Hi Birding-aussers.
The past month we've seen a few interesting if
not extaordinary birds in Mulgoa Valley. Favourites were group of GANG GANG
COCKATOOS at the bottom of Mayfair Rd., and the daily presence of five or
six CRESTED SHRIKE-TITS in the trees along the creeklines, today playing
mating games. First sightings since the fires fifteen months ago of two (? a
pair) of DUSKY WOODSWALLOWS, usual summer residents here. VARIEGATED and
SUPERB FAIRYWRENS must be breeding if the FAN-TAILED CUCKOO nearby is any
indication. MISTLETOE BIRDS in mistletoe.
HARDHEADS and AUSTRALASIAN GREBES have returned
now that the dams are half full, but not the resident Azure Kingfisher; a
SACRED KINGFISHER seen; unusual. Most of the birds chased out by the fires
have returned, EASTERN WHIPBIRDS in greater numbers, possibly because the
ten hectares of Lantana were destroyed and replaced by a thick metre high
carpet of some very green weedy herb punctuated by Acacia and Eucalypt
regrowth. Hardly any new Lantana, if all the Acacias flourish they'll keep
it out . PEACEFUL DOVES, EASTERN SPINEBILLS, BROWN QUAIL calling, RUFOUS
WHISTLERS(pair), SITELLAS, richly coloured Tasmanian SILVEREYES,
OLIVE-BACKED ORIOLE, RESTLESS FLYCATCHER. Their numbers are down, but
doubtless the RED-WHISKERED BULBULS will rapidly reproduce. No sight or
sound of White-browed Scrubwrens yet.
On the flats, a BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE hovering,
very bright and freshly plumaged CHESTNUT MANNIKINS and GOLDEN-HEADED
CISTICOLAS. A single FAIRY-MARTIN among WELCOME SWALLOWS over the dam.
An unusual group of four SATIN BOWERBIRDS
together in the top of a dead tree, one fully plumaged males, the others
uncoloured males perhaps. The group flew together to another tree on our
approach. This was about 7.30 today, overcast with a fresh SW wind. At the
top of other trees, as if sunning but without sun, were a dozen RED-RUMPED
PARROTS, six SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOOS, two GALAHS, and an AUSTRALIAN RAVEN,
what were they doing? None had their usually alertness, perhaps they had
roosted there, it was a cold night and probably warmer at the top.
Cheers
Michael
Michael Hunter
Mulgoa Valley
50km west of Sydney Harbour Bridge
Scanned by PeNiCillin http://safe-t-net.pnc.com.au/
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
