Birdline New South Wales
Published sightings for the week ending 12 Jan 2014.
Sat 11 Jan Barking Owl Capertee Valley (Genowlan Bridge)
One Barking Owl roosting in River Oak, viewed from Genowlan Bridge
Mark Hocking
Black Swan, Red-necked Stint, Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone,
Grey-tailed Tattler Long Reef Aquatic Reserve
While 20 or so at Dee Why Lagoon was not surprising, a single adult Black Swan
floating 10 to 20 metres offshore on the south side of Long Reef for at least a
half hour in the heat of the early afternoon was most unusual. The bird seemed
in good health and not phased by the attention of many onshore. The tide was
very low and the swan was within 100 metres of good numbers of Red-necked
Stints (100+), Pacific Golden Plovers (20+), Ruddy Turnstones (20+) and two
Grey-tailed Tattlers. Also nice to see a pair of local lifesavers give marching
orders to a group of at least a dozen persons illegally collecting aquatic life
from the reef.
Cameron Ward
Australian Painted Snipe Wallsend (near Newcastle)
Made a brief visit to the wetland beside the new Bunnings store at Wallsend
(off Minmi Rd) seeing 3 Australian Painted Snipe, 2 Latham's Snipe, 3
Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 10 Black-fronted Dotterels and a Buff-banded Rail
feeding out in the open in the heat of the day.
Edwin Vella
Black Kite Lenaghan
From Lenaghan Drive at least 7 Black Kites with a few Whistling Kites amongst
them.
Edwin Vella
Ruff, Eastern Yellow Wagtail Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve
Saw a Ruff amongst the 1,000 plus Sharp-tailed Sandpipers as well as at least
50 Red-necked Stints, about 30 Marsh Sandpiper and about 5 Red-necked Avocet
amongst 100 or so Black-winged Stilts. Saw at least one Eastern Yellow Wagtail
on the track but very flighty! Also of interest were 40 Great Egrets foraging
together.
Edwin Vella et al
Pied Cormorant Spring Creek Reservoir, Orange
Pied Cormorant (1) - (Moderator's Note: Pied Cormorants are rarely reported on
the Orange District reservoirs of the Central Tablelands. AKM)
Neville Schrader (1702)
Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Peaceful Dove, Peregrine Falcon
Coorabakh National Park
Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brown Cuckoo-Dove & Peaceful Dove (4) all sighted in
farmland on Forest Drive just outside of Coorabakh NP heading towards Hannam
Vale. the Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-throated Scrubwren (2) & Rufous Fantail were
seen on Starrs Creek Boardwalk while the Black-faced Monarch was sighted at
Waitui Falls.
Danny Green
Fri 10 Jan White-browed Babbler, Brown Treecreeper and Speckled Warbler
Private property near Gowan, 40kms NW of Bathurst
Very excited to find a small group (probably 6 individuals) of White-browed
Babblers in a region almost devoid of any babbler species. They seemed to be
particularly fond of the Blackberry thickets, although native understorey was
present. The Brown Treecreepers (two adults and a juvenile) were close by, as
was a pair of Speckled Warblers.
Tiffany Mason
Australian Hobby Kiama
2 Australian Hobbies hunting insects by a row of pine trees on Terralong Street
mid-afternoon.
Lorne Johnson
Painted Honeyeater Billinudgel Nature Reserve
Male Painted Honeyeater feeding in eucalyptus on the northern side of the
Quarry Track. Deep pink beak, quite black upper parts, throat and belly all
white and yellow in the wing although I did not see as much yellow in the wing
as depicted in the illustrations. There were White-cheeked Honeyeaters and a
Varied Triller in the same trees.
Jan Olley
Little Eagle, White-throated Needletail Deriah Aboriginal Area
While out in the plains bird numbers are down, Deriah Aboriginal Area was busy
with all the usual species, and in good numbers. A young Little Eagle (no
parents in sight) stopped in a Currajong tree in dry woodland and a flock of
about 50 White-throated Needletails was seen above the woodland, circling in a
thermal.
Michael Dahlem
(Green-headed and Eastern) Yellow Wagtails Hexham Swamp
There are now at least 7 Yellow Wagtails at this site, including the one likely
taivana bird that was seen on Wed. A second bird this morning with a yellow
brow was seen and photographed but the identification of that bird is still
under discussion. I strongly suspect there are more than 7 birds as I
encountered them often by call while I was watching others and also found them
off the track in swampy habitat. There are 5 birds in the attached image (these
birds are very difficult to get close to!), with the taivana bird being the one
at the rear-middle.
Mick Roderick
Thu 9 Jan White-throated Needletail, Freckled Duck, Brolga, Swamp
Harrier, Marsh Sandpiper Gwydir Watercourse Wetlands
4 Rainbow Lorikeets (first for site & area) were observed, there was no
suitable habitat for them however. A White-throated Needletail was distantly
observed in flight (first for site & area). The overcast, humid conditions and
(dry) thunderstorms may have attracted this species. A Silver Gull was heard
calling (first for site). Although, unusually no Terns were seen throughout the
day. Little Corellas, Freckled Ducks and Australasian Grebes were observed
which have not been present in recent months. Other highlights (but recently
seen here): Hundreds of Glossy Ibis, 2 Wedge-tailed Eagles, 2 White-bellied
Sea-Eagles, 1 Swamp Harrier, Large flocks of 270+ Brolgas, (all observed in dry
broadacre wheat stubble field, there were a few dancing), 100+ Masked Lapwings
(flock of 80 birds amongst Brolgas in dry wheat stubble field), Marsh
Sandpipers, Latham's Snipes, Budgerigars (in abundance; large flocks), a female
White-winged Triller (scarce at the moment), Jacky Winters (in abundance, most
were immatures, lots of juveniles being fed), a pair of Horsfield's Bushlarks
and several (highly vocal) Tawny & Little Grassbirds. Mistletoebirds were found
in abundance like last time but were also observed feeding in lignum (in
wetlands) which we have not seen before. Not a solitary Egret was even seen
throughout the day.
Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines
Thu 9 Jan Pacific Baza, Eastern Bristlebird Bellawongarah - Private
property
Bazas seen and heard for 5 consecutive days since 4/1 on our property. Observed
parents feeding two immatures on several occasions. Two E. Bristlebirds heard.
Carla Jackett
Wed 8 Jan (Green-headed) Yellow Wagtail Hexham Swamp
A likely Green-headed (taivana) Yellow Wagtail has arrived at Hexham Swamp,
joining the 2, maybe 3 other Yellow Wagtails. From the images I have been sent
the features leaning towards a taivana bird are the obvious yellow brow and
throat, olive back and nape (the head less so?) and olive-green ear coverts.
John Cockerell per Mick Roderick
King Quail Ash Island, Hexham
Initially found by Alan Stuart on 06/01, a few of us located King Quails in
overgrown paspalum and other grasses on Ash Island yesterday. Flight shot of a
male attached.
Mick and Steve Roderick, Dan, Trevor and Jane Williams
Tue 7 Jan Sooty Owl Glenbrook, near RAAF base
I was contacted after a friend heard strange calls from her yard and she
described them as downward screams and then trilling. At first she thought they
were a Powerful Owl's calls, but after we talked today and I directed her to
Sooty Owl calls (bomb whistle and trills) she confirmed she heard exactly that
species at 4am on Tuesday.
Ákos Lumnitzer on behalf of Leonie Nealon
(Eastern) Yellow Wagtail, Australian Painted Snipe Wallsend, Newcastle
(wetland near new Bunnings)
A non-breeding Eastern Yellow Wagtail was found by Trevor Williams this
afternoon at a great little wetland area right next to the new Bunnings complex
on Minmi Road, Wallsend. This is approximately 4 km from where they are being
seen on Hexham Swamp. When I joined him I noticed a male Australian Painted
Snipe which was feeding frantically out in the open, then walked out of view at
the rear of the swamp. About a minute later a group of 8 more Australian
Painted Snipes appeared about 10 m closer to the road, all of which walked as a
group towards us and disappeared into thick veg. Finally 2 more birds revealed
themselves in another part of the wetland. 11 Australian Painted Snipes all up
and we all had to leave so there could be more there that weren't apparent to
us. There are 5 Australian Painted Snipes visible in the image (the birds are
distant and a scope is recommended) but unfortunately the Eastern Yellow
Wagtail had just walked out of frame before I took the photo! Also present were
6 Latham's Snipe, c.15 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and about that same number of
Black-fronted Dotterels.
Mick Roderick and Trevor Williams
Banded Lapwing Cornwallis Road, Windsor
I counted 41 Banded Lapwings on one of the turf farms, a few hundred metres
beyond the last house heading out of Windsor.
Simon Keizer
Little Grassbird, Pheasant Coucal Mehi River, Moree East
This morning around 0700, at a small section of the Mehi River on Morton
Street, opposite the Motel & Services Club (east side of town), 5+ Little
Grassbirds were heard and seen. First record for this location, and township
(also unusual, as there wasn't many reeds present). Also a Pheasant Coucal was
heard calling from dense growth near the riverbank; again, still yet to see
one. Tree Martins, Scaly-breasted & Musk Lorikeets were also present;
Curtis Hayne
Fork-tailed Swift, White-throated Needletail Lower Pappinbarra
One Fork-tailed Swift was seen in a group of over 80 White-throated
Needletails, all heading west at 11:20am.
Ian Kerr
Mon 6 Jan White-throated Needletail Khancoban
Approximately 1000 White-throated Needletails circling over the surrounding
hills at sunset. A spectacular sight.
Michael Ramsey
Collared Sparrowhawk, Freckled Duck, Lewin's Rail, Little Tern
Eastlakes Golf Course
3 Freckled Ducks, 7 Little Terns, 8 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 1 Collared
Sparrowhawk, 1 Baillon's Crake and 2 Lewin's Rail present today. Water level
dropping and becoming more suitable for attracting waders.
David Mitford
Black Kites Over Gwydir Highway near Ramornie, west of Grafton
13+ Black Kites & several Whistling Kites
Simon Clayton & 1 other
Australian Brush-turkey, Rufous Night-Heron, Azure Kingfisher, Sup
Lyrebird, Lewin's Honeyeater Warriewood Wetlands
Morning walk, warming up too. Includes Irrawong path. Australian Brush-turkey
(2 ad., 2 juv.), Rufous Night-Heron (1), Azure Kingfisher (likely nesting),
Superb Lyrebird (1); Lewin's Honeyeater: For a few minutes watched a group
taking a sand bath, with the male being pretty bossy over the hens, 3 or 4 in
number. He pretty well kept the "site" to himself, keeping the hens at bay.
Paddy de Klerk
Fork-tailed Swift & White-throated Needletails The Entrance Channel,
Tuggerah Lake
During the period 7.20 to 7.50 am a mixed flock of Swifts crossed south over
The Entrance Channel, from North Entrance to Picnic Point. During that time I
estimated 250 WTN and 40+ Fork-tailed Swifts went past. When I left the swifts
were still passing south over the Channel. Other birds present were Welcome
Swallows and White-breasted Woodswallows.
Alan Morris
Sun 5 Jan Common Noddy Big Ben Rocks (Nobby's)
Single Common Noddy seen working the wash off Big Ben Rocks (off Nobby's
Lighthouse, Newcastle) on Sunday afternoon.
Dan, Trevor and Jane Williams per Mick Roderick
Red-kneed Dotterel Hexham Swamp
160+ Red-kneed Dotterels near Fishery Creek on Hexham Swamp. Possibly the
highest single count for the Hunter Region. Many birds visible in the attached
image (taken by Jane Williams).
Dan, Trevor and Jane Williams per Mick Roderick
Peregrine Falcon Coutts Crossing Village
One adult hunting low over village.
Greg Clancy
Eastern Osprey Orara River, Coramba
One Osprey circling over River and village
Greg Clancy
Sat 4 Jan Blue-billed Duck Hunter Wetlands Centre, Newcastle
Male Blue-billed Duck on Water Ribbon Swamp (note [MR], despite searches by
others I do not think it has been seen since).
Dan, Trevor and Jane Williams per Mick Roderick
Glossy Black-Cockatoo Carinya Close, East Kurrajong
A pair of Glossy Black-Cockatoos about 6 pm in an unidentified type of gum tree.
andrew sinclair
Fri 3 Jan Black Honeyeater Willows picnic area, Yanga NP (SE Balranald, S
of Sturt Hwy)
Limited search of Casuarina woodland with flowering mistletoes revealed approx.
20 Black Honeyeaters (male, female & imm).
Jim Allen
Superb Parrots + Hybrid?? Start of Barryrennie Rd. Cowra
Observed about 100 or so Superb Parrots as per other folk, but mixed in with
the flock was an interesting specimen. The only way we could describe it was to
liken it to a Superb/King Parrot mix?? About the same length, but more solid in
the body. Any comments appreciated. See photo, I have others also. {Moderator's
note (NH & AKM): As both its structure and colour pattern around the head looks
somewhat intermediate between Superb and Australian King-Parrot, this is
certainly an option. Interestingly, EUGENE M. McCARTHY (2006) lists a number of
reports of Superb x King hybrids in his book 'Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the
World': "Alisterus scapularis [Australian King-Parrot] x Polytelis swainsonii
[Superb Parrot] CHR. BRO: e New South Wales (Australia). Cayley 1938; Fasey
1908; Hopkinson 1926, 1942; Page 1914b; Prestwich 1950–1951. Internet: KING."}
John and Sue O'Malley
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