Hi Birders,
G. Compton asked about Brown-headed Honeyeaters in the Sydney District and I
am able to say that they are a moderately common species in the woodlands of
the Cumberland Plains and in coastal heaths that are interspersed with low
eucalypts & in regrowth areas (post fire or clearing).
E.S. Hoskin "The Birds of Sydney" (1991) says that they are more likely to
be seen on the coastal heaths in the cooler months. Which may be correct for
here on the Central Coast (100 km N of Sydney) they were more common in
autuimn/winter on the heaths than in summer. However, autumn is when Banksia
ericifolia and B. spinicollis is in flower and this honeyeater is known to
feed on the nectar of those two plants.
On another topic, the movement of Grey Fantails taking place is just not
confined to coastal areas of NSW, as during a visit to the Warrumbungles and
the Pilliga Scrub last weekend, Grey Fantails were very common at both sites
being much more common than usual. There is some fair amount of literature
about the return migration of Grey Fantails in August/September, heading
south, but not too much about the Autumn migration.
The Birds in Backyards on going survey, which is mainly confined to Sydney,
may in a few years be able to provide the information that Andrew Taylor was
lamenting the lack of. Interested people could log onto to their website and
so take part in such an information gathering excercise.
Alan Morris
Records Officer, Birding NSW
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