Honeyeater migration

[Denis Wilson <>]

Further to Suzanne and Martin's notes, and my previous post about the migrating Honeyeaters at Bungonia (yesterday), today they arrived at Robertson, (first sighting for me, this season).

Clear blue skies, with light southerly wind had them crossing more or less wet to east, past  my back deck. Normally they come up the local valley, from Belmore Falls (south from my place).

Anwyay, in about 30 minute period (11:30 AM to 12:00 noon) I saw approx 300 YFHEs and a few WNHEs passing.

• Flying in parties of about 15 to 20 birds. Frog-hopping from one outcrop of trees to another.
• Definitely moving through, and not stopping to feed.
• Different calling (YFHE chip, chip contact calls and WNHE mewing calls and not the louder feeding calls) from birds when feeding in Banksias in the Shoalhaven, or when in their breeding grounds (e.g. in Tall Dry Sclerophyll Eucalypt forests).

Cheers

Denis Wilson

On Fri, Apr 6, 2012 at 12:05 PM, Susanne Gardiner <> wrote:

Not having been attune to honeyeater migration in previous years, I probably missed it. But about 20 min ago I had about 30 Yellow-faced Honey eater flying over the house (northern Ainslie) towards Hackett/Mount Majura. 

Susanne

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From: martin butterfield <>
To: COG List <m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">>
Sent: Thursday, 5 April 2012 3:00 PM
Subject: [canberrabirds] Honeyeater migration

This afternoon after the cloud has lifted we are having the strongest Honeyeater movement I can recall seeing through this property in the 5+ years we have lived here.  There is more or less a constant stream, tree hopping in groups of 5 to 10.  My estimate of the maximum number in my GBS site at one time was 50 Yellow-faced and a surprising 10 White-naped (we often go through a year without recording any of them.  White-eared are also in the neighbourhood, but they are year-round residents here.  Brown-headed have also been calling recently and again are resident year-round  in the area.

Martin

-- 
Denis Wilson
"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au