|
Checked out a number of places in the lower Hunter
valley area yesterday after a week or so of heavy rain.
First of all, I briefly checked for waders and
terns at Newcastle Harbour and at Stockton (opposite Korragang Island). There
were only 15 or so Common Tern inside the breakwaters of Nobby's head, amongst
the Silver Gulls and Crested Terns. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were entering the
Harbour as they followed a couple of fishing trawlers.
At Stockton, only a few migratory waders were
present which included 7 Whimbrel, 2 Eastern Curlews, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 7
Grey-tailed Tattlers. There were also 17 Pied Oystercatchers feeding with 3
Sooty Oystercatchers amongst the rocks, and in the Mangroves there were 3
Mangrove Gerygones and a Sacred Kingfisher. A juv. White-bellied Sea-eagle
and a pair of Whistling Kites flew overhead.
Passing through Williamtown saw a Grey Goshawk
perched on powerlines above an open paddock and beside a fairly busy
road.
At Seaham, a small group of Blue-faced Honeyeaters
were quite noisy as well as a group of Grey-crowned Babblers. In a small park
adjacent to Seaham swamp were 2 Striped Honeyeaters, Striated Pardalotes, a
Golden Bronze-cuckoo, a Pacific Heron and White-breasted
Woodswallows.
At Millers Forest (a few km west of Raymond
Terrace), the prize here was a brilliant male Spotted Harrier taking off from
the ground.
At Woodberry and Tarro Swamps (both had no water a
few months ago), there were lots of Black Swans, 130 plus Pied Stilts, 2 Swamp
Harriers, an Australian Hobby (mobbed by a Pied Butcherbird), both Hardheads and
Australasian Shovelers and Pacific Herons.
At Hexham Swamp at Leneghan, thousands of ducks and
Swans were about (many too far to identify) but I counted no few than 300
Australasian Shovlers and a 150 Hardheads amongst hundreds/thousands
of Grey and Chestnut Teals and highly likely, more Hardheads and
Shovelers. White-faced Herons were also numerous. Also present here
was another Australian Hobby (again mobbed by a group of Pied Butcherbirds), 8
Swamp Harriers, no less than 4 Whistling Kites, a White-bellied Sea-eagle, a
Wedge-tailed Eagle, 2 Hoary-headed Grebes and 40 Glossy Ibis. It was
interesting to observe a pair of Whistling Kites take a go at a Swamp
Harrier (the later appeared much smaller than the former) and 2 of the Swamp
Harriers were seen to tussle with each other in mid air. There were
also lots of frogs about with 4 species heard - Limnodynastes peronii and
tasmaniensis (Striped and Spotted Marsh Frogs), Crinia signifera (Common
Eastern Froglet) and Uperoleia laevigata (Smooth Toadlets). A large group
of Noisy Friarbirds appeared to be moving north and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters
were also passing through in small numbers. a Few months ago I also had
some Freckled Ducks beside this swamp, but could not see them this time
around.
A good day to be out in pleasant sunshine
(around the mid-20's)
Edwin Vella
| 