Members of Blue Mountains Bird Observers reported 109 species in APRIL and
97 species in MAY within the Blue Mountains City boundaries, a lower total
than usual, even for this time of year. Highlights were:
=====================================
GREY GOSHAWK - Reported again at Hazelbrook during May and at Sun Valley on
29/5. Both grey morph.
WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE - 1 seen over Lapstone and another over Narrow Neck and
Megalong Valley during May.
LITTLE EAGLE - 1 over Woodford on 18/5.
LEWIN'S RAIL - The bird in Timothy Hyde's backyard at Hazelbrook was last
seen on 4/4.
WHITE-HEADED PIGEON - All areas of the mountains including one seen on a
bird feeder at Blackheath on 28 & 30/5 - the day before and the day after
the snow.
GLOSSY BLACK-COCKATOO - The only reports were from Wentworth Falls area, no
more than 2 birds seen.
YELLOW-TAILED BLACK-COCKATOO - 200+ were counted flying east over
Blackheath and Medlow Bath throughout the day on 21/5. Flocks of up to 38
were seen at Woodford at the end of May.
RAINBOW LORIKEET - The large numbers present earlier in the year at
Katoomba had dwindled to a pair at the beginning of April and were last
seen on 5/4 - leaving the same day a cold change arrived!
COMMON KOEL - These seem to be hanging around longer each year, and after a
very good season for this species a late immature was seen at Woodford on
20/4 - the last of the season.
POWERFUL OWL - Reported at Mount Riverview (a regular location) and a pair
calling at dusk for the first three weeks of May at Fitzgerald Creek north
of Warrimoo.
BARKING OWL - A bird was heard at 4am on 16/4 in bushland behind houses at
Blackheath.
YELLOW-FACED HONEYEATER - A very interesting year for these. In summary:
only small numbers of passage migrants but huge numbers wintering in the
area.
The migration started early and finished late (at least until 22-23/5 in
most areas) but in between, far fewer birds than usual moved through the
area, especially along traditional routes, e.g. at Katoomba. An unusual
eastward movement over Glenbrook on the morning of the 9/5 with an
estimated 2-3000 birds seen flying over in an hour. From the middle of May
we started to see huge numbers feeding on flowering banksias (B.
ericifolia, marginata, spinulosa) in heathland and open-forest in the mid
and upper mountains.
WHITE-NAPED HONEYEATER - As for Yellow-faced, above. First noted migrating
on 16/4 at Katoomba. Wintering birds more numerous than I've ever seen in
the area.
YELLOW-TUFTED HONEYEATER - Normally a bird we would only expect to find in
the lower mountains and deep in the valleys, there has been a small group
present at Narrow Neck, Katoomba, at least from 21/5 until 19/6, feeding on
Banksia ericifolia. Also seen at Kings Tableland on 21/6.
FUSCOUS HONEYEATER - Another honeyeater not usually found in the mountains,
they have been seen at Katoomba during May and at Hassan's Walls, near
Lithgow, on 2/6.
ROSE ROBIN - An influx during May, with many sightings from Glenbrook to
Wentworth Falls.
BLACK-FACED MONARCH - Last record was 8/4 at Faulconbridge.
RUFOUS FANTAIL - Springwood 5/4 and Machin's Crater south of Glenbrook 7/4
but there may have been later sightings as not all observers recorded dates.
PIED CURRAWONG - Typical large winter flocks around the
townships during May.
RED-BROWED FINCH - Probably larger numbers than usual this year, including
flocks of up to 50 seen at Valley Heights.
=====================================
Carol Probets
Newsletter Editor, Blue Mountains Bird Observers
Katoomba NSW (100km west of Sydney)
=====================================
The Blue Mountains Bird Observers compile records of birds within the Blue
Mountains City boundaries, which includes the area between Hawkesbury
Heights, Mount Riverview and Lapstone in the east; Megalong Valley, Shipley
Plateau and Mount York in the west and Mount Wilson in the north.
Annual membership is $17 and all members receive a full list of birds
reported each month and a monthly newsletter including trip reports and
members' observations.
=====================================
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