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Birdline North Queensland
Published sightings for the week ending 2 Feb 2014.
| Sun 2 Feb
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Spotted Whistling-duck
Barrett's Lagoon, Cooktown
4 adults seen swimming in open water and amongst lily pads; seen with 4 Hardhead. First record of this species in Cooktown area.
Kath Shurcliff & Dave Houghton
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| Sat 1 Feb
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Red-necked Phalarope
Bamaga: Lake Wicheura en route to East Coast 10 46S 142 33E 1' Cell, Queensland
Second Red-necked Phalarope seen in general area in less than 24 hours. This bird approx. 20km direct flight ENE from previous submission. Walking on lake edge heard call of Black-fronted Dotterel. I saw 3 birds all the same size together but one was a Red-necked Phalarope on the waters edge. It was busily pecking at the mud/short weed (as it does the water surface) for insects. After about 20 seconds it started preening vigorously for about the next 10 minutes as I crept closer to within 4 metres. The dotterels flushed but it remained. Precisely the same morphological description as last night's report (Checklist S16732275 eBird) except now I had vision of black legs/feet. Flew short distances land to land twice demonstrating white wing bar. Then flew to water nearby and started spinning, pecking insects off water for a few minutes. Then flew across lake making short high-pitched call every 2-3 seconds whilst still within audible range. Lost sight of it at that point. I returned to location of last night's Red-necked Phalarope sighting an hour later but the bird was not found.
Rob Reed
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| Fri 31 Jan
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Red-necked Phalarope
Bamaga settling ponds 10 54S 142 23E 1' Cell
Grey and white bird not seen prior here on water near edge of pond. Paddling high and spinning whilst pecking insects off water surface. When moved forward had marked head pumping action. Beak black, thin and straight approx. same length of head. Black stripe through eye with distinct downturn and tapering posteriorly. Crown and hind neck grey broader at crown, tapering. Back darkish grey with white edges on feathers. Approachable and got to within 4 meters before it paddled away not inclined to fly. Flew about 10-15m spontaneously twice and landed on water again. Did not go to land. Watched for 1/2 hour in good light including with 60 x objective from 15M away. I forced a final short flight flush again showing the white wing bar well. It called briefly during this flight (the only occasion) a short, reasonably high pitched "tserp". I had field guides Slater, Morecombe and Pizzey and Knight in possession and was able to consult all at leisure to exclude Grey and Wilson's Phalarope and confirm the species beyond doubt. (non-breeding plumage).
Rob Reed
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