Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales

Published sightings for the week ending 1 Dec 2013.

Sun 1 Dec	Brown and Rufous Songlark, White-browed Woodswallow Riverstone Had a good few hours this morning at Riverstone with 90 species in less than 4 hours. There were still all 13 species of honeyeaters reported last weekend at the end of Marsden Rd with still plenty of mistletoe in flower. Other interesting birds at Riverstone included both Brown and Rufous Songlarks, a number of White-winged Trillers, 2 male Leaden Flycatchers, a Rufous Fantail, 3 White-browed Woodswallows feeding in the mistletoes with the honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallows, Pallid Cuckoo etc. Edwin Vella
	Pacific Baza and Dead Shearwater Irrawong Reserve Perfect views (within 4m) of a Pacific Baza preening in a tree 50m in from the Garden St entrance. Perfect views (within 0.5m) of a rotting Shearwater on the forest floor just after the first boardwalk. Peter Diegutis
	White-throated Needletail Timallallie National Park Since reports of White-throated Needletails in inland NSW have been rare this season, it may be worth noting that we have had at least 3 independent sightings in the Pilliga scrub today. First above the Newell Highway, about 30 km south of Narrabri, at 8:15, then at Salt Caves Dam (Timallallie NP) at 16:45, then about 5 km north of Salt Caves Dam (still in Timallallie NP) at 17:15 (photos) and once more above the Newell Highway, about 30 km south of Narrabri, at 18:30. Counts were not possible due to restricted fields of vision in the scrub. Michael Dahlem, Curtis Hayne
	Australian Painted-Snipe, Wood Sandpiper Lake Cowal 1 male Australian Painted-Snipe was seen this morning in amongst 100s of Red-kneed Dotterels and Black-tailed Native-hens. There are miles of mudflats around the shoreline now but the lake is still quite big. There were 100s of Whiskered Terns and one lone Wood Sandpiper. Site was at the public access reserve about 10 km West of the gold mine on the Sth shore. If you visit make sure you have gumboots. Warren Chad
	White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brown Goshawk, Southern Boobook Glebe, Sydney Southern Boobook (1) First I have seen here. Landed in a tree outside my house at around 8:15pm. I briefly got a weak torch on it before Pied Currawongs mobbed it. Haven't heard it call. White-bellied Sea-Eagle (1 - photographed) Immature bird flying low over house. Gradually rose heading north west. Appeared to come from over the city. Brown Goshawk (1 - female). Simon Gorta
Sat 30 Nov	Lesser Sand-Plover, Sanderling, Red Knot, Caspian Tern Long Reef Aquatic Reserve A good selection of shorebirds was seen including a Lesser Sand-Plover, 12 Pacific Golden-Plovers, 3-4 Sanderling, c100 Red-necked Stints, 2 Red Knot, 2 Grey-tailed Tattler, c12 Ruddy Turnstone, 3 Sooty Oystercatchers and a Caspian Tern Edwin Vella and Mark Fuller
	Common Cicadabird Bundanoon One Common Cicadabird heard near home early this morning. For some reason, it's been many, many years since I've heard/seen one. My first Southern Highlands record. Bird 161 for town. Lorne Johnson
	Fork-tailed Swift M1 Motorway, Warnervale At about 945am there was a flock of 8 Fork-tailed Swifts hawking low over the motorway just south of the twin service stations on the edge of Porters Creek Wetland. Nick Carson
	Little Tern Burrill Lake Estuary Eight Little Terns were seen inspecting the sand spit where Little Terns attempted to breed last year. Unfortunately this smallish sand spit has eroded to 1/5 th of its original size since last year so we don't hold much hope for any breeding attempts. Besides all the usual suspects there were 2 Common Terns and a single Red-necked Stint. Bob Rusk
	Pacific Baza, Peregrine Falcon & Whistling kite Spencer Wharf The CCGBNSW Monthly outing to Spencer and Dharug, met this morning at the Spencer Wharf at 8.30 am, where opposite the wharf, a pair of Pacific Bazas were found nesting in a clump of mistletoe in a Liquid Amber Tree. Also seen at this spot was a pair of Peregrine Falcons and a pair of Whistling Kites Alan Morris and 24 members CCGBNSW
	Freckled Duck Louth Park, Maitland 23 Freckled Duck opposite the Dagworth Road turnoff on Louth Park Road. Grant Brosie
	Pheasant Coucal, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Mehi River, Moree West (behind Moree Golf Course) The Pheasant Coucal that was reported on 17 November was still present today, but only heard calling again. It was still in dense vegetation along the Mehi River at the west side of town, behind the Golf Course. Still yet to see one. The small resident flock of Chestnut-breasted Mannikins that have been present for most of the year are still again present, feeding in rank grasses along the riverbank, their number has risen to about 10 birds. Curtis Hayne
	Brush Cuckoo, Rainbow Bee-eater, Little Friarbird Sackville Reach (St Thomas Cemetery) A quick roadside stop in search of Regent Bowerbirds, which were in Sackville in the early 1980s. Brush Cuckoo: several calling and perched on overhead wires. Rainbow Bee-eater (2): a pair foraging from overhead wires. Little Friarbird: a small flock passed through David James
Fri 29 Nov	Plum-headed Finch Lake Cargelligo STW Late in the afternoon there were still 6 adult Plum-headed Finches just inside the gate on the left in boxthorns, Breeding Budgerigars were evident along with Baillon's and Spotless Crakes, 50+ Black-tailed Native-hen, Freckled Duck,Whiskered Terns, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Red-necked Avocets. Starting to get busy around the ponds as the surrounding area dries out and a few mudflats start to appear. Warren Chad
	Channel-billed Cuckoo Anzac pde Chifley. Long Bay Gaol. There have been a group of about 7 feeding in the fig trees on the road island. They turned up about a week ago, I have lived here for 35 years and have never seen them before. [Moderator's note (NH): CBC is a very common species in Sydney, however, 7 together is a good number.] Sandra Taylor
	Freckled Duck, Australasian Bittern, Australian Crake, Crested Shrike-tit Pitt Town Lagoon It was just a quick visit and with guests we did not venture far due to the high water levels and inundated ground. No evident wader habitat. Freckled Duck (2) Seen from Lagoon Rd, Australasian Bittern (2) 2 calling but not seen, Australian Crake (2) calling, Crested Shrike-tit (1) female plumaged birds in the Phragmites reeds was surprising David James
	Eastern Ground Parrot Barren Grounds Nature Reserve Eastern Ground Parrot (1) on the path to the right of the main track 150 meters past the weather station Robert Hynson
	Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Narrabri 2 Scaly-breasted Lorikeets seen and heard calling around 9 this morning near the Tourist Village (Narrabri Creek bridge). My first sighting of the species in Narrabri. Michael Dahlem
Thu 28 Nov	Black-bellied Storm-petrel Birdie Beach, Munmorah State Conservation Area, Central Coast As I was idly checking out the numerous carcasses of dead Short-tailed Shearwaters on Birdie beach, one caught my eye. It looked to me like a Black-bellied Storm-Petrel. I photographed the bird and took some rough measurements. As the measurements appeared to match that of a BBSP, I returned to the beach late this afternoon today armed with a pair of callipers and a ruler and took as many measurements as I could: Wing 168mm, Bill 15.5 mm, tail 79mm, midtoe and claw 29 mm, tarsus 42.5 mm. They fit a Black-bellied Storm-petrel. The carcass was dried out and full of sand but you can see some features and the feet are all black and slightly extend beyond the tail. There was a broad area of white under the wing and a white rump. Alan Morris
	Brush Cuckoo, Varied Sittella, Beautiful Firetail Royal National Park (Lady Carrington Drive) Brush Cuckoo quite a few calling and 2 seen well, Varied Sittella (2) collecting spider webs for nest, Beautiful Firetail (1) single bird outside nest David James
	Curlew Sandpiper, Latham's Snipe, Baillon's Crake Spring Creek Reservoir, Orange 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Latham's Snipe, Baillon's Crake feeding on exposed mud on edge of cumbungi late in the afternoon. Neville Schrader
	White throated Needletail Warrimoo One appeared from the south followed by groups of two to four to become a wheeling flock of over 20 between 16.30 and 16.55. Weather was sultry, over 34 degrees and a light southerly change was on its way. Paul Lester
	Brown Honeyeater, Australian Spotted, Spotless and Baillon's Crakes Junee Wetlands Several Brown Honeyeater were seen at the Junee Wetlands. The water level at the wetland is also perfect for crakes and rails at the moment, with large numbers of Australian Spotted, Spotless and Baillon's all seen feeding in the open within moment of arriving. Other birds here included Latham's Snipe and Spotted Harrier. Tim Dolby
Wed 27 Nov	Marbled Frogmouth, Powerful Owl, Paradise Riflebird, Little Shrike-thrush Nightcap National Park (Whian Whian) We camped at Rummery Park for two nights and recorded some excellent birds, the highlight of which was seeing one, and hearing at least two additional Marbled Frogmouths in the creekline that runs through the camp area. A Powerful Owl was also heard here on both nights. Other nice birds around the camp included a female Paradise Riflebird, and a Little Shrike-thrush seen well on two occasions. Ashwin Rudder and Max Breckenridge
	Eastern Osprey, Musk Lorikeet Burns Bay Reserve, Riverview Pair of Eastern Osprey got chased by Masked Lapwings and Australian Magpies this afternoon. Also heard a few Musk Lorikeets flying around. Fatih Sam
	Baillon's Crake, Hoary-headed Grebe, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-necked Avocet Sydney Olympic Park Hoary-headed Grebe (5), Glossy Ibis (1), Baillon's Crake (1), Red-necked Avocet (50), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (70), Musk Lorikeet (4) Dion Hobcroft
	Wandering Tattler Flat Rock, Skennars Head A single Wandering Tattler observed foraging on the rocks among a hundred or two of terns and a few Red-necked Stints, Ruddy Turnstones and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. A lot of beachcast Short-tailed Shearwaters, but all were long dead. Ashwin Rudder and Max Breckenridge
Tue 26 Nov	Pacific Baza Glenbrook Lagoon I was on the lagoon in a canoe surveying aquatic vegetation. Rather few waterbirds, perhaps due to recent herbicide treatment to eradicate Cabomba Weed and a consequent increase in BOD. Pacific Baza 4 sightings in 2 days (26th and 27th) perhaps indicates a resident or temporary resident bird or pair nearby David James
	Shy Albatross, Black-browed Albatross Whites Head, Lennox Head Highlight of a sea watch this afternoon were a Shy Albatross and a Black-browed Albatross. michael ronan.
	White-throated Needletail Pokolbin, Upper Hunter 20 White-throated Needletails in a loose flock high above the vines of Tintilla Estate in Upper Hunter. [Moderator's note (NH): Given the paucity of reported sightings, we will publish some. Prof. Mike Tarburton works with swifts. It would be highty appreciated if observers could send their sightings directly to him: Andrew Taylor
Mon 25 Nov	Grey Plover Red Rock Creek estuary near Corindi A single Grey Pover has been present at the estuary since 4 November. Russell Jago per Alan Morris
	Superb Parrot TAFE Rural Studies Forest Road Orange Single male Superb Parrot feeding on acacia pods at head height. Checked for others but only found Eastern Rosellas on the grass nearby or Crimson Rosellas and Galahs in the trees. About eight Musk Lorikeets in flowering eucalyptus at Orange Botanic Gardens. Rae Lister
	Ring-necked Pheasant Albion Park Wollongong Female with two chicks (nearly adult size but with short tails) crossed the road on the way to Wollongong just after on the Albion Park outskirts. [Moderator's note (NH): Ring-necked Pheasant has not been reported in NSW, so this record of successful breeding of this introduced species is certainly of interest. Thanksgiving is coming up soon...] [Update (NH): Stephen Gallivan just told me, that some 15 years ago he observed a healthy population of Ring-necked Pheasants on Bowen Island, Jervis Bay. It would be interesting to find out if this population is still around and thriving.] Ted Wnorowski
	Grey Goshawk, Large-billed Scrubren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren Fitzroy Falls Morton National Park A short visit to the falls. Grey Goshawk caught a Satin Bowerbird fledgling but was attacked by 3 Pied Currawongs and lost it. The wounded chick was hiding under the branches of fallen tree and all 4 birds were trying to get it. I left them when they were still trying. Other birds on the East Wild Flower Track - Large-billed Scrubwren, Yelow-throated Scrubwren. Fitzroy Dam - Great Crested Grebe (5), Musk Duck (2 males) Ted Wnorowski
	Pilotbird, Rockwarbler, Crescent Honeyeater, Black-faced Monarch, Gang-gang Cockatoo Morton National Park (Bundanoon Sector) Good afternoon birding even in bad weather. Pilotbird at Erith Coal Mine track. Crescent Hneyeater was calling at the Echo Point Carpark. Three Rockwarblers on the rocky outcrops on the way to Beachamps Cliffs. Other intersting birds: Gang-gang Cockatoo (1 male), Wonga Pigeon, Peregrine Falcon, Black-faced Monarch and plenty of Superb Lyrebirds constantly calling. Ted Wnorowski
	Black-breasted Buttonquail (Subject to submission to NSW ORAC), White-eared Monarch, Noisy Pitta Mallanganee National Park, 35 km west of Casino 3 Black-breasted Buttonquail (2 females and 1 male, all adult birds) early this morning in Mallanganee National Park. Also 2 White-eared Monarchs and large numbers of Noisy Pittas. [Moderator's note (NH): BBBQ is listed as Critically Endangered in NSW (Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW), September 2013). In NE-NSW, BBBQ is restricted to the Northern Rivers and Tablelands (Marchant & Higgins 1993). There have been only 10 confirmed records from NSW in the past 20 odd years, all from six areas in the far north-east (Garnett & Crowley 2000; Milledge & McKinley 1998). In NSW the species is found as far south as the Walcha-Yarrowitch area and near Dorrigo (Smyth & Young 1996). BBBQ should be submitted to NSW ORAC] [Update (NH): Martin Schulz just told us that between 1993 and 1998 he regularly encountered the BBBQ and feeding signs in Mallanganee NP] michael ronan.
	Common Koel Hill Street Parkes Very surprised to hear what I thought were two Koels calling while working in Hill Street this morning. It was confirmed about half an hour later when a female Koel flew directly overhead. Would not have thought these birds would be this far West Warren Chad
	Scarlet Honeyeater River Road, Bathurst Heard, and very soon after seen, in garden, calling from wattle next to flowering bottlebrush - which might be what attracted him in the first place. Haven't seen them here before and there aren't many records in the region, so I was pretty excited... Tiffany Mason
Sun 24 Nov	Freckled Duck, Plum-headed Finch Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee One Freckled Duck seen easily. Brief view of a single Plum-headed Finch from the hide. Elisabeth Karplus
	Eastern Osprey Long Reef Aquatic Reserve We both saw a female osprey dive after high tide three times into shallows out over rock platforms. After unsuccessfully trying, she returned a few minutes later for a victory lap of the reef from Fisherman's Beach with a big fat Luderick (Girella tricuspidata) in her talons and flew right in front of me. She is probably the Narrabeen female. There were at least 100 Red-necked Stints, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 20+ Pacific Golden Plovers, 20+ Ruddy Turnstones, 4 Sooty Oystercatchers, 2 Grey-tailed Tattlers, 8-10 Sanderlings, 1 Caspian Tern, 20+ Crested Terns, 3 Common Terns and two incredibly "tame" Bar-tailed Godwits, which allowed an approach of within 6 meters while on my knees. I was able to take some super close-ups of them snoozing and of their feathers with my 1,400mm lens. Bumped into Greg (McLachlan?) who said there was a Beach-stone Curlew the day before, but we had no idea. It is quite amazing how ignorant the general public were at high tide with the shorebirds trying to roost on a small finger of sand with people, surfers all walking straight at them sending them off even though I was laying on the sand about 8 meters away in plain view of the walkers. (will add more files to web gallery as I get time) Ákos Lumnitzer and Chris Martinez
	Freckled Duck, Plumed Whistling-Duck, Pink-eared Duck Barnett,s Lagoon 3km west of Gladstone on South West Rocks- Kempsey Rd The lagoon is full of water at the moment, so no waders. There were 34 Freckled Ducks, 54 Plumed Whistling-Ducks and 2 Pink-eared Ducks. Also Black Swans, Pacific Black Ducks, 200+ Chestnut Teal, Australasian Grebes, Royal and Yellow-billed Spoonbills, Red-kneed Dotterels. Allen Hamilton
	Fuscous and White-cheeked Honeyeaters, Black-faced Monarch Riverstone Early morning around Riverstone about 85 species within 3 hours. There were 13 species of honeyeater at the end of Marsden Lane attracted to lots of flowering mistletoe - Red and Little Wattlebirds, Noisy Friarbird, Noisy and Bell Miners, Eastern Spinebills as well as Brown-headed, Yellow-faced, White-plumed, Fuscous, White-cheeked, New Holland and Scarlet Honeyeaters. Other interesting birds in the area included Fan-tailed and Pallid Cuckoos, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, White-winged Triller, Rufous Songlark, Dollarbird, Sacred and Azure Kingfishers, Black-faced Monarchs, White-throated Gerygones, Olive-backed Orioles, Crested Shrike-tit, Dusky Woodswallows, Black-winged Stilts, Spotless Crakes etc. Edwin Vella
	Black Bittern, Dollarbird, Double-barred Finch Nurragingy Reserve I spent morning birdwatching along Eastern Creek (area between Power St and Richmond Rd. Highlight - a single Black Bittern flushed from branches of Casuarina tree hanging over a little billabong (near the bridge near Richmond Rd). There was a mass influx of fledglings of many different species constantly begging for food (eg Long-billed Corrella with two chicks, Grey Bucherbird, Musk Lorikeet, Rose Robin feeding two chicks, Varied Sittella group trying to feed one chick, Red Wattlebird feeding a huge Koel chick on the ground). Other birds include: Dollarbird (2), Double-barred Finch (5 in grass near the track), Brown Quail (7), Nankeen Night Heron (3), Azure Kignfisher, Scarlet Honeyeater (4), Ted Wnorowski
	Swamp Harrier Bundanoon One Swamp Harrier being harassed by Little Ravens mid-afternoon at the end of Shangri la Rd. That's bird 160 for town. 2 immature Brown Falcons were also hunting Starlings at this spot. Lorne Johnson
	Great Cormorant Bundanoon township 2 Great Cormorants over the centre of Bundanoon was unexpected mid-morning. Lorne Johnson
	White-throated Needletail Warriewood Beach 5 birds seen hawking over the headland at about 7:30am. There was unusually little wind at ground level and no storm fronts visable. (Moderator's Note: I published this record because there appears to be few reports at present? AKM) Nathan Ruser
	Masked Booby,Gould's Petrel, Sooty Tern, Long-tailed Jaeger Port Stephens Pelagic A sub-adult Masked Booby (different to the Wollongong bird - this bird had a whiter head for example) was the highlight of the Port Stephens pelagic yesterday. This is only the 2nd confirmed record for the Hunter Region (the other being a beachcast bird from 1979). It hovered low over the boat and threatened to land on the roof of the canopy at one point. 2 Sooty Terns followed immediately and the booby and terns flew south together moments later. Also seen were 2 Gould's Petrels (as well as 2 Grey-faced and a late Solander's) and an unidentified 'Cookilaria' which was almost certainly a Cook's. 3 Long-tailed Jaegers, including one that fed at the rear of the boat for over an hour and 6 Shy-type Albatross rounded out a great day. Shearwater numbers were thus: Wedge-tailed (150), Short-tailed (400) and Flesh-footed (20). [Moderator's note (NH): The dark iris at this stage indicates that the Masked Booby is from Lord Howe or Norfolk Island - Sula dactylatra fullagari] Mick Roderick and others aboard the MV Argonaut
	Osprey Middle Creek, Narabeen. Driving past early Sunday morning I saw three birds on the nest tree. Two were Ospreys but I did not get a good enough look to confirm the third bird but I suspect it was an osprey too. It is understood that these birds were unsuccesful in breeding this year, can anyone advise? Nathan Ruser
	Grey Goshawk Murwillumbah, Private Property Mmale & female at the nest in which I presumed has chicks as I heard something calling in the nest that was a high pitched "chip chip". There were also many squeels but I have yet to see any chicks. Jed Knight
	Greenshank, Whiskered Tern and Freckled Ducks Eastlakes Golf Course This evening a Greenshank flushed on the main lake was only my second record here, a roosting Whiskered Tern was next to it and also unexpected. The two Freckled Ducks still in the sames spot as reported on 21.11.13. David Mitford
	Pied Oystercatcher Picnic Point, Mimosa Rocks National Park, far south coast of NSW. Single bird on beach. Tagged, metal tag on right leg & yellow plastic tag on left leg. (Moderator's Note: This bird was banded as a chick at Jerusalem Ck, near Iluka 20/10/2006, and subsequently sighted at Botany bay 13/9/08 and Stockton Beach 16/07/09-AKM) Mal Earnshaw
Sat 23 Nov	White-throated Needletail Glenbrook Gorge Saw approximately 20 birds down low at around 19:30 hours hawking. A storm was approaching from the NW. Ákos Lumnitzer and Chris Martinez
	Banded Lapwings Conrnwallis At the Windsor end of Cronwallis Rd, there were 11 Banded Lapwings including 4 chicks with one of the adults carrying all 4 under its wings at one time (see attached pic). Edwin Vella and David Walker
	White-throated Needletail Cornwallis, corner Cupitts Lane/Cornwallis Road about 50 seen over the turf farms off Cornwallis Rd. Edwin Vella and David Walker
	Dollarbird Meadowbank, Ryde Riverside Park (near Parramatta River) Dollarbirds (7) were perching on treetops or hawking for insects along Parrramatta River. I've never seen so many dollarbirds in this location. Two White-bellied Sea-eagles were also seen soaring over the river. Ted Wnorowski
	Spotted Harrier Tumbulgum, Murwillumbah It was about 2km past Tumbulgum. There was 1 but I have seen him in the same area before. The Spotted Harrier has been seen along side a nest in a big tree vbut not actually in the nest, although nesting is expected to be taking place. I plan to return to confirm the nesting. Jed Knight
	Masked Booby, Black Petrels Wollongong Pelagic A sub-adult Masked Booby and 5 Black Petrels were the highlight of the November Wollongong pelagic. Other sightings included 15+ Wandering Albatrosses (at least 2 exulans), along with 30+ Black-browed and Campbell, 30+ Shy and White-capped Albatrosses, 35+ Grey-faced Petrels, 1 Wilsons and 1 White-faced Storm-petrel. Short-tailed Shearwater numbers were still abnormally high (350+) with extremely low numbers of Wedge-tailed (35) and Flesh-footed (2). [Moderator's note (NH): The dark iris at this stage indicates that the Masked Booby is from Lord Howe or Norfolk Island - Sula dactylatra fullagari] Brook Whylie
Wed 13 Nov	Crested Shrike-tit and Diamond Firetail Glen Davis Camping Area Many species photographed, including a first for me: Crested Shrike-tit (twice). Also seen 2 Diamond Firetails and a fascinating hiding routine of a young Brown Falcon. . Ken Glasson
Sat 9 Nov	Oriental Plover Sydney Airport The last confirmed sighting of the 6 Oriental Plovers at Sydney Airport was the 9/11/13. They were observed by a colleague of mine flying east towards the Port Botany/Penrhyn Estruary site. [Moderator's note (NH): There has been an influx of multiple Oriental Plovers to multiple sites in NSW, QLD and throughout the continent this season. Here a summary of the Sydney Airport sightings: 16-23/10/2013: 4 Oriental Plovers; 24/10-09/11/2013: 6 Oriental Plovers; Nigel is currently preparing a report of the Sydney Airport Oriental Plovers for NSW ORAC with plenty of supporting photographs and video footage!] Nigel Coghlan

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