A great day on Sat 20 Oct in the Hawkesbury and nearby foothills, with
the spring migrants in almost full force now (no sign of Dollarbirds,
White-throated Needletails or Rufous Fantails in Kurrajong yet). Warm
dry weather, overcast until mid morning. Between just 3 sites (Kurrajong
Hills, Pughs Lagoon-Cornwallis Rd and the Wilberforce lagoons (Pitt Town
Ferry Rd and Bushells) 107 species recorded between 730am and 2.30pm.
Great views of a Baillon's Crake and nest-building White-browed
Woodswallows were highlights.
Kurrajong Hills
Morning around Douglas Farm Road with the following all seen in or from
the garden and adjoining forest edge. Good morning for raptors with Grey
Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon and Wedge-tailed Eagle all passing low
overhead. Pigeons are still in relatively low numbers - bronzewing and
dove numbers in particular are down on a year ago, most noticeably in
the case of Bar-shouldered Doves (1 seen) and Peaceful Doves (a couple
of pairs present). The resident pair of Wonga Pigeons are in the garden
most of the day, and approachable to within 3 metres at times. Brown
Cuckoo-doves visit several times a day. Common Bronzewings are present
but at typically 6-8 birds in much lower than pre drought numbers. First
Cicadabirds of the season seen, although I have not recorded this
species here every summer so not certain it is a regular visitor.
Channel-billed Cuckoos and Koels both seen and very vocal, as are Sacred
Kingfisher. Yellow-throated Scrubwrens continue to use the garden,
perhaps due to the dry forest conditions. Bell Miners and Little
Wattlebirds are feeding young, as are King Parrots, and Restless
Flycatchers are nest building.
Pughs Lagoon-Cornwallis Road turf farms area
This area was buzzing with activity, especially from the Rufous
Songlarks which are prolific in the western area between the Old
Kurrajong Rd and Bakers Lagoon. Apart from numerous male Rufous
Songlarks, other sightings of interest here were Brown Songlark (2),
Zebra Finch (12), Nutmeg Mannikin (c 18), European Goldfinch (common),
Stubble Quail (2), Red-kneed (1) and Black-fronted (2) Dotterel,
Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo, Golden-headed Cisticola, Little Grassbird and
European Skylark (common).
Also came across a Bell Miner colony on the northern edge of Windsor
behind Greenway Crescent. This is probably already known to some regular
Hawkesbury birders. Found it interesting as there does not appear to be
any remnant forest of any sort here or within several kilometers of this
site - surroundings are very open urban, turf/veg farming and riverside
parkland - so the birds have colonized a stand of quite young parkland
eucalypts.
Pitt Town Ferry Rd
The usual species here, including numerous nest-hollow inspecting
Red-rumped Parrots and Striated Pardalotes. On the lagoon, mostly
Hardhead, Black Duck and Grey Teal.
Bushell's Lagoon
Entered via the causeway on the west side off Blacktown Rd. Hundreds of
Hardhead, Musk Duck (1), Great Crested Grebe (10, many in superb
breeding plumage), Glossy Ibis (30), White-necked Heron (10), Swamp
Harrier, White-bellied Sea Eagle, 2 pairs of Black Swans with cygnets,
Clamourous Reed-Warbler (common in willows), mud-collecting Fairy
Martins, and the typical waterfowl all present. Excellent and close-up
views of a single Baillon's Crake using the causeway-fringing trees to
move along the water's edge.
Roadside to north of Bushell's Lagoon
The roadside fringes along Blacktown Rd/Kurmond Rd were alive with
interesting birds, including many Double-barred and Zebra Finches,
Eastern Shrike-tit (1), Pallid, Fan-tailed and Horsfield's
Bronze-cuckoos, Peaceful Dove, Blackbird, Fairy and Tree Martin, and
best of all good numbers of White-browed Woodswallow. Estimated minimum
40-50 birds present here, very vocal, feeding from ground level to high
above trees. (No Duskys or Maskeds were seen). 4 males were observed
nest-building - carrying in twigs to females who were remaining largely
stationary beside the nest sites which were mostly in the 10-15 metres
above ground range in eucalypts and a 'pencil pine' conifer in a garden.
Also had glimpses of unidentified woodswallows in flight while driving
along nearby Kurmond Rd so this nesting group may be spread out across
the area. Have seen many reports of White-browed Woodswallows around
Sydney, Melbourne etc in recent weeks on birding-aus, uncertain if there
have been any breeding records as yet?
Eric Finley
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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