Birdline New South Wales
Published sightings for the week ending 5 Oct 2014.
Sun 5 Oct Little Lorikeet Eulah Creek
A small group of 5 Little Lorikeets was following Bullawa Creek uphill
this morning (coming from the plains, flying towards the range), about
20 km outside the contiguous forest or woodland of the Nandewar Range.
Usually I find Little Lorikeets only farther east, in the range or the
wooded foothills. Their calls were recorded ("Further information"
link).
Michael Dahlem
Regent Honeyeater,White-backed Swallow,White-winged Triller. Widden
Valley,Upper Hunter Valley.
5 or 6 Regent Honeyeaters in the valley today but I think they must of
abandoned there nest I didn't notice any breeding activity also seen a
White-backed Swallow and 2 White-winged Trillers.
michael ronan.
Red-backed Kingfisher Bimbi State Forest
Whilst not a very uncommon bird for NSW, this one was seen at Bimbi
State Forest west of Grenfelll on the western slopes. As such this
appears to be somewhat less than ordinary. Seem in flight at eye level
in an open area in Callitris and Box woodland. Large bill, greeny blue
wings and reddish brown on body. I waited around for an hour or more
hoping to see it again but no luck.
Kim Farley-Larmour
Pacific Baza Pacific Highway, Shark Creek
One Baza in flight near Highway heading east, attacked by 2-3 Magpies.
Greg Clancy
Black Kite Hume Highway near Bowning
Single bird gliding above road being mobbed by a pair of magpie-larks.
Rodney Falconer
Red-backed Kingfisher, White-backed Swallow Eulah Creek
The two Red-backed Kingfishers are still present in the Bullawa Creek
bed, near the big bridge at the Eulah Creek Road crossing. One bird was
heard calling repeatedly (probably the male; on the right in the
composite photo), the other was silent (probably the female, on the
left, not calling in the photo). Two White-backed Swallows also still
present (photo taken) and both Striated Pardalotes and Rainbow
Bee-eaters inspecting nesting tunnels (photos taken). No sign of
nesting activity of the Red-backed Kingfishers, though. Leaden
Flycatchers and male Rufous Songlark were very active. Calls of the
Red-backed Kingfisher/s were successfully recorded (see "Further
information" link).
Michael Dahlem
Sat 4 Oct Rufous Fieldwren Silverton Rd 10km to Silverton from Broken
Hill, New South Wales
James and Surong Gunn
Eastern Koel, Satin Bowerbird Coutts Crossing Village
An adult male Koel was observed briefly flying past our house. I had a
limited view of it but it gave a short burst of the typical Koel flight
contact call to confirm its identity. This is my first record of this
species this season. An adult male Satin Bowerbird was bathing in a
dish of water at our back door. Yesterday it was mimicking the calls of
the Australian Magpie (alarm call) and Wedge-tailed Eagle.
Greg Clancy
Square-tailed Kite Middle Dural, NW Sydney
I flying low over tree tops West of Great Northern Road at 1pm
Chris Gladwin
Spectacled Monarch. lane Cove National Park.Whale Rock entrance.
Got my first Sydney record of a Spectacled Monarch this morning I
am.not sure whether this species has been recorded in Sydney before
also watched a Black-faced Monarch catch a large dragon fly pull its
head and wings off and eat the body.also 1 Rufous Fantail present and a
few Leaden Flycatchers looking for nest sites.and a Pacific Baza eating
a Green Tree-frog. (Moderator's Note: Spectacled Monarchs are very rare
in Sydney but are becoming more common. AKM)
michael ronan.
Rose-crowned fruit-dove (imm.) Caniaba, Lismore NSW
Observed on hill in euc. woodland briefly surveying unfamiliar terrain
while executing passage between open forest areas.
paul griffin
Painted Honeyeater, Plum-headed Finch Capertee Valley--Genowlan Bridge
One Painted Honeyeater calling, and a trio of Plum-headed Finches in
the brambles at the northern end of the bridge. Restless Flycatcher
nesting and a pair of Little Eagles were also seen overhead.
Nick Leseberg
Turquoise Parrot, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Hooded Robin, Diamond
Firetail Capertee Valley--Coco Creek
Things are still pretty quiet in the valley, but there was a bit of
activity around the bridge at Coco Creek, with the above species plus
Yellow-tufted and Fuscous Honeyeaters.
Nick Leseberg
Fri 3 Oct Spotted Quail-thrush, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Mogo Camp,
Yengo NP on Settlers Rd between Bucketty and St. Albans
A pair of Spotted Quail-thrush were foraging on the grass in the camp
site and a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike was feeding in the camp site
trees. Other birds present included Yellow-tufted, White-eared,
Yellow-faced and Scarlet Honeyeaters.
Alan Morris & Allan Benson
Gang-Gang Cockatoo, Powerful Owl, White-throated Nightjar, Grey
Currawong Morton National Park - Wog Wog Campground
Nocturnal birds quite vocal near the campground with Powerful Owl,
Southern Boobook, Tawny Frogmouth and White-throated Nightjar all heard
from tent. Also seen/heard early this morning were Gang-gang Cockatoo,
Grey Currawong, Sacred Kingfisher & Scarlet Robin.
Marc Anderson
Blue-billed Duck, Freckled Duck, Plum-headed Finch Gum Swamp (Forbes)
10 Plum-headed Finches collecting Cumbungee seed heads and carrying it
off, possibly nesting. 6 Blue-billed Ducks on the swamp (two pairs and
one female still had a large chick with her). Quite a few Freckled
Ducks.
Warren Chad & Nick Leseberg
Diamond Firetail, Turquoise Parrot, Hooded Robin Back Yamma SF
Plenty of birds around Back Yamma this morning, with the above species
the highlights.
Nick Leseberg
Southern Emuwren, Brown-headed Honeyater, Brown Quail Voyager Pt 1'
Cell
A female Southern Emuwren carrying a grub and disapearing into a dense
clump of heath possibly has a nest with chick(s); male calling close
by. A few Brown Quails flushed from swampy heath. Single Brown-headed
Honeyeater seen and calling. A few Rufous Whistlers and Sacred
Kingfishers calling for 2nd week in a row. Golden Whistlers and Grey
Fantails appear to have left, but a (late?) Fan-tailed Cuckoo calling
(they've been quiet elsewhere locally this week). Single male
Mistletoebird in full song. Resident Weebills and White-eared
Honeyeaters conspicuous.
David James
Thu 2 Oct Little Penguin Chinamans Beach, Balmoral, Sydney
1 Little Penguin swimming around off rocks northern end of beach 3 p.m.
Always nice to see them inside the Heads; probably not often seen in
Middle Harbour.
David Potter
Red-backed Kingfisher, White-backed Swallow Eulah Creek
Following the calls of a Rufous Songlark that I subsequently recorded,
I stopped at the Bullawa Creek bridge and went a few hundred metres
downstream. Apart from various more common birds (all of which were
very active around 13:00), found a pair of Red-backed Kingfishers (only
ever seen before in Walgett; see photo - also took a more distant photo
of both birds together; possibly recorded their calls too) and a pair
of White-backed Swallows hawking for insects above the dry creek bed
(photo inset). Rainbow Bee-eaters and Striated Pardalotes are building
nests in a vertical clay bank gouged out by the creek 1.5 years ago.
Female Leaden Flycatcher and a very vocal group of Black-faced
Cuckoo-shrikes also present.
Michael Dahlem
Crested Shrike-tit Terrys Creek Parklands
Near walking track of bushland, 40 metres north of Vimiera Park edge -
Epping side of Terrys Creek. [Moderator's note (NH): This is a 'good'
bird for Sydney's suburbia.]
Irene Timmins
Spotted Bowerbird, White-backed Swallow, White-fronted Honeyeater Round
Hill NR
Pretty tough going here as well, but a few good birds were found. A
little eremophila in flower but not much, so the birds are pretty thin
on the ground.
Nick Leseberg
Grey-fronted Honeyeater Nombinnie NR
One Grey-fronted Honeyeater seen at the old wheat paddock site during a
pretty tough morning. All the usuals were found including Chestnut
Quail-thrush, Southern Scrub-robin, Shy Heathwren, Yellow-plumed
Honeyeater and Gilbert's Whistler, but things were fairly quiet.
Nick Leseberg
Painted Buttonquail Wilson Street, Botany, 2019
Decapitated Painted Buttonquail found on pathway, corner Wiggins St.
Nearest suitable survivable would be Botany Golf Course, which is only
a few hundred meters away.
David Mitford
Spectacled Monarch Ourimbah RTA Reserve
Heard and seen about 100 metres from the entrance on left side on track
(about 50 metres from the first bend) as we walked in. Still showing
very well in same spot as we walked out. Other birds of note: Scarlet
Honeyeater and Bassian Thrush.
Allan Benson and Alan Morris
Wed 1 Oct Rufous Whistler, Rufous Fantail, Leaden Flycatcher,
Black-faced Monarch, Dollarbird Lane Cove National Park--Fairyland
Lot of migrating birds which I don't normally see around Lane Cove
including Rufous Fantail, Leaden Flycatcher, Scarlet Honeyeater,
White-cheeked Honeyeater, Black-faced Monarch and a first for the site,
pair of Rufous Whistler. Also Olive-backed Oriole, Striated Heron,
Dollarbird, Sacred Kingfisher and plenty of New Holland and
Yellow-faced Honeyeaters.
Fatih Sam
Black-tailed Native-hen, Red-capped Plover, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper,
Red-necked Avocet Cotton Farm, Ashley
At least three Black-tailed Native-hens were observed running in open
treeless farmland, the first since about January. About 30 Red-capped
Plovers still remain (of the 50 that were found on 2 July) spread over
3 large irrigation farm dams in a 5km radius. 4 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
were observed, the first for the year. About 40 Red-necked Avocets are
also still present. 2 Gull-billed Tern, 6 Caspian Tern and 90 Whiskered
Terns were also found.
Curtis Hayne
Chestnut-rumped Heath-wren, Black-chinned Honeyeater Kings Plains
National Park
2 Chestnut-rumped Heath-wrens showing well, 3 Black-chinned Honeyeaters
Greg Roberts
Channel-billed Cuckoo submissions August/September 2014 NSW
We published the 10 first arrivals (including five August reports). All
sightings of CBCs listed below are in accordance with the typical
arrival dates of CBC in the region: 16/08/2014, Castlecrag, Sydney,
Murray Lord; 16/08/2014, Minchinbury, L. Morgan; 17/08/2014, Middle
Cove, Lorna Bloom; 18/08/2014, Terrigal, Jeff Drudge; 21/08/2014,
Middle Cove, Lorna Bloom; 03/09/2014, Eulah Creek, Michael Dahlem;
05/09/2014, Balmain, Robert Griffin; 05/09/2014, Bundeena, Deryk Engel
and Stephen Bloomfield; 07/09/2014, Kurrajong Hills, Eric Finley;
07/09/2014, Bicentennial Park (Glebe), Simon Gorta; 07/09/2014, North
Epping, Frances Rein; 14/09/2014, Warriewood Wetlands, Jayden Walsh;
18/09/2014, Deep Creek Reserve, Narrabeen, Jacqui Marlow; 19/09/2014,
Mulgoa, Tanja Van; 20/09/2014,South Grafton Water Reserve (Abattoir
TSR), Greg Clancy & Alan Pilkington; 23/09/2014, Warriewood Wetlands
and Irrawong Reserve, Jayden Walsh; 27/09/2014, Camden, Lydia Berger;
28/09/2014, Eastlakes golf course, David Mitford; 28/09/2014, Woy Woy,
Greg and Georgina Shaw (photo); 29/09/2014, Penrith, Akos and Donata
Lumnitzer. We decided not to publish any further in-season CBC
sightings (except for unusual observations).
Nikolas Haass (moderator)
Tue 30 Sep Blue-billed Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Whiskered Tern,
Musk Duck , Magpie-lark Little Llangothlin Natrure Reserve
2+ Blue-billed Ducks, 8+ Shovelers, 10+ Whiskered Terns and 2 adult
male Musk Ducks. Also an albino Magpie-lark at lake edge with 2 normal
coloured birds.
Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
Little Friarbird, White-backed Swallow South of Bunnan, Upper Hunter
Valley
3 Little Friarbirds at a site 5km south of Bunnan along Ridgelands
Road. Uncommon in the Hunter Valley. Also several Diamond Firetails,
Brown Treecreepers (with dependant young), vocal White-winged Trillers
and Rufous Songlarks and 2x White-backed Swallows.
Mick Roderick and Tom Clarke
Speckled Warbler and Buff-rumped Thornbill Capertee Valley--Port
Macquarie Rd
Speckled Warbler and Buff-rumped Thornbill found at random spots along
the road.
David James and Dion Hobcroft
Little Eagle, Restless Flycatcher Capertee Valley--Genowlan Bridge
Nesting Restless Flycatcher (thanks to Carol Proberts) and a pair of
Little Eagles at the Genowlan Bridge, but not the usual specialties
there.
Dion Hobcroft and David James
Painted Buttonquail, Pallid Cuckoo Capertee Valley--Glen Alice
Many platelets between the church and the river but we flushed just a
single Painted Buttonquail. 1 Pallid Cuckoo calling, the only one we
heard all day. One of very few Rufous Songlarks in the cemetery.
Several Sacred Kingfishers in the red gums by the river.
David James and Dion Hobcroft
Diamond Firetail, Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper Capertee
Valley--Crown Station Rd
The Capertee Valley is not her usual self, with no flowering eucalypts
or mistletoes. A single Diamond Firetail and a female Hooded Robin on
Crown Station Road with several Brown Treecreepers, Jacky Winters,
Fuscus Honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallows.
Dion Hobcroft and David James
Double-barred Finch, Zebra Finch, Yellow-rumped Thornbill Capertee
Valley--Glen Davis/Alice T-junction
Double-barred Finch, Zebra Finch, Yellow-rumped Thornbill at Glen
Davis.
Dion Hobcroft and David James
Freckled Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Australasian Shoveler Lithgow
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Two Freckled Ducks roosting separately on the right-hand shore of the
1st pond, 1 male, 1 female. About 100+ Pink-eared Ducks and 50+
Australasian Shovelers across the ponds. Plenty of Hoary-headed Grebes
too.
Dion Hobcroft and David James
Australian Wood Duck - Large Brood Cowra Japanese Garden
While walking around The Japanese Garden in Cowra I was surprised to
see a pair of Australian Wood Ducks with a brood of 20 ducklings
following them around. They appeared to be firmly imprinted on the
adults and all at the same stage of maturity. [Moderator's note (NH):
According to HANZAB, the clutch-size is on 'average10.5 eggs but large
broods (17, 18) suggest probability of dump-laying.]
Roger Giller
Blue-billed Duck, Black-tailed Native-hen, Little Raven Lake Wallace,
Wallerawang
Following report by Tom Was report we found a shy male Blue-billed Duck
near the kayak club jetty. A Single Black-tailed Nativehen on the grass
along the track to the kayak club. A pair of Little Ravens with two
fledglings just out of the nest in same area is a breeding record close
to Sydney. Also 3 Whiskered Terns, 50 + Great Crested Grebes (many in
breeding plumage, courting, and close to shore), plenty of Hoary-headed
Grebes (distant) and several Musk Ducks also courting.
David James and Dion Hobcroft
Mon 29 Sep Grey Goshawk, Dollarbird, Scarlet Honeyeater Bellingen
Island, Bellingen
Grey morph Grey Goshawk perched in Small-leaved Fig: adult Dollarbird
hunting in air from dead tree (observer's first record for season);
numerous Scarlet Honeyeaters heard and observed including a road killed
adult male.
Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
Latham's Snipe, Red-kneed Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel,
Black-winged Stilt Wetland on North Bank Road, Raleigh
5+ Latham's Snipe loafing and foraging at edge of wetland; 2 Red-kneed
Dotterels and 1 Black-fronted Dotterel foraging; 2+ Black-winged Stilts
foraging.
Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
Dollarbird, Black Bittern, Azure Kingfisher Ourimbah Creek, Ourimbah
On a boat trip down Ourimbah Creek, I saw 2 Dollarbirds the first
returnees for the Central Coast this year. Also seen a Black Bittern
and a pair of Azure Kingfishers.
Christina Port
Brush Cuckoo Lower Pappinbarra
First Brush Cuckoo for many months heard this morning.
Ian Kerr
White-breasted Woodswallow Kallaroo Rd, Bensville, 33ADEG29'44.7"S
151ADEG22'45.1"E
One White-breasted Woodswallow seen perched on wires near jetty. Two
others were seen in vicinity, before all three flew off. (Moderator's
Note: White-breasted Woodswallows are common summer migrants to the
Central Coast and are found around the edges of Tuggerah Lakes,
Brisbane Water and the Gosford coastal lagoons of Wamberal, Avoca and
Cochrone Lagoons. They are present from August to April although the
first birds returned this spring on 4/9/14 to McPherson Rd Tuggerah. By
15/9/14 they had appeared at most CC sites. AKM)
Greg and Georgina Shaw
Varied Triller, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Wompoo Fruit-Dove Mungo Brush
Rainforest Walk
Varied Triller calling near the car park at the start of the rainforest
walk at Mungo Brush this morning. This is a very southerly record for
this species and is the southernmost location reported in the Hunter
since the commencement of annual bird reports in 1993 (though some
farther south records are noted in HANZAB). There were at least 4
Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves and we are confident there are a few more than
that. Their calls were heard from a broad section of the rainforest at
the location described by Josh et al on the 27/09 and dominated the
call activity for a period of time. Also present were singles of Wompoo
Fruit-Dove and White-headed Pigeon, several Topknot Pigeons, a few
Regent Bowerbirds, Australian Figbirds and Green Catbirds (all feeding
on Livistona australis fruit, though we did not see the RcFD feeding).
Rufous Fantails and several Black-faced Monarchs are in as well.
Mick Roderick and Dan Williams
Australasian Bittern, Spotless Crake, Black-tailed Native-Hen Fivebough
Swamp
One Australasian Bittern, one Black-tailed Native-Hen and all three
possible species of crake from the walking trails through the swamp.
Plenty of other birds around including Glossy Ibis, Brolga and several
Yellow-billed Spoonbills.
Nick Leseberg
Painted Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot, Pink Cockatoo Binya State Forest
One Painted Honeyeater, one pair of Pink Cockatoos and several pairs of
Turquoise Parrots during a morning at several spots around Binya.
Nick Leseberg
Sun 28 Sep Pacific Baza, Australian Logrunner, Noisy Pitta, Crested
Shrike-tit Mt Hyland Wilderness Retreat, Dundurrabin
1+ of all species heard calling.
Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
Scarlet & Flame Robin, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Mt Banks, Blue Mts
National Park
Pair of Scarlet Robins seen from road approx 150 metres from gate - the
male was observed feeding the female. Pair of Flame Robins seen
crossing road about 1500 metres from gate to some trees about 100m off
the roadway and then returning. Chestnut-rumped Heathwren heard singing
from track (not road) to summit about 200 metres from car park but was
not seen.
Tom Wilson
Golden Whistler, Lewin's Rail, Latham's Snipe, Peregrine Falcon
Eastlakes golf course
The 'wintering' immature Golden Whistler still present near the Fairy
Martin colony, a White-necked Heron also there, 1 Latham's Snipe, 1
Peregrine Falcon flying over as was a Channel-billed Cuckoo and
White-browed Scrubwrens feeding a freshly fledged Fan-tailed Cuckoo.
Lewin's Rail also heard calling.
David Mitford
Sat 27 Sep Sooty Owl, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Black-faced Monarch,
Noisy Pitta Mt Hyland Wilderness Lodge, Dundurrabin
Sooty Owl responded to playback at night; Owlet-nightjar heard on
25/26/27/29 & 30 Sep; Black-faced Monarch - first return at this site
on Sep 27; Pitta recorded on Sep 24/28/29/30 & Oct 1 & 2.
Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club
Wandering Albatross, Cape Petrel and Short-tailed Shearwaters
Offshore--Wollongong pelagic
Highlights of the Saturday SOSSA pelagic were 8+ Wandering and
Antipodean Albatrosses, a single Cape Petrel a few km from shore on the
way back and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits 17 km out. There were also good
numbers of Shy, White-capped and Black-browed Albatrosses, as well as
at least 1 juvenile Campbell Albatross. Other birds included 2
Providence Petrels, 2 Fairy Prions and a White-fronted Tern.
Wedge-tailed Shearwater numbers were low <20, but the Short-tailed
Shearwater migration has started, with 000's passing through. A full
species list will be posted on the SOSSA website. [Moderator's note
(NH): Cape Petrels - once a common bird on winter pelagics - have
become extremely rare within the last two winters. The reason for this
is at this point unclear.]
Brook Whylie and all on board the Sandra K
Topknot Pigeon Illawarra Escarpment State Recreation Area-Bulli Pass
Over 100 Topknot Pigeons in flocks of varying sizes from 3 or 4 to
close to 100.
Paul Freeman
Thu 25 Sep Pallid Cuckoo, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Grey-crowned Babbler
Rushforth Road, north of Poley Bridge, Orara River
One Pallid Cuckoo observed perched and then in flight; Channel-billed
Cuckoo heard calling; 4 Grey-crowned Babblers foraging on ground.
Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
Wed 24 Sep Flame Robin, Red-browed Treecreeper, Superb Lyrebird
Chaelundi Road, Mt Hyland Nature Reserve
Adult pair of Flame Robins in trees in Nature Reserve and foraging in
logged and burnt area opposite, Red-browed Treecreeper observed in tree
by Boyd Essex, Superb Lyrebird crossed road in front of vehicle.
Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
<HR>
<BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
<BR>
<BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
<BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
</HR>
|
