Birdline New South Wales
Published sightings for the week ending 28 Sep 2014.
Sun 28 Sep Square-tailed Kite Chiltern Trail, Ingleside
The lack of birds along the the track during early afternoon more than
made up by a Square-tailed Kite making several low passes over the
track-head at Chiltern Road.
Robert Griffin et al
Australian Koel Glebe Point Road, near Glebe Public School
Male Australian Koel was harassed by a Noisy Miner and chased along
Glebe Point Road in front of our car.
Simon Gorta
Musk Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Whiskered Tern, Possible Blue-billed
Duck? Lake Wallace, Wallerawang
At least 6 Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage fishing over the lake.
Counted at least 40 each of Musk Duck and Gt Crested Grebe. Hundreds,
if not thousands, of Eurasian Coot on the water. Party of approx 20
Hoary-headed Grebe in the middle of the lake. 2 very small dark brown
ducks asleep in the NE corner of the lake well beyond the barrage with
heads tucked away, so could not see bills. Birds had a "domed"
appearance in the water and I could not see any white towards rump - so
may be Blue-billed Duck? (Would need to get much closer for a
definitive view to be certain but worth checking out.)
Tom Wilson
Australasian Bittern Hexham Swamp
Single heard booming all night long during a spotlighting foray. No
Grass Owls.
Joshua Bergmark, Nathan Ruser, Simon Gorta
Black-faced Monarch, Sacred Kingfisher Bradley's Head (Sydney Harbour
NP)
A single Black-faced Monarch heard calling near Athol Hall this morning
was a welcome surprise. Two calling Sacred Kingfishers were also my
first of the season. A possible Scarlet Honeyeater was also heard (two
note contact call) in this patch that is overflowing with small birds.
Ashwin Rudder
Sat 27 Sep Rock Warbler, Musk Duck Wollemi National Park--Dunns Swamp
Rock Warbler seen twice heading into rock cavity with food items -
nesting? Pair of Musk Duck on a northern arm of the lake away from the
kayak activity. Male bird was being very aggressive to any Coots that
got too close.
Tom Wilson
Spotted Harrier Cnr Castlereagh Hwy & Bylong Valley Way
Single bird seen quartering over rough ground at the junction, then
diving onto a prey item, settling briefly on an earth mound and setting
off with string flight towards the east - possible prey item for mate
or chicks?
Tom Wilson
Dollarbird Clarence Town
A single Dollarbird perched on powerlines beside Clarence Town-Dungog
Rd.
Clive Meadows
Black-faced Monarch, Leaden Flycatcher, Brush Cuckoo Dubbo Gully
Mangrove Mountain
On an outing for the Central Coast Bird Group we had 3 Black-faced
Monarch and a pair of Leaden Flycatchers on our stop down the hill to
the gully. We also had many Fan-tailed Cuckoos and Shining
Bronze-Cuckoos with a Brush Cuckoo calling as well.
Christina Port for Kay Pointer and the CCB group
Buller's Shearwater Royal National Park--Wattamolla
Seen my first Buller's Shearwater for the spring today also thousands
of Short-tailed Shearwaters moving down the coast including an albino
or fully leukistic individual. [Moderator's note (NH): This is a very
an exceptionally early date for Buller's Shearwater]
michael ronan.
Bush Stone-curlew Barham
Two Bush Stone-curlews observed in a grassy carpark near the centre of
town, potentially attempting breeding at this site. Both birds were
observed on the 26th and 27th, one of which was squatting in the same
location when observed several times over the two days (sitting on
eggs?). Have never seen this species so close to dense housing before
in south-eastern Australia. Perhaps attracted to the good source of
invertebrate prey around the street lights.
Karl Just
Mallard Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo
A solitary male Mallard hanging out with some Pacific Black Ducks on
the billabong camp lake. I have been a keeper at the zoo for 5 1/2
year's now and this is the first Mallard I've seen.
Andrew O'Brien
Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Myall Lakes National Park--Mungo Brush
2 Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves heard, one of which subsequently observed
multiple times (quite skittish, but vocal) near the northern tip of the
loop trail. Cabbage Tree Palms fruiting prolifically, many Green
Catbirds, Topknot Pigeons and White-headed Pigeons also seen.
Joshua Bergmark, Nathan Ruser, Simon Gorta
Spectacled Monarch Caniaba, Lismore NSW
First sighting for season.
paul griffin
Grey Goshawk Luddenham
Single white morph seen being mobbed by Magpie-larks and Australian
Magpies. Also great views when perched in a tree.
Peter Bracken
Fri 26 Sep Eurasian Coot Swan Lake, Cudmirrah, near Sussex Inlet
Kayaked out mid afternoon to investigate a massive congregation of
black birds on Swan Lake. They were all Eurasian Coots in one long
narrow raft, and a conservative estimate would be 3,000 to 5,000.
Attached is a photo of a small portion, perhaps a little blurred due to
the rolling of the kayak. They were under attack by a White-breasted
Sea-Eagle who successfully took two in separate sweeps, this following
on directly from the same raptor flying overhead with a captured Black
Swan and depositing it in its nest. A short drive early next morning to
obtain a better photo was futile, with only a handful of Eurasian Coots
remaining in the lake.
Cameron Ward
Superb Parrot, Blue-faced Honeyeater Orange Botanic Gardens
Approx 25 Superb Parrots were feeding in cut grass between the gardens
car park and the main road approx 5pm. A single Blue-faced Honeyeater
was seen in the gardens near the entrance gate.
Tom Wilson
Australian Koel Kariong
A male Australian Koel seen flying south. I don't think he was
stopping. I haven't heard calling here yet.
Christina Port
Australian Shelduck Werai
Lone Australian Shelduck in paddock by Mount Broughton Road
mid-afternoon (not far from a dam and rivulet). Shelducks are rarely
seen in the Southern Highlands.
Lorne Johnson
Thu 25 Sep Sooty Oystercatcher, Pied Oystercatcher, Grey Goshawk (white
phase) Cudmirrah Beach (Berrara end)
7 Sooty Oystercatchers (photo of six attached), 2 Pied Oystercatchers
and a lone white phase Grey Goshawk were the highlights in this scenic
area of Cudmirrah Beach.
Cameron Ward, Janette Ward
Hooded Plover Cudmirrah Beach (Sussex Inlet end)
2 Hooded Plovers about half a kilometre along from the Sussex Inlet
Surf Club. Despite all the signs warning of their presence people are
letting their dogs run free (off leads) along this beach. Distant
record photo attached.
Cameron Ward, Janette Ward
Freckled Duck Lithgow Wastewater Treatment Plant
2 Freckled Duck on middle pond in with many Australasian Shoveler,
Pink-eared Duck, Hardhead, Wood and Black Duck, both teal and grebes -
approx 5pm
Tom Wilson
Grey Goshawk Wingham Brush Nature Reserve
Grey morph Grey Goshawk perched in dead tree on far bank of Manning
River. Mobbed by three Torresian Crows and flew over to the Brush.
Nicholas Beswick
Swift Parrots West bound McDonalds, M4 Motorway (near blacktown)
Four Swift Parrots were seen preening and squawking westbound McDonalds
carpark on the M4 motorway. There is a planting of flowering ironbarks
in the patch between the mcdonalds and the service station; they were
in there. Sorry, no photo, it was windy, cold and raining when I saw
them carrying on, obviously excited by this miserable tasmanian-style
weather. So western sydney birders.... Perhaps a patch of birding
mid-commute?
Henry Cook
Grey Plover Manyana - -35.268411, 150.508458
Grey Plover - Whimbrel, Hooded Plovers, Red Capped Plovers, Pied
Oystercatchers, Egrets and Cormorants were some of the highlights at
Manyana side of Lake Conjola entrance.
Charles Dove
Dollarbird Sawtell
First return for season - about usual date here - catching its breath
after migration on traditional spot on powerlines in main street.
Peter Higgins
Dollarbird Woodfield Avenue Bundeena
We both heard a Dollarbird calling this morning. First we've heard for
this locality this season.
Deryk and Leslie Engel
Wed 24 Sep Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Red-browed Treecreeper, Scarlet Robin
Capertee Village
2 Glossy Black-Cockatoos (both males) seen feeding on a private
property just south of Capertee village (but were observed from outside
the locked property gate). In the woodland accessible from the
Castlereagh Highway a male Scarlet Robin and 2 Red-browed Treecreepers
were seen, along with a Wonga Pigeon, and singing White-throated
Gerygones
Tom Wilson
Powerful Owl Royal Botanic Gardens (Sydney)
The Powerful Owl seems to have transferred its roosting allegiance to
the large Black Bean near the gap in the Macquarie Wall [to the left of
the "Spring Walk" as you walk away from the cafetaria complex]. It was
reported there on the 22nd [but apparently failed to show up on the
23rd].
Ted Nixon
Dollarbird, Spangled Drongo, Regent Bowerbird Halliday's Pt 10' Cell
Dollarbird in trees behind Black Head beach, also 3 Spangled Drongos,
Shining Bronze-cuckoo and female Regent Bowerbird. Grey morph Eastern
Reef Heron on rocks by Pebbly Beach
Nicholas Beswick
Spectacled Monarch, Wompoo Fruit-dove Lower Pappinbarra
The first Spectacled Monarchs of the season seen this morning, They
could have been here earlier as I have been away for ten days. Wompoo
Fruit-doves are also back after a few weeks absence.
Ian Kerr
Tue 23 Sep Australian Koel Balmoral
This morning heard my first Australian Koel calls of the season, from
the large Moreton Bay fig tree next to the Bathers' Pavilion, Balmoral
Sylvia Griffin
Rainbow Bee-eater, White-browed Woodswallow, Brown Goshawk Pearsons
Lookout, Capertee
A flock of over 40Rainbow Bee-eaters passed overhead approx 9:45am. 2
White-browed Woodswallows seen circling close to lookout. Dusky
Woodswallows also seen from lookout. A party of 3 Brown Goshawk (1
male, 2 female) was seen circling low over the woodland. A Wedge-tailed
Eagle also seen from here.
Tom Wilson
Little Eagle, Speckled Warbler, White-browed Babbler Capertee
Valley--Coco Creek
Speckled Warbler seen on side of road approx 10:30am. Little Eagle
passed overhead just after. A gang (6-8) of White-browed Babblers was
working through the trees about 100 metres on the Capertee side of the
bridge.
Tom Wilson
Black-chinned Honeyeater, Diamond Firetail, Turquoise Parrot Capertee
Valley--Crown Station Rd
Singles of Black-chinned Honeyeater and Diamond Firetail seen at the
mailboxes (Site 6 on the Capertee Valley Bird Routes brochure) - approx
11am. 2 Turquoise Parrots flew overhead and a single was seen close to
the side of the road about 100 metres back towards Glen Davis Rd. Also
at site 6 were 6 Jacky Winters, 8 Double-barred Finches, 2 Rufous
Songlark
Tom Wilson
Southern Boobook Pacific Baza 105 Wallalong Cres West Pymble and Quarry
Creek Lane Cove National Park
Thought you might be interested in the following sightings at Wallalong
Cres West Pymble and the area of Lane Cove National park (Quarry Creek)
directly below. (56 h 0326788 UTM 6262115) Southern Boobook Owl
roosting quite low down just below our back verandah in a King Fern
(Angiopteris avecta) from 1 September on and off to 22 September.
Pacific Baza (2) on 22 September 2014. Mating and actively displaying
about 20 m south of the above (in Quarry Creek Bushland, Lane Cove
National Park.
Noela Jones (Birdlife member)
Stubble Quail, Horsfield's Bushlark, White-backed Swallow Bureen (south
of Denman, Hunter Valley)
There were Stubble Quails calling in the lucerne paddocks around Bureen
yesterday afternoon. I haven't seen any reported for a while and these
are the first I've heard in the Hunter since May. Horsfield's Bushlarks
were vocal here and several other places nearby (e.g. Martindale,
Yarrawa). There were 2 White-backed Swallows amongst the 100+ Fairy
Martins over Bureen Creek and several Rainbow Bee-eaters are excavating
already.
Mick Roderick
Painted Honeyeater Giants Creek (Upper Hunter Valley)
Whilst the Regent Honeyeaters appear now to have departed Giants Creek
(in fact, even have the Noisy Friars) there were 2 Painted Honeyeaters
heard (and one seen) just west of where the Regents had been. I cannot
see records of them in Giants Creek on any atlas. There is no mistletoe
in flower or bud in the area. Of relevance I also called into Medhurst
Bridge and found a few Painteds there - as reported by John Weigel the
Amyema quandang in the wattles is not flowering, but I found yesterday
that instead they are using the Amyema cambagei in the River Oaks.
Mick Roderick
Red-backed Kingfisher Rushforth Rd South Grafton
sighted at 11.30am today at same position as reported by Greg Clancy.
Observed flying down from power line and taking insects. Very active.
Location was at the southern end of the badly eroded creek about half a
kilometre before entrance to property Ballandean..
Warren Thompson
Dollarbird, Bassian Thrush, Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo (3), Pacific
Baza Warriewood Wetlands and Irrawong Reserve
You can tell spring is definately underway with many migratory species
back in the valley. Also many scarlet Honeyeaters and several Eastern
Rosellas. Also of note was a Brown Antechinus running around my feet
for ten minutes! At one point I sat down on a step nearby and it
climbed to eye level about 10cm away from me and just looked at me!
(Moderator's Note: This is the first Dollarbird for the Greater Sydney
area.AKM)
Jayden Walsh
Redthroat, Black Honeyeater, Chirruping Wedgebill, Crimson Chat Broken
Hill
Lots of good birds about the town, Redthroat common
Greg Roberts
Mon 22 Sep Grey Plover, Topnot Pigeon Lake Conjola Estuary
Single Grey Plover observed at fairly close distance on expansive sand
flats in the lake at present. It was moulting out of breeding plumage,
but still had distinctive black front. Flock of 20+ Topnot Pigeons in
the coastal scrub feeding on the many fruiting lilypilly trees. Both
species not seen by us in over 30 years of visitation to this area.
Wolinski and Richardson families
Common Blackbird and Topknot Pigeon Royal National Park--Wattle Flat
About 8 Topknot Pigeons and a male Blackbird
Marie Lister and Athena Georgiou
Spotted Quail-Thrush Conjola National Park - Cudmirrah Section
Seen in regenerating section of Blackbutt Road on left hand side,
approximately 500m west of the intersection of Slaty Box Road.
Lesley May
Eastern Bristlebird, Pilotbird, Beautiful Firetail, Southern Emu Wren
Barren Grounds Nature Reserve
Early morning walk along the Griffiths Trail at Barren Grounds NR and
back again later in the afternoon. Most of the 'specialties' found
within a few hundred metres of the carpark. Eastern Bristlebirds are
quite vocal. No Ground Parrots seen or heard. Still very cool early in
the morning and the birds were relatively quiet, even at dawn. Based on
previous visits and audio recordings from this site it is much more
'birdy' later in the year from late October onwards.
Marc Anderson
Superb Parrot Tarcutta floodplain crossing on Hume Highway
Sighted 2 Superb Parrots in flight crossing the highway, one of them
kindly redecorating my windscreen while passing. Sighted plenty of
other species while driving from Sydney to Albury including 3 x
Square-tailed Kites, 5 Wedge-tailed Eagles (one trying to catch a
rabbit on the freeway ahead of me), 1 Black-shouldered Kite and 1
Black-faced Monarch.
Andrew Whitaker
Swift Parrot, Painted Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Turquoise
Parrot Wilpinjong Creek, Murragamba
Two Swift Parrots feeding on fruiting mistletoe or lerp in Rough-barked
Apple and Blakeley's Red Gum on creek (no flower in red gums, just
bud). Calling alerted to their presence. Theh were very 'flighty' and
flew off twice before sundset could not relocate them. Passing through
just for a day? Unfortunately on private property so there is no
access. It is worth keeping a look out in the area. Three Painted
Honeyeaters in fruiting mistletoe, two Turquoise Parrot and one
Black-chinned Honeyeater nearby.
Kurtis Lindsay
Red-backed Kingfisher Rushforth Road, South Grafton
Kingfisher still present this afternoon at the same location where it
was observed on Thursday 18th. Also observed by local birdos on Friday
and Saturday.
Greg Clancy
Painted Honeyeater Medhurst Bridge, Martindale Valley (Mid Hunter
Valley)
Up to 12 Painted Honeyeaters seen this morning at this well known site
(the mistletoe at the site is Amyema quandang, which is growing in a
bi-pinnate wattle, but apparently isn't flowering strongly). Maximum
number of birds seen at once was 8.
John Weigel per Mick Roderick
Forest Kingfisher Caniaba, Lismore NSW
FK (male) first sighting for season.
paul griffin
Australian Koel Greenwich [Gore Cove area]
Taking my cue from Simon Gorta's posting of 20/9: one heard calling at
7 a.m. [my first this spring, locally]
Ted Nixon
Sun 21 Sep Black-necked Stork Pacific HWY Grafton NSW
2 Black-necked Storks in waterway alongside Pacific Highway. First time
I've seen these birds! (Moderator's Note: There are at least 10
breeding pairs in the Clarence Valley so a pair at Grafton are not
unusual. AKM)
Adrian O'Hara
Diamond Firetail, Zebra Finch, Rufous Songlark, Brown Falcon 5 km SE
Baldry on the Baldry-Molong Rd
A pair of Diamond Firetails were found at a site where plantations of
Spotted Gums had been planted to control salt problems in soil. Also
present were 4 Zebra Finches, Rufous Songlarks and Fairy Martins, and a
Brown Falcon. These were the only Diamond Firetails seen at 30 sites in
and around the Parkes Shire in a 3 day survey.
Alan Morris + 22 menbers of Birding NSW Central Coast Group
Speckled Warbler, Brown Treecreeper, Black-chinned Honeyeater Spring
Creek Picnic Area, Goobang NP, 35 km NE Parkes
Highlights of a 2 hour morning stop at the Spring Creek Picnic Area by
members of the CCGBNSW, included a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, 2 Speckled
Warblers, 2 Black-chinned Honeyeaters, nesting Brown Treecreepers,
Choughs & Grey-shrike-thrushes, a Brown Goshawk and a Collared
Sparrowhawk, Inland Thornbill, both White-throated and Western
Gerygones, 2 Wedge-tailed Eagles, 2 Little Lorikeets, White-browed
Babblers, Crested Shrike-tits and Rufous Songlark.
Alan Morris + 22 others
Buller's Albatross, Wandering type Albatros. wattamolla royal national
park.
Good numbers of albatross off wattamolla today including 45 Shy
Albatross,about the same number of Black-browed Albatross.1 Wandering
type Albatross, 3 Buller's Albatross and 1 Indian Yellow-nosed
Albatross also 4 giant petrel I didn't get close enough views to
identify witch species and 1 Fairy Prion.
michael ronan.
Top Knot Pigeons Deep Creek Reserve, Narrabeen
Same walk as mentioned by Jayden Walsh. I arrived before other spotters
& lost count as to how many TKP's took flight from the car park region.
Estimate 50 plus. Light drizzle & cool
Paddy de Klerk
Sat 20 Sep Black Kite, Freckled Duck, Sacred Kingfisher, Gum Swamp,
Forbes
Highlights from a 90 minute stint at Gum Swamp by members of the
BNSWCCG, included 11 Freckled Duck, 5 Sacred Kingfishers some calling,
4 Black Kites, Sea-Eagle on nest, 1 Black-tailed Native-hen, nesting
Choughs and Grey-crowned Babblers, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Australian
Shovelers and Hoary-headed Grebes.
Alan Morris & 22 others
Glossy Black-Cockatoo Butterleaf State Forest / Glen Elgin area
A total of ten birds sighted. Two groups of three (family groups) and
two pairs. All feeding on Oak [Casuarina sp.]. All within a 50ha area.
David Charley
Fri 19 Sep Whiskered Tern, Australian Shelduck, Avocet, Freckled Duck
Parkes Waste Water Treatment Park
Highlights of a 2 hour stint at the Parkes STW by members of the
Central Coast Group, Birding NSW included 9 Whiskered Terns, 2
Australian Shelducks, 10 Red-necked Avocet, 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers,
1 Black-tailed Native Hen, 1 Glossy Ibis, 3 Superb Parrots, 1 Freckled
Duck, 10+ Australian Shovellers, 1 Rufous Songlark, a Swamp Harrier,
Whistling Kite & 200+ Pink-eared Ducks and many Grey Teal etc.
Alan Morris + 22 others
Red-wing Parrot 19km west of Glenn Innes
3 parrot observed on buds in roadside trees. Eastern edge of range.
David Charley
Thu 18 Sep Superb Parrot Holmwood HSD Bumberry, 30 km E of Parkes on
Orange Road.
Group of three Superb Parrots flew across the road and landed in a
flowering Yellow Box
Doug Hocking per Alan Morris
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