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Subject: birding-aus Digest, Vol 3, Issue 11
Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 12:00:12 +1000 (EST)
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Today's Topics:
1. E-mail Addresses. (Bruce Cox)
2. Ethabuka, Simpson Desert, south-western Qld. (Keith Stockwell)
3. Re: Ethabuka, Simpson Desert, south-western Qld. (L&L Knight)
4. Australian Birdsong - Field Guide (Howard & Jill PLOWRIGHT)
5. RFI: Birding Australia in August (Levine, Barron S)
6. Bird checklists for 440 Melanesian islands (Michael Tarburton)
7. Cassowary intentionally antagonised in a Japanese "Live" TV
studio (Russell Jenkins)
8. Barren Grounds (mike catsis)
9. Scope + accessories for sale (Rob Quinan)
10. Inverell & Ashford 5-8 Jue 2006 (alan morris)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 13:50:13 +1000
From: "Bruce Cox" <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] E-mail Addresses.
To: "birding-aus" <>
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi Birding-aussers,
Does anyone out there have the e-mail addresses of Sheryl Keats and Brian
Venables or otherwise know how to contact them?
Or if they see this could Sheryl and Brian please contact me.
Bruce.
Bruce Cox on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 16:25:04 +1000
From: Keith Stockwell <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Ethabuka, Simpson Desert, south-western Qld.
To: <>
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Ethabuka
In June, I drove up the Kidman Way, across to Eulo, north to Quilpie and
then west via Windorah to Boudourie where I met up with 11 others. Scores
of Fairy Martins had built bottle-like mud nests under the roof of the
amenities block in the camp ground at Bouderie.
We were bound for Ethabuka, a property of the Australian Bush Heritage
Fund, about 120km to the west north west, on the eastern side of the
Simpson Desert. The property's western boundary is the Northern Territory
border and the Simpson Desert National Park adjoins its southern boundary.
Another Bush Heritage property, Cravens Peak, lies to the north but the two
Bush Heritage properties are separated by another station.
Our visit was arranged and led by by the Fund's Katrina Blake. Katrina also
organised and cooked our evening meals using camp ovens on an open fire.
The station managers Al and Karen took it in turns to accompany us on half
day outings to various parts of the property.
It was a busy time on Ethabuka. A well-known outback identity, Willie, was
busy, with two others, rounding up camels. An ABC photographer was
recording their work.
Then there were the 'rat catchers', PhD students and their supervisor from
the Sydney University, trapping and recording details of reptiles and
mammals such as Dunnarts.
There were dust catchers too, three students measuring erosion rates and
recording vegetation cover. I did a 20 minute 2 ha bird survey where the
dust catchers were working and recorded zilch.
Then another Bush Heritage person, Alexander arrived with a cameraman. They
are working on a DVD about the Australian Bush heritage Fund's properties.
Add relatives of the managers and a replacement manager and the number of
people on the station totalled over 30 whilst we were there.
Our camp site was chosen by the managers as it sometimes has lots of bush
birds. But not during our visit. During a survey around our camp site I
only sighted a pair of Yellow-throated Miners and a Magpie.
During our stay, we discussed and studied management issues and travelled
extensively about the property.
Some of the other participants were keen birders and, from time to time, I
elicited their assistance with some 2ha 20 minute bird surveys.
Birds were few and far between. Near Gypsum Hill we observed some Cinnamon
Quail Thrushes. A brochure about the property lists Chestnut Quail Thrush
but, checking distribution maps, I suspect this is an inadvertent error.
The birds we observed were Cinnamon Quail Thrushes.
>From time to time we observed small flocks of Zebra Finch, especially
near
bores.
A survey in an area of mesas recorded only a Willie Wagtail.
Slim pickings indeed ... until we visited Pulchera Waterhole. Last year,
participants were stranded on ethabuka for several weeks following rain and
the waterhole was all but full. Now, there was just a smallish puddle of
water in the large, steep-sided linear waterhole. We recorded Masked
Lapwing, Wedgetailed Eagle, Red-capped Dotterel, White-backed Swallow,
White-plumed Honeyeater, Willie Wagtail, Zebra Finch, Orange Chat and a
corvid (Australian Raven?).
Handout notes we were given listed Yellow Chat but digital pictures one of
the other birders took of the Chat showed conclusively, when the photos
were enlarged on a laptop computer, that it was an Orange Chat even though,
from a distance, those who saw it took it to be a Yellow Chat. Just as
well, as I would have been annoyed being so close yet missing out on a
Yellow Chat.
Some friends from near Bendigo recently paid good money to go on a cruise
somewhere in the Northern Territory because the tour operator advertised
that Yellow Chats were always observed on the cruise. Strange, my friends
thought, because the habitat hardly seemed appropriate. When, during the
cruise, the operator pointed out Yellow Chats, the birds were, in fact,
Lemon-bellied Flycatchers!
Over 150 bird species have been observed on Ethabuka. Many birds on the
list are waterbirds and waders which arrived following past rainfall
events. It was very dry whilst we were there and we only observed a handful
of species. Nonetheless, it was an interesting and enjoyable visit and
supporters of Bush heritage may be interested in visiting this property
when the next open days are arranged.
I observed more birds en route than I did on Ethabuka. Birds observed along
the roadside included Brolgas, hundreds of Emus, a pair of Major Mitchell
Pink Cockatoos and any number of Apostle Birds.
On the way home, after visiting the date farm at Eulo, I camped overnight
at 'Eulo Bore'. It's still not a patch on what it was some years back.
There was water but very few birds came in at dusk or at dawn. I only saw
Willie Wagtail, Ringneck Parrots and a Black-fronted Dotterel. Birding is
usually somewhat better across the road and to the east but I could not
spare more time.
There were thousands of dead kangaroos on and alongside the Mitchell
Highway between Cunnamulla and Bourke. Birds feeding on the carcasses
included Wedgetailed Eagle, Little Crow, Australian Raven and Pied
Butcherbird.
Keith Stockwell
Moama
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 16:52:47 +1000
From: L&L Knight <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Ethabuka, Simpson Desert, south-western
Qld.
To: <>
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
On Saturday, June 10, 2006, at 04:25 PM, Keith Stockwell wrote:
< snip >
> Handout notes we were given listed Yellow Chat but digital pictures
> one of
> the other birders took of the Chat showed conclusively, when the photos
> were enlarged on a laptop computer, that it was an Orange Chat even
> though,
> from a distance, those who saw it took it to be a Yellow Chat. Just as
> well, as I would have been annoyed being so close yet missing out on a
> Yellow Chat.
>
> Some friends from near Bendigo recently paid good money to go on a
> cruise
> somewhere in the Northern Territory because the tour operator
> advertised
> that Yellow Chats were always observed on the cruise. Strange, my
> friends
> thought, because the habitat hardly seemed appropriate. When, during
> the
> cruise, the operator pointed out Yellow Chats, the birds were, in fact,
> Lemon-bellied Flycatchers!
>
>
The moral of the story is to beware of sales and marketing. Tour
operators have a motive to "talk up" offerings/prospects. They may
also have a marginal grip on what they observe.
Regards, Laurie
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 17:40:03 +1000
From: "Howard & Jill PLOWRIGHT" <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Australian Birdsong - Field Guide
To: <>
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
BOCA CD9, Yellow-breasted Boatbill to Fawn-breasted Bowerbird is now
available from BOCA.
BOCA CD10 is likely to be at least 9 months away. Most of the finch calls
need to be replaced and there is an urgent need for help with regard to the
vagrant Wagtails. If anyone has a recording they are prepared to make
available please contact Howard Plowright. Any help would be most welcome.
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 11:55:46 -0700
From: "Levine, Barron S" <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] RFI: Birding Australia in August
To: <>
Message-ID:
<>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Birding-aus Members,
My wife and I have the opportunity to bird in Oz from Late July-late
August. We have birded in Australia 8 years ago taking a route from
Cairns through Mt. Isa, and ending up in Darwin. We saw most of the
expected birds in those areas that July, but are mostly interested in
seeing other birds, as well as those that have seen previously. Other
interests would include plants, mammals, insects, etc. We have an
airfare that allows us 3 internal stops from wherever we land. We are
thinking of beginning into Brisbane, then to Alice Springs, then onto
Broome, and finally Perth. From there we would continue through Sydney
on our way back to the states. We are hoping that this will not be our
last trip and that a southern route will be in future plans
So here are the questions for the group:
If we were to follow this itinerary how long would you recommend at each
of these locations? Would you opt for other places?
What sites within car range of the above areas would you say we must
visit?
Are there pelagic opportunities aside from the 4th Saturday out of
Wollongong?
What cultural opportunities might be available?
Thanks for any and all help. We are really excited about returning to
Oz. If there's any way we can help you out in the future feel free to
e-mail us.
Barry Levine
Seattle, Wa. USA
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 22:02:15 +1000
From: Michael Tarburton <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Bird checklists for 440 Melanesian islands
To: BIRDING-AUS <>
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
G'day birding Ausers
As promised (in April I think) I have at last gotten time to update
all the lists on my homepage for birds on melanesian islands. I
visited 40 small new islands in the Solomons during December. These
are now on the list and some of the major melanesian islands have had
additional records included.
I must give thanks to those who have provided their personal
observations for inclusion.
Highlights were a nightjar on a small island near Haycock Isl, and
the first Fork-tailed Swift sighting for the Solomons, which I saw
for two days on Choiseul.
I hope you will find these lists useful and I still welcome any
additions or corrections you may have.
the page is at WWW.birdsofmelanesia.net
Cheers
Mike
Prof Mike Tarburton
----------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 22:58:11 +1000 (EST)
From: Russell Jenkins <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Cassowary intentionally antagonised in a
Japanese "Live" TV studio
To: Birds-au <>
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I`m disturbed this evening (9:20pm aus) having witnessed a Cassowary being
enticed into a kicking demonstration on a Japanese variety TV show. Being
in Japan, I tuned in expecting to see the work of a noted Japanese bird
photographer when studio bound savages surrounded a live Cassowary (which
was captive in a netted cage) and motioned and nagged at it in the hope of
upsetting it. Is this an objective of the Kyoto Protocol? I don`t know
whether it was a Northern or Southern Cassowary, nor whom provided it, but
their behaviour was truly offensive and not suitable for a vulnerable
species, captive or not. If anyone can, please advise me if there is an
authority I can report this to.
Cheers,
Russell Jenkins
Send instant messages to your online friends
http://au.messenger.yahoo.com
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 09:39:37 +0000
From: "mike catsis" <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Barren Grounds
To:
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Dear All
I will be visiting Australia from England during July and August . Arriving
on 23rd july I will be driving straight to Jamberoo to spend one full day
and the next morning at Barren Grounds ( hoping the weather will be kind
!)
Obviously I will be looking for the specials there ..especially ground
parrot , bristlebird and emuwren . If anyone would like to join me for some
birding on the 24th , especially someone who knows the area well , I would
be delighted to hear from you ( perhaps reply offline ) . Also if anyone
else has any tips for birding the area to maximum advantage in just one day
I would be very grateful to hear from you.
Cheers and good birding
Mike Catsis
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 10:29:21 +1000
From: "Rob Quinan" <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Scope + accessories for sale
To: "Birding-aus" <>
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi All.
Have received kind permission from Russell to post this.
A friend has a new scope for sale. He lives in Newcastle, NSW. There are
some accessories for digiscoping as well. Here are the details:
Nikon Fieldscope ED 82 Angled $1,500
Nikon 30 x W series digiscoping eyepiece $250
Nikon 50 x WF series eyepiece $250
NIKON Fieldscope Adapter FSA-L1 for Nikon Digital SLRs $350
Nikon fieldscope digital camera adapter FSB-P4 (for coolpix P4 camera) $150
Nikon 8.1 megapixel coolpix digital camera P4 $400.
Other
Manfroto tripod head 700 RC2 pro video head $75
Manfroto tripod head 141 RC $75
All items were bought new only a few months ago. All are in mint condition
and seldom used.
Contact: Me or
Steve West
Newcastle
249683325
or email
Hope this commercial doesn't upset anyone.
Regards,
Rob Quinan
Central Coast, NSW.
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2006 11:35:46 +1000
From: "alan morris" <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Inverell & Ashford 5-8 Jue 2006
To: <>
Cc: Drew Morris <>, "Peter Johnson
\(ITD\)" <>, Almarosa
<>, Ian McAllan <>
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252";
reply-type=original
A VISIT TO THE INVERELL & ASHFORD DISTRICTS 5-8 JUNE 2006
Following on from a report from Peter Johnson that he had seen a Squatter
Pigeon on the Ashford-Texas Rd in northern NSW on 15 May 2006, Alan McBride
and myself travelled there to see if we could relocate the bird(s). The
last
confirmed sighting of a Squatter Pigeon in NSW was in 1978 near Bingara,
but
there was another report in 2001 near Bebo SF which is north of the
Yetman-Texas Rd, and about 60 km NW of where Peter had reported the bird.
In
the 1970s the Squatter Pigeons were reported from the Inverell, Gilgai,
Ashford,Barraba and Bingara areas, all on the NSW north-west slopes.
Unfortunately on our trip we were unable to locate any Squatter Pigeons
although conditions looked right for the bird, and as a result of good
seasonal conditions over summer there was plenty of grass cover throughout
the area.
We had fine weather throughout out our trip. We travelled via the New
England Highway to Tamworth and then the along the Fossikers Way through
Barrabra and Bingara, and then across to Delungra, Ashord and back to
Inverell on the first day. We saw 7 Wedge-tailed Eagles between Branxton
and
Muswellbrook, a Black Kite at Aberdeen, a Hobby at the Manilla River
bridge,
Manilla, and a lone Plum-headed Finch at Andersons Ck Barraba, a well known
site for them.
An early start saw us birding around Inverell Lake on 6/6, seeing 39
species
in half an hour including a pair of White-bellied Cuckoo- Shrikes, a
Sea-eagle and Little Friarbirds, some White Box was in flower as it was
elsewhere in the area and for the next three days we saw and heard Musk &
Rainbow Lorikeets wherever we stopped, but no Swift Parrots!. Then off
along
the inverell-Ashford Rd, and finding Black-chinned Honeyeaters near
Bukulla.
A morning tea break at the Severn River Bridge, 5km N of Ashford on the
Texas Rd found a flock of 150+ Plum-headed Finches, Red-browed Finches and
more Black-chinned Honeyeaters. At the spot that to us seemed most suitable
for the Squatter Pigeon, about 24 km N of Ashford (Peter thought that the
site was about 20 km N of Ashford but that location was in pretty open
country whereas a few kms along you were back into a Grassy Box Woodland,
which continued through to Bonshaw, another 20 km along the road), we
search
regularly over the next two days. While we saw no Squatter Pigeons we did
find Peaceful Dove, Diamong Firetail, Common Bronzewing, Bar-shouldered
Doves and Crested Pigeon. Hooded & Yellow Robin, more Plum-heads, 2
groups
of Turquoise Parrots, Jacky Winters and more White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes
in
this area. Around Bonshaw we had calling Western and White-throated
Gerygones on the same branch, and on the Bonshaw-Yetman Rd, good views of
Speckled Warblers and Inland Thornbills. At the Bonshaw Weir crossing of
the
Dumeresq River, there were Double-bars, Plum-headed Finches, Spiny-cheeked
Honeyeater, Restless Flycatcher & Sea-Eagle.
We stayed over at Texas QLD and next morning found 2A+2J Black-winged
Stilts
on Texas Lagoon. We looped around the roads leading to Atholwood and Camp
Creek, and found more Diamond Firetails, Hooded Robin, Turquoise Parrot,
and
also Southern White-face, Pale-headed Rosellas and Red-capped Robins. We
drifted into Yetman for a snack and saw a Brown Goshawk circling over the
Village, Double-bars, Zerba Finches, Rufous Whistler, Brown Greygone and
House Sparrows in the gardnes and street trees. We then retraced our steps
back to Bonshaw, Ashford, Graman and Bukulla, seeing nothingh new although
a
Spotted Harrier at Bukulla and another Hobby at the Squatter Pigeon site,
were good views. At the end of the day instead of staying at Inverell we
went south-east to Uralla instead.
By 7.30 am on 8/6 we were out birding at Dangars Lagoon, Uralla where the
Temp was 1 degrees and fog covered the Lagoon. But gradually the fog
lifted,
the sun came out and we had a chilly time around the Lagoon. Here we saw
plenty of Shoveler and Pinkears, plenty of Black Ducks & Wood Ducks, 16
Black-fronted & 1 Red-kneed Dotterel, a lone Musk Duck and a pair of
Whistling Kites as well as the usual other waterbirds. We returned via
Tamnworth and the New England Highway andt at Wallabadah, we had great
views
of a Wedge-tailed gliding low over the Highway being dived at by a
Peregrine. At the Lake Liddell Boat Ramp, we checked out the water birds
and
found a lone Great Crested Grebe amongst the many Coots.
Alan Morris
------------------------------
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End of birding-aus Digest, Vol 3, Issue 11
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