As mentioned earlier, an ABC series called 'Hello Birdy' will go to air this
Sunday evening. It's a lighthearted look at birdwatching presented by William
McInnes, of 'Seachange' et al. The first episode includes a long sequence about
the OBP. I for one am really looking forward to it. This piece was filmed last
summer and features Mark Holdsworth, who was a Tasmanian nominee for Australian
of the Year for his outstanding work in conservation.
This series was written and directed by Leighton de Barros, whose wildlife doco
subjects have previously included great white sharks and Carnabys black
cockatoos.
-------- Original message --------
From:
Date:
To:
Subject: Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 2, Issue 26
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: A Galaxy of Star Finch (Michael Todd)
2. Re: An original duckumentary (Dave Torr)
3. RED-THROATED PIPIT at Lake McLarty (nr Perth) (John Graff)
4. Plumed Whistle Ducks (Peter Morgan)
5. RFI Grey Phalarope (Crispin Marsh)
6. Franklin's Gull, Lake Barambah (Russ Lamb)
7. Hooded Plovers (Tom Sjolund)
8. Australia Day - North Turramurra, Sydney (Wilsons)
9. Re: RED-THROATED PIPIT at Lake McLarty (nr Perth) (John Graff)
10. Birdpedia - Australia - Weekly Digest (Birdpedia - Australia Info)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 07:20:53 +1100
From: Michael Todd <>
To:
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] A Galaxy of Star Finch
Message-ID:
<>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hello Chris and others,
I was lucky enough to be paid to study Star Finches (and Crimsons) back in
the late 1990's and followed them across the grasslands of Cape York and in
the eastern Kimberleys.
They are an amazing experience in a large flock aren't they? In the
non-breeding season (dry season) in particular they amass into large flocks
that tend to remain within flying distance of water. The biggest numbers by
far that I saw were on the irrigated agricultural areas north of Kununurra
where they had strips and patches of native veg and weeds (good for
feeding) permanent water and sugarcane for roosting. The actual numbers I
can't remember but I think I estimated thousands. However, I found few
nests here, most of the nests I found in a patch of remnant vegetation in a
large loose colony. I noticed recently on Google Earth that this place is
now cleared.
As many of you will know, the eastern subspecies of star is possibly
extinct. I've seen museum specimens of this form and to me they look
distinctly different to the Cape York subsp and the northern Aust subsp.
Cheers,
Mick Todd
--
Michael Todd
Molesworth, Tasmania
(soon to be Mildura, Vic)
http://wildlifing.smugmug.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-todd/2b/425/605
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 08:47:33 +1100
From: Dave Torr <>
To: Philip Veerman <>
Cc: COG-L <>, birding-aus
<>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] An original duckumentary
Message-ID:
<CAMQyua_WqLoVL+9jNyY=LAYhC7PDce46c=_+EJzHoQ=>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Haven't seen it yet (but recorded it). I note that next Sat the SBS has a
program on "Red-crowned Crane" and the ABC has a new series called "Birdy".
Both could be worth watching?
On 25 January 2014 19:51, Philip Veerman <> wrote:
> Just watching this doco about ducks on SBS TV. Now. Seems very well done so
> far. Mainly American but did show a Freckled Duck for a moment.
>
> Philip
> _______________________________________________
> Birding-Aus mailing list
>
> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
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>
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 10:42:31 +0800
From: John Graff <>
To:
Subject: [Birding-Aus] RED-THROATED PIPIT at Lake McLarty (nr Perth)
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Alan Collins found a Red-throated Pipit in the SE corner of Lake McLarty early
this morning. Still present at 8.30am
Apparently looks like a darker Aus Pipit and has traces of red on the throat
Cheers
John
Sent from my iPhone
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 13:46:51 +1100
From: Peter Morgan <>
To: "birding-aus (E-mail)" <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Plumed Whistle Ducks
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Plumed Whistle Ducks
Plumed Whistle Ducks have been around Brooms Head, North Coast of NSW for a few
years now, but have been seen closer to the houses along the ocean front over
the last few weeks.
Just now, a pair with at least 8 ducklings were seen at the junction of the
Brooms Head and Sandon Roads. So that would seem to indicate their presence
becoming more permanent.
Peter and Bev, Kevin and Andrea Morgan
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:03:12 +1100
From: "Crispin Marsh" <>
To: <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] RFI Grey Phalarope
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Dear Birders,
Wondered if there is any news (post 25 Jan) about the grey Phalarope in Darwin?
Is anyone planning a trip up there who would be interested in sharing a car and
scope. I would be going from Sydney and might try for a trip without
accommodation.
regards
Peter Marsh
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:28:14 +1000
From: "Russ Lamb" <>
To: "birding-aus" <>
Cc: Bob Cook <>, Jo wieneke <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Franklin's Gull, Lake Barambah
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
The Franklin's Gull at Lake Barambah (or Bjelke-Petersen Dam) first reported
about 10 days ago continues to show well on an almost daily basis. Despite
showery and windy conditions, by 0845 on Sat 25/1 a total of 7 birders from
Bundaberg, Maroochydore, Logan and Maleny (incl. the dynamic Moorheads, Jann
Capell, Peter Tierney) were all searching for the gull. Starting from the last
boatramp it was first 'scoped near the first ramp, precipitating a rush across
the dam wall. On arrival, it had been put to flight by dogs but was quickly
spotted resting on the water, from where it flew to the shore of a small bay.
Back over the dam wall we all went to be treated to a fly-by above the
shoreline only 20 metres away, all parties greatly satisfied.
Peter Tierney has posted some wonderful pics on Bird Alert , the web page
of the Wide Bay/Bundaberg bird group (a mini birding-aus for that region)
Russ Lamb, Maleny
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:37:28 +1000
From: Tom Sjolund <>
To:
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Hooded Plovers
Message-ID:
<CAE3HgQK3Os3Mp3=xQm_qK6Gyt6F=>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
2 breeding pairs of Hooded Plovers seen at Johanna Beach, Vic. One pair
with one chick, the other with 2 chicks. Lone adult seen at the eastern
end by the headland.
Cheers,
Tom
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:45:34 +1100
From: "Wilsons" <>
To: <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Australia Day - North Turramurra, Sydney
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi all
hope you've all had a great day. Having been in the UK & Europe until recently
(my 1st bird of 2014 was a Black-headed Gull), had my first proper Aussie
birding walk of the year this morning, following the Lovers Jump Creek Track
from McRae Place to Samuel King Oval in N Turramurra). I saw 44 species,
highlights from a good selection of local bush birds being:
- single Powerful Owl (with possum) approx 1km in from McRae Place
- singles of Pacific Baza and Brown Goshawk
- 2 Superb Lyrebirds seen (1 doing a varied repertoire of whipbird, rosella,
kookaburra and it's own gurglings)
- family of Dollarbirds (2 ad; 4 fledglings)
- good numbers of Brown Pigeon
This afternoon at home (Bobbin Head Rd), have had a couple of interesting
fly-overs (thanks to the local cockatoo alarm system...)
- the Brown Goshawk was around all afternoon
- a White-faced Heron flew over the house heading SE approx 2:30pm
- a Juvenile Swamp Harrier crossed over road heading West-East approx 3:30pm -
very upswept wings, buoyant flight, long slim tail, chocolate brown with
suggestion of white on the rump and paler patches around base of primaries.
Cheers
Tom Wilson
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 18:27:42 +0800
From: John Graff <>
To: Birding-Aus <>,
"" <>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] RED-THROATED PIPIT at Lake McLarty (nr
Perth)
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
Hi again everyone,
Sorry for the brief message, SE corner was all I had when I posted, and I
headed straight for the door! Fortunately, a group of us eventually got it
early this afternoon - it was mostly hanging around in the grass near the
water's edge in the SE of the lake, but was quite skulky and difficult to see.
Details for getting there (copied from Leeuwin Current Birding but I wrote the
post so I think that's OK :D) - I recommend parking along the limestone track
but may become a little crowded, don't know how many are thinking of heading
down
"To reach the
lake, travel south from Perth along the Kwinana Freeway, which becomes
the Perth-Bunbury (Forrest) Highway. At Mills Road (roughly an hour from
Perth City), turn right (west) and travel for approximately 4km, where
you pass a gate on the right. About 200m further along the road, there
is a limestone track on the right (marked by a post on either side of
the entrance). Drive a short distance down this track and park under the
large tree on the left (GPS 32d 44? 55.37??S, 115d 42? 51.38??E). From
here, you can see the lake shore. You can also access the lakes western
shore by following Mills Rd as it loops around to the north and becomes
Birch Dr, and parking near a water tank and gate about half-way up the
lake?s western shore (GPS 32d 42? 14.52??S, 115d 42? 33.15??E). You can
also reach this area by following the limestone track through until you
reach a T-junction with Birch Dr and turning right."
We didn't look too closely at the waders but a few Pectoral Sandpiper as usual,
good numbers of Marsh Sandpipers and a couple of Blackwits. Bill Betts saw and
photographed the Ruff this morning though so it is still around
Alan Collins has kindly allowed me to post his photos, see:
https://picasaweb.google.com/101486094752558106417/WARareBirds#5973147810347758578
https://picasaweb.google.com/101486094752558106417/WARareBirds#5973147813105552738
https://picasaweb.google.com/101486094752558106417/WARareBirds#5973147821537467058
Cheers,
John
> From:
> Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 10:42:31 +0800
> To: ;
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] RED-THROATED PIPIT at Lake McLarty (nr Perth)
>
> Alan Collins found a Red-throated Pipit in the SE corner of Lake McLarty
> early this morning. Still present at 8.30am
>
> Apparently looks like a darker Aus Pipit and has traces of red on the throat
>
> Cheers
> John
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> _______________________________________________
> Birding-Aus mailing list
>
> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:05:06 +1030
From: "Birdpedia - Australia Info" <>
To: <>, <>
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Birdpedia - Australia - Weekly Digest
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain
The following is a digest of Sightings Reported on Birdpedia for the period
Monday, January 20, 2014 to Sunday, January 26, 2014:
Area: SA
Date: Monday, January 20, 2014
Location: On our blackened land at Rockleigh
Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) (70) First we saw a flock of 15
cruising overhead. Then 3 landed and foraged among the ashes. They vanished and
6 landed. Later in the day a flock of about 70 appeared, and finally a group of
about 40 landed and foraged. What on earth were they finding to eat ? All we
can see is scorched earth.
Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) (2) We have been expecting a magpie lark to
pass through for almost five and half years, with no luck until today. There is
no normal magpie-lark habitat left, but they hung around all day. The land over
the road is unburnt, with plenty of trees and looks a far better foraging spot
for them.
Variegated Fairy-wren (Malurus lamberti) (6) By the time these turned up we
were almost used to seeing the unexpected. We have never seen wrens before !
They were flitting in burnt bushes in the gully where there are still burning
embers.
The day also brought 4 kestrels (cruising over all day), 3 wedgies, and 2 brown
falcons. To our eyes there was nothing edible moving in the landscape, only
half a dozen stumpy tails, well and truly dead, and a small dessicated snake.
Some trees are still burning 6 days after the fire inside hollow trunks, or
underground roots (mind where you put your feet = there are hot spots under
dust-filled holes)
Reported by: Barbara and Peter Bansemer on Monday, January 20, 2014
---------------------------------------------
Date: Monday, January 20, 2014
Location: Magazine Rd Wetland
Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) (1) I bird clearly seen on mud on spit in
first pond on right of Magazine Rd. Possible second bird seen under trees on
left of pond.
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) (1) Flew overhead then landed in middle pond
on side of the track to bird hide
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) (2)
Australian Spotted Crake (Porzana fluminea) (2)
Shorebirds 2020 survey
Water levels now low, some ponds dry, no water in front of bird hide.
only 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 2 Common Greenshanks, 2 Red-capped Plovers, 4
Red-kneed Dotterels,
8 Royal Spoonbills, 2 Australian Shelduck, 6 European Greenfinch, plus all
other species normally seen at this site.
Possible sighting of a Rufous Fieldwren
Reported by: Sue Winwood on Monday, January 20, 2014
---------------------------------------------
Date: Monday, January 20, 2014
Location: Minlaton.(SA)
Letter-winged Kite (Elanus scriptus) (1) Good view of a single bird flying
along roadside south-west of Minlaton.
Hooded Plover (Thinornis rubricollis) (3) A pair with at least one 11-20 day
old chick on a salt lake south-east of Minlaton. The lake is over 13 kilometres
from Spencer Gulf.
Reported by: Kent Treloar on Monday, January 20, 2014
---------------------------------------------
Date: Monday, January 20, 2014
Location: Private Property Lower Light
Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella) (1) Single bird seen by property owner
in stubble paddock
Reported by: Winston Syson on Saturday, January 25, 2014
---------------------------------------------
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Location: Milang
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) (8) 8 Wood Sandpiper together with 2 Red-kneed
Dotterel and about 5 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in 'pond' on NE edge of the Milang
Caravan Park. This pond is rapidly drying out and the water level has dropped
considerably since my last visit on 9/1/2014.
Reported by: Bob Snell on Wednesday, January 22, 2014
---------------------------------------------
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Location: Browns Road, Monarto
Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus) (1) 1 Male Pied Honeyeater seen on the
west side of the loop track - 30m south of the small tank.
Phone number 0407398234
Reported by: Steve Potter on Tuesday, January 21, 2014
---------------------------------------------
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Location: Private Property Lower Light
Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons) (1) Single Male bird on fence wire
Black Falcon (Falco subniger) (1) Bird flew over the top of us and landed on
water trough
Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster) (30) big numbers on this property
Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) (1) Single bird sighted and
heard calling
Reported by: Winston Syson on Saturday, January 25, 2014
---------------------------------------------
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Location: Intersection of Ballara Ave and Walkley Ave, Warradale
Barbary Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) (1) A single bird calling from overhead
power lines.
Reported by: Martyn Price on Thursday, January 23, 2014
---------------------------------------------
Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Location: Rush Lagoon, Kangaroo Island
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) (2) feeding with Sharp-tailed
Sandpipers, mud and shallows, Rush Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) (c300) feeding in mud and shallows,
Rush Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14.
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) (c100) resting in short grass away from
water; with Red-capped Plovers, Rush Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14
Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) (131) easily largest
concentration of Red-necked Avocets seen on KI; Rush Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14
Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus) (c1300) mostly feeding in remnant
floodwater in paddock on E side of Rush Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14; no leg flags
seen.
Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) (c500) throughout deeper water of lagoon
proper; many bright breeding plumaged males present; Rush Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14
Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus) (2) pair feeding in muddy shallows in
boggy paddock at N end of Rush Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14
Black-tailed Native-hen (Gallinula ventralis) (150) adults and full grown
young, pasture and paperbarks fringing Rush Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14
Hardhead (Aythya australis) (300) out on deep water of lagoon proper, Rush
Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14
Grey Teal (Anas gracilis) (c3000) feeding and camped throughout lagoon shore
and paddock floodwaters, Rush Lagoon, KI, 22 Jan 14
Reported by: Chris Baxter on Wednesday, January 22, 2014
---------------------------------------------
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---------------------------------------------
------------------------------
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End of Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 2, Issue 26
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