Birdline NSW Weekly Update

Birdline NSW

Published sightings for the week ending 8 Jan 2012.

Sun 8 Jan	Rufous Fantail, Spotless Crakes Shanes Park Air Services site (approx. 10km west of Blacktown CBD) I spent a couple of hours this morning in Shanes Park. There were "loads" of birds about especially the section east of the creek where there were several Shining Bronze-cuckoos, Sitellas, a few Speckled Warblers in with many Buff-rumped Thornbills and surprisingly a Rufous Fantial chased by a Grey Fantail (see attached pic). Rufous Fantails are regular passgae migrants here but thought it was unusual to see one hanging about in the midlle of summer in dry open forest! At the large swamp there were several Spotless Crakes about and heard possibly a new bird for Shanes Park - a Little Grassbird! Edwin Vella
	Chestnut-breasted Mannikins Western Sydney Parklands, Glendenning (approx. 6km west of Blacktown CBD) Saw 2 Chestnut-breasted Mannikins with Nutmeg Mannikins and Red-browed Finches beside the main trail (a few hundred metres south of Richmond Rd). A small population of the Chestnut-breasted Mannikins reside in this area. Edwin Vella
	Stubble Quail Fulton Rd, Marsden Park (approx. 10km west of Blacktown CBD) Heard at least one Stubble Quail and about 3 Brown Quail calling in the middle of the day beside Fulton Rd. Also saw a Peregrine Falcon soaring overhead and heard a Restless Flycatcher. Edwin Vella
	Chestnut Breasted Mannikin Tuggerah STW, Tuggerah NSW 4 Chestnut breasted mannikins including 1 juvenile feeding in long grass and reeds in company of 10-12 Red-browed finches Rex Schmidt
	Black-faced Monarch Bouddi NP About 6 black-faced monarchs seen along the main track to Maitland Bay in Bouddi NP. Also, grey and rufous fantails, brown gerygone, male white-throated tree-creeper, eastern spinebill, variegated fairy-wrens in the same area. Gavin Scott
	Square-tailed Kite (pair) Cambridge Gardens (near Penrith) While hanging out some laundry at 15:00, a pair of these raptors slowly circled just above the treetops behind my house giving me enough time to run in, grab my camera and capture some images. Ákos Lumnitzer
	Spotted Harrier Penrith Lakes I observed (my first) a Spotted Harrier near the quarries at 08:00 this morning. It was heading in a southerly direction being harassed by two Australian Ravens. (please excuse the substandard image, it was about 200m away). Ákos Lumnitzer
	Musk Lorikeet Ryde (10 km NW of Sydney CBD) A noisy flock of about 30 Musk Lorikeets landed in a tree in a suburban Ryde garden at about 0850 hrs. Flock left tree after about 5 minutes, heading in a southerly direction after circling once high above tree canopy. Stephen Ambrose
Sat 7 Jan	Painted Button-quail, White-throated Nightjar, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Spotted Quail-thrush Yengo National Park (Big Yengo) Painted Button-quail (2) White-throated Nightjar (1) Great views, very vocal Chestnut-rumped Heathwren (4) great views Spotted Quail-thrush (2) Male and female Grant Brosie
	Latham's Snipe Kangaloon Road Drainage Ponds, East Bowral 2576 Members of BirdLife Southern Highlands have commenced regular surveys at this site which is on the edge of an urban development. The maximum number of Snipe seen since early December is 25 Col Kohlhagen
	Wedgetailed Eagle Matcham Amazing site. Flying in to catch prey - looked like another bird perhaps a magpie or crow Lauren Rushton
	Wandering Whistling-Duck McPhersons Road Wetlands Wyong Wandering Whistling-Duck (3) Seen from 10 metres away at 12.00 noon. Birds were in the deeper water drain or small creek near the road on the western side of the swamp. After a couple of minutes of mutual observation they took off (displaying the creamy bases of tail feathers) and headed off down to the eastern end of the Swamp. We followed with camera but didn't spot them again - so no photos. Kim and Geoff Larmour
Fri 6 Jan	Gang-gang Cockatoo Approx 4 kms back from Mt Hay Rd, Blue Mts Nat Park site At least 6 birds in tall eucalypts John French, Fiona Lumsden, Daz Smith & Mark Ley
	Grass Owl, Painted Button Quail, Baillon's Crake Ash Island (Newcastle) 1 Grass Owl seen at 8.30pm. Corner of Schoolhouse Rd and Cabbage Tree Rd, Ash Island (Newcastle).-32.845185,151.702695. 1 Painted Button-Quail. Observed feeding along Bellfrog Track from 6.40pm to 7.40pm. First seen at approximately -32.857646,151.714796, last seen at c.-32.858309,151.716468. 1 Baillon's Crake, feeding in NW corner of Swan Pond 7.50pm to 8.10pm, -32.86032,151.721224. Seen here on previous 3 days at around the same time. Michael Kearns
	Superb Parrot 31 km North of Condobolin about 12 birds feeding on Acacia seeds beside the Cobar Rd. Each pair was accompanied by begging juveniles Warren Chad
	Plumed Whistling Duck The Dairy Swamp, Pioneer Dairy Wetlands, Tuggerah (restricted access), Following hard on the heels of the Wandering Whistling Ducks being seen at a number of Central Coast sites, a flock of 15 Plumed Whistling Ducks were observed today at the Dairy Swamp, Pioneer Dairy Wetlands. Initially the birds were grazing in a cattle pasture adjacent to the the Dairy Swamp, and then they flew up and settle on the water of the Swamp. This is the first record for the Central Coast Region (Local Goverment areas of Wyong and Gosford) for this species. John & Carole Carpenter, Alan Morris
	Southern Emu-wren, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Grey Currawong Mt Hay Carpark, Blue Mts National Park Southern Emu-wren small group (good views of 1 female) at large eastern swamp area Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Recently fledged juv, being attended by 2 adults. Others heard in area. (photo) Chestnut-rumped Heathwren 1 seen & others heard thoughout the area. Grey Currawong 1 heard in the distance at large eastern swamp area John French, Fiona Lumsden, Daz Smith & Mark Ley
	White-winged Black Tern Ash Island Went out to Ash Island this afternoon to look for the Eastern Yellow Wagtails (2 birds seen). They were not easy to find, but while searching for them a White-winged Black Tern was foraging over the areas of green weed on Wader Pond (eastern side of Wagtail Way) Alan Stuart
	Yellow-billed Spoonbill White-winged Triller Powells Lane, Hawkesbury Went out to Powells Lane hoping to see Painted Snipe but no luck. The previous reporter on Birdline mentioned many Royal Spoonbill. I saw none but there were seven Yellow-billed Spoonbill; also a pair of White-winged Triller. Nick Hodges
Thu 5 Jan	Olive-backed Oriole Terrey Hills Sydney This bird was on the deck by the front door, it was quiet and unworried by us. We thought it may have been ill or injured , we took several photos of the bird as I had never seen a bird like this. I touched it gently preparing to pick it up & after several seconds it fluttered away. Could you confirm if this is a Song Thrush. We are in a bush suburb in Sydney's north close to a large national park. We are on a bushy 5 acre property. Moderator: It appears to be an immature Olive-backed Oriole. Peta Drysdale.
	Pale-vented Bush-hen West Tweed Heads STW Late afternoon two birds calling across a small channel. One bird observed well for 2-3 minutes. Both birds continued to call past last light. Brendan
	Eastern Yellow Wagtail Wagtail Way, Ash Island (Newcastle) At least 2 Eastern Yellow Wagtails present on Ash Island today around 1400. Possibility of a 3rd bird. Non-breeding adult male first seen close to the gate described in previous posts, then flew down onto Wagtail Way adjacent to first pole. Two birds subsequently seen together (the non-breeding male and an immature non-breeding or female) between 2nd and 3rd poles. A possible 3rd bird was flushed further along the track but it could have been the duller bird having flown back onto the track and not noticed. Mick Roderick
Wed 4 Jan	Noisy Pitta Gibralter Range NP, Glen Innes A Noisy Pitta was observed calling on the 'Forest Walk' while three seperate Noisy Pitta's could be heard responding. Also present were Olive Whistler's and Logrunners. Tim Morris
	Black-necked Stork Lismore Lake A group of two Black-necked Storks on the far (southern) side of the lake, with a third wading in the shallows. Also observed were a Royal Spoonbill, half a dozen Masked Lapwing and several Australian White Ibis. Mid afternoon photos hand-held at 100-200m :( Jeff Melvaine
	Regent Honeyeater, Turquise Parrot, White-backed Swallow, Wood Sandpiper, Barking Owl Capertee Valley, NSW Two Barking Owls were calling for hours near the camping site. Good view of Australian Owlet Nightjar hunting insects near the toilet block. Three Regent Honeyeaters found feeding on the flowering gum trees on the road to Glen Alice. Plenty of Striped Honeyeater (one group of 17 birds) feeding with Regents. Another two Regents Honeyeater were taking a bath in the creek (Glenowlan ridge). Two White-backed Woodswallowas sitting on a fence wire near Glen Alice with big flock of Dusky Woodswallow. Huge number of recently fledged Dusky Woodswallows perching in groups on fences and gum trees. Two resident Hobby Falcons were picking them up one by one. This pair killed 5 birds within one hour period. Unusual high number of waders and waterfowl in the valley. All small dams and swamps are now drying up and there was plenty of wet , open mud. Black-fronted dotterels were found nearly in every location (usually 1-3 birds). On one small swamp on the way to Alice Glen there was a small group of waders: 7 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2Curlew Sanpiper, 2 Red-kneed Dotterels, 2 Yellow-billed Spoonbills, 2 White-necked Herons, 1 Straw-necked Ibis, 2 Black-winged Stilts. Duck numbers were 33 Hardheads, 21 Coots, 27 Grey Teals and even 3 male Chestnut Teals. Turquise Parrots were in their usual places (4 parrots including 2 juvs near Oskas Cattage). Wonderful place to visit. Ted Wnorowski
	White-throated Needletail Cowan Six WTNs soaring about 50m above ground level in the vicinity of Cowan Oval at about 5:30pm preceeding gusty change about 15 minutes later. Paul Burcher
	Wandering Whistling Duck Gavenlock rd Swamp, cnr Gavenlock Rd & Woodbury Park Drive, Mardi A group of 5 Wandering Whistling Ducks were present along with Black Ducks and Chestnut Teal at this small wetland. 3 were reported here by John & Carole Carpenter on 1/1/2012, while 2 were seen at the nearby Tuggerah STW the week before. This is a rare bird on the Central Coast. Alan Morris
	Spangled Drongo, Buff-banded Rail, Brown Quail & Brown Falcon Pioneer Dairy Wetlands, Tuggerah (restricted access) The first Spangled Drongo was seen for the season along Tuggerah Ck within the Reserve, last CC record was for September. A lone Buff-banded Rail was seen near the dairy buildings, a Brown Quail was flushed from the edge of the Pioneer Ck Wetland and a Brown Falcon was present, along with the usual 3 species of Egret (Cattle, Great and Intermediate), Royal Spoonbills, White-breasted Woodswallows, Dollarbird, Channel-billed Cuckoos, Dollarbirds etc. Alan Morris & Allan Benson
	Pacific Baza Bayview Sydney 2 well fledged young in nest in spotted gum still being fed by adults Dorothy Price per A. Giles
	Eastern Osprey Lake Illawarra Single bird on shallow sandflat, 300m east of Windang bridge.The Osprey was being harrassed by Silver Gulls. Shane Green
Tue 3 Jan	Spotted Quail-thrush Womboyn Lake, Nadgee Nature Reserve Spotted Quail-thrush (2) A pair seen in scrub about 1/2 KM North of Wonboyn Lake township Angus Hartshorn
	Great Knot Stockton Sandspit, Newcastle Great Knot (3) Three knots intermingling with the godwits. Took several photos. Bill looked too long to be a Red Knot. Also saw another knot with a speckled front and a shorter bill which could've been a Red Knot but could not confirm. Steven Girot
	Superb Parrot Poseidon Rd, Corowa Four birds seen in flight over Poseidon Rd during the morning. On the south-east edge of their range here. Brendan Toll
	Black-necked Stork Ash island, Newcastle After searching without success for the wagtail. The Jabiru was a nice bonus on the way out. It was feeding in a large shallow pond near the newly built bridge on Ramsar road. Brad Gabriel
	Buff-banded Rail Dee Why Lagoon Wildlife Refuge One bird calling and sighted by the track at 6.30 am in spite of the three large dogs off the leash that had just emerged from the wildlife refuge! Rae Lister
Mon 2 Jan	Oriental Pratincole Lord Howe Island, marsh adjacent to airport During a week on Lord Howe Island (26/12/2011 to 2/1/2012) we had a total of 41 bird species. Besides the "usual suspects" we had the following: Australian Wood Duck: 1 male, airport 30/12/2011; Hardhead: 1 female, airport 30/12/2011; Wandering Albatross (exulans) 1, Ball’s Pyramid 1/1/2012; White-necked Petrel 2, Ball’s Pyramid 1/1/2012; Great Cormorant: up to 4, main island 26/12/2011-1/1/2012; Wandering Tattler: 1, Ned’s Beach 30/12/2011 and again 2/1/2012; Oriental Pratincole: 1, airport 2/1/2012. We did not see the two winter-breeding tubenoses and the introduced Masked Owl. Besides birds, we saw a bat (ID pending), Lord Howe Island Gecko, Rainbow Skink (not LHI Skink) and lots of fish. Nikolas Haass & Raja Stephenson
	Black Falcon Sturt Hwy at 34°49'15'S 146°35'13'E Black Falcon (2) One bird sitting on powerpole which I had slowed down to look at, this was a good thing as I might have taken out it's mate, which I hadn't seen and very nearly met my bonnet! Chris Steeles
	Nankeen Night-Heron, Dollarbird Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside, Blacktown Two juv Nankeen Night-Herons were roosted near the Centre in the reserve. Five Dollarbirds were hunting insects over the trees late evening. I also observed big, fat Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo chicks being fed by two little Superb Fairywren females (or helpers) Ted Wnorowski
	Australian Painted Snipe, King Quail, Whtie-necked Heron Richmond Turf Farm area, Hawkesbury Two (male and female) Australian Painted Snipes were very visible feeding at the edge of small pond near Powels Lane with 2 Black-fronted Dotterels and one White-necked Heron. On another dam I found a large flock of Royal Sponbills (~40 birds). I also got a very good view of a male King Quail. The bird came out of the vegie patch (near Corvallis Rd). Rainbow Bee-eaters were roosting on the wires in many places over turf farms. Ted Wnorowski
	Gang-gang Cockatoo Albion St, Nth Katoomba 10 Gang-gangs calling & flying over residential/bushland area 6.30 this morning. Largest group I've seen around here for a while. John French
	Eastern Yellow Wagtail Dead Mangrove Creek, Ash Island Single Wagtail seen in the same spot as reported by Alan Morris on Fri 30/12. Very active and hard to view. Stayed in general area on both sides of the rd just past the gate for over an hour. Tim Faulkner and Scott Ryan
	Dollarbird Galaringi Reserve, Carlingford Dollarbird (2) Perched on overhead high voltage powerlines. Not seen here before in 20 years. Jenny Stiles
	Gang Gang Campbelltown Just went out the front of my house and there was at least 10 in a tree that has nuts on it . It the most Gang Gang at one time I've ever seen Richard
	Gang gang Campbelltown M and f Gang Gang in a tree in my backyard just saw them copulating! They have been coming around to our house for the last week . Will they breed in my tree ..? Richard
Sun 1 Jan	White-throated Needletail Lapstone I observed approximately 20of the above birds (in small groups of 3-4) circling low overhead, heading in the direction of the Nepean River early in the evening, perhaps heading for their night roost. Ákos Lumnitzer
	Glossy Black Cockatoo, Rock Warbler Blackheath, Evans Lookout, Blue Mountains Three Glossy Black Cockatoos (2 adults and one juvenille) landed on a she-oak tree in Evans Lookout during my friends wedding ceremony. The juv was "crying" very loudly for the whole 30 minute ceremony so the wedding celebrant had to repeat "dear beloved" many times. Adult birds wery feeding on the tree and the she-oak cones were constantly falling on the bride. I watched the wedding video - very very funny. Small flock (5 birds) of very tame rock warblers was feeding among wedding guests. Ted Wnorowski
	Spectacled Monarch, Pale-yellow Robin, Russet-tailed Thrush Dingo Tops Camping Area, Dingo Tops NR, NW of Wingham Spectacled Monarch Pale-yellow Robin single bird on Fern side of Fern Tree; size of rose Robin lower breast dull yellow; white face. Russet-tailed Thrush (1) in camping area; caramel-brown scalloping; lighter overall colouring to Bassian ( chocolate-brown) more dull white on lower belly. Neville Schrader
	Superb Parrot Henschke Avenue, San Isidore, Wagga Wagga Superb Parrot (12) Flock of twelve flew low overhead calling loudly! Coming from the Army Base heading towards the Sturt Hwy. Chris Steeles
	White-breasted Sea-Eagle Marsden Park area 1 adult seen flying over Hollingsworth Road late in the afternoon and then wheeling over the farmland nearby. John Cresswell
	Brown Cuckoo Dove, Wedge-tail Eagle, Fantail Cuckoo Mulgoa Following sightings on my property:- 1. Single Brown Cuckoo Dove in regrowth by dam. 2. Two Wedge-tailed Eagles riding thermals above our property 3. Single Fan-tailed Cuckoo with grub in mouth in low acacia Peter Harvey
	Australian Pratincole Moulamein to Hay road Two birds standing at the roadside at 34 55 20S, 144 14 05E, about 5.5 km south of the junction with the Booroorban - Tchelery Road. Two more observed in the air a few km north of that site. The area is wet, with lots of surface water apparently from recent rains. David McDonald
Sat 31 Dec	Possible Black-naped Tern Yamba A single tern probably of this species was seen perched amongst Common Terns on the small beach between Wooli Park and the large breakwater. It was only seen briefly but was about 20% smaller than the Common Terns, had cleaner head markings and lacked the dark carpal bar of the Common Terns. The view was brief, hence I am not claiming it as a definite record, but I cannot think of any other alternatives. Note that this followed cyclonic winds off southern Queensland. Murray Lord
	Gang Gang Campelltown Male and female Gang Gang flying and landing in my tree. Richard Lonza
	Red-browed Treecreeper, Large-billed Scrubwren, Rufous Fantail, Black-faced Monarch Happy Valley Picnic Area, Mt Wilson Lovely views of Black-faced Monarch & Rufous Fantail in rainforest. A beautiful Red-browed Treecreeper on adjacent tip road. Plenty of Crescent Honeyeaters heard. Large-billed Scrubwrens right at Picnic Area. Fantastic day. John French & Fiona Lumsden
Fri 30 Dec	Pink Robin Thredbo 3 birds seen (2 separate males and 1 female) in moist gullies on the Merritt's Nature Track/Meadows Nature Track/Riverside Walk loop. Mark Hocking
	White-throated Needletail Crowdy Heads White-throated Needletail- 200 + flying low low (car height) over road to Crowdy Heads Neville Schrader
	Grey Goshawk Crowdy Bay NP southern end. Grey Goshawk (1) single bird chased by Little Wattlebirds; grey body colour; yellow leg's Neville Schrader
	Tawny Frogmouth Balmain Slept on my balcony from dawn to dusk. Did not even move when I sat 2 feet away from it. Unusual to find in a suburb like Balmain. Kerry Allen
Thu 29 Dec	Little Lorikeet, Forest Kingfisher, Black-faced Monarch Yarratt SF, Lansdowne nr Taree Little Lorikeet - 10+ birds feeding on lerps with other lorikeets Forest Kingfisher- two adults, one flying immature. Black-faced Monarch - two adults MF Neville Schrader,Ted Nixon
Wed 28 Dec	Emerald Dove Talawahl NR - Brush Road, north of Nabiac Emerald Dove- 2 on old logging track. Neville Schrader
	Musk Duck Property North of Moree We observed 2 Musk Ducks! The 1st dam had a female which was very far away and was swimming with some Hardheads. The 2nd dam had a male which was seen for a few seconds using binoculars only because it was an extremely vegetated dam. Also special that were present: Gull-billed Terns in a large flock fishing, White-ffaced Herons nesting in the trees, Channel-billed Cuckoos calling and a very friendly Tawny Frogmouth in a shed. Every waterway is full because of the floods. Curtis Hayne
Tue 27 Dec	Ground Cuckoo-shrike Ulan Mine Ground Cuckoo-shrike (2) flying over open mine slag heap. Neville Schrader
Thu 22 Dec	Black-tailed Native-hen Wetland reserve behind 48 Tuggerawong Rd Wyongah A lone Black-tailed Native-hen was observed on the edge of Tuggerah Lake in a small wetland reserve located behind houses in Tuggerawong Rd Wyongah. This is the 2nd record for the Central Coast although it could be the same bird as was present at McPherson Rd Swamp, Tuggerah , last seen 30/11/11. Noel & Krystyna Lonergan per Alan Morris

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