This morning on the 3rd October 2005, I spent a good
few hours in the Hawkesbury (approx. 50-60 km NW of Sydney CBD).
At Pitt Town Lagoon, there were several Brown Quail,
Hardhead, Australasian Shoveler, 400 plus Grey Teal, 2
Buff-banded Rail, a Pacific Golden Plover (moulting
out of summer plumage with black belly), 6 Red-kneed and 7 Black-fronted
Dotterels (the later includes 2 small chicks), 40 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (in
varying plumage and sizes), a Latham’s Snipe, 40 Pied Stilts (2 appeared
to be on a nest), a Whiskered Tern in summer plumage, Horsfield’s
Bronze-cuckoo, Rufous Songlark,
Nutmeg Mannikins and Double-barred Finches. Also near
Pitt Town Lagoon along Pitt Town Bottoms Rd were 2 Rainbow Bee-eaters (one
landing on the ground probably to inspect a nesting spot), Sacred Kingfisher
and Restless Flycatcher.
At Bushell’s Lagoon, there
were 37 more Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, an adult White-bellied Sea-eagle, a
family of Black-shouldered Kites including 3 young birds (all were quite
approachable as they were fairly low in the willows beside the causeway) and
some Zebra Finches. A Pallid Cuckoo and another Restless Flycatcher was also
heard along nearby Kurmond Rd.
Sydney’s
weather is certainly warming up now (over 30 degrees plus celsius
here in the Hawkesbury) and too early!!!
Edwin Vella
