Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales

Published sightings for the week ending 8 Dec 2013.

Sun 8 Dec	Speckled Warbler Razorback NSW (Spring Creek Road) Two Speckled Warblers seen in woodland off Spring Creek Road, Razorback - about 6 km from Burragorang Road. Michael Paul
	Australian Little Bittern Deniliquin A pair of Australian Little Bitterns recorded in a lagoon in Deniliquin. The male is showing a flush of red to the face, indicating he's coming in to breeding condition. Philip Maher, Robert Nevinson and PW Weekend group
Sat 7 Dec	Cattle Egret Moree Common A single Cattle Egret in breeding plumage was observed flying over scrub. This is the first sighting of the species for this site, in over a decade of monthly surveys. They are also uncommon in the whole area, possibly the first for the township. Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines
Sat 7 Dec	Plains-wanderer, Little Curlew North of Wanganella A total of nine plains-wanderers seen on the Plains-wanderer Weekend, including one male with four chicks, a pair and two males. The Little Curlew also present. Philip Maher, Robert Nevinson and PW Weekend group
	White-winged Tern Ash Island (Wagtail Way) A single non-breeding White-winged (black) Tern observed foraging over Swan Pond on Ash Island. Some 150 Whiskered Terns observed foraging over a well-watered Hexham flood plain some 5 km to the west earlier in the afternoon, but the White-winged Tern was foraging at Swan Pond in absence of other terns. A single Red Knot and Marsh Sandpiper present with a spattering of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and good numbers of both Black-winged Stilts and Red-necked Avocets. Allan Richardson
	Powerful Owl Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney High in the fig near Government House. Michael Barton
	Square-tailed Kite Eastern Way, Killarney Vale A single adult Square-tailed kite was sailing close to the tree tops along Eastern Way , Killarney Vale. This is the 4th sighting in this area in the past 2 years, the last occasion was February 2013. The site is a moderately treed urban area, and is at leas 600m from any forested area. Alan Morris
	Black Bittern Tuggerah Creek, Central Coast Wetlands, Tuggerah During a walk along the "Greenfleet" section of Tuggerah Creek, in the Central Coast wetlands, an adult Black Bittern was flushed , and it landed at eye level on an overhanging branch. Other birds present along the Creek inclued Variegated Fairy-wrens, Dollarbird, Golden Whistler & Yellow-faced Honeyeaters. A Black Bittern was seen here previously in February 2013., Alan Morris & 6 others
	Freckled & Pink-eared Ducks, Latham's Snipe McPhersons Rd Swamp, Tuggerah Highlights of a mornings walk 9.30-11am at this wetland, were 18 Freckled Duck, 2 Pink-ears, 1 Black-tailed Native-hen, Whistling & Black-shouldered Kite, a Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (not previously recorded for this site), a Grey & a White Goshawk presumably in courtship display, 2 Latham's Snipe, a Yellow-billed Spoonbill and c. 7 Chestnut-breasted Mannikins. Alan Morris & 5 members of Follow That Bird
	Pheasant Coucal, Grey Goshawk Mehi River, Moree West (behind Moree Golf Course) Pheasant Coucal still present, only heard calling again. Still in dense vegetation along the Mehi River at the west side of town, behind the Golf Course. Still yet to see one. A Grey Goshawk was also observed which are quite rare for this time of year; also new for site. Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines
	Glossy Black-Cockatoo Erina Fair, Central Coast A small group of 4-5 Glossy Black-Cockatoos landed outside the mall opposite JB HI-FI, on one of the eucalypts right next to the foot bridge giving very good views. Both males and females were identified. Andrew Walker
	White-throated Needletail Warriewood At least 100 WTNTs hawking above Warriewood early Saturday morning. Difficult to estimate more precise numbers. Jon Spicer-Bell
Fri 6 Dec	Little Curlew (Subject to submission to NSW ORAC) North of Wanganella One Little Curlew recorded in association with the two Oriental Plovers previously reported and Banded Lapwings, Australian Pratincoles and Inland Dotterels. [Moderator's note (NH): Exciting! As with the Oriental Plovers, Little Curlews in NSW should be submitted to NSW ORAC] John Nevinson
	Shy Albatross, Black-browed Albatross north head manly Still good numbers of albatross of north head with about 35 Black-browed Albatross and 10 Shy Albatross in two and a half hours this afternoon. michael ronan.
Thu 5 Dec	Oriental Plover (Subject to submission to NSW ORAC) North of Wanganella Two Oriental Plovers recorded in the company of twenty Australian Pratincoles. The plovers were last recorded on the property in December 2008. [Moderator's note (NH): Yet another puzzle piece for this year's influx of this species! Sightings of Oriental Plovers in NSW should be submitted to NSW ORAC] Philip Maher, Robert Nevinson et al
Wed 4 Dec	White-winged Black Tern and Whiskered Tern Lake Rosendahl Reservoir, Port Macquarie Two terns were feeding on the reservoir during strong winds about 4.30 pm. One was a White-winged Black Tern in non-breeding plumage and the other was a Whiskered Tern in partial breeding plumage. Niether species are regular at this site. Alan Morris
Wed 4 Dec	Caspian, Gull-billed, Common and Crested Terns, Pied Oystercatchers Lake Cathie entrance Lake Cathie, south of Lake Macquarie, is currently open to the sea, and there was a big tide racing into the lake. Seen on the sanbar at the entrance to the Lake were 2 Caspian Terns, 2 Common Terns, 5 Gull-billed Terns, many Crested Terns and 8 Pied Oystercatchers. The number of Gull-billed Terns and Oystercatchesr were high for this site. Alan Morris
	Little Eagle Pacific Highway, Cowan One pale morph Little Eagle sitting on a dead rabbit north of old toll gates, Old Pacific Highway, Cowan at 7:15pm. [Moderator's note (NH): The German name for Little Eagle is Kaninchenadler = Rabbit Eagle, a bit sad that an Australian bird is named for an introduced mammal...] Paul Burcher
Tue 3 Dec	Olive Whistler Barrington Tops at 31 55 9S 151 30 53E Olive Whistler (1) male seen in Beech forest. Mark Ley
	Beach Stone-Curlew South Cabarita Beach, North Coast Tagged (#A2) Beach Stone-Curlew, feeding on surf beach early morning. Carol Easton
Mon 2 Dec	Regent Honeyeater Capertee Valley (Glen Alice Road) Birds were observed at several places along Glen Alice Road including the number 18 spot on the brochure [Tambo Rd junction] & number 12 on the brochure. Weather was sunny & becoming hot. Regent Honeyeater (3) Feeding in blossom near Tambo Rd. None were banded. Jenny Stiles
	Powerful Owl Corner of Prince Albert Rd and Hospital Rd, Sydney Powerful Owl (1) Seen roosting above the foot path. Plenty of droppings and pellets. Grant Brosie
	Barking Owl and Southern Boobook Lakeside Track, Narrabeen Lake A Barking Owl was calling and then sighted near the wooden bridge on the track. The Southern Boobook was closer to the Jamieson Park end of the track. Photo taken. Peter Kelly and Adrian Dick
	Magpie Goose, Plumed Whistling-Duck Dam NE of Coutts Crossing (former poultry farm) 67 Magpie Geese and 8 Plumed Whistling-Ducks in shallows and on edge of dam at 12:00 hrs Greg Clancy
Sun 1 Dec	Australian Little Bittern, Spotless Crake Byron Wetlands Single Australian Little Bittern flushed from reedbed close to path, good flying views obtained. Single Spotless Crake on nearby mud (Key needed to access site). Russ Lamb, Jo Wieneke
Sun 1 Dec	Great Knots, Eastern Osprey Penhryn Reserve off Foreshore Road Botany 7 Great Knots. Eastern Osprey nesting on a light tower at the end of Patrick's container terminal. Several Little Terns resting on the man made island and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits feeding with 13 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and 2 Red-capped Plovers Marie Lister, Chelsea and the CBOC birders
	Asian Dowitcher Comerong Island Nature Reserve Lots of waders still arriving, trying to keep track and ID them is a bit of a task as they all mingle in together. The Asian Dowitcher still has not been verified by BARC/NSWORAC, also a few Great Knots and the Beach Stone-Curlew are new arrivals this week, Little Terns, Common Terns, Caspian Terns, Crested Terns, Bar-tailed Godwits, Pacific Golden Plovers, Red-capped Plovers and Red-necked Stints, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Eastern Osprey and White-throated Needletail covers most of them. more pics on the IBOC facebook link Charles Dove & Ron Imisides
	Turquoise Parrot, Superb Parrot and Bluebonnet Back Yamma State Forest Over 20 Turquoise Parrots! Also a pair of Superb Parrots and a pair Bluebonnets. Lorand Szucs
	Plum-headed Finch (10+) Back Yamma State Forest Never seen this species at this site! Must have been a decent breeding season as almost every species was hanging around with their young! Here on the picture the Plum-headed Finches with some young Diamond Firetails. Lorand Szucs
	Musk Lorikeet Concord, Sydney Flocks of up to 35 around Cintra Park tennis courts. At least 50-60 birds present could be much higher. Also 3 Channel-billed Cuckoos, a Collared Sparrowhawk and a few Tree Martins, Eric Finley
	Pheasant Coucal Eulah Creek The Pheasant Coucal reported several weeks ago near the Bullawa Creek bridge, 15 km East of Narrabri (which I had not heard calling for quite a while), is still present. Called at 7:00 this morning from dense underbrush, possibly African Boxthorn. Michael Dahlem
	Little Woodswallow, White-throated Needletail Timallallie National Park (Salt Caves) Ca.15 White-throated Needletails were observed over Salt Caves Dam. 2 Little Woodswallows were also observed and heard calling repeatedly in the car park area where they were rather active. Masked & White-browed Woodswallows were also observed. A Jacky Winter was feeding young, a female Red-capped Robin was observed and heard calling, a male Hooded Robin flew through the scrub and many Eastern Yellow Robins were observed. A lone male Turquoise Parrot was observed at the dam. A Brown Falcon flew over (which was the only raptor seen through the whole Pilliga scrub). Curtis Hayne, Michael Dahlem
Thu 28 Nov	Noisy Pitta, Superb Lyrebird, Paradise Riflebird, Bassian Thrush Dorrigo National Park (Wonga Trail) Good views of single Bassian Thrush working its way through leaf litter on track, and of male Paradise Riflebird. Superb Lyrebird heard in gully below canopy walk, and Noisy Pitta heard near Glade picnic area Russ Lamb, Bob Cook
Thu 28 Nov	Black-necked Stork, Brolga 30 27S 152 59E 1' Cell Single adult Black-necked Stork on natural wetland with Brolga along North Bank Road. R.Lamb, M.Dam, B.&S.Cook
Tue 26 Nov	Ruff Jetty Beach, Coffs Harbour One Ruff seen for a few days with Bar-tailed Godwits Garth McGilvray per Geoff Ryan per Greg Clancy
Mon 25 Nov	White-throated Needletail Woolgoolga Large flock, min. 200, probably many more, between 0720 and 0845 on 29/11/13 over Woolgoolga Lake. All heading north in advance of storm front from south, most between 150-200m. Small number flying very low over water, looking like minature Short-tailed Shearwaters. R.Lamb, M.Dam, B.&S.Cook

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