Woodswallows on the move?

[Martin Butterfield <>]

Jack 

I have had an off-line comment that there were no White-browed or Masked WS located at the site on Thursday.  So perhaps they are moving around and getting a bit homesick?

Martin

On 15 November 2013 20:48, Jack & Andrea Holland <> wrote:

I twice heard the “check check”calls of the White-browed/Masked Woodswallows over my house in Chapman today.  The first at 12:20 was of only a few high over heading ENE, while 12+ in a loose association at 16:40 were heading WNW.  They were lower, < 100 m and more easily identified by their shape but without binos not identified to species level.

 

I have predicted that with the 70+ mm of rain we had earlier this week they would move back to their more favoured inland, but Martin’s post earlier today identified there were still good numbers at the Painted Honeyeater site near Uriarra.

 

The furthest east I have seen them this year is at Durran Durra about 12 km NNE of Braidwood on 3 November when doing the Landcare property surveys, where at least 30 were both at ground level and also circling over.  While I only positively identified white-browed, I could not rule out some masked (viewing conditions in the strong wind were rather poor).

 

Interestingly Dean Ingwersen, our excellent speaker on Wednesday evening, told me they have hit Melbourne this year in big numbers, being seen as far south as St Kilda (no doubt looking for a place in the AFL draft!)

 

Jack Holland

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Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/