Today in the Hawkesbury area (approx 55 km north-west of Sydney CBD) saw
the arrival of quite a number of White-winged Trillers seen by myself and a
couple of other birdos (also at Pughes Lagoon and McGraths Hill in addition to
my locations listed below). Most of the ones I observed were not calling and
appeared not to be in full breeding plumage. Did not seen any White-browed or
Masked Woodswallows at all, but these may become more noticeable in
Sydney over the next few
weeks.
At Pitt Town Lagoon met Simon Blanchflower and together we saw a number
of interesting shorebird species including 110 plus Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 6
Marsh Sandpipers, only one Red-kneed Dotterel (compared to about 40 last
Sunday), a Wood Sandpiper and a single Red-necked Avocet. Many of Sharp-tailed
Sandpipers were hard to see, as the majority was hidden amongst the bent reeds
and we could only count the numbers when they took flight together. Other finds
include a Caspian and a Whiskered Tern (both were in breeding plumage), 2
Yellow-billed Spoonbills, 3 Baillon?s Crakes (very close and clear views of 2),
20 plus Australasian Shoveler, 2 Horsfield?s Bronze-cuckoos (one chasing the
other), a male White-winged Triller passing through and 2 Channel-billed Cuckoos
flying over the town.
Along Pitt Town Bottoms Rd (to the south of Pitt Town
lagoon) I spotted what appeared most likely 8 Curlew Sandpipers flying over, a
Rainbow Bee-eater (perched on power lines), atleast 4 Chestnut-breasted
Mannikins and a Koel (the first I have noticed this season) calling in the
distance.
At McGraths Hill STW, Baillons Crakes were easy to find with no less than
4 seen (one seen swimming across the drain like a tiny Moorhen), an Australian
(Spotted) Crake, 3 Glossy Ibis, only 2 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 2 Red-kneed
Dotterels, a single Latham?s Snipe, a female Darter, a Plumed Egret, about 20
Hardheads, 2 Zebra Finches and a good close study of a single Whiskered Tern (in
non-breeding plumage) hawking for food over the water and the nearby grass.
Simon also had a Pectoral Sandpiper and a White-winged Triller at this location
earlier in the morning.
A brief visit to Bushell?s Lagoon (Freemans Reach) produced a single
Greenshank, another 15 Whiskered Terns (most in breeding plumage), a
Yellow-billed Spoonbill, another Plumed Egret, an adult White-bellied Sea-eagle
and 4 Zebra Finches.
A quick drive through Stannix Park
Rd at Ebeneezer produced 2 male White-winged Trillers
in eclipse plumage in the same Wattle, a Jacky Winter and Double-barred Finches.
At nearby Pitt Town Ferry
Rd, a Pallid Cuckoo, Striated Pardalotes and a pair
of Crested Shrike-tits were seen along the roadside. Also at the lagoon here,
another 2 Red-kneed Dotterels and a Restless Flycatcher was heard
nearby.
At Mitchell Park Cattai a quick look produced a Leaden Flycatcher, Rufous
Whistlers, White-throated Gerygones and a Black (Swamp) Wallaby.
On my way home, I also checked briefly at Shanes Park (south-east of the
Hawkesbury area) and saw another male White-winged Triller in an acacia (almost
in full breeding plumage) together with a Golden Bronze-cuckoo (both probably
after caterpillars). A few Double-barred Finches were in another acacia
opposite.
Edwin Vella
PS Where are all the birdos in
Sydney? We may be missing out on
some rarities!!!
