Channel-bill, Campbell Park

[martin butterfield <>]

The bird was still around the Campbell Park area late this afternoon.  Sitting very quietly about 100m down the track to the cavaletti (aka hoss style) and then moved off towards the Offices .

Martin

On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 6:35 PM, Jack & Andrea Holland <> wrote:

Geoffrey and Philip, thank you for this important extra information. 

 

In my view this is a very significant record, possibly the first indication of breeding in the local (ACT?) area, or could it have flown up from the coast?  From my count there were 5 observations (all aural or of birds seen moving through quickly through) of this species posted on the COG chat line from the last week of November to mid December.  Together with those around the blitz, this is significantly more than in the past 3 years where the COG Annual Report indicates only single records in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

 

Is this due to the much wetter and better breeding conditions or is this the start of a more regular influx during spring/summer as has happened with the Eastern Koel?

 

Jack Holland

 

From:

Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 2:19 PM

To:

Cc:

Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Channel-bill, Campbell Park

 

Yes -  there was none of that declaratory trumpeting, just the occasional protesting squeal from the cuckoo.  Over about 20 mins it was harassed continually mainly by W Wagtails and Magpie-larks.  The attached will give the flavour.

 

I think it very likely that the occasional quiet and unreported bird passes through.

 

As to Campbell Park, the only relevant memory I have is back in the busy days of the nesting Painted Honeyeaters when various researchers were operating in the area of the ‘triangular dam’.   Mark Clayton brought a visitor to try for a Painted, and the first thing he said was that he’d just heard a Channel-bill flying over.  That would probably be November of a fairly birdful year.

 

 

 

From: Jack & Andrea Holland [
Sent: Friday, 21 January 2011 1:10 PM
To: Geoffrey Dabb
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Channel-bill, Campbell Park

 

Remarkable Geoffrey, one of the few records I’,m aware of where it was not rushing through calling or heard in the distance.

 

You imply it was rather silent, given that it was feeding and reluctant to move, are we overlooking this species?

 

Jack Holland

 

From:

Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 11:58 AM

To:

Subject: [canberrabirds] Channel-bill, Campbell Park

 

At 0800 flew over the car-park with an escort of N Miners.   Following the protest calls I located it in the top of a leafy euc.  After a few minutes it flew off, with attendants, but circled as if reluctant to move anywhere in particular.  >From the buff tipping and lack of eye/eye-patch colour I take this to be an immature bird.  Looks like someone’s prunus had a larger-than-usual visitor this morning.