Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales

Published sightings for the week ending 26 May 2013.

Sun 26 May	Hooded Plover Racecourse Beach, Ulladulla 2 adult and one immature Hooded Plovers were found feeding on the rocks. both adults later went roosting on the sandy beach around 4pm. The same spot is a very popular dog walking and surfing beach for locals. Also 2 Double-banded Plovers, 3 Sooty Oystercatchers, and 3 fly past Pied Oystercatchers. Tun Pin ONG
	Plumed Whistling-Duck Dam NE of Coutts Crossing 102 Plumed Whistling-Ducks on dam wall. Largest number at this site for some time. Greg Clancy
	Black-chinned Honeyeater, Little Lorikeet, Dusky Woodswallow, Black Kites Abattoir TSR, South Grafton 4+ Black-chinned Honeyeaters, 3 caught and banded, small flock of Little Lorikeets low over canopy, 4+ Dusky Woodswallows, 1 adult & 1 immature caught and banded, 5+ Black Kites in local area. Greg Clancy
	Australasian Bittern Pitt Town Lagoon An Australasian Bittern was seen slowly moving out of the reeds only a few metres to my right where I was standing (on the mound) and then in full view allowing me to take a dozen or so photos (see attached pic). Also at Pitt Town Lagoon were a couple of Australasian Shovelers, Spotless Crake, 3 Red-kneed Dotterels, a couple of Whistling Kites, a large female Brown Goshawk, Restless Flycatcher and a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. Edwin Vella
	Brahminy Kite Redhead (Lake Macquarie LGA) Immature Brahminy Kite soaring off the bluff at Redhead this afternoon in the company of 2 White-bellied Sea-Eagles (and an Eastern Osprey about 20 minutes earlier). Distant proof shot attached. Records south of the Hunter River estuary are scarce. Mick Roderick
Sat 25 May	Black Falcon, Budgerigars, White-browed Woodswallow Capertee Valley Highlights along the Glen Davis Rd (all within a couple of km before the Glen Davis-Glen Alice T-junction was a Black Falcon, 9 Budgies (there were more also heard calling) and a couple of Plum-headed Finches amongst a mixed flock of other finches (Diamond Firetails, Zebra and Double-barred Finches). White-bellied and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes amongst other birds were hawking insects in the air. Over-wintering birds in the valley included a few Tree Martins, a Rufous Songlark and a White-browed Woodswallow. Also at Glen Alice, a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater was seen and both Blue-faced Honeyeaters and Grey-crowned Babblers heard. Edwin Vella and David Mitford
	Buller's Shearwater, Black Noddy. Wollongong pelagic A single Buller's Shearwater and a distant Black Noddy were the highlights in Saturday's Wollongong pelagic. Besides the expected Providence Petrels, there were some late Grey-faced Petrels but also some likely nominate Great-winged Petrels. Also observed: 50+ Black-browed, 5 Campbell, many Shy, a few Indian Yellow-nosed, at least 4 Buller's and 1 Wandering-type Albatross; it is always good to have the sky filled with albatrosses. Fairy Prions were common, two Northern Giant-Petrels were around for a long time, Brown Skua was seen and one Wilson's Storm-petrel. Frank Valckenborgh, and all participants to the Wollongong pelagic
	Australian Hobby Ramsgate Sydney An Australian Hobby in a tree near the beachfront for 30mins. Finally taking flight when disturbed by huge numbers of Little Corellas. Oliver Williams
	Spotted Harrier, Black Kite, Little Lorikeet, Restless Flycatcher, Wedge-tailed Eagle South Grafton Adult Spotted Harrier foraging low over grassland at Regional Waste Depot at South Grafton. Total of 21 Black Kites in flight mostly near waste depot but also N and S of there. 1+ Little Lorikeet and 1 Restless Flycatcher heard calling and adult Wedge-tailed Eagle observed in flight at Abattoir TSR. Greg Clancy
	Pacific Gull, Buller's Albatross, Giant-petrel spec. north head manly. Highlight from a sea watch this morning was an immature Pacific Gull. Also another Buller's Albatross and 5 unidentified Giant-petrels. michael ronan.
	Australasian Bittern Pitt Town Lagoon Australasian Bittern seen this morning (8:00am) after being flushed by two very aggressive Welcome Swallows at the northern section of the lagoon. Tried to take a photo of this majestic bird on my iPhone. James Galea
Fri 24 May	White-headed Petrel, Pacific Gull, Great-winged Petrel and Brown Skua Mistral Point, Maroubra Great mix of birds today - highlight a White-headed Petrel plus 40 Black-browed Albatross, 5 Yellow-nosed Albatross, a Giant-Petrel (sp), 5 Short-tailed Shearwaters (including a bird in a bad way, with many feathers missing, sitting on the water for 20 minutes, then we could not find it). Also seen were a Brown Skua, a juv. Pacific Gull, 2 Kelp Gulls, a few prions (sp) and at 5:00pm I watched a pair of Great-winged Petrels, chasing each other at close range as the light faded. David Mitford and Ray Gobbe
	Buller's Albatross, Northern Giant-petrel, Fairy Prion north head, manly Seen my first Northern Giant-petrels this afternoon and a close in Buller's Albatross heading north. Also 3 close in Fairy Prions. michael ronan
	Australian Pelican, Black-tailed Native-hen Narrabri Lake, Narrabri West 2390 Checked the lake again today, finding absolutely NO trace of even a single Magpie Goose (there used to be 30-50). Instead, in addition to the usual bunch of aquatic birds, there are about 100 Australian Pelicans now rounding up fish and I have for the first time in 10 years spotted two Black-tailed Native-hens at that location. They were on the eastern side of the lake, near the rugby pitch, in mudflats surrounded by reeds. Michael Dahlem
	Pink-eared Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Baillon's Crake, Australian Spotted Crake Penrith Sewage Treatment Plant Great birdwatching in the soft rain. There is an excellent wetland ( bullrushes and cubungi planted in the rows) in the STP. Crakes and rails were foraging in open among the clumps of bull rushes. There were: Baillon's Crake (7), Australlian Spotted Crake (2) and Buff-banded Rail (2). Among 500 Grey Teals I found: Pink-eared Duck (5), A. Shoveler (2), Little Egret (3), Intermediate Egret (1), Royal Spoonbill (4). Black-winged Stilt (35). Mudflats: Red-kneed Dotterel (11) and Black-fronted Dotterel (3). Two Swamp Harriers were flying over the teals. Ted Wnorowski
Thu 23 May	Black Kite Clarence Regional Waste Facility, South Grafton 50+ Kites in flight over paddock opposite Waste facility. Bill Wynter & John Edwards per Greg Clancy
	Black-tailed Native-Hen Stockton Borehole Swamp, Hunter Valley 1 Black-tailed Native-Hen seen on far side of swamp, first for the Hunter for a few years. Steve Roderick
Wed 22 May	Australasian Bittern Pitt Town Lagoon An Australasian Bittern was the highlight of an afternoon visit to Pitt Town lagoon today. The bird was seen to the right of the mound reached from the bottom of Church street. Also seen were 2 Spotted Harriers, Red-kneed Dotterel, Restless Flycatcher, Australasian Shoveler and Pink-eared Duck Robert Hynson
	Spotted Harrier, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite Sextonville rd, Dobies Bight nr Casino Single Spotted Harrier, pair of Eagles and Kites. ian colvin
	White-necked Heron Galaringi Reserve, Carlingford First sighting of a White-necked Heron at this site or indeed anywhere in this area. The bird was standing in the drain from the Evan's RD pond & flushed to a tree when it saw me before dropping back down to the drain again. Photographed. Jenny Stiles
Tue 21 May	Eastern Osprey Yarramundi My friend messaged me yesterday that he was able to photograph an Eastern Osprey at Yarramundi in the afternoon. I am posting it on his behalf, image taken by Peter Phelan. Ákos Lumnitzer on behalf of Peter Phelan
	Spotted Harrier, Little Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Whistling Kite, Nankeen Kestrel Tuggerah Nature Reserve It was a raptor-fest at Tuggerah Nature Reserve, just behind Pioneer Dairy wetlands. Also present: Black-shouldered Kite. Amanda Lilleyman
	Hoary-headed Grebe Eastlakes Golfcourse A Hoary-headed Grebe was at the pond near the toolshed, with the lone freckled duck still in attendance. Another Hoary-headed Grebe was still at Centennial Park yesterday afternoon. Bas Hensen
Mon 20 May	Tawny Grassbird Windsor Downs Nature Reserve Birds observed in Windsor Downs NR (south) 1' Cell Tawny Grassbird (1) Observed well but briefly near the swampy dam, among the undergrowth. Initially thought this bird to be in an unexpected habitat, then realised there was a swamp just 20 metres behind the scrub where the bird was skulking. ID notes: Light underparts with no sign of streaking, rich rusty-rufous crown and upper nape, lightish eyebrow,, heavy black streaking on back/wings, longish tail, scratchy contact call. Size: About Pipit-sized (slightly larger?) Thought this was worthy of a Birdline post as there are no Eremaea records of Grassbirds at this reserve. Rob Child
Mon 20 May	Square-tailed Kite Belmont North, Lake Macquarie East The kite was soaring low over trees and houses, seen several times this month. Bill Boyd
	Pacific Baza Coutts Crossing Village 3+ Bazas foraging in canopy of eucalypts and Corymbias in school and plantation reserve, mobbed by Blue-faced Honeyeaters. At least 2 were adults. Greg Clancy
	Black Kite Orange Resource Centre, Orange 10+ birds at Garbage Tip. Neville Schrader
	Freckled Duck, Baillon's Crake, Nankeen Night-Heron Dora Creek, Muddy Lake Nankeen Night-Heron were roosting in the trees near road, 13 Freckled Ducks on the lake. Baillon's Crake came out of vegetation and was feeding in open under the casuarina trees. Ted Wnorowski
	Little Eagle, Pacific Baza Lake Macquarie State Concervation Area Wangi Wangi Pt Very good place for raptors. Pacific Baza, Grey Goshawk and Brown Goshawk in the bush (near houses). Group of raptors circling over Wangi Wangi Pt including Little Eagle (1), Whistling Kite (5), White-bellied Sea-eagle (2), Australian Hobby (1) and Peregrine Falcon (1) Ted Wnorowski
	Black Bittern Lake Macquarie, Buttaba I found a single Black Bittern roosting in the casuarina trees hanging over Sawmill Creek near the entrance to the lake (near Ilford Ave) Ted Wnorowski
	Swift Parrot Lake Macquarie, Rathmines Recreation Area Eight Swift Parrots were feeding on flowering Swamp Mahagony among other birds (Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, White-naped Honeyeaters, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, White-cheeked Honeyeaters, Fuscous Honeyeaters) (at the end of Bayswater Rd near the lake) Ted Wnorowski
	Buff-banded Rail Toronto Greenway Wetlands A single Buff-banded Rail came out of wetland on the track. Ted Wnorowski
	Blue-billed Duck, Pink-eared Duck Toronto, Sewage Treatment Plant, Faucett Rd One Blue-billed Duck and 25 Pink-eared Ducks among other ducks and grebes on the STP ponds Ted Wnorowski
	Australasian Bittrern, Red-kneed Dotterel, Australasian Shoveler Stockton Borehole Colliery Dam, Teralba Australasian Bittern was basking in the sun in front of dry reeds (in the second dam behind the railway track). On the main dam: Australasian Shoveler (11), Red-kneed Dotterel (37), Swamp Harrier (20) Ted Wnorowski
	White-winged Chough Black Swan Drive Levenstratth nr Grafton 12.30 pm. Seven White-winged Coughs seen at eastern end of Black Swan Drive on private property. Warren Thompson
Sun 19 May	Double-barred Finch, Spotted Harrier, White-cheeked & Fuscous Honeyeaters Wianamatta Nature Reserve, Cranebrook There were 110 Finch, 10 White-cheeked and 4 Fuscous Honeyeaters were all frequenting a small waterhole in the Reserve. I haven't seen that many Double-bar's in the Penrith area in the 7 years I've lived here. Chris Chafer
	Eastern Osprey Bilgola Plateau A male flew over Angophora Reserve and north to Avalon today. Interestingly, I also saw a female do the same yesterday (18th). Glad to see them here for the first time in a couple of years. Possibly from the nest at Narabeen? Henry Coleman
Sat 18 May	Australian Hobby Oakhurst An unusual twittering call alerted me to an Australian Hobby flying over my backyard, then another, the pair then proceeded to perform a display flight. Mark Fuller
	Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo Queens Park, Sydney An impressive loose flock of at least 75-80 birds seen flying southeast over Queens Park from Centennial Park. Total numbers probably higher as count was from a moving vehicle. Eric Finley
Thu 16 May	Black Falcon, Black Kite, Glossy Ibis, Black-necked Stork Lenaghan's Wetland, Lenanghans Drive Count of Black Kites on the "Kite Bluff" was 49. There were also 2 Black Falcons, Brown Goshawk (1) and 9 White-bellied Sea-eagles. They were stealing food from greyhounds (it was greyhounds feeding time). In wetland below the cllff - 4 Glossy Ibises and one Black-necked Stork among flocks of other water birds Ted Wnorowski
	King Quail Ash Island, Hexham A male King Quail at the end of Wagtail Way (near the entrace to industrial site). Ted Wnorowski
	Australasian Bittern, Little Eagle Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve, south from The Outlook (Minmi Rd) I discovered a very good vantage point for bird watching of south part of Hexham Swamps. It is in a new suburb - The Outlook (near Minmi Rd). You will have also a great view of Tank Paddock. A single A Bittern was flying slowly above the swamp along a clump of melaleuca trees. A large flock (52 birds) of raptors was circling over the swamp - mostly Whistling Kite (35), Swamp Harrier (10), Wedge-tailed Eagle (3), White-belled Sea-eagle (2) and 1 Little Eagle. Ted Wnorowski

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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