canberrabirds

Another sign of winters approach Restless Flycatcher

To: "'martin butterfield'" <>
Subject: Another sign of winters approach Restless Flycatcher
From: "Mark Clayton" <>
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2013 11:57:39 +1100

G’day Martin,

 

An interesting comment about the whitefaces and hawthorns. Many moons ago when we were banding along the Lake Road at the southern end of Lake George, whitefaces were common along the blackberry covered lands either side of the road. When the blackberries were finally cleaned up the numbers of whitefaces dropped dramatically. They are a species that likes scattered shrub cover with large areas of open (short) grassland and bare patches. Again they used to be reasonably common in areas of north canberra now covered by housing. I now occasionally see them along Smith’s Road, out Namadgi Visitors Centre area.

 

Cheers,

Mark

 

From: martin butterfield
Sent: Saturday, 23 March 2013 8:59 AM
To: Mark Clayton
Cc: kym bradley; m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Another sign of winters approach Restless Flycatcher

 

G'day Mark

 

I certainly agree with you about Restless Flycatcher.  When we first lived in Canberra the species was almost 'common' particularly up near Urriara Homestead.  The only one I have seen for several years was on a COG WW near Michelago.

 

For Southern Whiteface the situation is a bit better out here (Carwoola).  According to the records I keep for a group of local residents, over the past 4 years the species is typically recorded in 10 months of the year, with the months of absence often October - presumably while they are breeding - and, for some reason I can't think of, March (although I did see 6 a few days ago).  The area I see them most frequently seems to be the road from Hoskinstown to Foxlow Bridge: the hawthorns seem to be attraction for them..

 

Martin

On 23 March 2013 07:58, Mark Clayton <m("bigpond.com","chollop7");" target="_blank">> wrote:

Kym’s photo of the Restless Flycatcher this morning reminded me that this is a species that, to me, is rapidly disappearing from our landscapes. Growing up in north Canberra during the 60’s and 70’s it was a common bird in areas that are now covered by housing – so too were Brown Treecreepers and Hooded Robins. I used to regularly band Restless Flycatchers at The Charcoal Tank Nature Reserve near West Wyalong but haven’t seen them probably for over a decade out there, let alone banded any. The last bird I saw locally was at CSIRO (Wildlife) late last year from memory and I did put in an incidental observation report for that record. I recommend that COG members record any observations of this species so that we have records of its decline locally.

 

There are a number of other species that are also rapidly disappearing from COG’s area of interest e.g. Southern Whiteface, Whistling Kite. Please record all observations of these species.

 

Cheers,

Mark

 

From: kym bradley [mailto:m("hotmail.com","goldnbits");" target="_blank">]
Sent: Friday, 22 March 2013 10:52 PM
To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">
Subject: [canberrabirds] Another sign of winters approach Restless Flycatcher

 

Another first for 2013 cooler weather, restless flycatcher, flying with a flock of willy wagtails

 

 

Sighted at the bridge on smiths rd prior to the sandwash , also black fronted dotterel ( got his shot this time )

 



 

--
Martin Butterfield

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