Migrating And breeding

["Michael and Janette Lenz" <>]

Can add another record of a late brood of the Red Wattlebird to the one Benj has just reported: 21. March pair with one dy on Lyneham Ridge. With all the late records of young Koels, the host species had to be still breeding past the "normal" season in higher numbers than the few observations on the chat line indicate.

 

Michael Lenz 

From:

Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 6:24 PM

To:

Subject: [canberrabirds] Migrating And breeding

Ive managed to do a bit of birding the last few days, before I head off again.

 

Weetangera: Monday, I was surprised to have a pair of red wattle birds feeding a Dy on pears in our garden. While a flock of 10 red wattle birds were heading North in the late afternoon. A large flock of >30 silvereyes were flying West, quite high, and flocks of ~10 silvereyes have frequently passed by the last few days. Recently, spotted pardalotes have dominated the birdlife, but it is hard to determine what direction they are heading. Lots of crested pigeons are around.

 

On the weekend I went to the Pinnacle in the late afternoon. Flocks of ~6 striated pardalotes were frequently seen heading West. Otherwise I saw very few birds, with a very loud grey butcherbird and 2 kookaburras being the most interesting. Heading back towards Hawker shops I was drawn to the noise of a flock of 17 rainbow lorikeets, at the Primary school. One of the largest flocks I have seen in Canberra.

 

Migration seems to be very early this year, so it was a surprise to also see birds breeding.

 

Benj Whitworth