Birdline New South Wales
Published sightings for the week ending 12 Oct 2014.
Sun 12 Oct Brush Cuckoo, Black-faced Monarch, Rufous Fantail, Leaden
Flycatcher Mitchell Park, Cattai
This morning there were 2 Brush Cuckoos, a Black-faced Monarch, 3
Leaden Flycatchers, a couple of Rufous Fantails, Dollarbird, Rainbow
Bee-eater, Sacred Kingfishers, numerous Scarlet Honeyeaters, and an
Owlet-nightjar also heard.
Edwin Vella
White-winged Triller, Pallid Cuckoo Cattai National Park
Lots of birds at Cattai NP this morning including a male White-winged
Triller, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Sacred Kingfishers, Pallid Cuckoo,
Dollarbirds, numerous Scarlet Honeyeaters and Mistletoebirds, Wonga
Pigeons and Brown Cuckoo-dove, White-bellied Sea-eagle etc.
Edwin Vella
Topknot Pigeon Warwick Farm
10 birds seen at Georges River Warwick Farm.
Michael Paul
Little Grassbird Warriewood Wetlands
In dense reeds in the main pond just off Shearwater Drive. Near the
path between the first little pond and the second main pond. Very
distinctive call. Heard only.
David Vickers
Baillon's Crake Pitt Town Lagoon
Highlight from a mornings birding at Pitt Town Lagoon were 3 Baillon's
Crakes.
michael ronan.
Sat 11 Oct Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red Knot, Common Tern, White-fronted
Tern Long Reef Aquatic Reserve
The monthly count for the AWSG turned up a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and a
Red Knot keeping each other company on the southern side of the reef
while all the others (Red-necked Stints, Ruddy Turnstones, Sooty
Oystercatchers, Pacific Golden Plovers) were on the northern side. Also
a lovely comparative view of a White-fronted Tern and a Common Tern
resting close to each other.
Robert Griffin et al
Superb Parrot Narrandera
A surprise flyover by male Superb Parrot led to investigation of
forested area west of town, where numerous birds were seen. Young
appeared to be calling from several hollows.(Moderator's Note: John,
hardly surprising, it is a known nesting site! AKM).
John Weigel
Gang-gang Cockatoo, Rockwarbler, Leaden Flycatcher, Dollarbird Wollemi
National Park--Wheeny Creek Campground
A female Gang-gang Cockatoo and Rockwarbler seen and both a Dollarbird
and Leaden Flycatcher heard.
Edwin Vella and Follow That Bird
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Pitt Town Lagoon
5 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers with a number of Red-kneed Dotterels and some
Pink-eared Ducks. Water level gradually coming down and hopefully good
for shorebirds over the coming weeks.
Edwin Vella and Follow That Bird
White-winged Triller Inalls Lane, Richmond
An adult male White-winged Triller seen beside the road
Edwin Vella and Follow That Bird
Regent Honeyeater Galgabba Point, Swansea (Lake Macquarie)
On the same day that Swift Parrots were reported at Murrays Beach, a
Regent HE has been found 2 km to the north at Galgabba Point (photos
have been posted to the HBOC chat group). The Swift Parrots are very
late-staying and the Regent HE record represents the first known Regent
record on the east side of Lake Macquarie in spring that I can see from
a quick skim of the RH database. An interesting situation.
Lene Parashou per Mick Roderick
Singing Honeyeater Lake Wollumboola
Observed on southern end of the sand bar in casuarinas fringing the
lake. An unusual sighting in NSW east of the divide.
Narelle Wright
Topknot Pigeon Angophora Reserve, Bilgola Plateau
Saw no less than 136 Topknots in two separate groups (43 in the morning
and 93 at about 6pm) fly from north to South at speed today. I could
well have missed other groups while studying. From recent reports, it
seems that the birds are on the move southward. The groups I am seeing
are probably coming from the Central Coast area, being funnelled down
the Northern Beaches peninsula as they move south. I would love to know
where they are heading! Attached is a snap from my phone of the later
group (93 individuals).
Henry Coleman
Swift Parrot Murrays Beach (Lake Macquarie)
Some late-staying Swift Parrots are still at Murrays Beach, feeding on
the blossom of Forest Red Gum. There were about 20 birds there on
Tuesday, but numbers have dwindled since then apparently. Birds were
heard this morning.
Toby Lambert per Mick Roderick
Fri 10 Oct Latham's Snipe McPherson Road Swamp, Tuggerah
Single bird seen from walking track.
Michael Rutkowski and Bob Sinclair
Great Crested Grebe, Musk Duck, White-bellied Sea-Eagle Quipolly Dams
A visit to the Quipolly Dams near Quirindi today brought a few
surprises. On the NEW dam there are at present at least 100 Great
Crested Grebes (the photo shows just a small fraction of the total; I
am still trying to mosaic photos to show at least about HALF the
population, found in one group, together). At least 4 Musk Ducks (all
male), plus various other aquatic species, including 100+ Black Swans
and tens of Australian Pelicans, were also found, together with one
adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle. For information: The OLD dam, which has
silted up very badly, is completely dry and all aquatic bird species
have left (probably to the new dam; small waders and water hens etc
were too far from the public access area for identification).
Michael Dahlem
Barking Owl Cowan
Bird flushed from a tree, calling as it flew and then calling again
after landing. Location: On the GNW between Cowan and Berowra Waters,
400m from the Cowan side of Joe Kraft's Creek.
Peter and Carol Abbott
Rainbow Lorikeet Queanbeyan Showgrounds
A pair of Rainbow Lorikeets both inspected a hollow in a eucalypt and
copulated vigorously. I'm not aware of them undertaking breeding
activity previously
Martin Butterfield
Collared Kingfisher Brunswick Heads
A Collared Kingfisher heard then seen adjacent the oyster shed in
Marshalls Creek, Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve. My first for the
Brunswick River estuary, although there has been a few other sporadic
reports.
Steven McBride
Grey-tailed Tattler Lake Wollumboola
Three Grey-tailed Tattlers foraging on floating weed mats in the
north-east part of the lake.
Matthew Jones
Australian King-Parrot 'Melliodora' Denneys Lane Goulburn
Two female Australian King-Parrots feeding on spilled seed with Crimson
Rosellas. Both Australian King-Parrots kept their distance from the
rosellas which showed dominance. This is the third sighting of this
species in 14 years I have had at this site or near Goulburn in my own
experience.
Rodney Falconer
Thu 9 Oct Plum-headed Finch, Spotted Bowerbird, Baillon's and
Australian Crake Warren Wetlands and Wastewater Treatment Plant
Plum-headed Finch (20+ including juveniles), Baillon's Crake (4), Aust.
Crake (2), Spotted Bowerbird (1). Plenty of White-winged Fairy-wren,
Cockatiel and Pink-eared Duck in the area.
Nick Livanos and Grant Brosie
Topknot Pigeon, Brown Goshawk Bicentennial Park (Glebe)
40 Topknot Pigeons observed incredibly high up, flying south at some
speed. They were in two seperate flocks of 32 (very poorly pictured)
and a trailing group of 8. Interestingly, the hundreds of birds that I
observed at Hawks Nest recently all seemed to be moving south as well.
Most of the reports from the mid-north coast of these birds have also
indicated that these birds are flying south. Is there an annual pattern
that these birds follow, some sort of migration, or are they just
following/searching for fruit? At Hawks Nest, the Cabbage Tree Palms
were fruiting all over the place which was presumably what attracted
them, and probably the other fruit pigeons. A pair of Brown Goshawks
were observed near the light rail stop. These birds can be seen
regularly around here, specifically at dusk when both seem to fly into
a nearby fenced-off area which I suspect may be a nest site.
Simon Gorta
Pacific Baza, Topknot Pigeon, Eastern Koel Angophora Reserve, Bilgola
Plateau
I have seen a pair of Pacific Baza around the area twice in the past
month, only having seen them here once before about 2 years ago. Also,
a group of 12 Topknot Pigeons has been around here for the past week, a
species I have never before seen near Bilgola. Koels have been calling
since 4th of October.
Henry Coleman
Wed 8 Oct Shy Heathwren, Gilbert's Whistler, Black-eared Cuckoo Woggoon
Nature Reserve, 30km nth of Condoblin
Fantastic location. Shy Heathwren (1), Gilbert's Whistler (1),
Black-eared Cuckoo (1), Mulga Parrot (7), White-browed & Masked
Woodswallows (100+) plus all the usual small, western passerines.
Nick Livanos and Grant Brosie
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo Tottenham
A single bird seen several km south east of town.
Grant Brosie, Nick Livanos
Black-tailed Godwit Lake Wollumboola
Solitary Black-tailed Godwit wading near the edge of the lake at the
sand bar.
Narelle Wright
Square-tailed Kite, nesting Yellow-throated & Large-billed Scrub-wrens
Forest of Tranquility. Ourimbah Creek Rd Ourimbah
Still in the rain, the members of the joint BNSW & CBOC outing had
their final stop at the Forest of Tranquility rainforest. During the
wet walk through the rainforest, the Yellow-throated Scrub-wrens were
probably the commonest birds seen and 7 nests were counted although how
many were active was not known. A Large-billed Scrub-wren was seen
attending another YTSW nest, and these birds are known to take over
un-used YTSW nests for their own breeding purposes. Scarlet
Honeyeaters, Black-faced Monarchs and a Sacred Kingfisher were seen and
a photograph was obtained of a distant Square-tailed Kite by Christina
Port.
Alan Morris & 29 CBOC & BNSW Members
Regent Bowerbird, Topknot Pigeon Ourimbah Rest Area on the Pacific M1
Motorway.
While waiting in the rain for the start at 8.30 am of the Central Coast
Group, Birding NSW Outing to Ourimbah Valley, a group of 7 Topknot
Pigeons flew over, at least 3 Regent Bowerbirds were seen, including an
adult male that fed in a fruiting Wild Tobacco Bush that was alongside
the Rest Area loop. The Regent Bowerbird was subsequently chased from
the tree by 2 Green Catbirds, and Satin Bowerbirds were also present, 3
Brush Turkeys patrolled the rest area picnic grounds.
Alan Morris & 29 joint CCG,BNSW & CBOC members
Black-Faced Monarch Larool Creek Valley, Thornleigh
One adult pair (seen together) and one bird without black facial
markings (poorly marked female or immature?) where Wareemba Ave crosses
Larool Creek, Thornleigh
Lewis Benham
Regent Honeyeater Nangahrah Bird Route (Barraba)
6 individual Regent Honeyeaters seen this morning. They comprised of a
pair obviously breeding as they were feeding huge numbers of insects to
a couple of nestlings. (picture attached) As we watched this feeding
activity, 2 other adult Regent Honeyeaters ventured too close to the
breeders territory and were agressively despatched.
Len and Chris Ezzy
Spectacled Monarch, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Regent Bowerbird Ourimbah
RTA Reserve
At least 2 Spectacled Monarchs, possibly 4 observed today, all calling
loudly along the track in the RTA Reserve. Also observed were 2 Shining
Bronze-Cuckoos. A male Regent Bowerbird was seen feeding in a Tobacco
Bush at the rest area on the M1 Ourimbah along with a Green Catbird.
Several flocks of Topknot Pigeons were seeing flying overhead.
Jenny Stiles, Carol Abbott and Margaret Murray
Tue 7 Oct Painted Honeyeater Dandaloo 10' Cell
2 birds recorded feeding in mistletoe several km south of Dandaloo.
Nick Livanos and Grant Brosie
White-throated Needletail Illaroo Camp Ground, Yuraygir National Park,
Minnie Water
8+ White-throated Needletails flying low as singles with only 2-3
observed at any one time ahead of unsettled weather and high cloud
which virtually petered out later in the day.
Greg Clancy & Russell Jago
Spotted Quail-thrush Mount Kaputar National Park
2 Spotted Quail-thrush seen together about one kilometre west of the
eastern locked gate of the Barraba 4WD track. According to the the
Tamworth Bird Watchers brochure Bird Routes of the Tamworth Regional
Council Area NSW, which we are using to find all the great birding
areas around Barraba and Manilla, the Spotted Quail-thrush is
consiidered VR (Very Rare). Anyway one flushed from in front of us as
we drove at about 5kmph and the other hopped off to the side of the
track and walked away quickly as we noticed it was carrying some stick
insect in its beak. (Photographed for ID) (eBird Check list will follow
when we get a chance with the intermittent internet coverages)
Len and Chris Ezzy
Diamond Dove Capertee National Park
A single Diamond Dove was a nice find on the last of five days in the
Capertee Valley/Dunn Swamp region. It was seen on the grassy flat below
the Caretakers Cottage (not Capertee Cottage where we stayed) close by
the two old water trucks. No photo but clearly saw the red eyering and
spotted wings from a distance of about five metres. Listed as Rare for
the area.
Cameron Ward
Brown Honeyeater Burley Street/Citrus Road, Griffith
Heard at first, then observed at least three Brown Honeyeaters in
gardens along Burley Street and Citrus Road.
David Parker
Painted Button-quail Blue Mountains NP - Portal Waterhole
One bird flushed from next to the car park, and the low oom of another
heard as I was trying to photograph the first. Uncommon in the Blue
Mountains.
Mark Ley
Mon 6 Oct Plum-headed Finch, Little Woodswallow Private property 20 km
West of Bourke
While attending a wedding at Bourke over the weekend I found a little
time for the birds. Recent rain has brought in the Woodswallows
including White-breasted, White-browed, Little (2) and Masked. Other
highlights were Crimson Chats, Brolgas (10), small flocks of breeding
Budgerigars, Little Eagle, Diamond Doves, Australian Owlet-nightjar,
Barn Owl and Plum-headed Finches.
Warren Chad
Brown Songlark Riverstone
A male Brown Songlark was seen in a paddock off Park Rd
Edwin Vella
Azure Kingfisher, Topknot Pigeon Deep Creek Reserve, Narrabeen
Flock of Topknot Pigeons feeding a fair way into Garigal NP. Azure
Kingfisher seen along the creek. Others include Olive-backed Orioles,
Golden Whistlers, White-throated Treecreepers, overhead White-bellied
Sea-eagle and Channel-billed Cuckoos. 8-11am
Mike Barrow
Glossy Ibis, Mangrove Gerygone Bicentennial park, Homebush
2 separate Glossy Ibis seen - 1 immature at Northern Water feature, 1
adult on Bennelong Pond. 1 Mangrove Gerygone seen at Mason Park and
another in mangroves near water bird refuge. Water bird refuge held
120+ Red-necked Avocet and 6 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers.
Tom Wilson
Sun 5 Oct Pacific Baza, Dollarbird Warriewood wetlands and Irrawong
Reserve
Two Pacific Baza found thanks to help from Rae and then a walker who
showed us the nest. Being harassed by magpies. Also saw our first two
Dollarbirds for the season.
Ann Millard and Peter Mackay
Gang-gang Cockatoo Capertee National Park-Policemans Point
Nice views of first a female and then a male Gang-Gang Cockatoo (photo
attached) drinking from the Capertee River at the Policemans Point
walk-in camping area. Lovely spot and full of birds, particularly
compared to other well regarded places in the Capertee Valley visited
over five days.Well worth the walk in and highly recommended, but be
aware we had close encounters with both a large Brown Snake and a
suspected Tiger Snake. Plenty of macropods and several wombats were a
bonus.
Cameron Ward, Janette Ward
Sat 4 Oct Great-crested Grebe Lake Wollumboola
x1 Great-crested Grebe foraging in the north-east part of the lake.
First record for the lake and second for the local government area
(bionet NSW).
Matthew Jones
Red-backed Kingfisher, Plum-headed Finch Bogee - Capertee Valley
At Bogee, a little further from Glen Alice, I was surprised to hear
then see a Red-backed Kingfisher which I have never seen in the valley
before. This Kingfisher is already on the Capertee Valley bird list but
is noted as a rare visitor to the valley. Other birds also seen at this
exact spot included a group of at least 5 Plum-headed Finches (I had a
hundred or so a few months back at this location), several Diamond
Firetails, Rufous Songlarks, 3 Hooded Robins, Rainbow Bee-eaters,
Rufous Songlark, White-browed Babblers and a dark-morph White-bellied
Cuckoo-shrike.
Edwin Vella
Wood Sandpiper, Little Egret (melanistic?) Teven Rd Swamp
Single Wood Sandpiper, approx. 200 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank
& 3 Curlew Sandpiper at Teven Rd swamp. Also a melanistic (?) Little
Egret seen again today, first seen on 13/9. Attached phone photo taken
on 13/9.
Steven McBride
Southern Whiteface, Channel-billed Cuckoo Glen Davis
At Glen Davis there was a couple of Gang-gang Cockatoos, a pair of
Little Eagles, a few Black-chinned and some Striped and Spiny-cheeked
Honeyeaters, a pair of adult Southern Whiteface with 2 young, Hooded
Robins (a few quite vocal), Speckled Warbler, a female Painted
Button-quail, Channel-billed and Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoos, Rainbow
Bee-eaters, Sacred Kingfisher, Rufous Songlarks, Brown Treecreepers,
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, several groups of White-browed Babblers, a
group of at least 15 Zebra Finch, at least 5 Diamond Firetails and a
Plum-headed Finch.
Edwin Vella
Scarlet Robin, White-winged Triller, Grey Currawong, Tree Martin,
Chestnut-rumped Heatw Mt Banks, Blue Mountains National Park
Good range of birds on the lower reaches of the Mt Banks fire trail.
Extended views of pair of White-winged Trillers foraging on
regenerating burnt heath slopes - have not previously seen this species
in higher Blue Mtns. Also great views of a pair of Scarlet Robins, a
single immature Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, 6 Tree Martins and a single
Grey Currawong carrying food.
Eric Finley
Fri 3 Oct Southern Whiteface Capertee Valley--Glen Alice Rd
Single Southern Whiteface on fencepost in roadside grassy vegetation,
about a kilometre towards Glen Alice from the T-junction near Glen
Davis. Rainbow Bee-eaters and Dusky Woodswallows where other birds of
interest in this area.
Cameron Ward
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