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birding-aus BIRDING AT CATTAI AND CENTRAL COLO (NORTH-WEST OF SYDNEY) -

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Subject: birding-aus BIRDING AT CATTAI AND CENTRAL COLO (NORTH-WEST OF SYDNEY) - 20/2/99
From: "EDWIN VELLA" <>
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 11:06:53 +1100

BIRDING AT CATTAI AND CENTRAL COLO (NORTH-WEST OF SYDNEY) - 20/2/99

Yesterday afternoon, myself and a few others were on the hunt for the Oriental Cuckoo found by Keith Brandwood a few days ago at Cattai National Park (about 50 km west of Sydney in the Hawkesbury area). This cuckoo is a vagrant or very rare visitor to Sydney but there has been atleast 3 sighting of this bird at Cattai (including one sighted by Keith in nearby Mitchell park last year) over the last 10 years. There has been also other records in other parts of Sydney, including 3 cuckoos that stayed at Epping a few years ago. Despite not seeing this bird we saw a very early Spangled Drongo which is a fairly regular and not uncommon winter migrant to Sydney, normally arriving by April. This drongo was seen flying from one fence to another in a cleared paddock in pursuit of insects.

Later on, we headed to Central Colo, for a couple of a hours of birding and spotlighting. Before evening we obtained some great viewing of several Wonga Pigeons and a Peregrine Falcon flying overhead.

We saw or heard 4 species of nocturnal birds that evening, they were:

1) White-throated Nightjars - a pair was seen flying over a paddock hawking for moths and other insects upon dusk beside Upper Colo Rd. With the aid of torches, we were able to see the bird in flight through our binoculars. Without using our binoculars, all that could be seen were red eyes moving about. Great views were obtained of one which perched a couple of times on a dead tree stump for atleast 5 minutes and only metres in front of us. Its plumage markings and white throat could be seen.

2) Owlet Nightjars - many were heard in the forest surrounding the area

3) Masked Owl - Dean Portelli brought one in very close through a very good imitation. It landed in a tree above our heads and called but somehow avoided our detection. There was no moonlight and therefore, no silhouette could be seen of the Owl. It called several times that night and gave each time it called a double rasping calls much louder than a Barn Owl. This is the third time I have heard/seen this Owl in this area.

4) A Boobook Owl heard in the distance

Edwin

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