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Missing migrants

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Subject: Missing migrants
From: B Whylie <>
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 23:11:40 +1100
 Interesting reading about these species.

We've just returned from a week in inland NSW. We travelled from Sydney to Broken Hill, down to Mildura, then back to Sydney.

We saw plenty of Brown Falcons on the way, they were probably the 2nd most numerous Raptor on the trip, although we didn't see our 1st one till after Orange.

White-browed and Masked Woodswallows were plentiful, especially in the Mallee country south of Broken Hill. In one 100 metre stretch we had more than 50 White-browed Woodswallows, including juveniles begging.

White-winged Trillers were everywhere, again in Mallee country.

We saw Red-kneed Dotterels in a number of lakes around Broken Hill and about 20-30 Whiskered Terns at Fiveboughs at Leeton. Native hens were seen at a few places, although the actual number of birds was quite low.

Overall , water birds were few and far between. There was water everywhere, Fiveboughs is a lake rather than a swamp, we needed gumboots just to get to the hide.

The inland is certainly alive at the moment, it's a magnificent sight to see so much water around.

Cheers
Brook

On 27/10/2010 10:48 PM, Mick Roderick wrote:
Hi Keith,

As far as I can tell thus far there have been no reports of WwTrillers in the 
Hunter either. In the lead-up to the Twitchathon I have been searching for both 
Songlarks / Bushlark in their usual haunts and have come up empty-handed. There 
was one report of Rufous Songlark from near Sandy Hollow about a month ago but 
this has been the only one to date. I have spent a lot of time in their usual 
spots recently without anything.

We might have more success in the extreme west of the valley, around Goulburn 
River NP, this weekend. (fingers crossed)

I did think that I heard Stubble Quail around Morpeth recently, but it was windy and 
possibly a trick of wishful thinking. One thing that is noteworthy is that I counted 17 
Banded Lapwings near Morpeth on Sunday. Why would these guys be here in numbers yet so 
many others that prefer to be "west" absent?

To add to your absentee list (migrant-wise), there has been no sign of 
Whiskered Terns either. White-browed / Masked Woodswallows have barely been 
reported in NSW, let alone in sub-coastal areas.

There have been no Red-kneed Dotterel or Pink-eared Duck (aside from one rogue 
bird on an inaccessible dam) either, since pretty much Dec 27 2009. Native-hens 
same (and there were numerous here pre-NYE).

At least you guys have had a Wood Sands or two!

A few people have commented to me about raptors and when I think about it, it's 
been a long time since I've even seen a Brown Falcon in the Hunter (though I'm 
sure they're here, but surely in lesser numbers).

It will make for an interesting Twitchathon.

Mick




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