Peter,
I agree that the Koel is the harbinger of Summer. The ancient round
"Summer is Icumen In" must have been written by someone with great pre-
cognisance of English settlement of Australia, because when it comes
to "Lhude sing Cuc-cu", there is no "Cuc-cu" more "Lhude" in my book
than a Koel. Perhaps when the round is performed in Australia, Koel
should be sustituted for "Cuc-cu".
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
On 06/10/2008, at 3:20 PM, Peter Ewin wrote:
I was away (trip report to follow) when Tony (I think) questioned why
everyone was so obsessed with reporting Koels on Birding-Aus. I think
there are three reasons why this happens:
Some of it I think stems back to our European (British) background
where the return of such migrants as Barn Swallows and Common Cuckoos
are definite indicators of the arrival of spring.
From this NSW Birding (whatever NSWFOC is now called) used to
publish records of return dates in their newsletters and annual
reports. I don't think Alan Morris still subscribes to Birding-Aus
but I think he still looks through the archives and so I find it the
easiest way to report them.
Personally, when I lived in Sydney, the call of the Koel in particular
was a strong indicator that spring was here and that summer wasn't to
far off. The Channel-billed Cuckoo was a less welcome call -
particularly is it not very pleasant, and even so at 3am outside your
bedroom window.
Given these points, here are some sightings of spring migrants in NSW
(and SE Qld) that may be of interest. They may not be arrival dates,
but some would be pretty close.
Painted Honeyeater - Boree 20km east of Wyalong on the Newell Highway
17/9
Rufous Songlark (going beserk), Sacred Kingfisher & Fairy Martin - Gum
Swamp (Forbes) 18/9 No Martins were seen the previous day, but
virtually every culvert north of Forbes then had them.
White-throated Gerygone - Jabiru-Geneebeinghi Wetland (Casino) 19/9
(also at Crystal Creek the following day)
Spectacled Monarch, Black-faced Monarch, Rufous Fantail - Mebbin NP
Fig Tree walking track (SW of Murwillumbah) 21/9
Brush Cuckoo, Latham's Snipe - Cram's Farm Clarrie Hall Dam (Tweed
Valley) 21/9
Black-faced Monarch - Mt Warning carpark 21/9
Common Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo - Crystal Creek (near Chillingham)
22/9 (though mum said she heard a Koel further up the creek a couple
of days earlier)
Leaden Flyctacher - Crystal Creek 1/10 (though near Gympie on 22/9)
Dollarbird - Broadwater township 1/10 (though near Narangba Qld 23/9)
Rainbow Bee-eater - Gap Dam SF (west of Rankins Springs) 4/10 (seen
earlier at Rainbow Beach (Qld) and Woolgoolga (breeding) but probably
resident there.
I thought I saw possible White-browed Woodswallows while driving on
the Mid Western Highway on the 17/9 but these were not confirmed.
I also thought I heard a Cicadabird once at Crystal Creek (20/9) but
it never called again so I am not certain it was not a Lewin's HE that
I was half hearing while reading a book.
Cheers,
Peter
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