Honeyeater migration here and there

[Martin Butterfield <>]

I have just returned from a drive to Bungendore.  Going along Briars-Sharrow Rd was like driving through a locust swarm: my estimate was at least 500 Yellow-faced Honeyeaters flitting from hawthorn bush to hawthorn bush until the top of a mall rise where they appeared to veer off to the East.  

Coming back about 30 minutes later the story was the same.  I suspect, but can't prove that the two sets of birds were different so within the 30 minutes at least 1,000 birds passed through.

Martin

Martin Butterfield

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

On 17 April 2017 at 12:28, Martin Butterfield <> wrote:

Of course, with Murphy's Law being what it is, within 30 minutes of putting up last past a flock of 80 chipping Yellow-faced Honeyeaters flew over our house.  That is my GBS entry (most at one time) so far, but there have been a couple of other flocks of about 50 birds this morning.

Interestingly 5 Noisy Miners also flew over. They typically stay in the cleared country at the top of the block until it gets really frosty and then move through to somewhere lower and warmer.  Perhaps they have a different view of future weather to BoM or perhaps the epicormic growth and dead leaf environment further up is not to their liking.

Martin

Martin Butterfield

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

On 17 April 2017 at 10:00, Lindsay Hansch <> wrote:

Hi Martin

 

Your comments are interesting.  The migration over Jerrabomberra has been somewhat haphazard.  For example, on Saturday it was full on with thousands of birds passing through but on Sunday, in similar weather conditions, there were very few birds moving.

 

Regards

 

Lindsay

 

From: Martin Butterfield [
Sent: Monday, 17 April 2017 9:35 AM
To: COG List <m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">rg.au>
Subject: [canberrabirds] Honeyeater migration here and there

 

So far I have seen few if any migrating honeyeaters in the parts of Carwoola I visit most often.  None have come over home whereas we usually get a few.  The lower end of Widgiewa Rd (out of the fireground) has had a few Yellow-faced Honeyeaters visible but they haven't been flying East "with purpose'.  Large numbers were reported from the Plain about 10 days ago.

 

On the other hand there was a lot of movement at Mallacoota last week.  

• On Monday (10 April) with clear skies over the Inlet, but cloud building before a front coming from the West, I estimated 3,000 birds overflew the house, travelling steadily in loose flocks of up to 20 birds.  They were going along just below a low ridge, heading North, but more probably following the timber to a point where it was easy to cross a creek rather than overflying the Inlet.  
• Tuesday  to Thursday were what I term English weather (mild, cloudy and drizzling) with a few birds moving between showers.  
• Friday was fine but I only noticed a couple of flocks of up to 50 birds.  
• On Saturday, as I was packing the car we were again back in full-on mode.  A continual stream of birds following the same path as Monday.  Around 9-10am I estimated at least 1,000 birds in the hout.

 

Martin Butterfield

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