Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales

Published sightings for the week ending 7 Jul 2013.

Sun 7 Jul	Common Diving-Petrel (1 beachwashed), White-fronted Tern (5) Eurobodalla National Park, Potato Point Single beach washed headless specimen; part of the recent wreck but no sign of any DP'Ss offshore although a lot of prions present further out (only Fairy ID'd). A good view of a Feather-tailed Glider at night in a coastal Banksia was a highlight. Dion Hobcroft
	White-eared Monarch Wanganui, near Mullumbimby Single White-eared Monarch observed feeding typically on edge of dense foliage this morning around 10.15am, in a 'forage group' of Brown Thornbills and Grey Fantails. Might have missed it but my fanaticism for observing Grey Fantails in action led my eye to this bird. Stephen Brooking
Sat 6 Jul	Inland Dotterel 53 Km from Tibooburra on the Sturt National Park Road Two Inland Dotterel, with two tiny chicks, 53 km from Tibbooburra on the Sturt National Park road. One bird flew across road in front of car, and the second was seen walking across to join the first. One came back across the road with the two tiny ones which looked like miniatures of the adults in their upright stance. Both adults came to the same side of the road, and eventually crossed back over again, without the chicks. Presumably the chicks were planted somewhere. We didn't get any closer than necessary to confirm the birds, and then left them alone. Peter and Bev Morgan
	Black-shouldered Kite, Little Lorikeet Smith street Castlereagh Black-shouldered Kite, 6 Little Lorikeets feeding in flowering gum trees. Tony & Stephanie Dawe
	Spotted Harrier Picton Road (near Wilton) Had good views of a Spotted Harrier flying fairly low over farmland/residential land. Black undertail bands were quite visible. Fine cool day - 3:50pm. Carla Jackett
	Spotted Harrier Cornwallis, corner Cupitts Lane/Cornwallis Road Saw one Spotted Harrier, Brown Falcon & flock about 200 Straw-necked Ibis Tony & Stephanie Dawe
	White-breasted Woodswallows Mehi River, Moree One of my very few sightings of a small flock of White-breasted Woodswallows in the Moree township was today. They are quite rare in winter, and have been absent in the past month. Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines
	Superb Parrot, Eastern Osprey, Golden Whistler, Tawny Grassbird Moree Common First sighting of Superb Parrots in Moree (itself - township so new for site). 4 Superb Parrots were observed flying over (3 males, 1 female). Also sighted was a female Golden Whistler which are generally rare in the area. The Eastern Ospreys weren't seen there but just north along 'Chinamans Lane' a single Eastern Osprey was observed flying over. As usual, Tawny Grassbirds were commonly found. 2 Black-shouldered Kites were seen mating. 60 busy Pink-eared Ducks were seen amongst other ducks. 2 Black-fronted Dotterels (second record for the site in over ten years) were also seen. Common Blackbirds are also moving their way into more wooded areas (instead of home gardens) as a few were seen. Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines
Fri 5 Jul	Black Kite Clarence Valley Waste Management Facility, South Grafton 150+ Black Kites spiralling up above the facility late afternoon after closing time. The pits are covered at night so the birds may have been departing for the night as the food supply had been temporarily removed. A poor photo of part of the flock is attached. Greg Clancy
	Eastern Ospreys, Grey & Brown Goshawk, White-breasted Woodswallow, Singing Honeyeater Farm Property, 10km North West of Moree, NSW (near Ashley) We had a great day, birds recorded on a farm property, just south of Ashley on the Gwydir River. A pair of Eastern Osprey were seen perched on the Carole Creek Regulator before flying down the Gwydir River. They came back, being harassed by Whistling & Black Kites, Australian Ravens and Torresian Crows. A Brown Goshawk followed by 2 Grey Goshawks were seen in riverine vegetation along the Gwydir River. 2 Australasian Shovelers and 150+ Pink-eared Ducks were seen. 250+ Australian Pelicans were seen bunched up on the edge of a large farm dam. Gull billed & Caspian Tern numbers were very low. White-breasted Woodswallows were also seen and they are quite rare in winter. Spotted Bowerbird, Singing Honeyeater, Olive-backed Oriole and House Sparrow were seen in Ashley itself which weren't at the property. Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines
	Eastern Barn Owl Freeman's Reach, Hawkesbury Gorrick's Lane 9 p.m. on power lines David Potter
Thu 4 Jul	Sooty Oystercatcher Dee Why One bird on the rocks this morning. Not seen in this location before. . Judy Clark
	Blue-billed Duck Bundanoon I was thrilled to see 4 BBDs on a dam by Shangri la Road very late this afternoon. A male was in eclipse plumage. Not a species I've seen many times in over 25 years of birding. Bird 153 for home! Lorne Johnson
	Bell Miner Eulah Creek, 20 km east of Narrabri 2390 (Probably just a single) Bell Miner, together with a mob of Noisy Miners, came to feed in flowering lemon-scented gumtrees and ironbarks in our garden this afternoon. The closest we have ever seen a Bell Miner is at Dungowan, about 20-30 km south-east of Tamworth. No photo today, did not even see the bird(s), but the ID is certain - my wife and I both heard the unmistakable call 3x. Michael Dahlem
	Spotted Harrier, Tawny Frogmouth Sydney Olympic Park Spotted Harrier (1) Seen over the path to the ferry, next to Woo-la-ra. Being pursued by Ravens & Magpies. Photographed [not terribly well!] Tawny Frogmouth (2) roosting near the road crossing for Hill Road at the end of Narrawang Wetlands. Photographed. Jenny Stiles
	Diamond Doves Whittaker's Lagoon, Moree Although Diamond Doves aren't unusual in the area, a high number of 20 Diamond Doves were seen foraging on a part of a dirt road near the lagoon. Curtis Hayne
	Buff-banded rail White's Creek Wetland, Annanndale, Sydney inner west sunning itself on a cool morning in the tiny White's Creek Wetland - rarely reported in the inner west (often reported from Botanic Gardens in CBD) Andrew Taylor
	Eastern Osprey Burns Bay Reserve, Riverview, Sydney Pair of Ospreys flying between boat poles and fishing on the bay. Every single morning during May there was one bird. Looks like the same bird came back with its mate. Fatih Sam
Wed 3 Jul	White-necked Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, Cattle Egret Hassall Grove, cnr Richmond Road, Rooty Hill Road North The wet weather has softened many grassed areas/causeways leading to larger flocks and a greater variety of ibis and heron. Mark Fuller
	Spotted Quail-thrush Blue Mountains NP (Shaws Ridge, Winmalee) Female Spotted Quail-thrush seen at 1pm at edge of the trail. It sat a few metres away under a small bush in full view. We watched each other for about a minute or two with time for me to get photos. After it walked away I heard the soft, high-pitched calls of this species. Robert James Sinclair
	Freckled & Pink-eared Duck, Australian Shoveler, Wedge-tailed Eagle Central Coast Wetlands, Tuggerah 16 birders spent 10.45-13.15 at the Central Coast Wetlands. Highlights were 23 Freckled Duck, 32 Australian Shovelers, 5+ Pink-eared Ducks, 2 Wedge-tailed Eagles, a White-bellied Sea-eagle, 2 Swamp Harriers, 2 Whistling Kites and a Black-shouldered Kite. 360 Straw-necked Ibis and 72 Australian White Ibis, 36 Black Swans & 73 Masked Lapwings, added a bit of colour to the other White-necked Herons, spoonbills and egrets present. A group of 4 Southern Emu-wrens were seen in the Pioneer Ck wetlands, Black-winged Stilts & Black-fronted Dotterels were also seen. Alan Morris & 15 members of CCG Birding NSW
	Freckled Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Tawny Grassbird, Collared Sparrowhawk McPherson Rd Swamp, Tuggerah 16 birders spent an hour at this wetland 8.30-9.30 am, highlights were 14 Freckled Duck, 12+ Pink-eared Duck, a Collared Sparrowhawk flew across the wetland, there were 2 Intermediate Egrets and 1 White-necked Heron, 4+ Golden-headed Cisticolas and 1 Tawny Grassbird showed well. Both Black-shouldered and Whistling Kites were seen. 38 species recorded. Alan Morris & 15 members CCG Birding NSW
	Magpie Goose Berkeley Magpie Goose (3) These birds have not been seen in the illawarra since 1900 David and Michelle Rower with Illawarra Birders
	Double-barred Finch Ramsgate Scarborough Park 2 Double-barred Finches near fence of baseball oval behind Darrell Lea factory Oliver Williams
Tue 2 Jul	Straw-necked Ibis Bundanoon township 40 Straw-necked Ibis flew over home late in the afternoon. I've not seen that many here before. Lorne Johnson
	Eastern Barn Owl (juvenile) Castlereagh Last night, while walking my dogs I could hear the constant begging calls of a young owl. Tonight I was lucky and found it. Ákos Lumnitzer
	Rose Robin, Peregrine Falcon Ourimbah Ck Rd Sightings this morning included a male Rose Robin and Peregrine Falcon, the later a 'property first'. John Weigel
	Great Egret Talara Road, Gymea NSW 2227 This (juvenile?) Great Egret looked lost in front of a residence in Gymea. I am curious if bird was displaced due to heavy rain over the past few weeks. It did not flee when I approached it. I was uncertain what I should do, whether I should intervene e.g. call Wires or leave it alone. Common Mynas were swooping it continuously. The egret flew off after a few minutes towards Kirrawee, an Australian Magpie flew after it and began swooping it as it flew away. It sounds like this bird is the same as previous sightings over the last few days. Chana Imsirovic
	Buff-banded Rail, Black Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Tawny Grassbird Pallamallawa, NSW Observations were made in and around the village with a total of around 80 species. A single Black Falcon was seen perched up high in a River Red Gum, but its presence was uninvited, according to the large numbers of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Little Corellas. A single Peregrine Falcon and Spotted Harrier were also seen in the outskirts of the village. A Buff-banded Rail was identified by its call from a nearby ephemeral wetland. Like normal, I haven't been reporting Tawny Grassbirds because they are so common, just to notify, 2 were seen and heard. There were also Zebra, Double-barred, Plum-headed and Red-browed Finches as usual but less in numbers. A pair of each, Eastern Rosella, Musk Lorikeet and Australian King Parrot were also seen as well as calling Pied Currawongs. Curtis Hayne
	Pacific Baza St Ives Heard and saw one Baza getting mobbed by Noisy Miners, Magpies, just now. Heard two Bazas yesterday. All sightings from around Dalrymple Hay reserve and I'm very surprised that the Bazas are here again, especially in winter Arnie Hollyman
Mon 1 Jul	Peregrine Falcon, Common Diving Petrel, Fairy Prion Tacking Point Lighthouse, Port Macquarie With Peter West and Sue Proust observed several Fairy Prions and approximately four Common Diving Petrels from the Light-house.. A Peregrine Falcon then appeared, swooping firstly at a Fairy Prion, which it missed, before it then swooped again, this time striking a flying Common Diving Petrel which it carried back to shore. Tim Morris
	White-faced Storm-petrel, Southern Giant-petrel, Campbell Albatross Terrigal Haven Pelagic Only managed to get 20 nm offshore (10 nm from the shelf). Had some good birds regardless. Two White-faced Storm-petrels, one Southern Giant-petrel, two Campbell, 15-20 Black-browed, several Shy and Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, two Brown Skuas and hundreds of Fairy Prions. Tim Faulkner
	Turquoise Parrot, White-backed Swallow Trap Yard Dam, Western Road, in the Pilliga north of Baradine 2 Turquoise Parrots flew over and 3 White-backed Swallows perched above Trap Yard Dam. Steve Edwards
	Powerful Owl Corner of Fiona Road & Burns Road South, Beecroft At 2:30 am this morning 1 Powerful Owl. Steve Edwards
Sun 30 Jun	Rockwarbler Morton National Park (Bundanoon Sector) A lone Rockwarbler at Bonnie View, at the end of Winterfest's 'Birding for Beginners' bash, was most welcome. Everyone had crippling views. The bird got within a few feet of one birder, then jumped on top of another birder's 4WD to pick at insects! This bird had discoloration on one side of its face, below its eye, giving the bird a monarch-like patch. A skin concern? Lorne Johnson
	Pacific Baza Mitchells Pass, Glenbrook 2 Pacific Baza, 8 Brown Cuckoo-Dove and 8 Olive-backed Oriole, Mitchells Pass, Glenbrook. Chris Chafer
	Wandering Whistling- Ducks Broadwater Cattai 8 Wandering Whistling- Duck Keith Brandwwod CBOC
	Red-kneed Dotterel Macksville Sewage Treatment Works 2 birds seen by 15 members of Bellingen Birders on their monthly outing. An unusual species for the area. Richard Jordan
	Glossy Black-Cockatoo Umina Beach Posting on behalf of someone with permission. One male bird on the road and power line outside house on Calypta Rd, Umina. Rest of flock (four birds) observing from nearby tree. Rebecca Citroni
Sat 29 Jun	Sooty Owls (2) Wanganui, near Mullumbimby. Private property. A single, brief 'bomb' call about 8.15pm alerted me to Sooty Owl outside the house, so I went out for a closer listen (no intention to spotlight) and it became apparent that two Owls, very close by, were involved in some very vigorous vocalising, quite close together (possibly the same tree!). About 20 minutes of 'debating' occurred as they went from one large tree to another 'trilling' and squeaking all the while. Maybe two males in disputed territory? Great entertainment on a (lately rare) clear night! Steve Brooking
	Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Pilliga Scrub, Timmallallie National Park Seen several times near the Sculptures in the Park camping ground Greg Roberts
Fri 28 Jun	Regent Bowerbird and Pacific Baza Tweed Heads - Boyds Bay walk A female Regent Bowerbird seen in a Norfolk Island pine tree at the far end of the walk around mid day. 2 Pacific Baza perched in a tree near the big fig tree. John Goldie
	Little Shearwater (requires NSW ORAC submission), Common Diving-Petrel, Slender-billed Prion Bherwerre Beach, Booderee National Park 1 Little Shearwater and 46 Common Diving-petrels freshly beachwashed along 7.5km of shoreline. Also numbers of Fairy and Slender-billed Prions. Martin Schulz

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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