>With Gerry Richards we saw a male Flame Robin in Cornwallis Lane Richmond
>today. It was near the shed just before Cupitts Lane. This was the first
>record for me of this species in the Richmond Lanes.
>
>At Bush's Lagoon we saw about 160 Plumed Whistling ducks.
>Trevor & Annie Quested
>Sydney, Australia
>
>Phone +61 2 9955 6266
>Fax + 61 2 9959 4005
Hi Trevor and Annie,
After seeing you yesterday I checked my records and can confirm a female
Flame Robin, also in Cornwallis Road, on 31st July 1994. It was seen on a
narrow, weed-infested, roadside verge next to a turf farm, immediately to
the south of Cooley Creek (ex Bakers Lagoon). How many other reports are
there of this species being on the floodplain immediately behind Windsor
and Richmond ?
The recent rains have turned this area into a hive of avian activity (a
very poor mixed metaphor) and there were large numbers of birds present.
The usual Magpie-larks were on the turf farms and I conservatively counted
225. There were also at least 500 Straw-necked Ibis, 150 Zebra Finches, and
hundreds of Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, and Grey Teal and at
least 50 Masked Lapwing.
Two White-necked Heron followed the rains in, this species having been
apparently, and perhaps strangely, absent from the near coastal Sydney area
during the recent dry period.
One group of 20-30 of my favourite exotics, European Goldfinches, were seen
in a cow paddock.
At least six Skylarks were vigorously calling from up high; do they call
throughout the year ?
Overseeing all of this activity were the raptors:
Black-shouldered Kite 6-7
Whistling Kite 1-2
White-bellied Sea-eagle 1
Swamp Harrier 1
Brown Goshawk 1
Australian Hobby 1
Nankeen Kestrel 4
Regards, Andy
Andy Burton
Andy Burton's Bush Tours
703/4 Francis Road
Artarmon, NSW 2064
Email
Ph 61 2 9904 8468 (home and bus.)
Fax 61 2 9904 8768
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