and 14 Marshies and a single Greenshank). 1600 Chestnut Teal as well. Mick Roderick and Ann Lindsey
Thu 17 Mar	Black-necked Stork Mardi Rd Mardi near Wyong Female observed in slashed paddock near large farm dam. No bands visible. First Central Coast record since 2002 Paul Shelley
	Square-tailed Kite Bomaderry NSW This morning at 9:50am I saw a Square-tailed Kite soaring low close to the Princes Hwy at Bomaderry near the Tafe college roundabout. Carla Jackett
Wed 16 Mar	Topknot Pigeon Manly Selective Campus One bird flapping around the Lilly-Pilly trees, and flew off south towards Brookvale/Harbord areas. Unexpected here. Henry Coleman
	Spotless Crake Triangle Pond, Sydney Olympic Park Late in the afternoon we jagged a single Spotless Crake in the open on the ooze in front of the papyrus beds. After several minutes of brilliant views it ran for cover, startled by its own shadow perhaps. It shortly reappeared, but soon panicked and fled again. After half an hour it had not reshown, so any would-be observers are advised that patience may be required. David James and Dion Hobcroft
	Wandering Tattler Long Reef Two Wandering Tattlers still present. Also 50 plus RN Stints, 5 Grey-Tailed Tattlers, 2 Pacific Golden Plovers, 5 Ruddy Turnstones. David James and Dion Hobcroft
	Spotless Crake Triangle Pond, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay Single bird showing well at the Papyrus area in late afternoon. Dion Hobcroft and David James
	Mangrove Honeyeater Yamba A pair of Mangrove Honeyeaters were seen on Hickey Island today. Easily heard then found in the densest mangrove. Other local birds included mangrove gerygone, 4 wandering tattlers, 10 plus eastern curlews, 1 great knot and 6 golden plovers 2 in full breeding plumage. Tim Faulkner
	White-eared Monarch Iluka Nature Reserve A pair of White-eared Monarchs were seen this morning. Hard to view very high in the canopy. Not calling much at all. Located in rainforest of the Bluff rd Tim Faulkner
	Brown Quali Bundeena New South Wales Just now whilst driving through the township of Bundeena I came across a freshly struck (blood still moist) Brown Quail. The unusual thing about this record is that the road I found the bird on is the main one within the township itself, the road being bound by shops, a small cleared vacant parcel of land, a beach, a RSL club, a children's play ground and a small reserve (100m by 100m in size) that occurs on a headland. The nearest large parcel of bushland (Royal National Park) is present 600m south of where I found the bird, houses dominating that landscape. I can only assume the bird is an aviary escapee. Deryk Engel
Tue 15 Mar	Blue-winged Parrot Wanganella area, Deniliquin district Heading north, the first Blue-winged Parrot for the year flew over at the 8 Mile Creek bridge, south of Wanganella. A Spotted Harrier was seen hunting over the revegetated sandhill nearby and a Brown Quail was observed on the edge of the sandhill. Philip Maher
	Wandering Tattler Soldiers point, Norah Head The Wandering Tattler was still present at Soldiers Point this morning. It was feeding with a Grey-tailed Tatller, 3 Pacific Golden Plovers (one in breeding plumage), 11 Curlew Sandpipers & 20+ Red-necked Stints. At nearby Pelican Point there were more Red-necked Stints, 7 Red-capped Plovers and 3 Double-banded Plovers. Alan Morris
	Yellow-faced Honeyeater Ambarvale (Campbelltown) NSW Noticed for the first time a couple of Yellow Faced Honeyeaters feeding in our Grevillea bush. They have been feeding there for about 4 days now. Found it hard, at first, to I/D them as they are small and quick. We normally have quite a few of Little Wattlebirds around here and was very surprised to see this smaller honeyeater. Hope they establish themselves around here. (Moderator's Note: Yellow-faced Honeyaters have commenced their migrations northwards from Victoria and can now be found in increased numbers across Sydney and other costal areas) Owen Webb
	Powerful Owl Bonnie Vale Camp Ground, Royal National Park One bird heard calling at around 5.00am this morning. This bird called for approximately 5 minutes. On the 11th of March at 10.59pm a Powerful Owl was also heard calling at this site. That bird called for around 7 minutes. Deryk Engel
Mon 14 Mar	Whiskered Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Plumed Whistling-Duck Native Dog Swamp Berrigan (South) Whiskered Tern: many all over swamp, over 100. Some still in breeding plumage, others moulting out, immature birds here too so they probably bred here over the summer. White-winged Black Tern: one found with Whiskered Tern, black near ear and in front of eye, whiter rump ID from Whiskered Tern, also a bit smaller. Plumed Whistling-Duck: still here though in lower numbers than late 2010. Also a few kilometres south at Boomanoomana 2 Buff-baned Rails along the roadside and 8 White-throated Needletails over the wetlands. Michael Ramsey
	Superb Parrot, White-browed Woodswallow Wahgunyah State Forest Superb Parrot: great to see again, small flock of 3 observed, 2 more heard, autumn winter visitors here from where I am not sure. White-browed Woodswallow: this species has been absent all spring and this summer, probably breeding inland, finally seen them again, perhaps they are dispersing back south again. Also nearby, on Warmatta Rd (the access road to the forest) a Spotted Harrier, 6 Plumed Whistling-Duck, 3 Buff-banded Rails and a calling Brown Quail. Michael Ramsey
Sun 13 Mar	Square-tailed Kite Mollymook Whilst visiting relatives we were pleased to see a Square-tailed Kite overhead, at Mollymook near the Bowling Club. Martin & Penny Potter
	Grey Goshawk Terry's Creek, near bridge on Epping Road AM: Single bird perched in tree top being harassed by 3 White Cockatoos, with flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and 4 Kookaburras watching from poles of nearby electrical substation. Charles Allan
	Little Corella Central and surrounds, Sydney Very large numbers have again moved back to the city over the past 2+ weeks, with flocks of up to about 200 birds seen on several occasions inc today at Central Station, yesterday at Moore Park. Feeding on plane trees in city parks. Eric Finley
Sat 12 Mar	Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Brown Quail Mount Annan Botanic Gardens Saw one Yellow-billed Spoonbill in Lake Fitzpatrick with two Australian Ibis. Also a Sacred Kingfisher and numerous Red-rumped Parrots, 2 Darter, Australasian Grebe. On the track between Lake Fitzpatrick and Lake Sedgwick we flushed 12 Brown Quail from thick grass who quickly hid under some shrubs on the other side of the track. When we followed for a closer look they returned to the grass. Jenny Stiles
Tue 8 Mar	Great Knot Urunga Boardwalk, Bellinger river estuary On 8/3/11 Graeme Catt and others saw a pair of Great Knots on the mudflats from the Urunga Boardwalk. One of the Knots was banded with a metal band on one leg, and black over white flags on the other leg.The Australian Wader Study Group advised that this bird would have been flagged at Chongming Dao, Shanghai, China, which has used the flag combination black/white since 2006 Graeme Catt per Alan Morris

Birdline NSW is sponsored by Birding NSW, Birds Australia - Southern NSW & ACT and Cumberland Bird Observers Club and co-ordinated and hosted by Eremaea Birds.

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