Today I decided to head up north
of Sydney to check out a few wetland areas in the Hunter region as well as the
Honeyeater/Swift Parrot activity in the central coast of NSW (about time I
though for the later). The weather was glorious and so were the birds.
At Shortland (approx 180 km north
of Sydney CBD and in the NSW Hunter region), I was surprised to hear and see 2
Torresian Crows which is as far south as I have ever encountered them. I have
also seem them at Seaham (approx 20 km further north) which I thought was there
southern limit. They are however a common corvid in the northern parts of the
Hunter region, like Gloucester and
Taree areas). Also at Shortland were the usual 60 plus Magpie Geese, 50 plus
Australasian Shovelers, 50 plus Hardheads, a Fan-tailed Cuckoo and a Spangled
Drongo. I did not see the Black-necked Stork (Jabiru) reported recently but
suspect it could be on Ash
Island were I have seen one female in
the past. With so much water in the area the few Jabirus that frequent the Lower
Hunter area are probably well spaced.
At Lenaghan, I was lucky to catch
up again with 10 FRECKLED DUCKS at the same swamp I saw them last December just
off Lenaghan Drive and south-west of Hexham swamp. These were amongst 50 plus
Pink-eared Ducks, atleast 100 plus of both Hardhead and Australasian Shovelers
and thousands of Grey and a few Chestnut Teal. Also nearby were 2 Swamp
Harriers, atleast 1 Whistling Kite, 2 Brown Falcons and 10 Glossy Ibis. There
were probably and highly likely a lot more other water birds and raptors around
Heham swamp. At nearby Pourmalong Nature Reserve, there were close to 1000 Black
Swans sharing a small swamp. I wonder if a Northern Shoveler is out there!
Just before noon, I arrived at
Wyee Point (on western end of Lake Macquarie and approx 140 km north of Sydney
CBD) were I was lucky to encounter 3 REGENT HONEYEATERS among an abundance of
other Honeyeaters (Noisy Friarbirds; Red and Little Wattlebirds; White-naped,
Lewin?s, Yellow-faced, Yellow-tufted, Fuscous, White-cheeked and Eastern
Spinebills). All were feeding on the flowering Swamp Mohaganys in the forest
along the shores of the lake and in the reserve at the end of
Bay Street. The Regents fed
mostly below the canopy and there beautiful colours displayed well in good light. I watched one gleaning
insects (?) from the trunk of a swamp mahogany and another calling (giving a few
cat like ?mewing? calls with bill-clapping and head bobbing, a fairly common
behaviour. Also saw one display in flight). There were also several Little
Lorikeets feeding among them and 13 SWIFT PARROTS flew very high overhead
towards Morisset (on the opposite side). A Grey Goshawk (grey morph) flew low
below the canopy and landed in on of the trees close to where the Honeyeaters
were feeding. On one of the tracks, I noticed a dead Brown Antechinus with its
intestines hanging out (which is what happens often to the male after
mating!)
Along
Bath Street, I encountered
another 50-60 more Swift Parrots (this could be an under-estimate) but It?s
amazing how quite they can sometimes be in a tree, even when there is 50 of them
feeding in it. I watch small flocks of Swifties fly out of one tree, and just
when you thought they were all gone, there still more yet to fly out. Many fed
quite low offering great views.
After spending about two hours at
Wyee Point, I decided to spend the remaining time around Morisset where I found
another 30 SWIFT PARROTS feeding on
Swamp Mahoganys in the grounds of the Hospital and with much more Little
Lorikeets and several Musk lorikeets. The Swift Parrots and Little Lorikeets
were mainly feeding in the flowering Swamp Mahogany where as the Musk Lorikeets
were feasting in the Spotted Gums (?) and planted Mugga Ironbark (both in
flower). I saw a Little Lorikeet twice showing aggression towards a Swiftie in
one of the Swamp Moganys (as if to say ?move away it?s our tree?). Fairly large
numbers of Grey Kangaroos were present in the Hospital grounds.
Before heading back home, I
decided to walk along Pourmalong Creek (which runs just north of the
Morisset
Hospital) where I found atleast
another 15 Swift Parrots and more Little Lorikeets. Also in this area was an
active Osprey?s nest. I met another birdo here who tells me that a few Black
Kites are being seen in some yard at Maitland (these Kites are rather rare in
coastal NSW). He was trying to photograph a fairly obliging male Mistletoebird
along the creek, which I also saw.
Have the numbers of Swift Parrots
dropped off in the other areas of the central coast
(Bateau
Bay, Budgewoi etc) or have I found
more Swift Parrots. If I had more time I would have searched more further a
field. There are still lots of trees in bud in the areas I searched today, and I
would not be surprised that these Swifties will continue to hang around the
central coast of NSW till the end of their season on the
mainland.
A good day to be outdoors indeed!
Edwin Vella
PS Debbie, I have some survey
sheets heading your way soon.
