Hi Debbie
Leighton de Barros' documentaries are outstanding, and I recommend them to
all. His one on the whales off WA and the rangers who attempted to cut them
free of nets was another. Apart from his wonderful cinematography he
doesn't pull any punches resulting in the presentation of a wider
perspective than that of many such productions.
A few years ago my family and I worked with Leighton and the Prospero crew
in Arnhem Land on an episode of Australian Wildlife Rescue. He had us in
fits with his tales about the crew of Big Cat Diary; and then there was an
episode with a recalcitrant pandanus fruit - I can't recall it making the
final cut but again we were in stitches.
The full measure of the man came when I was trying to catch bait in the
Goomadeer River - we needed the little fish to procure a file snake. My net
snagged on a log just metres away from a hole that a large crocodile called
home. I called for someone on the bank to stand behind me as I bent to free
the net. The only one not to find something absorbing on the horizon to
suddenly attract their attention was Leighton. Immediately he was in the
river behind me. A great bloke, and a fantastic maker of documentaries.
Denise
Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow
PO Box 71, Darwin River,
NT 0841
043 8650 835
On 27/1/14 9:40 PM, "Debbielustig123" <> wrote:
> 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
Send Birding-Aus mailing list
> submissions to
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> the World Wide Web,
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> Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Birding-Aus
> digest..."
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:
<
> ail.com>
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: An original
> duckumentary
Message-ID:
<CAMQyua_WqLoVL+9jNyY=LAYhC7PDce46c=_+EJzHoQ=WOcBN8g@
> mail.gmail.com>
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:
>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
>
------
> ------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 10:42:31
> +0800
From: John Graff <>
To:
>
Subject: 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: 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: 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: 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=
> gmail.com>
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: 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
> <>,
"" <
> s.com>
Subject: 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#5973147810
> 347758578
https://picasaweb.google.com/101486094752558106417/WARareBirds#59731
> 47813105552738
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
---------------------------------------------
Need more information
> about a sighting? Login and contact the poster directly.
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> via email or SMS immediately they are posted.
Not a member of Birdpedia?
> Membership is free and gives you access to information for over 230
> countries.
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> (http://www.birdpedia.com/).
To find out more about Birdpedia and what it can
> do for you, see 'What is
> Birdpedia?'
---------------------------------------------
>
------------------------------
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> -----------------------------
End of Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 2, Issue
> 26
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