Don't tell me the splitters have come up with yet another Albatross! The
"Short-tailed", is that part of the Wandering complex?? Just kidding. Thanks
for a very useful trip report Rob.
Steve Murray
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of robert morris
Sent: Wednesday, 1 October 2008 2:35 PM
To:
Subject: Some notes from a long weekend in Tasmania in
lateSeptember 2008
I just spent a long weekend in Tasmania which was great despite the weather.
I used a variety of information, but Thomas and Thomas still proved to be
very useful and accurate.
I saw all 12 endemic breeding species whilst there. On the Friday I saw 11
of them around Hobart but didn't see Dusky Robins! Scrubtits showed well a
couple of times around Fernvale, along with Black Currawongs (love the
call!) and Pink Robins (the males are stunning!). The Truganini Trail /
Reserve was excellent for Swift Parrots and all 4 endemic honeyeaters - with
several Strong-billed in the lower sections. I heard the Tasmanian form of
Masked Owl here on 2 occasions before first light and after dusk, but didn't
see one here. Forty-spotted Pardalotes were pretty easy down near Kingston
at the Peter Murrell State Reserve near the dam (turn down into the reserve
just beyond the Vodaphone building).
Saturday I did it all again but went one better on Bruny Island seeing all
the endemic breeding species in a day. Dusky Robins appeared from nowhere on
road side posts, and during the morning I saw male Pink, Scarlet and Flame
Robins! Forty-spotted Pardalotes were pretty easy on the hills just south of
Dennes Point. I saw Scrubtits on the road between Lunawanna and Adventure
Bay, and amazing views of them on the Mavista Trail right next to the Picnic
area. Tasmanian Thornbills take a little while to suss out if you haven't
seen them before (note the similar Brown Thornbill is also common) - check
out the primary fringe colours, tail length, heard markings, bill and vent /
underpart colours. Swifties were again obvious particularly on the road down
to the ferry. In the afternoon I caught up with - Musk Lorikeets (at last!)
which were common around the airport and surrounding roads.
Sunday morning started with a huge, chestnut-washed (I assume female)
Tasmanian Masked Owl sat no more than 5m away from me at eye level along
Pittwater Road. The bird called a number of times around 4 am, and around
4.30 I had amazing views of this stunning form. It was them onto Eaglehawk
Neck for a pelagic trip I organised via Chris Lester / Bill Wakefield.
During the day I was disappointed with the numbers and diversity of species,
but when I returned and reflected on my 4 new seabirds I decided I was being
greedy and I had an excuse to come back again (and again). We had great
views of Northern and Southern Royal Albatrosses, a few White-chinned and
Cape Petrels; brief views of Wilson's and a Grey-backed Storm-Petrel and
Common Diving Petrels. There were a variety of other commoner albatrosses, a
few Great-winged Petrels and 1000s of Short-tailed Albatrosses, but none of
the more uncommon southern ocean species I'd be dreaming about!
Great place - I'll try the seabirds again in November!Rob Morris Brisbane,
Australia
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