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Hi Keith
According to my records and
recollections, numbers are on the rise in the Royal National Park and Heathcote
National Park. Below is a long version, but if you want the short version,
numbers are up.
Down here I saw one Wonga Pigeon
and heard two others on the weekend. I've been sighting at least a couple of
Brown Cuckoo-doves along Lady Carrington Drive each outing (very easy species to
call in - even if you look like a nutter when doing so!). More and more
Rockwarblers, pretty frequent Pilotbirds, regulars like Yellow Robins, all local
Scrubwrens, Thornbills and Gerigones very common, Parrots in good numbers, V
Sitellas - regular good flocks, definite large increase in Red-browed Finch
flock sizes over last few years, V and S Fairy-wrens in stable
numbers, Crested Shrike-tit family groups all with at least 2 juveniles
(boys on the bark - girls on the leaves... God lerv 'em). Crested Shrike-tits
have not been common in the Park for some time but are now reappearing to the
point where I see them every weekend. Satin Bowerbirds are quieter, but
around, Green Catbirds (totally AWOL), Whipbirds everywhere and lots of
juveniles, legions of Lyrebirds (and chicks starting to appear), plentiful
Pardalotes, more than the odd Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Currawongs, Butcherbirds, Azure
Kingfishers in great supply, very competitive chest-to-chest calling from Golden
Whistlers (great to observe) as they vie for territory in the face of greater
numbers (excellent breeding season observed) and limited dispersal options.
Big increases in Eastern Spinebills, stacks of Silvereye
blow-ins, significant increase in W T Treecreepers,
Yellow-faced Honeyeaters in better numbers than recent years and
pretty well everything else seems to be at least stable or increasing.
Same story in the dry sclerophyll
forests with plenty of raptors (many juvenile Brown Goshawks and Nankeen
Kestrels spotted recently). I have never seen so many White-browed Scrubwrens
and Brown Thornbills as I recently did on the Garrawarra Ridge Top trail. Stacks
of juveniles among them and breeding season is not far away for many of these
little brown fellas. Also good numbers of Little Lorikeets there. Good numbers
of Yellow-tufted and White-eared Honeyeaters in Heathcote NP
too.
Out on the Heath I observed massive
numbers of all of the local Honeyeaters (New Holland, Yellow-faced, Wattle
birds, some White Cheeked(!), Tawney Crowned and even a few Scarlets, especially
juveniles) all are just over a big breeding season. Quail and Bronzewings are in
good supply too. Raptors of several type in good supply out there, picking
off the happless chicks, grasshoppers and reptiles. Beautiful Firetail Finches
are definitely bouncing back after the devastating fires of the mid 1990's where
it seemed for a while that they'd been lost. I have observed good numbers
breeding through the summer and out on Curra Moors several pairs breeding in the
Autumn on each outing. Southern Emu-wrens, V and S Fairy-wrens and
Chestnut-rumped Heathwrens are also up in number. The Emu-wren groups have all
increased in size (studies on dispersal for these guys would be interesting).
Stand around Sutherland Hospital any
day and stare straight up. You'll see wonderful numbers of Little and Rainbow
Lorikeets on the move at the moment - heading north-west.
Even in the parks surrounding my home
in Sans Souci there are many Eucalypts in flower which are full of parrots and
honeyeaters (more so than last year) and the fig trees are full of Figbirds
(which seem even tamer than usual). Yellow Thornbills are up in number this year
around my home as well. I'm even seeing Eastern Rosellas checking out nest holes
already.
I could go on, but dare not. I feel
very encouraged by what I've been seeing of late in our parts and am a happy
birder right now. Sorry to hear that things might be a bit slow. Every time I
take a tourist out, it appears that way too though.
Appologies for the verbose
reply.
Regards - Ricki
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