Birdline NSW
Published sightings for the week ending 11 Apr 2010.
Sun 11 Apr Gilbert's Whistler Warraderry State Forest, Grenfell
At least two males calling.
Bruce Ward & Allan Richards
Sat 10 Apr Rock Warbler, Grey Currawong Porters Creek Rd/ 8k Nth of
Milton
Last week while searching for the supposed? Brush Turkey in the area. We
travelled 14k up to Porters Creek Dam where at the carpark/picnic area,
a hot spot for these Origmas, we spotted 2. Driving slowly on the return
journey down we had 4 separate sightings of these birds on the road
along with a Grey Currawong, which is really unusual. Porters Creek Road
is erroneously called Pointer Gap Rd on Google Earth if you should go
looking for it.
Dave Stepheson, Bob Black, Bob Rusk
Common Noddy Newcastle Ocean Baths nr Nobby's Beach
The Common Noddy, first seen by Judi Thomas at the Newcastle Ocean Baths
Reefs on 7 Apr, was seen by Richard Nicholls this morning at 700 hrs,
and then later it could not be found. It certainly was not to be seen
between 915-1045 hrs when I and another observer was looking for it!
Good views of Ruddy Turnstones in breeding plumage can be obtained.
Alan Morris
Black Noddy Long Reef, NSW (Sydney's Northern Beaches)
The Black Noddy was again showing very well this morning at Long Reef.
It was seen fishing around the seaward edge of the reef and a few times
roosting on the rocks allowing a very close approach within 1 metre
(Noddies are usually tame) as it preened and appearing not concerned
with my company. Other birds seen on the reef included 4 Pacific Golden
Plovers (one with alot of breeding plumage), 10 Double-banded Plovers,
20 Red-necked Stints (including one nicely coloured individual), 3
Grey-tailed Tattlers (all 3 in breeding plumage), 15 Ruddy Turnstones
and 13 Sooty Oystercatchers.
Edwin Vella and Michael Ronan
Wilson's Storm-Petrels, Buller's Albatross, Brown Skua Sydney
Pelagic Trip
No New Zealand Storm-Petrel but amazing numbers of Wilson's
Storm-Petrels with a total of 250 estimated - many of these in a band of
activity about 16NM east of Sydney Heads. Other highlights were a
Buller's Albatross and an early returning Brown Skua. [Moderators' note:
we would like to add some Cetacean highlights as we were on-board this
boat today - lots of (at least 20+) Risso's Dolphin were seen off the
shelf-break, some very close to the boat; & some (at least 10)
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin, were enjoying a free bow ride as we were
coming back to shore. MC & CC].
Roger McGovern
Thu 8 Apr Black Noddy Long Reef, Northern Beaches
A Black Noddy seen and photographed this afternoon at long Reef, thanks
to Mark Young.
David Mitford
Common Noddy Newcastle Baths
Single bird has been seen by a number of observers since yesterday
morning on the rock shelf directly behind Newcastle Baths, roosting with
Silver Gulls, Crested Terns, Common Tern, Sooty Oystercatchers, Ruddy
Turnstone and Little Black Cormorant. Still there late this afternoon
(app 5pm)
Nick Livanos
Tree Martin Bayveiw Dog Park!
A group of Tree Martins flew over this evening, the first time I have
seen this species in 7yrs of living on the Northern Beaches.
Henry Coleman
Common Noddy Hastings Point
Seen with with terns, stayed around quite a long time fairly close to
the point, then headed south,also rested on water at one stage (2).
Kathy Wilk
Azure Kingfisher Penrith Lakes
One adult noted hanging around the warm-up lake. Never seen this species
here so it must be a rarity.
Ákos Lumnitzer
Wed 7 Apr White-headed Pigeon Springwood, Blue Mountains
A single White-headed Pigeon seen flying across the Great Western
Highway near the railway station. Not a common species here but they are
regular visitors at this time of year when the camphor laurel berries
appear.
Clive Meadows
Tue 6 Apr Little Eagle, White-bellied Sea-eagle & Whistling Kite
Stockton Sandspit
An apparent dispute over a dead fish saw a group of predatory birds
having some aerial battles at Stockton Sandspit early this afternoon.
The prey item could not be seen but firstly an immature Sea-eagle chased
off a Little Eagle and attempted to claim the prize only to be chased
off by two adult Sea-eagles. They eventually moved off so that two
Whistling Kites and several Australian Ravens moved in to finish off
only to have the two adult Sea-eages return and chase away all the
smaller predators. Much swooping and calling by all parties. 37 Pied
Oystercatchers, 12 Caspian terns and 6 Little Terns were the other main
highlights.
Alan Morris & Laurie Smith
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet Gibson Park, Thirroul
A small group of musk lorikeets are feeding in some flowering gum trees
between the football paddock and the bowling club. these birds have been
in the trees for a few weeks. Also scaly's, rainbow's and wattle birds
in with them.
Michael Crosland
Mon 5 Apr White-bellied Sea-eagle Parsley Bay, Brooklyn -
Hawkesbury River
One juvenile and one adult flying down the river. On Mooney Mooney
Creek, near the train station, were an Eastern Curlew and a Striated
Heron.
Tony Keene
Superb Parrot,Turquoise Parrot,Ground Cuckoo-shrike,Diamond
Firetail,Emu,Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Forbes/Grenfell/Cowra Districts &
Lithgow site
Over the Easter weekend in the above areas, the following highlights
were recorded: 3 Ground Cuckoo-shrikes seen at Back Yamma SF (20km NE of
Forbes) on 3/04; good numbers (30+) of Superb Parrots were between
Bandon & Gooloogong on 2/04 & again on 5/04 (this is proving to be a
very reliable site at any time of year), with a single adult male flying
over at Back Yamma on 3/04; many Diamond Firetails were at both Back
Yamma & Weddin SF (20km SW of Grenfell) from 3-5/04; at least 10
Turquoise Parrots (incl. juveniles) were observed at Weddin SF from
3-5/04. Other good birds in the area were an Aust Owlet-nightjar
photographed at its hollow entrance enjoying the afternoon sunshine,
Aust Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Hooded Robin, & White-backed Swallow, plus
a host of the usual woodland birds expected such as Speckled Warbler,
both Western & White-throated Gerygones, White-throated Nightjar, Aust
Ringneck, Blue Bonnet, late Sacred Kingfishers, Rainbow Bee-eaters &
Leaden Flycatchers etc etc...On the way home on 5/04, a lone adult Emu
was spotted 12km W of Lyndhurst on the Mid Western Hwy, & 2 single
Chestnut-rumped Heathwrens more than 200mtrs apart, were at our regular
site 7km E of Lithgow.
Martin Cachard & Garry Deering
Common Tern Botany Bay, near Penrhyn
Up to 10 Common Terns seen fishing together along the 3rd runway at
Sydney Airport. I've occasionally seen Commons here, but not in these
numbers. Also seen was an Arctic Jaeger actively chasing Silver Gulls
and Crested Terns. Photo is from 4/4/10 in same location.
Nigel Coghlan
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Challenger Track, Ku-rin-gai NP (West
Head side)
Single bird seen and heard briefly in low heath near the Broken Bay
lookout end of the track, just before it enters the bigger trees. Also
10 species of honeyeater seen on the walk (Noisy Miner, Noisy Friarbird,
Red & Little Wattlebird, E Spinebill, Scarlet, New Holland, White
Cheeked, White Eared, Yellow Faced). Birds very active & vocal, despite
very little being in flower.
Tom Wilson
Little Lorikeet Bilgola Plateau & Avalon
Have had small numbers of Little Lorikeets flying around the Plateau and
feeding in flowering eucs (some Swamp Mahogany). Friend also reported a
dozen in a tree in Avalon on Saturday. Good numbers of Scaly-breasted
too, which seem to increase rapidly when flowers come out, otherwise
mostly Rainbows.
Alan McBride
Rose Robin, Little Lorikeets Yarramundi (NW Sydney)
Whilest walking along the Nepean River at Yarramundi, I heard one of my
first Rose Robins for Sydney this season. There was also a good mix of
birds including an adult White-bellied Sea-eagle, Whistling Kite and
Black-shouldered Kite, a few Little Lorikeets calling ovehead, a few
Bar-shouldered Doves, 2 Azure Kingfishers, Restless Flycatcher, Varied
Sitella and lots of Scarlet Honeyeaters singing away in the casuarinas.
Edwin Vella
Square-tailed Kite Windsor Rd, McGraths Hill (NW Sydney)
This morning saw an immaculate plumaged adult Square-tailed Kite soaring
very low over the traffic lights at the junction of Windsor Rd and Pitt
Town Road. I had excellent views of it from my car while I was waiting
for the lights to turn green. If only I could get out of my car and hold
the traffic while I can get some excellent photos of this bird! Over
recent years they certainly have been making a regular occurance in the
suburbs of Western Sydney with McGraths Hill being one of its regular
haunts.
Edwin Vella
Cape Barren Goose Ulladulla / Update to the Geese
The C.B.Goose which was spotted 2 wks ago was captured by members of the
Native Animal Rescue Group (NARG) concerned for its safety and relocated
to Bega. Why? I don't know. A local couple at nearby Narrawallee said
that on Jan 13 a pair of the Geese had spent the day in and around their
house all day unpreturbed by the cars or people before disappearing over
night. Could it be that NARG has struck before !
Bob Rusk
Sun 4 Apr Ground Cuckoo-shrike Roadside between Gunnedah and
Curlewis
3 birds seen perched in dead tree beside Hwy. Took flight and landed in
leafy eucalypt before flying off into the nearby paddock. First time
I've heard this species calling. Lots of grasshoppers in the local area.
Grant Brosie and Darryl Luck
Wandering Albatross and Black-browed Albatross Mistral Point,
Maroubra
Singles of both Wandering and Black-browed Albatrosses seen today, 2
Pomarine Jaegers, 2 Flesh-footed Shearwaters and over 40 Australasian
Gannets also observed.
David Mitford
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Moore and Centennial Parks, Sydney
5 sightings of total of 12 birds. Very unusual numbers for inner Sydney.
Eric Finley
Fri 2 Apr Flame Robin Little Murray Camping Area, Barrington Tops
Flame Robins were abundant around camping area and in the general
vicinity. Also large numbers of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, White-eared
Honeyeaters, White-throated Treecreepers, Crimson & Eastern Rosella.
Rainbow & Scaly-breasted Lorikeets observed in moderate flocks each
afternoon.
Warren Brown
Birdline NSW is sponsored by Birding NSW <http://www.birdingnsw.org.au/>
, Birds Australia - Southern NSW & ACT
<http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/basna> and Cumberland Bird Observers
Club <http://www.cboc.org.au/> and co-ordinated and hosted by Eremaea
Birds <http://www.eremaea.com> .
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