Hello all
Following a Swift Parrot/Regent Honeyeater talk given to some members of the
Far South Coast Birdwatchers in Merimbula on June 17, 2009 by Chris Tzaros and
Dean Ingwersen, a visit by them and others found only small numbers at Tura
Beach (Merimbula 'suburb') where they had been seen a few days earlier.
The following day Chris and Dean searched the southern area of the shire with
no luck and then set off north on the Princes Hwy where they had success in
Corunna State Forest (nth of Tilba) with a count of 350 birds. Further
sightings were 100+ in Mogo SF, 105+ in the Benandarah and Boyne SFs. All were
feeding on Spotted Gum blossom and lerps.
Hearing mention of Spotted Gum flowering Max Sutcliffe went to Nelsons Beach in
Mimosa Rocks NP and found 50+ on June 20. I have just returned from that site
and there are still about 50 birds there feeding on Spotted Gum blossom and
lerps and also on flowers of Coastal Banksia, as well as sunning on dead trees.
Max, Russ Namitz, Di Waldon and I watched these birds for some time. There were
a few Musk Lorikeets feeding with them, Fuscous and White-naped Honeyeaters and
dozens of Rainbow Lorikeets. The latter were not feeding with the Swifts.
Spotted Gum grows naturally north of the Bega River and is still flowering well
so there should be opportunities for sightings. The lerps infestations are
thick and Chris Tzaros says if it rains the lerps washed off would cause the
Swift Parrots to feed on the ground. With 600 known birds and plenty of food
there must be others. Please report any new sites.
Barbara Jones
==============================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:
=============================
|
