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NSW Another good quail day in Sydney's Hawkesbury area - 4th Feb 2006

To: "Birding-aus" <>
Subject: NSW Another good quail day in Sydney's Hawkesbury area - 4th Feb 2006
From: "Edwin Vella" <>
Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2006 19:17:47 +1100

Yesterday morning (Saturday 4th Feb 2005) I spent a few hours with Stuart Pickering looking for more quail at the corner of Cuppitts Lane and Cornwallis Rd in Richmond (approx 55km NW of Sydney CBD). It was fairly hard going after early rain going through the damp grass (some sections at least waist height) but the light was excellent and the hard effort was well rewarding especially for Stuart adding 2 lifers to his list.

 

We located no less than 2 Red-chested Button-quail (possibly same 2 birds flushed 3-4 times) as well as at least 3 King, 12 Stubble and 6 Brown Quails (2 of the later where young birds about the same size of a King Quail but unlike the King Quail do make a more audible sound with their wings when flushed). As usual the distinguishing orange-buff flanks of the Red-chested Button-quail (when viewed from behind) are quite obvious when flushed at close range. Good views were also had of the other Quail, in particular the King Quails where we could clearly see on one of the male birds its black and white markings on the chin as well as all the other colouring of the bird.

 

There were loads of Signing Bushlarks as with last weekend (no less than 20 seen with many perched (3 at one time) on the hay bales allowing very close approach) and they were often flushed along with many Golden-headed Cisticola and a few Reed Warblers. Other birds seen included a Swamp Harrier, a few Black-shouldered Kites and a few Chestnut-breasted Mannikins.

 

There are many other paddocks that look good in the turf farms for quail (I heard many other Stubble Quails calling in these other paddocks) with by permission from the land owners may be worth investigating.

 

Edwin Vella

 

 

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