Speckled Warblers in urban gardens

[Con <>]

Hi Martin

Speckled Warblers were on of my study species and Gossan Hill was one of the study sites for my paper on local extinctions in the inner north-western nature parks.

http://canberrabirds.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CBN-46-1-final-for-web2.pdf

The available evidence is that Speckled Warblers are locally extinct from Gossan Hill.

kind regards

Con

On 9/26/2021 11:47 AM, Martin Butterfield wrote:

How are Speckled Warblers going on Gossan Hill?  When we lived in South Bruce they used to be quite regular on the Hill and would occasionally stray into the section within my GBS site.  Although there has been a bit of development since we left it does not seem to have impacted the woodland too much.

Martin Butterfield

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

https://mallacootaweatherwildlife.blogspot.com/

On Sun, 26 Sept 2021 at 11:27, Con <> wrote:

I have been told by a reliable observer that, following removal of weedy shrubs from Red Hill Nature Reserve, Speckled Warblers moved into adjacent gardens. They don't seem to be able to maintain this presence and are progressively becoming locally extinct in the inner-north nature reserves.

kind regards

Con Boekel

On 9/26/2021 11:08 AM, Danny McCreadie via Canberrabirds wrote:

Thanks Richard,

 

I will keep trying. Mind you I haven’t heard it today!

 

Danny

 

From: Richard Allen
Sent: Sunday, September 26, 2021 9:28 AM
To: Danny McCreadie
Cc: Philip Veerman ; m("lists.canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Mt Majura Woodland Survey - Spring 21

 

Hi Danny

 

Silvereyes are remarkable mimics so you really have to get a view of them in the dense foliage to confirm. Speckled warbler tend to stay on ground in more open woodland hopping away or flying into cover. If baled up close in a bush they would usually give a harsh scolding chatter rather than sweet melodic territorial song. They are very territorial at this time of year. 

 

Not sure of any other options. Closest vocal would be Heathwren but even less likely. Urban skulkers would be scrubwren (musical reeling trill) or brown Thornbill (short cheery song). Yes you’ll likely be familiar with these two but I do still get surprised by common species in poor visual conditions and in situations out of context. 

 Best to try to get recording on your phone. 
It’s great to pursue newcomers to your home area at this time of year. 

 

Regards 

Richard 

 

Sent from my iPhone

On 26 Sep 2021, at 8:47 am, Danny McCreadie via Canberrabirds <> wrote:



Hi Richard and Philip,

 

I am not that familiar with their song other than YouTube searching. I am very familiar with Silvereyes having grown up with them in SA.

 

If not a Speckled Warbler or Silvereye I am happy to consider other options.

 

Danny

 

 

 

From: Philip Veerman <>
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2021 10:40 PM
To: 'Danny McCreadie' <>
Subject: RE: [Canberrabirds] Mt Majura Woodland Survey - Spring 21

 

I think you would be very lucky to have a Speckled Warbler in a normal suburban lot for two weeks. You haven’t described it or told us that you are very familiar with the song. Are you wishing to make a connection of the mention in the note below, to your question?

 

Philip

 

From: Canberrabirds On Behalf Of Danny McCreadie via Canberrabirds
Sent: Saturday, 25 September, 2021 6:06 PM
To: 'John and Kathy';
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Mt Majura Woodland Survey - Spring 21

 

Thanks Kathy and John,

 

I suspect one of the missing Speckled Warblers is in my back yard in Forde. I have had one singing in the bushes along the back fence for around 2 weeks now. It stops when I try to get a look so I am only going by the song.

 

Is it unusual to have them in suburbia like that?

 

Danny

 

From: Canberrabirds <> On Behalf Of John and Kathy
Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2021 5:28 PM
To: ; m("lists.canberrabirds.org.au","cogwoodland");" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Mt Majura Woodland Survey - Spring 21

 

The Mt Majura Woodland surveys were conducted on 19, 20 and 25 Sept. Luckily we live in the same general area as our survey sites and were not affected by COVID restrictions. Very wet underfoot at about half the sites and we wished we had worn rubber boots! Lots of Yellowbox flowering at most sites. Around 30 species seen in total over the 9 sites. Unfortunately only one site had any small birds with Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Grey Fantail, Misletoebird and Weebills. No Speckled Warblers to be seen at either of our regular sites. Hopefully they were just keeping a low profile and not gone altogether. Many Red Wattlebirds, Noisy Friarbirds and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters seen at a number of sites.

 

Kathy Walter and John Goldie

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