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Hi Birders,
I have been watching Birding-aus to
see the progress north of Melbourne of Swift Parrots but I think that
Maryborough was as far north that they had been recorded. So you would all be
please to know that on Sunday and Monday 20-21st April, I thought I heard in
them in the trees around my house over the din of the many Musk Lorikeets that
are present. On Tuesday 22nd April I had three views of a small flock of 8 Swift
Parrots in the trees around Murray St Bateau Bay, and today while lunching with
Anne on the front patio, 14 Swift Parrots landed in the Blackbutt Tree that is
currently in flower, that hangs over our house. This is somewhat amazing but not
unexpected because last year from 17 May-29 September, Swift Parrots were
present in the trees around the house, with a maximum of 230 during June
2002!!
In and around Bateau Bay at present,
both Swamp Mahogany and Blackbutt Trees are in flower, a planted Mugga Ironbark
is flowering at the end of the street, and the Forest Red Gums are budding up
and getting ready to flower. Prior to this there has been an above average
flowering of Red Bloodwood that attracted many Little & Musk Lorikeets. The
110 mm of rain in March and 200 mm of rain so far this month here at Bateau Bay
is ensuring a very pleasant autumn and will keep the trees flowering.
Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Silvereyes and Spotted Pardalotes have also arrived
and are feeding on the nectar and lerps as well.
I hope that the Regent Honeyaters
also get the message about our local food resources. Members of the Hunter
Bird Obserers Club, attending the Easter camp at Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve
near Mudgee were fortunate to see 5+ Regent Honeyeaters on the Moolarben Rd
section of that Reserve! Hopefully other Regents have headed for the Central
Coast!
Alan Morris
Central Coast Group, Birding
NSW
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