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Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

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Subject: Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update
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Date: 6 Oct 2014 06:58:14 +1000
   Birdline New South Wales

   Published sightings for the week ending 5 Oct 2014.

   Sun 5 Oct Little Lorikeet Eulah Creek
   A small group of 5 Little Lorikeets was following Bullawa Creek uphill
   this morning (coming from the plains, flying towards the range), about
   20 km outside the contiguous forest or woodland of the Nandewar Range.
   Usually I find Little Lorikeets only farther east, in the range or the
   wooded foothills. Their calls were recorded ("Further information"
   link).
   Michael Dahlem
   Regent Honeyeater,White-backed Swallow,White-winged Triller. Widden
   Valley,Upper Hunter Valley.
   5 or 6 Regent Honeyeaters in the valley today but I think they must of
   abandoned there nest I didn't notice any breeding activity also seen a
   White-backed Swallow and 2 White-winged Trillers.
   michael ronan.
   Red-backed Kingfisher Bimbi State Forest
   Whilst not a very uncommon bird for NSW, this one was seen at Bimbi
   State Forest west of Grenfelll on the western slopes. As such this
   appears to be somewhat less than ordinary. Seem in flight at eye level
   in an open area in Callitris and Box woodland. Large bill, greeny blue
   wings and reddish brown on body. I waited around for an hour or more
   hoping to see it again but no luck.
   Kim Farley-Larmour
   Pacific Baza Pacific Highway, Shark Creek
   One Baza in flight near Highway heading east, attacked by 2-3 Magpies.
   Greg Clancy
   Black Kite Hume Highway near Bowning
   Single bird gliding above road being mobbed by a pair of magpie-larks.
   Rodney Falconer
   Red-backed Kingfisher, White-backed Swallow Eulah Creek
   The two Red-backed Kingfishers are still present in the Bullawa Creek
   bed, near the big bridge at the Eulah Creek Road crossing. One bird was
   heard calling repeatedly (probably the male; on the right in the
   composite photo), the other was silent (probably the female, on the
   left, not calling in the photo). Two White-backed Swallows also still
   present (photo taken) and both Striated Pardalotes and Rainbow
   Bee-eaters inspecting nesting tunnels (photos taken). No sign of
   nesting activity of the Red-backed Kingfishers, though. Leaden
   Flycatchers and male Rufous Songlark were very active. Calls of the
   Red-backed Kingfisher/s were successfully recorded (see "Further
   information" link).
   Michael Dahlem
   Sat 4 Oct Rufous Fieldwren Silverton Rd 10km to Silverton from Broken
   Hill, New South Wales
   James and Surong Gunn
   Eastern Koel, Satin Bowerbird Coutts Crossing Village
   An adult male Koel was observed briefly flying past our house. I had a
   limited view of it but it gave a short burst of the typical Koel flight
   contact call to confirm its identity. This is my first record of this
   species this season. An adult male Satin Bowerbird was bathing in a
   dish of water at our back door. Yesterday it was mimicking the calls of
   the Australian Magpie (alarm call) and Wedge-tailed Eagle.
   Greg Clancy
   Square-tailed Kite Middle Dural, NW Sydney
   I flying low over tree tops West of Great Northern Road at 1pm
   Chris Gladwin
   Spectacled Monarch. lane Cove National Park.Whale Rock entrance.
   Got my first Sydney record of a Spectacled Monarch this morning I
   am.not sure whether this species has been recorded in Sydney before
   also watched a Black-faced Monarch catch a large dragon fly pull its
   head and wings off and eat the body.also 1 Rufous Fantail present and a
   few Leaden Flycatchers looking for nest sites.and a Pacific Baza eating
   a Green Tree-frog. (Moderator's Note: Spectacled Monarchs are very rare
   in Sydney but are becoming more common. AKM)
   michael ronan.
   Rose-crowned fruit-dove (imm.) Caniaba, Lismore NSW
   Observed on hill in euc. woodland briefly surveying unfamiliar terrain
   while executing passage between open forest areas.
   paul griffin
   Painted Honeyeater, Plum-headed Finch Capertee Valley--Genowlan Bridge
   One Painted Honeyeater calling, and a trio of Plum-headed Finches in
   the brambles at the northern end of the bridge. Restless Flycatcher
   nesting and a pair of Little Eagles were also seen overhead.
   Nick Leseberg
   Turquoise Parrot, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Hooded Robin, Diamond
   Firetail Capertee Valley--Coco Creek
   Things are still pretty quiet in the valley, but there was a bit of
   activity around the bridge at Coco Creek, with the above species plus
   Yellow-tufted and Fuscous Honeyeaters.
   Nick Leseberg
   Fri 3 Oct Spotted Quail-thrush, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Mogo Camp,
   Yengo NP on Settlers Rd between Bucketty and St. Albans
   A pair of Spotted Quail-thrush were foraging on the grass in the camp
   site and a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike was feeding in the camp site
   trees. Other birds present included Yellow-tufted, White-eared,
   Yellow-faced and Scarlet Honeyeaters.
   Alan Morris & Allan Benson
   Gang-Gang Cockatoo, Powerful Owl, White-throated Nightjar, Grey
   Currawong Morton National Park - Wog Wog Campground
   Nocturnal birds quite vocal near the campground with Powerful Owl,
   Southern Boobook, Tawny Frogmouth and White-throated Nightjar all heard
   from tent. Also seen/heard early this morning were Gang-gang Cockatoo,
   Grey Currawong, Sacred Kingfisher & Scarlet Robin.
   Marc Anderson
   Blue-billed Duck, Freckled Duck, Plum-headed Finch Gum Swamp (Forbes)
   10 Plum-headed Finches collecting Cumbungee seed heads and carrying it
   off, possibly nesting. 6 Blue-billed Ducks on the swamp (two pairs and
   one female still had a large chick with her). Quite a few Freckled
   Ducks.
   Warren Chad & Nick Leseberg
   Diamond Firetail, Turquoise Parrot, Hooded Robin Back Yamma SF
   Plenty of birds around Back Yamma this morning, with the above species
   the highlights.
   Nick Leseberg
   Southern Emuwren, Brown-headed Honeyater, Brown Quail Voyager Pt 1'
   Cell
   A female Southern Emuwren carrying a grub and disapearing into a dense
   clump of heath possibly has a nest with chick(s); male calling close
   by. A few Brown Quails flushed from swampy heath. Single Brown-headed
   Honeyeater seen and calling. A few Rufous Whistlers and Sacred
   Kingfishers calling for 2nd week in a row. Golden Whistlers and Grey
   Fantails appear to have left, but a (late?) Fan-tailed Cuckoo calling
   (they've been quiet elsewhere locally this week). Single male
   Mistletoebird in full song. Resident Weebills and White-eared
   Honeyeaters conspicuous.
   David James
   Thu 2 Oct Little Penguin Chinamans Beach, Balmoral, Sydney
   1 Little Penguin swimming around off rocks northern end of beach 3 p.m.
   Always nice to see them inside the Heads; probably not often seen in
   Middle Harbour.
   David Potter
   Red-backed Kingfisher, White-backed Swallow Eulah Creek
   Following the calls of a Rufous Songlark that I subsequently recorded,
   I stopped at the Bullawa Creek bridge and went a few hundred metres
   downstream. Apart from various more common birds (all of which were
   very active around 13:00), found a pair of Red-backed Kingfishers (only
   ever seen before in Walgett; see photo - also took a more distant photo
   of both birds together; possibly recorded their calls too) and a pair
   of White-backed Swallows hawking for insects above the dry creek bed
   (photo inset). Rainbow Bee-eaters and Striated Pardalotes are building
   nests in a vertical clay bank gouged out by the creek 1.5 years ago.
   Female Leaden Flycatcher and a very vocal group of Black-faced
   Cuckoo-shrikes also present.
   Michael Dahlem
   Crested Shrike-tit Terrys Creek Parklands
   Near walking track of bushland, 40 metres north of Vimiera Park edge -
   Epping side of Terrys Creek. [Moderator's note (NH): This is a 'good'
   bird for Sydney's suburbia.]
   Irene Timmins
   Spotted Bowerbird, White-backed Swallow, White-fronted Honeyeater Round
   Hill NR
   Pretty tough going here as well, but a few good birds were found. A
   little eremophila in flower but not much, so the birds are pretty thin
   on the ground.
   Nick Leseberg
   Grey-fronted Honeyeater Nombinnie NR
   One Grey-fronted Honeyeater seen at the old wheat paddock site during a
   pretty tough morning. All the usuals were found including Chestnut
   Quail-thrush, Southern Scrub-robin, Shy Heathwren, Yellow-plumed
   Honeyeater and Gilbert's Whistler, but things were fairly quiet.
   Nick Leseberg
   Painted Buttonquail Wilson Street, Botany, 2019
   Decapitated Painted Buttonquail found on pathway, corner Wiggins St.
   Nearest suitable survivable would be Botany Golf Course, which is only
   a few hundred meters away.
   David Mitford
   Spectacled Monarch Ourimbah RTA Reserve
   Heard and seen about 100 metres from the entrance on left side on track
   (about 50 metres from the first bend) as we walked in. Still showing
   very well in same spot as we walked out. Other birds of note: Scarlet
   Honeyeater and Bassian Thrush.
   Allan Benson and Alan Morris
   Wed 1 Oct Rufous Whistler, Rufous Fantail, Leaden Flycatcher,
   Black-faced Monarch, Dollarbird Lane Cove National Park--Fairyland
   Lot of migrating birds which I don't normally see around Lane Cove
   including Rufous Fantail, Leaden Flycatcher, Scarlet Honeyeater,
   White-cheeked Honeyeater, Black-faced Monarch and a first for the site,
   pair of Rufous Whistler. Also Olive-backed Oriole, Striated Heron,
   Dollarbird, Sacred Kingfisher and plenty of New Holland and
   Yellow-faced Honeyeaters.
   Fatih Sam
   Black-tailed Native-hen, Red-capped Plover, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper,
   Red-necked Avocet Cotton Farm, Ashley
   At least three Black-tailed Native-hens were observed running in open
   treeless farmland, the first since about January. About 30 Red-capped
   Plovers still remain (of the 50 that were found on 2 July) spread over
   3 large irrigation farm dams in a 5km radius. 4 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
   were observed, the first for the year. About 40 Red-necked Avocets are
   also still present. 2 Gull-billed Tern, 6 Caspian Tern and 90 Whiskered
   Terns were also found.
   Curtis Hayne
   Chestnut-rumped Heath-wren, Black-chinned Honeyeater Kings Plains
   National Park
   2 Chestnut-rumped Heath-wrens showing well, 3 Black-chinned Honeyeaters
   Greg Roberts
   Channel-billed Cuckoo submissions August/September 2014 NSW
   We published the 10 first arrivals (including five August reports). All
   sightings of CBCs listed below are in accordance with the typical
   arrival dates of CBC in the region: 16/08/2014, Castlecrag, Sydney,
   Murray Lord; 16/08/2014, Minchinbury, L. Morgan; 17/08/2014, Middle
   Cove, Lorna Bloom; 18/08/2014, Terrigal, Jeff Drudge; 21/08/2014,
   Middle Cove, Lorna Bloom; 03/09/2014, Eulah Creek, Michael Dahlem;
   05/09/2014, Balmain, Robert Griffin; 05/09/2014, Bundeena, Deryk Engel
   and Stephen Bloomfield; 07/09/2014, Kurrajong Hills, Eric Finley;
   07/09/2014, Bicentennial Park (Glebe), Simon Gorta; 07/09/2014, North
   Epping, Frances Rein; 14/09/2014, Warriewood Wetlands, Jayden Walsh;
   18/09/2014, Deep Creek Reserve, Narrabeen, Jacqui Marlow; 19/09/2014,
   Mulgoa, Tanja Van; 20/09/2014,South Grafton Water Reserve (Abattoir
   TSR), Greg Clancy & Alan Pilkington; 23/09/2014, Warriewood Wetlands
   and Irrawong Reserve, Jayden Walsh; 27/09/2014, Camden, Lydia Berger;
   28/09/2014, Eastlakes golf course, David Mitford; 28/09/2014, Woy Woy,
   Greg and Georgina Shaw (photo); 29/09/2014, Penrith, Akos and Donata
   Lumnitzer. We decided not to publish any further in-season CBC
   sightings (except for unusual observations).
   Nikolas Haass (moderator)
   Tue 30 Sep Blue-billed Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Whiskered Tern,
   Musk Duck , Magpie-lark Little Llangothlin Natrure Reserve
   2+ Blue-billed Ducks, 8+ Shovelers, 10+ Whiskered Terns and 2 adult
   male Musk Ducks. Also an albino Magpie-lark at lake edge with 2 normal
   coloured birds.
   Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
   Little Friarbird, White-backed Swallow South of Bunnan, Upper Hunter
   Valley
   3 Little Friarbirds at a site 5km south of Bunnan along Ridgelands
   Road. Uncommon in the Hunter Valley. Also several Diamond Firetails,
   Brown Treecreepers (with dependant young), vocal White-winged Trillers
   and Rufous Songlarks and 2x White-backed Swallows.
   Mick Roderick and Tom Clarke
   Speckled Warbler and Buff-rumped Thornbill Capertee Valley--Port
   Macquarie Rd
   Speckled Warbler and Buff-rumped Thornbill found at random spots along
   the road.
   David James and Dion Hobcroft
   Little Eagle, Restless Flycatcher Capertee Valley--Genowlan Bridge
   Nesting Restless Flycatcher (thanks to Carol Proberts) and a pair of
   Little Eagles at the Genowlan Bridge, but not the usual specialties
   there.
   Dion Hobcroft and David James
   Painted Buttonquail, Pallid Cuckoo Capertee Valley--Glen Alice
   Many platelets between the church and the river but we flushed just a
   single Painted Buttonquail. 1 Pallid Cuckoo calling, the only one we
   heard all day. One of very few Rufous Songlarks in the cemetery.
   Several Sacred Kingfishers in the red gums by the river.
   David James and Dion Hobcroft
   Diamond Firetail, Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper Capertee
   Valley--Crown Station Rd
   The Capertee Valley is not her usual self, with no flowering eucalypts
   or mistletoes. A single Diamond Firetail and a female Hooded Robin on
   Crown Station Road with several Brown Treecreepers, Jacky Winters,
   Fuscus Honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallows.
   Dion Hobcroft and David James
   Double-barred Finch, Zebra Finch, Yellow-rumped Thornbill Capertee
   Valley--Glen Davis/Alice T-junction
   Double-barred Finch, Zebra Finch, Yellow-rumped Thornbill at Glen
   Davis.
   Dion Hobcroft and David James
   Freckled Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Australasian Shoveler Lithgow
   Wastewater Treatment Plant
   Two Freckled Ducks roosting separately on the right-hand shore of the
   1st pond, 1 male, 1 female. About 100+ Pink-eared Ducks and 50+
   Australasian Shovelers across the ponds. Plenty of Hoary-headed Grebes
   too.
   Dion Hobcroft and David James
   Australian Wood Duck - Large Brood Cowra Japanese Garden
   While walking around The Japanese Garden in Cowra I was surprised to
   see a pair of Australian Wood Ducks with a brood of 20 ducklings
   following them around. They appeared to be firmly imprinted on the
   adults and all at the same stage of maturity. [Moderator's note (NH):
   According to HANZAB, the clutch-size is on 'average10.5 eggs but large
   broods (17, 18) suggest probability of dump-laying.]
   Roger Giller
   Blue-billed Duck, Black-tailed Native-hen, Little Raven Lake Wallace,
   Wallerawang
   Following report by Tom Was report we found a shy male Blue-billed Duck
   near the kayak club jetty. A Single Black-tailed Nativehen on the grass
   along the track to the kayak club. A pair of Little Ravens with two
   fledglings just out of the nest in same area is a breeding record close
   to Sydney. Also 3 Whiskered Terns, 50 + Great Crested Grebes (many in
   breeding plumage, courting, and close to shore), plenty of Hoary-headed
   Grebes (distant) and several Musk Ducks also courting.
   David James and Dion Hobcroft
   Mon 29 Sep Grey Goshawk, Dollarbird, Scarlet Honeyeater Bellingen
   Island, Bellingen
   Grey morph Grey Goshawk perched in Small-leaved Fig: adult Dollarbird
   hunting in air from dead tree (observer's first record for season);
   numerous Scarlet Honeyeaters heard and observed including a road killed
   adult male.
   Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
   Latham's Snipe, Red-kneed Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel,
   Black-winged Stilt Wetland on North Bank Road, Raleigh
   5+ Latham's Snipe loafing and foraging at edge of wetland; 2 Red-kneed
   Dotterels and 1 Black-fronted Dotterel foraging; 2+ Black-winged Stilts
   foraging.
   Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
   Dollarbird, Black Bittern, Azure Kingfisher Ourimbah Creek, Ourimbah
   On a boat trip down Ourimbah Creek, I saw 2 Dollarbirds the first
   returnees for the Central Coast this year. Also seen a Black Bittern
   and a pair of Azure Kingfishers.
   Christina Port
   Brush Cuckoo Lower Pappinbarra
   First Brush Cuckoo for many months heard this morning.
   Ian Kerr
   White-breasted Woodswallow Kallaroo Rd, Bensville, 33ADEG29'44.7"S
   151ADEG22'45.1"E
   One White-breasted Woodswallow seen perched on wires near jetty. Two
   others were seen in vicinity, before all three flew off. (Moderator's
   Note: White-breasted Woodswallows are common summer migrants to the
   Central Coast and are found around the edges of Tuggerah Lakes,
   Brisbane Water and the Gosford coastal lagoons of Wamberal, Avoca and
   Cochrone Lagoons. They are present from August to April although the
   first birds returned this spring on 4/9/14 to McPherson Rd Tuggerah. By
   15/9/14 they had appeared at most CC sites. AKM)
   Greg and Georgina Shaw
   Varied Triller, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Wompoo Fruit-Dove Mungo Brush
   Rainforest Walk
   Varied Triller calling near the car park at the start of the rainforest
   walk at Mungo Brush this morning. This is a very southerly record for
   this species and is the southernmost location reported in the Hunter
   since the commencement of annual bird reports in 1993 (though some
   farther south records are noted in HANZAB). There were at least 4
   Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves and we are confident there are a few more than
   that. Their calls were heard from a broad section of the rainforest at
   the location described by Josh et al on the 27/09 and dominated the
   call activity for a period of time. Also present were singles of Wompoo
   Fruit-Dove and White-headed Pigeon, several Topknot Pigeons, a few
   Regent Bowerbirds, Australian Figbirds and Green Catbirds (all feeding
   on Livistona australis fruit, though we did not see the RcFD feeding).
   Rufous Fantails and several Black-faced Monarchs are in as well.
   Mick Roderick and Dan Williams
   Australasian Bittern, Spotless Crake, Black-tailed Native-Hen Fivebough
   Swamp
   One Australasian Bittern, one Black-tailed Native-Hen and all three
   possible species of crake from the walking trails through the swamp.
   Plenty of other birds around including Glossy Ibis, Brolga and several
   Yellow-billed Spoonbills.
   Nick Leseberg
   Painted Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot, Pink Cockatoo Binya State Forest
   One Painted Honeyeater, one pair of Pink Cockatoos and several pairs of
   Turquoise Parrots during a morning at several spots around Binya.
   Nick Leseberg
   Sun 28 Sep Pacific Baza, Australian Logrunner, Noisy Pitta, Crested
   Shrike-tit Mt Hyland Wilderness Retreat, Dundurrabin
   1+ of all species heard calling.
   Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
   Scarlet & Flame Robin, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Mt Banks, Blue Mts
   National Park
   Pair of Scarlet Robins seen from road approx 150 metres from gate - the
   male was observed feeding the female. Pair of Flame Robins seen
   crossing road about 1500 metres from gate to some trees about 100m off
   the roadway and then returning. Chestnut-rumped Heathwren heard singing
   from track (not road) to summit about 200 metres from car park but was
   not seen.
   Tom Wilson
   Golden Whistler, Lewin's Rail, Latham's Snipe, Peregrine Falcon
   Eastlakes golf course
   The 'wintering' immature Golden Whistler still present near the Fairy
   Martin colony, a White-necked Heron also there, 1 Latham's Snipe, 1
   Peregrine Falcon flying over as was a Channel-billed Cuckoo and
   White-browed Scrubwrens feeding a freshly fledged Fan-tailed Cuckoo.
   Lewin's Rail also heard calling.
   David Mitford
   Sat 27 Sep Sooty Owl, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Black-faced Monarch,
   Noisy Pitta Mt Hyland Wilderness Lodge, Dundurrabin
   Sooty Owl responded to playback at night; Owlet-nightjar heard on
   25/26/27/29 & 30 Sep; Black-faced Monarch - first return at this site
   on Sep 27; Pitta recorded on Sep 24/28/29/30 & Oct 1 & 2.
   Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club
   Wandering Albatross, Cape Petrel and Short-tailed Shearwaters
   Offshore--Wollongong pelagic
   Highlights of the Saturday SOSSA pelagic were 8+ Wandering and
   Antipodean Albatrosses, a single Cape Petrel a few km from shore on the
   way back and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits 17 km out. There were also good
   numbers of Shy, White-capped and Black-browed Albatrosses, as well as
   at least 1 juvenile Campbell Albatross. Other birds included 2
   Providence Petrels, 2 Fairy Prions and a White-fronted Tern.
   Wedge-tailed Shearwater numbers were low <20, but the Short-tailed
   Shearwater migration has started, with 000's passing through. A full
   species list will be posted on the SOSSA website. [Moderator's note
   (NH): Cape Petrels - once a common bird on winter pelagics - have
   become extremely rare within the last two winters. The reason for this
   is at this point unclear.]
   Brook Whylie and all on board the Sandra K
   Topknot Pigeon Illawarra Escarpment State Recreation Area-Bulli Pass
   Over 100 Topknot Pigeons in flocks of varying sizes from 3 or 4 to
   close to 100.
   Paul Freeman
   Thu 25 Sep Pallid Cuckoo, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Grey-crowned Babbler
   Rushforth Road, north of Poley Bridge, Orara River
   One Pallid Cuckoo observed perched and then in flight; Channel-billed
   Cuckoo heard calling; 4 Grey-crowned Babblers foraging on ground.
   Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
   Wed 24 Sep Flame Robin, Red-browed Treecreeper, Superb Lyrebird
   Chaelundi Road, Mt Hyland Nature Reserve
   Adult pair of Flame Robins in trees in Nature Reserve and foraging in
   logged and burnt area opposite, Red-browed Treecreeper observed in tree
   by Boyd Essex, Superb Lyrebird crossed road in front of vehicle.
   Greg Clancy & Gould League Bird Study Camp Club members
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