Published sightings for the week ending 18 May 2014.
Sun 18 May
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Turquoise Parrots, Black-chinned Honeyeaters
Fremantle Rd, Gowan near Bathurst (private property).
Saw (but mainly heard) about 4 Black-chinned Honeyeaters feeding in flowering Mugga Ironbark with larger flocks of White-naped and Brown-headed Honeyeaters. We sat down for a break and a pair of Turquoise Parrots flew overhead - we gave chase, but they didn't stop.
(GPS point for the co-ordinator only: 33 06 83S, 149 20 01E.)
Tiffany Mason, Melissa Mason & Gillian Hogendyk
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Swift Parrots
Rathmines, Western Lake Macquarie, Hunter Valley
40+ Swift Parrots lerping amongst Forest Red Gum. Scattered in small flocks.
Steve Roderick
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Pheasant Coucal, Black Kite
Leneghan's Swamp, Hexham
A very brief stop off at Leneghan's on the way back to Sydney from Port Stephens brought quite interesting sightings of a Pheasant Coucal and one (or possibly two) Black Kites. The second Black Kite was seen a few minutes after the first at Pambalong and may have been the same individual.
Roger McGovern
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Swift Parrot
Mulgoa Nature Reserve
Seven birds seen among Bell Miner Colony along Dafa Trail approx. 500 metres north of Dillwynia West trail. They were high in Grey box (?) presumably feeding on lerps and occasionally harassed by Bell Miners.
Mark Ley, John French, Andrew French
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Sat 17 May
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Leaden Flycatcher
Wallaroo National Park
A late sighting for the Hunter Valley. Also four boisterous Shining Bronze-Cuckoos.
Philip Slack
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Little Penguin, Double-banded Plover, Red-necked Stint
Boat Harbour, Kurnell
There was a Little Penguin fishing in the harbour near the southern shore, around midday.
Roosting on the Pimelwi Rocks there were 17 Double-banded plovers, 10 Ruddy Turnstones and 19 Red-necked stints.
Lynn and Bruce Roubin
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Wedged-tailed Eagle, Red-rumped Parrots
Carpetee Valley
A single Wedge-tailed Eagle observed late afternoon along Glen Davis Road near Coco Creek. A pair of Red-rumped Parrots were nearby.
Stephen & Antonella Gilmour
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Swift Parrot
Corner of Ocean and Tallong Drive, Lake Cathie
2 Swift Parrots seen, possibly more calling. Feeding in flowering Forest Red Gum, being harassed by Noisy Miner's.
Tim Morris
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Straw-necked Ibis, Brolga, Comb-crested Jacana, Grey-crowned Babbler
Brothersons Swamp, Coutts Crossing
5,000+ Straw-necked Ibis descending on wetland to roost in paperbarks and one large Forest Red Gum. Probably a gross underestimate as numbers probably greater than 10,000. Adult pair of Brolgas still present, flew to swamp at 1715 hrs. I adult Jacana on wetland. 2+ Babblers heard calling near residence above swamp.
Greg & Val Clancy
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Regent Bowerbird
Coolgardie Plateau south of Alstonville NSW
A large loose feeding group of at least 28 immature male / female Regent Bowerbirds. It is usual for good numbers to move into the area at this time of year but this number is unusually large.
David Charley
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Chestnut Teal, Magpie Goose
Mehi River, Moree
20-30 Magpie Geese are still present since they arrived at the start of February. This is the first time we have seen them at this location leading up into winter time. A major surprise was spotting a single male Chestnut Teal among several tens of Grey Teal (possibly also female Chestnut but not identified). Apart from tens of sightings at Whittaker's Lagoon, 20km West of Moree, this would be the only other sighting in the region, especially unusual to find the bird on the river!
Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines
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Freckled Duck
Lithgow STW
Single female Freckled Duck feeding in first pond. Good numbers of Pink-eared Duck (~40) with lesser numbers of Australian Shovelers (~20). Two Red-whiskered Bulbuls as well - odd?
Max Breckenridge
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Fri 16 May
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Pale-headed Rosella
Cougal NSW
A pair of Pale-headed Rosellas observed feeding in grazing paddock. regularly seen in this general area but it is at the eastern limit of their range in north eastern NSW.
David Charley
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Sooty Owl (2), Barking Owl (5), Swift Parrot (5)
Capertee Valley
Highlights from an afternoon and morning in the valley; pair of Sooty Owls responding to playback along track to Coorongooba campground, five different Barking Owls calling all night around Coorongooba campground with a confiding pair observed near the river crossing, a small flock of Swift Parrots feeding on lerps north of Glen Alice. Other notables seen during visit; Southern Whiteface (4), Black-chinned Honeyeaters (5 drinking at dam), six species of robin, Plum-headed Finches at two sites, pair of White-backed Swallows over Myalla Rd.
Max Breckenridge
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Varied Sittella
Washpool Road, Clarenza
5 Varied Sittellas foraging in Oaks and eucalypts.
Greg & Val Clancy, Warren Thompson
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Little Eagle
Intersection of Four Mile Lane and Washpool Road, Clarenza
One adult light (pale) morph circling over.
Greg Clancy
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Caspian Tern
Sand spit at Munro Island Nature Reserve, Lawrence
7 Caspian Terns roosting with Australian Pelican and Silver Gulls.
Greg & Val Clancy, Warren Thompson
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Pink-eared Duck
Lawrence Egret Colony Swamp
12+ Pink-eared Ducks perched on logs or swimming. No Freckled Ducks located despite search through spotting scope.
Greg & Val Clancy, Warren Thompson
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Peregrine Falcon
Communications tower at Grafton City Railway Station, South Grafton
Adult pair perched on tower.
Greg & Val Clancy, Warren Thompson
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Peregrine Falcon
Fisher Park, Grafton
One Peregrine Falcon flying moderately low over park.
Greg & Val Clancy, Warren Thompson
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Magpie Goose, Plumed Whistling-Duck
NE of Coutts Crossing (former poultry farm)
78+ Magpie Geese and 118 Whistling-Ducks at and near dams
Greg & Val Clancy, Warren Thompson
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Brolga
Brothersons Swamp, Coutts Crossing
Adult pair still present at swamp.
Greg & Val Clancy, Warren Thompson
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Swift Parrot
Former Dept Defence land, Zouch Road, Denham Court (near Campbelltown)
Aprroximately 20 Swift Parrots observed in Grey Box-Forest Red Gum woodland feeding in the canopy, presumably on lerp, and being harassed by local Bell Miner colony.
Paul Burcher
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Hooded Plover
Racecourse Beach, Ulladulla
Hooded Plovers (9) today along with Double-banded Plover (5), Sooty Oystercatchers (6). We managed to get 6 of the flag ID's to send in.
Charles Dove in the Company of Terry Edwell
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Blue-billed Duck
Tallawarra Ash Pond 3, Yallah
Blue-billed Duck (5 males, 2 females), along with Freckled Duck (9), Pink-eared Duck (20+), Musk Duck (Female 1), Australasian Shoveler (6) as well as numerous Chestnut and Grey Teal, Australasian and Hoary-headed Grebe. It was great to see the Freckled Duck in 2013 at the Ash Ponds after a very long absence and now this year a number of Blue-billed Duck have joined them with all the regular species. Not sure how long the Ash Ponds will exist after the whole area is sold off to private enterprise?
Charles Dove in the company of Peter Fackender
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Thu 15 May
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Red-browed Tree-creeper
Mount Gipps in Border Ranges National Park, north of Kyogle NSW
Two birds watch as the fed on the trunks of Eucalypts. Unusual in this area.
David CHarley
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Hooded Plover, Sooty Oystercatcher, Double-banded Plover
Racecourse Beach, Ulladulla
With the onset of winter coming on, the rocky platform of nth Racecourse beach has become popular with the Hooded Plovers (7, all tagged), Sooty Oystercatchers (13) and Double-banded Plovers (4) besides the other usual seabirds. All these birds are quite tolerant of people passing by reasonably close because of it being a popular walk area.
Bob Rusk
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Regent Bowerbird
Caniaba, Lismore NSW
One male and two female Regent Bowerbirds seen on eucalypt hillside moving through camphor laurel understory then to eucalypt canopy. Female shown with berry. Privet and other species now fruiting. First sighting, indicating winter movement to lowland forest.
paul griffin
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Wed 14 May
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Spotted Harrier
Jilliby Swamp, Jilliby
A single adult bird was observed coursing over the grasslands that surround the Jilliby Swamp. Present were 42 Black Ducks, 4 Hardheads, 4 Chestnut Teal, 2 Black Swan,18 Coots and some Swamphens. Only the Masked Lapwings, of which there were 52, took evasive action when the Harrier flew over the wetland. There are no known previous records for Spotted Harriers in the Jilliby/Dooralong Valley.
Alan Morris & 20 members of the CCGBNSW
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Plum-headed Finch, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Martindale (near intersection Martindale and Jones Reserve Roads)
As a follow up to the sightings I posted earlier in May (when birds were seen to be nest-building), Tom Clarke and I watched 5 dependant juveniles being fed by adults on wires about 100 m east of the nest-building location. This would suggest that previous breeding in the area has occurred, particularly in combination with the nest-building behaviour seen earlier. If so, this would be the first breeding in the Hunter for over 20 years. An adult pair was seen 'prospecting' through dead grass stems, possibly for more nest material? In total there were 5 adults and 5 begging young seen here. Also 5 Spiny-cheeked HE's in a tree in a nearby yard - a good count for this species in one tree in the mid-Hunter.
Mick Roderick and Tom Clarke
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Peregrine Falcon
Sussex Inlet
Pair of Peregrine Falcons seen at dusk , in a mangrove tree on Jewfish Bay, at the back of River Rd Badgee (Sussex Inlet),
Andrew Christian
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Peregrine Falcon, White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Whistling Kite
Settlement Ponds, Port Macquarie
All at the same time these three raptors were checking out the ducks etc on the ponds.
Ian Kerr
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Brown-headed Honeyeater
Wises Track, Royal National Park
Party of 6 Brown-headed Honeyeaters huddled together around midday, in tree by Wises Track, near where Swift Parrots were recently sighted.
Bruce Roubin
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Black Bittern
Woy Woy
A Black Bittern was seen in a channel that flows under Railway St around 200 m from Shoalhaven Drive. It flew south, along the channel, away from the railway line side. Also seen were two Glossy Black-Cockatoos on the Great North Walk, where the Patonga Service Trail intersects with Thommos Loop Track.
Carol and Peter Abbott
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Tue 13 May
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Turquoise Parrot, Diamond Firetail, Speckled Warbler, Painted Buttonquail, Grey Currawong
Wollondilly River (Private property)
Spent a night at a private property on the Wollondilly River (Burragorang Valley, southern Blue Mountains) and was delighted to find a host of woodland species including 6 x Turquoise Parrots, 12 x Diamond Firetail, 3 x Painted Buttonquail (including a half-grown chick), Speckled Warbler, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Weebill & Barn Owl (heard only). Also 4 x Grey Currawongs seen nearby.
Marc Anderson
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Swift Parrot
Wises Firetrail, Royal National Park
One single Swift Parrot observed (initially heard then seen) approximately 600 m in from the northern gate around 9.00 am. Seen licking tree branch presumably feeding on lerps. Lots of honeyeaters around track as well.
Deryk Engel
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Regent Honeyeater
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo
Another solitary Regent Honeyeater spotted today in the exact same spot (and time) as the birds spotted over the weekend at the Gibbon lake in the ironbarks to the right of the viewing shelter. It stuck around for 10 minutes, feeding and calling. [Moderator's note (NH): Thanks for the update, Andrew]
Andrew O'Brien
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Gang-gang Cockatoo, Pilotbird
Narrow Neck Peninsula, Katoomba
At least 15, probably several more Gang-gangs along the firetrail at Narrowneck. Pairs & juveniles. 2 Pilotbirds on the edge of the carpark. Also numerous Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and at least 5 White-naped Honeyeaters migrating past.
Jenny Stiles and Jillian Nolan
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Swift Parrot
Private property, Macquarie Grove Road, Cobbitty
A single Swift Parrot flew into property at 1030am from the south west and left after only a quick stop in a southerly direction.
Brendon Levot and Adam Woods
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Fuscous Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird
Eulah Creek
One of our lemon-scented eucalypts is flowering, attracting lots of nectar-eating birds, including the recently reported Red Wattlebird (there are two now). Today, for the first time since we moved here in late 2006, a Fuscous Honeyeater was found feeding in the tree. They are common in woodland in the Nandewar Range, just 10 km East of here, but had so far never been found by us this far out in the foothills, in open farmland (paddocks) with scattered trees.
Michael Dahlem
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Mon 12 May
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Wedge-tailed Eagle, Little Lorikeets
Milperra
Pair of Little Lorikeets flying over suburbs towards former Riverlands Golf Course. Single juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring over the former Riverlands Golf Course, pursued by outraged Australian Ravens.
David James
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Sat 10 May
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Eastern Osprey, Red-browed Finch, Masked Woodswallow
10km North of Moree
An Eastern Osprey was observed snatching a fish with its powerful talons on the Gwydir River. Australian Ravens and Torresian Crows pursued the raptor (possibly also for its catch) as it flew over the river. This is the first sighting this year of one in the region. In 2013, at least two-four birds were present in the Moree area from March-August on the west of Moree township as well as 10km North of Moree on the Gwydir River (this current site). It's amazing that these birds come far inland, note that the Ospreys vanished during spring & summer so maybe they must venture inland during autumn & winter? About 10 Red-browed Finches (also found here early last month - April, but didn't report) were also found together with all the other finches - Zebras, Double-barred, Plum-headed and Chestnut-breasted Mannikins. This is the first sighting of Red-browed Finches by us west of Pallamallawa, so another further 30km inland making the site possibly the western edge of the species' range. A flock of about 45 Masked Woodswallows were also seen and heard, an unusual time of the year of this species. A White-throated Gerygone was also heard calling, another one only found here very occasionally.
Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines
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Fri 9 May
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Nankeen Night-Herons
Northern shore of Lake Illawarra, Warrawong
Photographed 7, while another one perched on a nearby jetty as another did a fly-by heading east, making 9 in total. Witnessed one flop into the water & hop back out with a small fish. The one on the right (grass area) was prevented by the furthest 3 from joining the fishing line. Apologies for the photo quality.
Paul Lynch
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Red-rumped Parrot
Shellharbour Rd, Warrawong
Three Red-rumped Parrots, southern end of Shellharbour Road, Warrawong. Third sighting of these birds this year all near the same location. Previous sightings were 24/02/2014 and 03/05/2014.
Paul Lynch
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Sat 26 Apr
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Rockwarbler
Royal National Park (Wattamolla)
Saw two birds land briefly on a sandstone slab in the heath forest above the beach and then vanished quickly just before it started to rain. Also saw a White-bellied Sea Eagle with a fish in his talons being hassled by two ravens!
Lisa Abra
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