Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales

Published sightings for the week ending 14 Apr 2013.

Sun 14 Apr	Freckled Duck, Spotted Harrier Pitt Town Lagoon At Pitt Town Lagoon there were again 3 Freckled Ducks, a Spotted Harrier, 4 Whistling Kites, Black-shouldered Kites, Restless Flycatcher, Olive-backed Oriole and Zebra Finches Edwin Vella, Tony and Stephanie Dawe
	Black-chinned Honeyeater Boundary Road Reserve, Bathurst At the Hinton Road end of the reserve, along Hawthornden Creek, a small pool was providing a great birding spot this afternoon. One immature Black-chinned Honeyeater came down for a drink as well as female and immature Rose Robins (first of the year). Also, Superb Fairy-wrens, White-browed Scrubwren, Weebill, Striated and Spotted Pardalotes, White-naped, White-plumed and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark and Red-browed and Double-barred Finches. The Yellow Box along the creek is beginning to flower, so perhaps the honeyeaters will hang around for a bit. Tiffany Mason
	Black-chinned Honeyeater, Collared Sparrowhawk, Australian Owlet Nightjar Llandilo (bush between Sirius Pl and Barnes Rd Plenty of honeyeaters on flowering ironbark trees and among Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were two Black-chinned Honeyeaters. Double-barred Finches very common. Little Eagle circling over trees on Barnes Rd. Other species: Collared Sparrowhawk (Goverment Rd), Australian Owlet-Nightjar (in the hollow near Barnes Rd), Whistling Kite, White-winged Chough (20 - Sirius Place), Buff-rumped thornbill, Rose Robin (1). Ted Wnorowski
Sat 13 Apr	Freckled Duck, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (dark morph) Pitt Town Lagoon At Pitt Town Lagoon there were 3 Freckled Ducks (hard to get close to and I was only able to get close when it was foggy otherwise they were spending most of the time roosting on one of the islands), c20 Pink-eared Ducks, 2 Australasian Shoveler, c20 Hoary-headed Grebes, several Red-kneed Dotterels, a displaying pair of Brown Goshawks, 2 Swamp Harriers, Grey Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, 4 Whistling Kites, Crested Shrike-tits, Zebra and Double-barred Finches and a dark morph White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. Edwin Vella
	Yellow-faced Honeyeater Tempe Ponds, Tempe Spotted one Yellow-faced Honeyeater on the monthly survey yesterday. Other interesting sightings included 2 Olive-backed Orioles and a Brown Goshawk. Melissa Mason and the Tempe Ponds Survey team
	Spotted Harrier, Rufous Fantail, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Spotless Crake Scheyville National Park A Spotted Harrier was perching on an old farm post along farm track. Chestnut-breasted Mannikins and Double-barred Finches very common. A single Rufous Fantail in the bushes near main buildings. Spotless Crake was feeding among sparse Cumbungi (old sewage pond). Red-bellied black snakes everywhere. Ted Wnorowski
	Yellow-faced Honeyeater Narrow Neck Penninsular, Katoomba Autumn migration now in full swing. 20 minute survey from a fixed point, as part of the Blue Mountains IBA, Honeyeater Migration - results today ... Yellow-faced Honeyeaters (2530) White-naped Honeyeaters (100), Silvereyes (133) & Pardalotes (27). A spectacle to behold. Fiona Lumsden & John French
	Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Pilotbird, Red-browed Treecreeper Blue Gum Swamp, Winmalee The CR Heathwren was spotted on the higher ground of Shaws Ridge while the other species were found on the low track. Happy to also see Fan-tailed Cuckoos, a Rufous Fantail as well as a Yellow- throated Scrubwren. James Fong
Fri 12 Apr	Grey-fronted Honeyeater Nombinnie Nature Reserve, Mt Hope One bird located 100 metres along Cactus track from the first bend to the left. Bernie OKeefe
	Buff-banded Rail, Rose Robin, Australian Hobby, Crested Shrike-tit Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside, Blacktown Flocks of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and Silvereyes were migrating north over and along the reserve (stopping in casuarinas on the way). I observed them for nearly one hour (8-9 am). The non-ending stream of small bird flocks (50-200 birds) was flying over Richmond Rd. A pair of A. Hobby was hunting them ( not successfully - 10 strikes and nothing). They were also a few small flocks (10-20 birds) of Rufous Whistler migrating behind other birds. Other interesting birds in the reserve: Buff-banded Rail ( a small cumbungi swamp near Power Rd), Rose Robin, Crested Shrike-tit, White-winged Chough (4 - back in the reserve after nearly one year), Mistletoebird (20 near a creek) Ted.Wnorowski
	Black Kite Sealy Lookout, Bruxner Park Flora Reserve, near Coffs Harbour Another Black Kite sighting, followed by a Wedge-tailed Eagle, being mobbed by an Osprey, joined briefly by an Aus Hobby. Twenty minutes well spent at the lookout. The nearby reserve had White-headed Pigeons, Regent Bowerbird, Rufous Fantail & Large-billed Scrubwren. Simon Clayton & 2 others
	Diamond Firetail Private Property 26km west of Narrabri A single Diamond Firetail was seen several times over the period of 2-3 hours with a mixed mob of Yellow-rumped Thornbills and Double-barred Finches. It was observed in the vicinity of a farm dam in White Cypress (C. glaucophylla) and Bimble Box (Euc. populnea) community. This species has not been recorded here before and is usually found in association with White Box and associated communities along the foothills of the nearby ranges 60km to the east. James Faris
	Brolga Adjacent to Old Post Office Lane, approximately 1.7 km north of Ulmarra, NE NSW 34 Brolgas still present at this site feeding on remains of a maize crop. Bob Moffatt
	Powerful Owl (pair) Royal National Park (Lady Carrington Drive) - north Also Rufous Fantail, Crested Shrike-tit, Beautiful Firetail, Scarlet Honeyeater (3), Lorand Szucs
Thu 11 Apr	Freckled Duck Moss Vale Stockyards A single Freckled Duck was roosting on a submerged rock in the middle of the wetland next to the stockyards. Also at least 1 Pink-eared Duck (I saw 2 but couldn't be certain it wasn't the same bird) and good numbers of Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels Troy Mutton
	Black Falcon, Black Kites Lenaghan Drive, west side of Hexham Swamp, Newcastle Black Falcon perched with offal in talons on power pole, literally 50m from a driveway where 12 Black Kites were perched in pine trees. A further 11 Black Kites circling in the vicinity. A raven aslo made off with offal while I was there. There must be a free feed for these birds and these are large numbers of Black Kites for our area. Also present within a 250m radius (soaring) were 3 Sea-eagles, 2 Brown Goshawks and 2 adult Wedge-tailed Eagles + many (30+) Whistling Kites. Mick Roderick
	Freckled Duck Pitt Town Lagoon Flock of ~17 flew from northern side of the Lagoon, where obscured, to one of the islands - clearly visible. Majority proceeded to rest on the island, others swimming nearby. Max Breckenridge
	Yellow-faced Honeyeater Fort Street High School, Lewisham Hundreds of YFHE's have been passing over the school for the last 2 days, groups of around 20-50 calling madly occassionally alighting in the gums briefly. Just thought the migration should be documented. Simon Gorta
Wed 10 Apr	White-bellied Cuckoo -shrike Mitchell Park, Cattai NP This rarley recorded species within the County is a good one to get on your County List. K Brandwood/CBOC group
	Spotted Quail Thrush Ben Boyd National Park (Green Cape) Two birds spotted approx. 1 KM apart feeding on verge of road say 10 KM from lighthouse. Corrie & Ian Macartney,Will Bridgeman
	Powerful Owl, Rufous Fantail, Bassian Thrush, Green Catbird, Rose Robin Royal National Park (Lady Carrington Drive) Lovely dawn chorus at northern end of Lady Carrington Drive at present. Powerful Owls calling around 5am, along with the beautiful melodies of Bassian Thrush (you have to be early to hear it!). Also Green Catbird, Owlet Nightjar, Rose Robin, and a few Rufous Fantail still around. You can hear yesterday's pre-dawn I recorded here - https://soundcloud.com/wildambience/powerful-owl Marc Anderson
	Yellow-faced Honeyeater Wollstonecraft Railway Station Waiting for delayed train 11-10am , saw approx 300 Yellow-faced Honeyeaters passing overhead over space of 10 minutes, in their usual small groups. Heading north-west. Very familiar with them flying over Blackheath this time of year, but first time in 18 years in the lower North Shore I've ever seen them! Lindy Jones
Tue 9 Apr	Red-rump Parrot Shellharbour Rd, Warrawong One female Red-rump Parrot flying over the road behind Harvey Norman, Warrawong. I've never seen them in the area before. Michael Crosland
	Little Egret Hen & Chicken Bay Wareemba (Inner west of Sydney) See photo. Half an hour's patience did not give me an opportunity to snap the bird alongside any other! It was much smaller than a White-faced Heron. Barrie Ayres
	Little Corella Belongil Beach, Byron Bay Large flock of 120 - 140 birds flying along coast this morning, an impressive sight! Ian Colvin
Mon 8 Apr	Powerful Owl Irrawong Reserve A quiet afternoon, but great to see the Owl and Scarlet HE. Powerful Owl (1) Seen with a Ringtail possum in it's talons. Mark.Young
	Brolga Adjacent to Old Post Office Lane, approximately 1.7 km north of Ulmarra, NE NSW A winter? flock of 39 Brogla were observed in a fallow sugar cane paddock. David Charley
	Freckled Duck, Red-kneed Dotterel, Australasian Shoveler Dairy Swamp, Central Coast Wetlands, Tuggerah (Restricted Access). A 20 minute check of the wetland today 1320-1340 h, found 3 Freckled Duck had returned to the Dairy Swamp, first seen last Friday 5th April. Amongst the 60+ Grey Teal there was one adult male Australasian Shoveler, 2+ Red-kneed Dotterel and a number of Black-fronted Dotterel. There was also 4 Hoary-headed Grebe, 28 Royal Spoonbills, Cattle, Great and Intermediate Egrets and 2 Whistling Kites present throughout the whole time I was there, plus 14 Great Cormorants, Hardheads, Black Swans etc. Alan K. Morris
Sun 7 Apr	Powerful Owl Harold Reid Reserve, Middle Cove, Sydney Powerful Owl (2) heard (male and female) calling to each other at 5:25 am, then just one (female?) calling at approx. 6:20 am. A local breeding pair is known to the Powerful Owl project. Arwen Blackwood Ximenes
Sun 7 Apr	Brahminy Kite Ash Island, Hexham A single Brahminy Kite was seen perched and then flying near Southbank Road on Ash Island. Many other species seen, but unfortunately no Yellow Wagtails. Carl Corden and Katrina Wolf
	Radjah Shelduck Riverside Pk, Bulahdelah I pass through Bulahdelah once a month in both directions, but today was the first time that I had seen the Radjah Shelduck in 2013. There it was, roosting on the river bank on the southern side of the Myall River. The usual other birds were present, ie 4 Eurasian Coot, 12 Black Duck, 4 Purple Swamphens, 3 Dusky Moorhens, a pair of Masked Lapwings, Welcome Swallows, 4 Little Black Cormorants and an Australasian Darter. Alan Morris
	Black-faced Monarch, Rose Robin, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Brown Honeyeater Windsor Downs Nature Reserve, Hawkesbury A few interesting birds recorded during our Sunday walk: Black-faced Monarch ( near creek - east side of reserve - a new species for my WD reserve list), Rose Robin (2), White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (constantly chasing one another), Brown Honeyeater. Ironbark tree are in full bloom so there is heaps of honeyeaters - mostly Fuscous, Yellow-faced and White-naped. Ted Wnorowski
Sat 6 Apr	Masked Owl Birdrangers, 6892 Gwydir Hwy, Cangai, Gibraltar Range 6 Observers - Kathy Clark,Rae Clark,,Trish Ferguson, Sandra Gallienne, Neil Humphris, Judy Leitch. Owls very vocal on 5th April from 7:20pm. We returned on the 6th April . Some early calling and then around 8:30 pm one Masked Owl flew over and we all had excellent views. Birdrangers is a private property offering access and tours. Judy Leitch and five others
	Grey Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Brown Falcon Private property off Fernbank Lane, Hastings River Dve Port Macquarie This area of extensive wetlands hosted many Black Ducks, 100+ Australian Wood Duck, 20+ Grey Teal, 10+ Chestnut Teal, plenty of Cattle Egrets, Australian White Ibis and Straw-necked Ibis and 4 Great Egrets & 4 White-necked Herons in the wet paddocks. A Collared Sparrowhawk was flushed from the timbered line creek, to be followed by Grey Goshawk. A pair of courting White-bellied Sea-Eagles plus another adult put up all the herons and ibis, a Brown Falcon was roosting on a power pole and a pair of Whistling Kites circled constantly over the wetlands. 42 species in an hour an a half in total including Topknot and White-headed Pigeons. Alas no Brolgas or Black-necked Storks! Alan Morris & 12 members from the Port Macquarie BIGnet Meeting
Fri 5 Apr	Little Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet Warrabah National Park, 37 km SE of Barraba Both species heard calling in park. Greg Clancy
	Wompoo Fruit Dove Upper Nulla Nulla Creek, Bellbrook Beautiful day up the end of Nulla Nulla Road. Wompoo Pigeon, Log Runner, Grey Goshawk, calling Shining Bronze Cuckoo and Dusky Woodswallows were the highlights. Tim Morris
	Australian Logrunner, Paradise Riflebird, Bassin Thrush etc Dorrigo National Park On a recent wet trip to Dorrigo NP, I had a good day despite the wet. On the rainforest walk below the Sky Walk, I came across a family of Australian Logrunners - 1 male, 2 female and 2 juveniles being fed. A Wompoo Fruit-Dove was also seen as well as a Green Catbird. Lots of Satin Bowerbirds in the picnic areas as well as a very confiding Wonga Pigeon and Bassian Thrush. A female Paradise Riflebird was also seen feeding in the trees. Sadly, no Regent Bowerbirds nor Lyrebirds. Max O'Sullivan
Thu 4 Apr	Diamond Firetail Bezzants Road, E of Deepwater A total of 10+ Firetails observed along road in three groups (2, 2, 6+). Greg Clancy
	Black Kite Sandy Creek, S of Tenterfield One Black Kite was observed circling over the road while another one was perched on a power pole a couple of kilometres south of the first sighting. Greg Clancy
Mon 1 Apr	Spotted Harrier Levenstrath near McPhersons Crossing 1 adult Spotted Harrier was quartering a paddock near a small gully. Greg Clancy
	Radjah Shelduck Lake on corner of Acacia Court and Gumnut Avenue, Yamba Joan observed one Radjah Shelduck being fed bread by a man. It moved away so that a photograph wasn't possible. Joan Watson per Greg Clancy
Tue 26 Mar	Black-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Little Tern, Eastern Osprey Harrington - Manning River Mouth On the sandbars at Manning River Mouth there were roosting good numbers of waders (most of them in breeding plumage and ready to fly north). Our counts: Bar-tailed Godwit (200), Black-tailed Godwit (4), Red-necked Stint (21), Pacific Goden Plover (26), Grey Plover (1), Grey-tailed Tattler (7), Sanderling (6), Red Knot (2), Curlew Sandpiper (2), Little Tern (93), Australian Pied Oystercatcher (22), Eastern Curlew (61), Whimbrel (9), Common Tern (200), Gull-billed Tern (3), Caspian Tern (1), Crested Tern (90). Other birds: Brahminy Kite (2), Osprey (2), White-bellied Sea-eagle (1), White-breasted Woodswallow (11 incl 2 DY) Ted Wnorowski
Sun 24 Mar	Radjah Shelduck Deep Creek, Ulmarra A pair of Radjah Shelducks was observed by Jeff on March 24. Had been present since March 22. Jeff Sneesby per Andrew Tarrant per Greg Clancy

Birdline New South Wales is sponsored by Birding NSW, Birds Australia - Southern NSW & ACT and Cumberland Bird Observers Club and hosted by Eremaea Birds.

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