Birdline NSW Weekly Update

Birdline NSW

Published sightings for the week ending 23 Dec 2012.

Sun 23 Dec	Banded Lapwings Cornwallis (near Windsor) At the Windsor end of Cornwallis Rd, I saw a flock of 28 Banded Lapwing at their usual place with at least a couple of young birds in the flock. There were still quite a number of White-winged Trillers about in different sections of the turf farms and Rufous Songlarks were also still vocal. Edwin Vella
	Glossy Black-Cockatoo Ben's Walk, Shoalhaven River, Nowra Heard and saw with good views in trees and in low flight, 2 adults and 1 begging juvenile. Rock Warbler also seen with a total of 42 species during the one hour walk mid afternoon. Nigel Jackett, Carla Jackett, Jaime Hall
	White-throated Needletail Royal National Park Approximatey 6 birds seen flying above Sir Bertram's Stephens Drive south of Audley. Deryk Engel
	Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park ( West Head ) Glossy Black-Cockatoo (5) feeding near the main road heading towards West Head Lookout. Great views. James Galea
Sat 22 Dec	White-throated Needletail M4 near Parramatta 8+ quite low over freeway heading south Eric Finley
	White-throated Nightjar Ding Dang Doo Ranch, Maraylya (private property) White-throated Nightjar (1) Around 20:44. Great views as it flew around and called from dead branch ends of trees. Saw it three out of the past four evenings here. Ákos Lumnitzer
	White-eared & Spectacled Monarchs Tweed Heads - Boyds Bay walk White-eared and Spectacled Monarchs along track around Boyds Bay from Seagulls Club. 20m further on, a Buff-banded Rail feeding in mangroves and 3 Brown Quail in adjacent rainforest. John Goldie & Kathy Walter
Fri 21 Dec	Brown Honeyeater (2) Nurragingy Reserve - Doonside (near Blacktown) At least 2 Brown Honeyeaters were present along the far northern section of the reserve. Also in this section both Scarlet Honeyeaters and Mistletoebirds were nunerous and obliging as they fed on the abundance of mistletoes along with lots of other honeyeaters. Edwin Vella
	White-thoated Nightjar, Spottted Quail-thrush, Black Kite, Crescent Honeyeater, Black-faced Monarch Wollemi NP - Wolgan Valley, Newnes area I nearly stumbled on a nightjar sitting on nest. There was no nest but one egg (with brown spots) placed on the bare ground among dry leaves and bark. The bird came back after 10 minutes and I was able to identify it as White-throated Nightjar. It was nearly invisible on the ground. Othe interesting birds recorded from the valley: Red-browed Treecreeper (plenty near Newnes), Crescent Honeyeater (1 bird near river), Spotted Quail-thush (6 - near Wollemi NP sign), Black-faced Monarch (2 birds near river), Black Kite (2 birds flying over valley), Azure Kingfisher (1), Leaden Flycatcher, Collared Sparrowhawk (1 near Newnes Hotel), White-browed Woodswallows (flock of 20 mixed with Dusky Woodswallows). Ted Wnorowski
	Black-browed Albatross, Shy Albatross, Flesh-footed Shearwater North Head, Manly Still good numbers of albatross off North Head including 45 Black-browed Albatross, 5 Shy Albatross & 35 Flesh-footed Shearwaters. michael ronan
	Swamp Harrier, Tawny Grassbird, Topknot Pigeon Eastlakes Golf Course A fantastic day at Eastlakes, with 82 species seen or heard, a record for the site. Best birds included: a Swamp Harrier passing over (see pic); both Grassbirds, with good views (and reasonable photos) of a calling Tawny Grassbird; a flock of 10 Topknot Pigeons flying over; three Australian Spotted Crake, two Spotless Crake, five Baillon's Crake and Buff-banded Rail seen fairly easily in multiple locations each; a pair of Brown Quail; five Nankeen Night-Herons in various plumage stages, including one with a breeding plume; three Red-kneed Dotterels, an increase on the previous lone bird; six Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and 12 Latham's Snipe on the recently exposed mud (due to falling water levels); vocal Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo(s?); a Grey Butcherbird (the first for the site?!); a female Rufous Whistler; and both Common Greenfinch and European Goldfinch. Ashwin Rudder & Simon Gorta
Thu 20 Dec	Spotted Harrier Werri Lagoon 1' Cell, Gerringong Immature bird seen hunting, low over the strip of vegetation between the beach and the residential area. It flew over to the grassy areas at the northern headland. I have seen this same bird (?) in the farmland just north before, but not along the beach. Lachlan Hall
	Common Blackbird Burrendong Botanical Gardens, Mumbil Common Blackbird (1) In Fern Gully. Chris Armstrong
	Australian Spotted Crake Harparary, 30 km south of Narrabri 2390 A single Australian Spotted Crake (photo by Ros Druce, with Purple Swamphen for comparison) was spotted amongst other aquatic birds in overcast conditions in a permanent wetland on the edge of the Namoi River near Harparary, south of Narrabri. The wetland is a gully with associated reed-covered mudflat on the edge of a farm (private property). Also seen were 4 Glossy Ibises, 4 Red-kneed Dotterels, 3 Black-fronted Dotterels and a Buff-banded Rail. Ros Druce, Michael Dahlem
	Tawny Grassbirds Moree, NSW In this overcast sprinkly weather, We have been seeing and hearing Tawny Grassbirds at several locations around the township, but mostly in briarbushes. There are also Rainbow, Scaly-breasted and Musk Lorikeets all over the place as usual. Curtis Hayne
	Little Terns Burrill Lake. Ulladulla At least one pair of L Ts are nesting on the sand spit at the entrance to the lake. Presumed to be the same pair that successfully raised 2 chicks at the same spot last year. The Hooded Plovers that had eggs at Racecourse Beach, the next beach up from Burrill, were found to be abandoned, we found dog tracks all around the nest site. Bob Rusk
Wed 19 Dec	White-eared Monarch Bicycle Track between Norahville (Toukley) & Budgewoi An apparent immature bird seen very briefly and photographed on the bicyle track, about 300m from the Norahville end of the track, which runs behind Lakes Beach and the Toukley Golf course.The area is a coastal scrub dominated by Rough-barked Apple, Sydney Red Gum, Forest Red Gum and Swamp Mahogany with an understorey of Black Oak, Cheese Trees and Broad-leafed Geebung. A subsequent search failed to find the bird. Other birds present included Rufous & Grey Fantail, Shrike-it & Golden Whistler, Lewin's & New Holland Honeyeaters. (Moderator's comment: This bird is well south of its known southern limits (Iluka, North Coast) but there have been recent records from Harrington northwards) Steve Merrett per Alan Morris
	Broad-billed Sandpiper, Greater Sand Plover, Grey Plover Stockton Sandspit Singles of Broad-billed Sandpiper and Greater Sand Plover amongst the other 'more usual' shorebirds at the Sandspit on Wednesday afternoon. No sign of either species this afternoon (Friday), but the Grey Plover was present. Liz Crawford and Chris Herbert per Mick Roderick
	Australian King-Parrot Binya State Forest southern end A pair of Australian King-Parrots were seen feeding on the berries of grey mistletoe. The birds could be escapees as they have not been recorded this far west. Max O'Sullivan
	White-throated Nightjar Maraylya, Private Property Around 20:40 I was alerted to the calls of a White-throated Nightjar and my wife and I had some spectacular views of the bird as it flew around the treetops and when I tried call playback it flew directly above us twice. There is some great habitat to the south of the property that backs onto Cattai Creek. Ákos Lumnitzer
	Gouldian Finch Iluka Single bird seen along Clarence River at Iluka Bay. Moderator's note (NH): Escapee. Graeme Gallienne
	Brown Goshawk, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Wonga Pigeon, White-bellied Sea-eagle Brisbane Water National Park (near Tascott) Alerted from about 500 metres by 2 Glossy Black-Cockatoos flying away from a she-oak plantation with one smaller (probably young) tailing. White-bellied Sea-eagle, Wonga Pigeon, Brown Goshawk . Andrew Whitaker
	Baillon's Crake, Buff-banded Rails, Great Egret, Australian Reed-Warblers Plumpton Park Buff-banded Rails have been a regular fixture at Plumpton Park this summer, with at least four individuals occupying the linear wetlands. A Great Egret was fishing in a shallow pool and a pair of Australian Reed-Warblers were busy attending to two noisy youngsters. There were the usual ducks, Purple Swamphens and Dusky Moorhens but then I couldn't believe my eyes when a tiny Baillon's Crake emerged from the reed-bed. A great new record for this suburban park. Mark Fuller
	Wompoo Fruit Dove Telegraph Point NSW (Near Port Macquarie) Single bird nesting in a tree near house in secluded small valley. (no hatchling as yet) Seems unusual area and altitude for this bird from what I've read so far. Geri Doyle
Tue 18 Dec	Australian Painted Snipe, Latham's Snipe Cosgrove Park, Moss Vale One Australian Painted Snipe seen along with at least 2 Latham's Snipe. M Filipczyk and 2 other observers.
	Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Greenwich - Gore Creek Reserve At least 3 feeding in the upper canopy of eucs in blossom, along with large numbers of Rainbow Lorikeets. I seldom record Scalies in [my part of] the Lower North Shore. Musk Lorikeets are also in the suburb at present. An adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle has been cruising by over the last 2-3 weeks [and also on the 18th]. Presumably it is one of the parents of the recently fledged Newington chicks. Ted Nixon
	Latham's Snipe Eastlakes Golf Course Falling water levels mean increasing wader counts. 25+ Latham's Snipe, 30+ Masked Lapwings, 5 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 12 Black-winged Stilts, 6 Black-fronted Dotterels (2 Juvs), 1 Red-kneed Dotterel plus 4 species of Egret and numerous other waterbirds seen over the last couple of days. David Mitford
	Common Myna 75 km Nth of Condobolin 6 Common Mynas turned up in a friends garden about a week ago. Never seen them anywhere out this way before. They are currently being trapped and destroyed. Moderator's note (NH): The blue star stands in this case for 'vagrant' and 'important observation' Warren Chad
	Plumed Whistling-Duck Bushells Lagoon, Hawkesbury A single Plumed Whistling-Duck roosting at the edge of the lagoon (Argyle Reach Rd side) with huge flock of Grey Teal and Australian Pelicans. Ted Wnorowski
Mon 17 Dec	Collared Sparrowhawk, Barking Owl Cessnock Collared Sparrowhawk seen in Big4 Valley Vineyard Tourist Park, Barking Owl seen flying out of a stand roadside trees. Arnie Hollyman
	Fork-tailed Swift, White-throated Needletail Coolgardie Plateau SE of Alstonville in northern NSW 6 Fork-tailed Swifts were seen circling very high immediately prior to a strong southerly changed passed through the area. Approximate time 1300hrs. Same? flock seen 15 minutes later. White-throated Needletails seen on a regular basis at least 1 or 2 times per week. David Charley
	Plumed Whistling-Duck, Marsh & Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-kneed Dotterel Dairy Swamp, Central Coast Wetlands, Tuggerah (limited access) A flock of 24 Plumed Whistling-Ducks were seen and photographed on the the Dairy Swamp on 17 December, they have not been seen since, dispite two visits. Other birds present include 64 Masked Lapwings, 69 Australian Wood Ducks, 1 Marsh Sandpiper, 2 Black-winged Stilts, 2 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and 4 Red-kneed Dotterels. A White-bellied Sea-eagle and a Swamp Harrier have consistently flushed the birds and a Nankeen Kestrel has also been present. Vicki Barnes per Alan Morris
	Nankeen Night-Heron Narroy Park, North Narrabeen 7:50pm Two Nankeen Night-Heron seen in the water and then perching in trees above the water, Natalie Wood
	Musk Duck, Peregrine Falcon Oberon Dam (just up from picnic area) The female Musk Duck was hidden among roughly a dozen Eurasian Coots and two pair of Hardheads. Peregrine Falcon must have nest nearby because it was very annoyed with my presence. James Fong
Sun 16 Dec	Satin Flycatcher, Beautiful Firetail Water Works Gully, Lithgow Satin Flycatcher (4) nesting Beautiful Firetail 2 Neville Schrader (1702)
Sun 16 Dec	Pink-eared Duck, Australian Crake, Peaceful Dove Riverstone At Riverstone on Sunday there were 40 Pink-eared Ducks (the highest count for the Blacktown LGA this season) as well as 50 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, an Australian Spotted Crake, 3 Brown Songlarks, Pallid Cuckoo, White-winged Triller and a Peaceful Dove. Peaceful Doves are sadly getting quite scarce in the Blacktown LGA area and I only come across them in small numbers from time to time, so it was a delight to have one at Riverstone. Edwin Vella
	Black-tailed Native-hen Lake Wallace, Wallerwang Black-tailed Native-hen (1) single bird feeding with Purple Swamphens. Neville Schrader (1702)
	White-bellied Sea-eagle, Eurasian Coot Currambene Creek, Huskisson While kayaking on Currambene Creek upstream of Huskisson my wife and I flushed a Eurasian Coot which flew towards us, gaining height. When level with us at a height of about 10 metres it was plucked from the air by a White-bellied Sea-eagle. Awesome! Brett Davis
	Blue-faced Honeyeater, White-cheeked Honeyeater, Apostlebird, Nankeen Night-Heron Nurragingy NR, Doonside A family of Blue-faced Honeyeater (2 adults and 3 juvs) is still present in the reserve. They were in carpark. Apostlebirds (4) appeared again in reserve (picknic site near creek). 6 hours later I found the same flock (one bird with damaged tail) feeding on the ground on the corner of Rooty Hill Rd and Great Western Highway. Other interesting birds spotted in the reserve: Nankeen Night-Heron (1 juv caught and killed duckling - Muscovy Duck), Azure Kingfisher, White-cheeked Honeyeater (1 - first my record for this site - feeding on mistletoe), Australian Hobby, Crested Shrike-tit and plenty of Scarlet Honeyeaters and Little Wattlebirds. Ted Wnorowski
	White-necked Heron, Intermediate Egret Wet Lagoon, Collector Road, Breadalbane At least 26 White-necked Herons - their necks could be seen sticking up all over the fen. Also, one Intermediate Egret was my first for this site, but surprisingly no Great Egrets. The only visible area of relatively open water is drying out and consequently all duck and Coot seem to have moved on. Frank Antram
Sat 15 Dec	Westland Petrel, Black Petrel, Buller's Shearwater, very late Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross SOSSA pelagic off Wollongong Highlights: A Westland Petrel and two Black Petrels together; a Buller's Shearwater, a very late Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross (1st year bird) and high numbers of Flesh-footed Shearwaters (finally!). Westland Petrel is on BARC's review list. A submission is in preparation. For full trip report (SOSSA website) with a link to the pictures (adarman website) see here Nikolas Haass for all on the Sandra K
Wed 12 Dec	Owlet Nightjar Telegraph Point NSW (near Port Macquarie Spotted on the driveway just after dark. Caught in headlights briefly then flew off. So cute! Geri Doyle
Thu 6 Dec	Whiskered Tern and Glossy Ibis Fivebough Swamp, Leeton A count carried out by Keith Hutton between 7pm and 8.30pm on the 6/12/12 yielded a staggering 1,111 Whiskered Tern and 10,216 Glossy Ibis flying in to roost for the night at the wetlands. Max O'Sullivan

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