Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales

Published sightings for the week ending 1 Sep 2013.

Sun 1 Sep	Spotted Quail Thrush, Grey Currawong, Flame Robin Newnes Plateau, Blue Mountains Spent a couple of days exploring the Newnes Plateau between Lithgow and Wollemi National Park. Spotted Quail Thrush seen on about half a dozen occasions, usually on the roads. Grey Currawong was quite common as were Flame, Scarlet & Rose Robins. Plenty of honeyeaters about including Crescent, Brown-headed, White-naped and White-eared. Other species of note: Gang Gang Cockatoo, Pilotbird, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Crescent Honeyeater, Beautiful Firetail. Marc Anderson
	Little Eagle Yellow Rock Near lookout this morning at around 10:45. Ákos Lumnitzer
	Channel-billed Cuckoo Lewisham Not sure how many more reports of these guys will be published, but Day 1 of Spring heralded my first record of Channel-billed Cuckoo, heard at 6:30 this morning, since last summer. Lewisham is in Sydney's inner-west. [Moderators note: CBC have been recorded in Sydney for a week now and this coincides with usual arrival timing] Ashwin Rudder
	Common Greenfinch, Freckled Duck, Pied Cormorant Eastlakes Golf Course The first day of spring, and another migrant returns. I heard, and then found, my first Common Greenfinches since early February. The lone Freckled Duck is in the same place as three days ago. A Pied Cormorant, my first record at Eastlakes, and a rare visitor, was fishing on the main lake. Ashwin Rudder
	Spotless Crake Pitt Town Lagoon 2 Spotless Crakes seen together. A Sea-Eagle also flew over being harassed by A Raven. Steven Edwards
	Swift Parrot Cattai National Park About 8 Swift Parrots flew over at the very end of the picnic area. Steven Edwards
	Green Catbird, Far Eastern Curlew, hybrid corella Broadwater Drive, Saratoga 2 catbirds calling from the hill above the lagoon, and a flock of 10 curlews in flight over the lagoon. Also seen a likely hybrid Little x Long-billed Corella displaying characteristics of both species including mid length bill, limited red feathers on breast and at base of crest, and more blue skin below eye than a typical Little. Paired with a pure Little Corella. Poor phone pic attached Eric Finley
	Noisy Pitta, Bassian Thrush Blackbutt Forest Reserve, Blackbutt Noisy Pitta (1) was seen under flying fox colony, about 20m in from the gate/ entrance though fence, hanging around a lantana clump. Possibly foraging with Bassian Thrush as both seen close together (I heard, then saw the Thrush first and that alerted me to the Pitta) Lachlan Hall
	Superb Parrot Orange Botanical Gardens Flock of 12 Superb Parrot flew over garden first for season. Botanical Gardens Bird Walk
Sat 31 Aug	Leaden Flycatcher, Rainbow Bee Eater, Glossy Black Cockatoo Sawtell/Boambee Beach Migrants returning with large flock of Bee Eaters flying overhead during the morning and 3 seen in afternoon in hind dunes. Leaden Flycatcher in paperbark wetland. Also an adult pair of Glossy Black Cockatoos with juvenile feeding in allocasuarina. More Beeaters heard overhead on Sunday 1st September. Michael Cheers
	Freckled Duck, Swift Parrot, Speckled Warbler, White-winged Triller Cobbitty Saw one Freckled Duck on a small wetland in Cut Hill Reserve as well as Australian Hobby and a Wedge-tailed Eagle. Beside Cut Hill Rd had one Swift Parrot as well as the same overwintering female White-winged Triller I saw earlier in August, Jacky Winter, Peaceful and Bar-shouldered Doves, several Restless Flycatchers and a male Satin Bowerbird. In woodland on the edge of housing development at the end of Sutton Ave I saw 6 Speckled Warblers, Tree Martins as well as an abundance of White-naped and some Brown-headed Honeyeaters. Edwin Vella
	Pallid Cuckoo, Pacific Baza, Jacky Winter Wilton (approx. 80 km SW of Sydney CBD) In less then 2 hours at Wilton yesterday morning, I recorded 71 species with interesting finds such as a Pacific Baza, Jacky Winters and my first Pallid Cuckoo for the season. Edwin Vella
	Black Honeyeaters, Gilbert's Whistlers, White-browed Woodswallows Nombinnie Nature Reserve A half day birding trip around the 'wheat paddock' and surrounding areas found many calling Gilbert's Whistlers. Around 4x Black Honeyeaters were busy feeding amongst foliage. Estimated around 500 Woodswallows (mostly White-browed and some Masked) were seen flying around area and descending into trees, their chittering providing a constant backdrop to the whole morning. No Red-lored Whistlers seen/heard. Jon Spicer-Bell
	Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Latham's Snipe Lake Harrison, Kyogle 1 Male Pygmy-Goose found after some looking. Towards the back of the lake using telescope. Mike Kuhl
	Peregrine Falcon Deriah Aboriginal Area Probably a pair, seen three times during a 3-hour visit, 2x(!) taking a Bar-shouldered Dove (the second time round observed plucking a dove off its perch; no photos though...). Escarpments suitable for nesting within 1-3 km from the sites where seen. Michael Dahlem
	Australasian Shoveler Centennial Parklands A pair of shovelers roosting at the edge of an island on Duck Pond with a couple of Hardheads. Graeme Robinson
	Black Kite 147 Levenstrath Rd Levenstrath nr Grafton two groups. 17 plus and following group had 40 to 50 birds. Working the thermals and moving in a general north easterly direction. Warren Thompson
Fri 30 Aug	Wedge-tailed Eagle, Grey Goshawk, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Red-browed Treecreeper, Olive-backed Oriole Lake Alexandra, Mittagong Afternoon walk along Gibbagunyah Creek below Lake Alexandra found 39 species. Wedge-tailed Eagle Grey Goshawk Fan-tailed Cuckoo Red-browed Treecreeper Olive-backed Oriole Terry Dunlea and Peter Dewey
Fri 30 Aug	Freckled Duck, Black Falcon Monaltrie Wetland, Lismore 17 Freckled Duck and excellent views of a Black Falcon, which is rare in the Northern Rivers. Also a Brown Falcon - very educational... Hans Wohlmuth
Fri 30 Aug	Noisy Pitta x2, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Warriewood Wetlands Searched unsuccessfully near the small waterfall a few times for the pitta, however on dusk we heard it call from just off the track in some dense scrub, which in itself was surprising, because as far as I am aware nobody has noted the Warriewood pitta calling in all the months it has been here. However whilst it was calling, a second pitta responded from further up the ridge! Could this be the first breeding pitta pair Sydney has had in decades? Stay tuned... Also 3 Glossy Black-Cockatoos in the same area. Joshua Bergmark, Nathan Ruser, Henry Coleman
	Banded Lapwing Cornwallis Road, Windsor Turf Farms A pair of Banded Lapwings with three small chicks indicate another breeding success for this species on the Windsor/Richmond turf farms. Seen in the usual locality at the southern end of Cornwallis Road opposite Deerubbun Park. Roger and Louise McGovern
Thu 29 Aug	Latham's Snipe Lake Harrison, Geneva-Kyogle 1 snipe on muddy lake edge. I could not find the Cotton Pygmy-goose seen on previous visits but the whole lake is not visible from the public access area. Rob Elvish
	Banded Lapwing Windsor end turf farms 7 adults with 3 chicks Keith Brandwood
	Powerful Owl Blue Mountains National Park (Glenbrook) Observed two adult Powerful Owls in a tree along with a juvenile seen in the picture on a good afternoon birding. Other birds of note seen were Chestnut-rumped Heathwrens. Jake Webb, James Fong and Josh Allen
	Freckled Duck, Pallid Cuckoo, Buff-banded Rail, Latham's Snipe Eastlakes Golf Course A good afternoon visit. A single Freckled Duck was found on the pond south of the weir, and David Mitford heard a Pallid Cuckoo (only the fourth record for the site) nearby. Other good sightings included 2 Latham's Snipe, a Buff-banded Rail, two coveys of Brown Quail, and 8 Nankeen Night Herons. Also cool was a White-browed Scrubwren mimicking a Galah, and a Blue-tongued Lizard. Ashwin Rudder and David Mitford
	Spotted Quail Thrush Burragorang Lookout Nattai At about 10.00am this morning I was standing still at the lookout fence facing Lake Burragorang when the Spotted Quail Thrush walked out from under the fence about 5 metres away. It was walking around on the grass and feeding. I hadn't seen one before so I checked in my bird reference book for a positive identification. Lesley Hook
	Channel-billed Cuckoo Castlecrag We have been hearing a Channel-billed Cuckoo the last few days. It seems incredibly early. [Moderator's note (NH): While this report of a CBC is the first one this season, it is in accordance with the typical arrival dates of CBC in the region] Matthew Keighery
Wed 28 Aug	Sooty Oystercatcher Gallows Beach, Coffs Harbour. 8.10am. One groups of six and then two on rocks south end of Gallows Beach. Warren Thompson
	Cotton Pygmy-Goose (subject to submission to NSW ORAC) Lake Harrison, Geneva (Kyogle) Followed up on yesterday's Birdline report of a female - and found what I believe is a male! Searched unsuccessfully for a female. Overnight sex change would appear the most likely explanation... (Moderator's note (NH): This is certainly a male. Cotton Pygmy-Geese can be quite secretive, so it could well be possible that there is a male and a female. It would be good to see yesterday's pictures to confirm the sex of that bird. Sightings of Cotton Pygmy-Geese should be submitted to NSW ORAC) Hans Wohlmuth
	Rainbow Bee-eater Eulah Creek Flock of about 30-50 high above, maybe 100 or 200 m, flying southward, calling in flight (no photo, but positive visual ID). To my knowledge the first Rainbow Bee-eaters in the area this season. Michael Dahlem
Tue 27 Aug	Superb Parrot Beckom-Mirool Road, Beckom Superb Parrot (8) Eight in flowering eucalypt alongside dry watercourse Mark Ley
	Freckled Duck Emerald Downs Golf Course, Port Macquarie Freckled Ducks have been present about a week, most are loafing close to the bank and pathway, so can be approached to within 25 m. Counted 26+ this morning. Many thanks to Sue Lipscombe (Hastings Bird watching Group) Stephen Gallivan
	Cotton Pygmy-Goose (subject to confirmation by NSW ORAC) Lake Harrison, Kyogle One female Cotton Pygmy-Goose on lake. Photo taken which will be attached to the report at the first opportunity. (Moderator's note (NH): This is a great record (only the fifth in NSW since 2007 according to Birdline NSW, and is subject to confirmation by NSW ORAC) Richard & Margaret Alcorn
Mon 26 Aug	Curlew Sandpiper Sydney Airport Single bird observed resting with 4 Red-capped Plovers at the south eastern end of the third runway mid-morning. Reported to the Aust Wader Study Group and ABBBS with as much detail as I could get off the leg bands. It's an uncommon sighting at this location. Nigel Coghlan
	Spotted Quail-Thrush Royal National Park (Waterfall/Uloola Track) Single male Spotted Quail-Thrush hanging around for quite a while on the side of the track about 3 km from Waterfall. Gary Gibbs
	Sooty Owl (3) Berry Mountain - Private Property 3 birds heard, one of them was seen. All were making territorial calls but one bomb whistle call was also heard. Time first heard was 9:10 pm. Carla and Ian Jackett
	Double-banded Plover, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Bassian Thrush Central Coast Wetlands, Pioneer Dairy, Tuggerah Highlights of a visit to the Central Coast Wetlands this afternoon was the sighting of a Double-banded Plover in breeding plumage and a newly arrived flock of 9 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers on the Dairy Swamp. This is only the 2nd time that there has been a DB Plover at this site. There are still 30+ Australian Shovellers on this wetland but all the Freckled Ducks have moved to the nearby McPherson rd Swamp. We also saw a Bassian Thrush, first reported on 15/8/13, and an Owlet-Nightjar. Alan Morris, Tim Faulkner , John & Carole Carpenter
	Australasian Grass Owl Bellfrog Track, Ash Island, Newcastle One Grass Owl seen at 6.05 pm at corner of Bellfrog Track and Wagtail Way, and again at 6.25 pm halfway along Bellfrog Track. Michael Kearns
	Sharp-tailed Sandpipers Wilfords Lane wetlands, Lake Burrill. 12 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were seen this afternoon at the wetlands. We had gone back there to check on a male Australian Painted-Snipe seen there yesterday. Unfortunately we dipped out on the latter with a report of children running riot in the area earlier. Bob Rusk, Chris Shinton
Sun 25 Aug	Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Rufous Scrub-bird 29 28S 152 18E 1' Cell Washpool National Park Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (1) Rufous Scrub-bird (1) heard distinctive call site not publicly accessible. Greg & Val Clancy, Peter & Bev Morgan, Jan Patterson
	Noisy Pitta, Bassian Thrush Smiths Lake, NSW 2428 Single call from Noisy Pitta in early morning. Also Bassian Thrush collecting food, presumably for young. Phil Murray
	Bluebonnet west of Obley Bluebonnet (5) 2km w of Obley Neville Schrader (1702)
	Tree Martin Darling Harbour, Sydney CBD Multiple pairs of Tree Martin perhaps breeding in girders of The Maritime Museum - observed only briefly without binoculars but 1 bird seen entering small hole in girders and behaviour of other birds suggestive. I haven't seen breeding report for Sydney City LGA or inner west Andrew Taylor
	Eastern Koel Pecan Close, Cherrybrook Early return for the season? (Moderator's Note: This would appear to be one of the earlierst records for 2013, there was one calling in Mann St North Gosford on 17/8/13 AKM). Gabrielle Rees
Sat 24 Aug	Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Rufous Scrub-bird, Southern Emuwren, Scarlet Robin Surveyors Creek, Gibraltar Range National Park Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (1) heard calling with distinctive call Rufous Scrub-bird (1) distinctive call heard Southern Emuwren (3) Scarlet Robin (3) 2 immatures males, 1 adult female Greg & Val Clancy, Peter & Bev Morgan, Jan Patterson
	Freckled Duck Emerald Downs Golf Course Port Macquarie 24 Freckled Ducks on the pond near 17th hole first spotted by Terry Hastings bird watchers 23. Aug Dave Whitfield
Fri 23 Aug	Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Powerful Owl, Southern Boobook, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Rufous Scrub-bird, Sca Gibraltar Range National Park (Dandahra Picnic Area) Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (1) heard calling - distinctive call Powerful Owl (1) heard calling - distinctive 'woo-woo' call haerd Southern Boobook (3) heard calling at night - distinctive 'bookbook' call heard, also warm up call Glossy Black-Cockatoo (3) adult pair with juvenile drinking at edge of Little Dandahra Creek Rufous Scrub-bird (1) heard calling east of picnic area Scarlet Robin (2) Olive-tailed Thrush (1) Greg & Val Clancy, Peter & Bev Morgan
Thu 22 Aug	Flock Bronzewing Sturt National Park (Olive Downs Homestead) 2 Flock Bronzewing came to drink at dam in the morning. Nicole Spillane & Paul Jacobson

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