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LIVERPOOL PLAINS UPDATE NO. 7

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Subject: LIVERPOOL PLAINS UPDATE NO. 7
From: "Peter Ekert" <>
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 10:04:54 +1100

LIVERPOOL PLAINS WOODLAND BIRD SURVEY UPDATE 7 (12-13/1/2002

A Birds Australia project funded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF),Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and the Threatened Species Network (TSN)

7th Survey (12-13/1/2002)

The second Liverpool Plains bird surveys for 2002 (7th in all) concentrated on the south-western section of the Plains near the towns of Premer and Tambar Springs. Tambar Springs is a small town (population 102) located 29km south of Mullaley, which is approximately 65km east of Coonabarabran. The weekend survey concentrated in areas that had not been previously surveyed as part of the Birds Australia Atlas, and contained native vegetation either in roadside verges, travelling stock routes, public reserves, and State Forests. The survey team met at Premer on Saturday morning and consisted of Joan Adams, Ern Dunkley, Maggie Lattin, David Hummerston, Tim Scrace, and Patrick Lodge.

The team worked in three separate groups conducting Atlas surveys along the road network from Premer north to Mullaley, covering approximately 60km. These surveys yielded common species, some of which were Galahs, Eastern Rosellas, Red-rumped Parrots, Apostlebirds, Double-barred Finches, Zebra Finches, Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, Yellow Thornbills, Buff-rumped Thornbills, Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Striated Pardolotes, Rufous Song Larks, White-throated Treecreepers, Brown Treecreepers, Eastern Yellow Robins, Leaden Flycatchers, Sacred Kingfishers, White-winged Trillers, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Red Wattlebirds, Crested Pigeons, Fuscous Honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallows etc. Grey-crowned Babblers, a listed species in NSW, were recorded in some roadside verge just north of Premer. These surveys included two State Forests, Tinkrameneah SF to the south, and Garrawilla SF to the north. At Tinkrameneah SF highlights included Chestnut-rumped Heathwrens and Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters. The record of the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren was new for the Atlas surveys in the Plains, while to date there have been only 4 records of Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters. At Garrawilla SF, a flock of ~12 Brown-headed Honeyeaters was recorded.

Returning to camp in Trinkey SF in the afternoon, a flock of 12 Emus, the largest flock seen in these surveys, was observed amongst a cereal crop on private property. In the afternoon at Trinkey SF, surveys yielded common species such as King Parrots, White-throated Treecreepers, Superb Fairy-wrens, Striated Pardolotes, Spotted Pardolotes, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Grey Shrike-thrushes, Silvereyes, and Yellow Thornbills. Of interest here were the observations of a number of female and male Cicadabirds and Lewin’s Honeyeaters. These two species are very unusual in the Liverpool Plains and the area is outside their distribution noted in the field guides. In the evening an Australian Owlet Nightjar, Barn Owl and Southern Boobook were all heard calling. Surveys on Sunday morning focussed on other areas of Trinkey SF. Similar to most of the weekend, birding was difficult with low numbers of birds present. In the afternoon, Patrick Lodge and myself (due to two punctured tyres!), spent 10 hours (waiting for the NRMA) and surveying a relatively lowland area of crops and grassland between Trinkey SF and Tambar Springs. The survey yielded birds such as White-necked Herons, Wedge-tailed Eagles, Black-shouldered Kites, Nankeen Kestrels, Brown Quail (12), Grey-crowned Babblers, Apostlebirds, and large numbers of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Red-rumped Parrots, and Common Bronzewings. At Cox’s Creek, a major tributary in the Liverpool Plains, a single Black-tailed Native Hen was recorded. This is also a new record for the Atlas surveys in the Liverpool Plains.

In all, the weekend surveys covered an enormous area that had not been previously surveyed as part of the Atlas surveys. A BIG THANK YOU to those who came along and helped with these surveys.

__________________________________________________
Peter A. Ekert
Birds Australia Project Co-ordinator
(Liverpool Plains Woodland Bird Project (North NSW))
www.birdsaustralia.com.au
 
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
(Monitoring Rufous Scrub-birds in North-east NSW)
 
The Wetlands Centre Project Officer
(Wetlands Site Management Plan)
 
The Wetlands Centre
PO Box 292
WALLSEND NSW 2287
Ph. 02 49516466     Mob.  0410566104     Fax.  02 49501875

www.wetlands.org.au
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