Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales

Published sightings for the week ending 8 Sep 2013.

Sun 8 Sep	Square-tailed Kite Acacia Gardens One Square-tailed Kite flew over Acacia Gardens in the afternoon. Edwin Vella
	Glossy Ibis, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Native Dog Swamp, Berrigan Glossy Ibis (5) in shallows in the east side, great to see here again Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (5) on a mudflat at the northern end by the windmill, not often seen in this area. Michael Ramsey
	Plumed Whistling-Duck Berrigan Road, Jerilderie A large flock of approximately 400 Plumed Whistling-Ducks seen foraging in a flooded irrigation paddock by the Berrigan Rd south of Jerilderie. Michael Ramsey
	Australian Koel Manly Lagoon, Sydney Calling this evening. 1 week earlier than the first 2012 Sydney record (14th), 2 weeks earlier than the first 2011 Sydney record (20th) and 1 week later than the first 2010 Sydney record (1st). Joshua Bergmark
Sat 7 Sep	Eastern Barn Owl, Rufous Songlark Ash Island, Hexham At Ash Island in the afternoon there were 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and about 6 Red-capped Plovers. Raptors seen here included a pair of Swamp Harriers, at least 4 Whistling Kites, 2 White-bellied Sea-eagles, Brown Falcon and our 15th species for the day a Black-shouldered Kite. Before the evening we saw a Rufous Songlark, Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo, both a Baillon's and an Australian Spotted Crake and heard Spotless Crakes. A Brown Falcon came in and perched on a casuarina then picked up a snake from the ground for an evening meal. At night we had no luck with Australasian Grass Owls but did see a Eastern Barn Owl in the place were the Australasian Grass Owl was recently seen. Edwin Vella and Tony Dawe
	Brahminy Kite, Black Falcon, Little Eagle, Black Kite, Spotted Harrier (14 raptor species) Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve We had 11 species within the first 2 hours of the morning and added another 3 species to a total count of 14 raptor species by noon and all in Hexham Swamp NR! Best of all was an adult Brahminy Kite (our only 2nd sighting in the Hunter estuary) but at least one Black Falcon, Little Eagle, Spotted Harrier and a good number of Black Kites were also of note. Raptor species seen and numbers observed included the following: Collared Sparrowhawk (1), Brown Goshawk (1), Swamp Harrier (8+), Spotted Harrier (1), Black Kite (25+), Whistling Kite (10+), Brahminy Kite (1), Little Eagle (1), White-bellied Sea-eagle (6), Wedge-tailed Eagle (1), Black Falcon (1), Brown Falcon (1), Nankeen Kestrel (1), Australian Hobby (1) Edwin Vella and Tony Dawe
	Black Kite Levenstrath Rd Levenstrath nr Grafton 12.30pm. Two Black Kites on fence near road. Warren Thompson
	Tawny Frogmouth Vaucluse House gardens Sitting in open over the stream at the southern end of the gardens __late morning. Marie Lister
	Hooded Plover Burrill Lake Estuary There were 4 Hooded Plovers on the sand spit at the entrance to the Lake Burrill Estuary. Roger Williams
	Grey Currawong Bundanoon One Grey Currawong heard in the centre of town for the first time since I moved in almost three years ago. Lorne Johnson
	Australian Shelduck Werai 2 Australian Shelduck in a paddock where Yarrawa Rd meets Nowra Rd. They are seldom seen in the Southern Highlands. Lorne Johnson
	Eastern Osprey Warden Head, Ulladulla A male Osprey was seen flying in and around the head this morning at app 11-30 am. This is the first Osprey I've seen for a year or so in this area after an unsuccessful breeding attempt here over 3 years ago. Bob Rusk
	Magpie Goose Moruya 10' Cell Flock (over 10 birds) of Magpie Geese observed in the paddock on the Corner of South Heads Road and Princess Hwy, Moruya. Seen by my sister, Cath Taylor, and her husband and daughter. Megan Griffith
	Stubble Quail, Golden Whistler, Tawny Grassbird Moree Common Two Stubble Quails were heard calling before being flushed out of grassland. This is the 2nd sighting at this site. 2 White-browed Scrubwrens were also observed which are rarely found at this site. A few immature Golden Whistlers are still present as well as a female. Tawny Grassbirds are still very noisy. Common Blackbirds are increasing, as several were heard singing. 3 Laughing Kookaburras were observed swooping a large Red bellied Black Snake. As the site wetland is drying, much less waterbirds are present, but thankfully neighbouring wetlands support a diversity of waterbirds, including 300 Pink-eared Ducks! Curtis Hayne
Fri 6 Sep	Scarlet Honeyeater Green Parade, Valley Heights, Blue Mountains NSW. Male Scarlet Honeyeater feeding on garden grevillea and flowering gum trees. Gerry Flanagan
	Buff-banded Rail Elanora Country Club (golf course), Elanora Heights Buff-banded Rail (1) Seen in scrubby road verge in Wilga St, It then ran into the golf course. Photo best I could do through the golf course fence Natalie Wood
	Spectacled Monarch Swans Crossing, Kendall, NSW 3 Spectacled Monarchs sighted in rainforest on the western side of the circuit track during our field trip today. Clive Meadows for Hastings Birdwatchers
	Latham's Snipe Ourimbah Two Latham's Snipes have safely arrived to small 'wetland' along my residential driveway as per at least four previous years. John Weigel
Wed 4 Sep	White-fronted Honeyeater, Black Honeyeater, Crested Bellbird Round Hill NR northern boundary The above were the highlights of a morning along the northern boundary of Round Hill NR. Other interesting sightings were several hundred White-browed Woodswallows, Spiny-cheeked, White-eared and Striped Honeyeaters and several male Splendid Fairy Wrens in full regalia. Wayne Gregson
	Pectoral Sandpiper Old Pioneer Dairy, Tuggerah, NSW Central Coast Group, Birding NSW outing to Tuggerah Wetlands. Close views were had of 1 Pectoral Sandpiper at the Old Pioneer Dairy's main lagoon. Group members were able to observe it in relation to other slightly smaller Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in the vicinity Jillian Nolan, John Carpenter, Steven Merrett
	Black Kite Levenstrath rd., Levenstrath nr Grafton. NSW 10.30am. 50 plus Black Kites over recently burnt pasture land. Warren Thompson
	Fluttering Shearwaters; Northern Giant-Petrel Warden Head, Ulladulla Many thousands of Fluttering Shearwaters were seen as far as could be seen from north to south, off the heads this afternoon. All flying south, assisted by a strong NE wind along with Albatrosses and a Nthrn Giant-Petrel. The evidence of large numbers of shoals of bait fish and spent Cuttlefish seen off the heads lately are probably a big factor in these numbers being seen. Bob Rusk
	Australasian Bittern, Lewin's Rail, King Quail, White-winged Triller Ash Island Single Australasian Bittern seen in the pond at the far eastern end of Bell Frog Track this morning. Lewin's Rail calling incessantly near the intersection of Bell Frog Track and Wagtail Way, with a few Spotless Crakes calling in the vicinity. 3 Chestnut-breasted Mannikins also at the intersection. A male White-winged Triller was seen feeding on insects perched in a she-oak to the north of Bell Frog Track. Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo was another returning migrant, as was a lone Latham's Snipe north of Dead Mangrove Creek. Earlier, a King Quail was heard calling from grassland on the edge of Milham's Pond. Great to see a 'return to form' for Ash Island! Mick Roderick
	Red-browed Treecreeper, Bell Miner, Rockwarbler, Spotted Quail-thrush 34 26S 150 27E 1' Cell Walked the Red Track which heads west along the Nattai River from the Mittagong Swimming Pool. The area approx 2 km from the pool was prolific with birds calling. The Bell Miner colony has been in this are area for some time. 2 Red-browed and 2 White-throated treecreepers in adjacent trees. 2 Rockwarblers, 1 Spotted Quail-thrush. Terry Dunlea
	Yellow-faced Honeyeater Oakhurst, western Sydney A group of 50+ Yellow-faced Honeyeaters flew past my house today in a north-south, direction. Earlier this morning, 10-15 flew from trees over my local park due to a disturbance (not normally present, presumably resting migrants). A small group (c20) were also heard twittering overhead yesterday. It appears their spring migration is well underway. Mark Fuller
Tue 3 Sep	Sacred Kingfisher Royal National Park (Bonnie Vale Campground) 2 Sacred Kingfishers observed on a powerline that is present within the camping ground. Neither were calling and both were being harassed by Noisy Miners. Nice to see the migrants start to return. Deryk Engel
Tue 3 Sep	Latham's Snipe, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Australian Shelduck, White-winged Fairywren disused sewage ponds on the outskirts of Lake Cargelligo Some 35 species recorded at this site during several visits 3-5 Sept. Others of interest included Gull-billed Terns, Glossy Ibis, Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterel, Baillon's and Australian Spotted Crakes, Black-tailed Native Hen, Variegated Fairywren, White-breasted Woodswallow and Little Grassbird. Wayne Gregson
	Painted Buttonquail, Rainbow Bee-eater Southgate State Forest Painted Buttonquail (2) Rainbow Bee-eater (3+) Greg & Val Clancy, Russell Jago, Warren Thompson
	Black-necked Stork, Brolga Imesons Swamp, Lawrence Black-necked Stork (1) adult male foraging Brolga (2) Greg & Val Clancy, Russell Jago, Warren Thompson
	Hoary-headed Grebe, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Red-kneed Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel, Comb-creste Bunyip Creek, Trenayr Hoary-headed Grebe (1) Yellow-billed Spoonbill (4) Red-kneed Dotterel (2) Black-fronted Dotterel (4) Comb-crested Jacana (1) Latham's Snipe (1) Greg & Val Clancy, Russell Jago, Warren Thompson
	Freckled Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Pink-eared Duck Lawrence Egret Colony Freckled Duck (56). Photos taken. Australasian Shoveler 1 adult male with possibly second bird present. Pink-eared Duck - 1,000+ - largest local count ever. Greg & Val Clancy, Russell Jago, Warren Thompson
	Latham's Snipe Clarrie Hall Dam, south of Uki, northern NSW. A single Latham's Snipe observed foraging on exposed mud at margins of lake. David Charley
	Black-browed Albatross & White-fronted Terns Warden Head, Ulladulla Rafts of Albatrosses were seen settled a kilometre off the head at app. 4 pm this afternoon. This is a regular event at this time of year for these birds, the birds which could be ID'd were mainly Black-browed Albatross. Over 100 were counted but more Albatrosses could be seen flying well off shore. Good numbers, around 30, of White-fronted Terns have been regularly sighted along this part of the coast for over a week now. Bob Rusk
	Black Kite Tweed Coast Rd, Cudgen 45 birds over paddocks beside the road. No obvious reason for the aggregation. They dispersed after ten minutes of observation. Rob Morrow
Mon 2 Sep	Brolga, Square-tailed Kite West of Coraki, northern NSW 2 Brolga observed flying over road and later foraging in recently harvested sugar cane paddock. Single Square-tailed Kite observed flying/hunting? through patches of Forest Red Gum paddock trees. Large number of lorikeet, Galah and Little Corella present and nesting in these trees. David Charley
	Letter-winged Kite North of Deniliquin Single Letter-winged Kite on power lines on Warwilla Road. Warwilla Road is approximately mid way between Wanganella and Boorooban. Robert Nevinson
	Australasian Grass-Owl, King Quail Bellfrog Track, Ash Island, Newcastle Single Grass Owl seen to fly past 5 times between 6.15 pm and 8pm near the corner of Bellfrog Track and Wagtail Way. One King Quail heard calling from reeds and tall grass near corner of Bellfrog Track and Wagtail Way. Also recorded: 2 Spotted Crake, 1 Nankeen Night Heron, 40+ Gull-billed Tern. Michael Kearns and Steven Edwards
	Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Pacific Baza, Whistling Kite, White-breasted Woodswallow Coutts Crossing SW of South Grafton Yellow-billed Spoonbill (7) at Deadmans Swamp Pacific Baza (1) in eucalypts in village Whistling Kite (1) being attacked by Australian Magpie 7 White-breasted Woodswallows mobbing Whistling Kite at Brothersons Swamp, first record of returning migrant. Greg Clancy
	Grey Goshawk Murwillumbah, private property on Dulguigan Rd 2 Black-shouldered Kites, 2 Grey Goshawks, 1 White-bellied Sea-Eagle, 21 Black Kites (cane fires), 2 Whistling Kites, Eastern Rosella, Pale-headed Rosella, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-Thrush, 2 Restless Flycatchers, 4 White-throated Gerygones. I think the Grey Goshawks are nesting there because they were sitting near a nest for a lot of the day. Funny that the Grey Goshawks kind of sound like a Spangled Drongo. Jed Knight
	Australian King-Parrot McMahons Point Sighted a family group of Australian King-Parrots (3 or 4) flying low at the Blues Point Deli and down Blues Point Rd towards the fig trees at the Reserve. My last Australian King-Parrot sighting in the area was in the next suburb (Waverton) around Christmas 2012. Rafael Wynn
Sun 1 Sep	Western Gerygone, Australian Reed-Warbler, Zebra Finch, Rufous Whistler, hybrid rosella Burrumbuttock, 36 km NW of Albury Noteworthy birds in the township are Western Gerygone and Australian Reed-Warbler (both heard for the first time this season 02 September), Zebra Finch (heard for the first time 01 September) and Rufous Whistler (male heard calling 26 August). Also, I observed a parrot at close range that exhibited intermediate plumage between eximius and elegans, perched within a cedar in the grounds of Burrumbuttock Public School on Howlong Road. The blue cheeked in this area are quite variable, ranging from true Platycercus elegans flaveolus (Yellow Rosella) to almost pure Platycercus elegans elegans (Crimson Rosella), plus plenty of intermediates that look like Adelaide Rosellas. This bird had a green back with black stripes and a pale cheek, but an otherwise red upper body, and was noticeably larger than an Eastern Rosella. Will try to take photographs if seen again. David M Watson
	Spectacled Monarch Boggy Creek, Bellingen (near Coffs Harbour) Spectacled Monarch at Boggy Creek - the first here for the season. Brian Hawkins
	Spotted Harrier Richmond Lowlands Saw 1 Spotted Harrier, 1 Swamp Harrier and 2 Whistling Kites Tony Dawe
	Varied Triller, Rainbow Bee-eater, Crested Shrike-Tit, Regent Bowerbird Racecourse Headland, Goolawah National Park A Varied Triller and several Rainbow Bee-eaters were present on the first day of spring near Racecourse Headland, south of Crescent Head. A Crested Shrike-Tit and two adult male Regent Bowerbirds also present. Tim Morris
	Spotless Crake Warriewood Wetlands Swamp Forest Walk about 20m north of main lake on western side David Potter
	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
Sat 31 Aug	Pheasant Coucal, Rainbow Bee-eater Coutts Crossing SW of South Grafton Pheasant Coucal (1) roadkill Rainbow Bee-eater heard calling. First record this site this season. Greg Clancy
	Bluebonnet Jindalee National Park Two Bluebonnets seen on western edge of Jindalee NP near Cootamundra. Flew west after briefly perching in a dead tree when we were walking along the Cypress Trail. Marnix Zwankhuizen
	Cotton Pygmy-Goose (subject to submission to NSW ORAC), Latham's Snipe Lake Harrison, Kyogle 1 Male Pygmy-Goose found after some looking. Towards the back of the lake using telescope. [Moderator's note: Another confirmation of the male Cotton Pygmy-Goose. Only the fifth in NSW since 2007 according to Birdline NSW. Sightings of Cotton Pygmy-Geese should be submitted to NSW ORAC.] Mike Kuhl
Fri 30 Aug	Little Shearwater Balls Pyramid 10' Cell Highlight of a trip to Balls Pyramid (Lord Howe Island) were 11 Little Shearwaters, most birds were seen 4 miles from the pyramid on top of the shelf. Also seen were the first Flesh-footed Shearwaters for the season and the expected seabirds for this time of the year. Robert Hynson
Thu 29 Aug	Southern Whiteface Sturt National Park 4 SWF encountered about 15 km east of Tibooburra on the loop Road. Tim Mckellar and Tom Fletcher
Wed 28 Aug	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. Update (08/09/2013): In the meantime a photograph of the initial bird (#192907; 27/08/2013) was uploaded. The photo shows a male Cotton Pygmy-Goose, too; not a female as initially reported. So maybe there is/was only one male present in the area. Sightings of Cotton Pygmy-Geese should be submitted to NSW ORAC.] Hans Wohlmuth
Tue 27 Aug	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). The bird on the photograph, however, appears to be a male Cotton Pygmy-Goose - not a female.] Richard & Margaret Alcorn
Mon 26 Aug	Gibber Chat Sturt National Park Driving from Camerons Corner to Tiboburra we encountered 4 Gibber Chat and 4 Orange Chat about 20 km from Tibooburra. Very dry conditions. The photo shows 2 Orange Chat and a Gibber Chat in the background. Tim Mckellar and Tom Fletcher

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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