Birdline New South Wales
Published sightings for the week ending 9 Nov 2014.
Sun 9 Nov South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Australian Shelduck, Cattle
Egret, Dollarbird, Pectoral Sandpiper Lord Howe Island
During Ian Hutton's Bird Week on Lord Howe Island, several noteworthy
observations were made , including Australian Shelduck (3-8/11),
Pectoral Sandpiper (4-8/11) and 6 Cattle Egrets (6/11, most in full
breeding plumage) at Moseley Park Swamp by the Airport, Dollarbird
(4-5/11) at Ned's Beach, and - the highlight - a South Island Pied
Oystercatcher at the Airport and surrounding areas (6-7/11).
Denise and Chris Kane, Catherine Johnson, Ian Hutton, Hans Wohlmuth and
various others.
Red-necked Avocet, Wood Sandpiper Bushell's Lagoon
At Bushell's Lagoon, there was a Wood Sandpiper with 43 Sharpies, 8
Red-kneed and 4 Black-fronted Dotterels, 2 Red-necked Avocets, another
29 Pink-eared Duck, an adult White-bellied Sea-eagle, a Peregrine
Falcon, Tawny Grassbird etc.
Edwin Vella
Marsh Sandpiper, Little Egret, Freckled Duck Pitt Town Lagoon
At Pitt Town Lagoon this morning I had a Marsh Sandpiper with about 7
Sharpies, c25 Red-kneed and 2 Black-fronted Dotterel, 5 Freckled and
c80 Pink-eared Ducks and a Little Egret.
Edwin Vella
Black Kite Casino
Black Kite circling beside road about 10 kilometers east of Casino this
morning.
michael ronan
Square-tailed Kite Eurobodalla National Park--Beachcomber Holiday Park
Pair at nest approx 30 metres up a Spotted Gum (E. maculata). Very
solidly built nest of sticks, perhaps a little under a metre across.
One bird remained in nest and other visited periodically. Saw this
adult very well and in detail. Noted that its dark primaries extended
beyond the tail when bird perched, that it had a whitish face, forehead
and chin, a dark tip to the bill, yellow iris, pale legs and feet,
rufous underside and pale translucent bullseyes in underwing in flight.
Have rather poor photos. Link below to Eremaea eBird list may not open
but full list is a available on that site
Kim and Geoff Larmour
Magpie Goose Mehi River, Moree
Over the last couple of weeks Magpie Geese have returned back to their
usual wide spot, on the Mehi River, north side of the township (near
the main street/CBD). They have not been seen since the last weekend of
August. Yesterday about c. 25 Magpie Geese were found, now today a
total of 80 Magpie Geese all together resting on a flat. This is the
largest number I have ever seen here and unusual for the township.
Curtis Hayne and Michael Dahlem
Black Bittern Mullet Creek Warriewood
A single Black Bittern was seen well this morning at Mullet Creek near
the 'weir'. Also of interest was 2 Dollarbirds seen hawking for insects
along the creek and about 4 Magpie Lark nests. The Black Bittern has
been present here for well over 2 weeks.
Jayden Walsh
White throated Needletail Bobbin Head Rd, North Turramurra
Flock of 25-30 birds seen approx 7:45am. Low down and circling -
feeding on something. Birds were calling as well. First Sydney sighting
for me this season.
Tom Wilson
Sat 8 Nov Australian Shelduck Lord Howe Island
A single Australian Shelduck shuttling from airstrip swamp to sit in
The Lagoon, approx 50m offshore. A local told me that this is the first
Shelduck since 1985. In searching (unsuccessfully) for reported SIPO, a
range of waders were found, including 20+ Whimbrels and 6 Bar-tailed
Godwits. Also on this day Jack Shick reported a Black Petrel approx 4nm
off-shore.
John Weigel
Brown Falcon, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Riverstone
Around noon, I went for a quick looks at Riverstone and can confirm
that there are 2 young in the Brown Falcons nest with their parents
seen hanging around nearby as well as a Pallid Cuckoo. Also seen were 9
Sharp-tailed Sandpipers with 5 Black-fronted Dotterels on a dam, 2
Shining Bronze-cuckoos, a male Leaden Flycatcher, Sacred Kingfisher,
White-winged Triller, Crested Shrike-tits, Olive-backed Orioles, Golden
and Rufous Whistlers, Varied Sitellas, Crested Shrike-tit etc. Not bad
for an hour visit!
Edwin Vella
Blue-faced Honeyeater, Apostlebird Nurragingy Reserve
Yesterday morning, I joined Mark for the What Bird is That Workshop in
Nurragingy Reserve run in conjunction with the Blacktown Council and
CBOC. We all enjoyed a good few hours with a family group of Blue-faced
Honeyeaters with young, Scarlet Honeyeaters, Apostlebird and a group of
White-winged Choughs, Australasian Figbirds , Crested Shrike-tit and
what looked like a Square-tailed Kite flying away from us.
Edwin Vella, Mark Fuller et al
Forest Kingfisher, White-eared Monarch, Varied Triller Huonbrook,
Mullumbimby
Highlights from this morning was a Forest Kingfisher sitting on power
lines. A pair of Varied Trillers building a nest also a pair of
White-eared Monarchs and there was 4 Spangled Drongo nests within 100
metres of each other.
michael ronan
White-breasted Woodswallow Gosling Creek Reserve, Orange
Two birds hawking for insects along with eight Dollarbirds.
Neville Schrader
Little Egret Spring Creek Reservoir, Orange
Single bird in breeding plumage, scarce at Orange..
Neville Schrader
Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Satin Bowerbird, Spangled Drongo Coutts Crossing
Village
Heard Little Bronze-Cuckoo and Spangled Drongo in our backyard. Drongos
are rare at this site this time of year because they are usually
breeding in wetter forests but an immature has been hanging around.
Adult male Bowerbird bathing at bird bath and dish near our back door.
Greg Clancy
White-throated Needletail Caniaba, Lismore NSW
Sighted most mornings this week flying east, sometimes returning west
shortly after. 15 early in the week, 4 later when it was overcast and
50 today with the return of clear skies.
paul griffin
Black-tailed Native-hen Spring Creek Reservoir, Orange - private dam at
W end
1 Black-tailed Native-hen along with at least 5 Latham's Snipe feeding
on open mud flats on quickly drying dam. Able to be seen from road.
Rosemary Stapleton
Fri 7 Nov Common Cicadabird, Painted Button-quail, Varied Sittella,
Chambigne Nature Reserve/State Conservation Area (restricted access)
Cicadabird heard calling (also on on Nov 4-6) at various sites, female
Button-quail flushed from near creek line, 5+ Sittellas feeding in
mixed flock with Grey Fantail, Rufous Whistler, female Leaden
Flycatcher, Red-backed Fairy-wrens etc.
Greg Clancy & Russell Jago
Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo Bundanoon township
One bird calling behind the sewage works this afternoon. Species no.
173 for town. I'm surprised it's taken me four years to add this to my
Bundanoon list.
Lorne Johnson
White-throated Needletails Telegraph Point
50 seen on a Hastings Birdwatchers outing, on private property, 1.5km
SW of town.
Ian Kerr
Red-backed Kingfisher, White-backed Swallow, Little Eagle Eulah Creek
Still keeping an eye on the pair of Red-backed Kingfishers near the
Bullawa Creek bridge (photo) and trying to find their nest tunnel (so
far without success), this morning I have confirmed 4 active Rainbow
Bee-eater nests in the area. In total there are about 10 bird species
nesting along a 200 m section of the dry creek bed. Today there were 4
White-backed Swallows (inset on left), which are not showing any signs
of breeding activity. As a bonus, today a Little Eagle passed over
(second inset, upper right).
Michael Dahlem
Thu 6 Nov Collared Sparrowhawk, Brush Cuckoo, Musk Lorikeet Chambigne
Nature Reserve & State Conservation Area (restricted access)
Adult female Sparrowhawk sitting on nest in Coastal Blackbutt
Eucalyptus pilularis (also observed on Nov 7), Brush Cuckoo heard
calling at two sites on Nov 6 (also at different site on Nov 5), 11
Lorikeets observed at one site and 5 at another.
Greg Clancy & Russell Jago
White-throated Nightjar, Australian Owlet-nightjar, White-throated
Needletail, Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chambigne Nature Reserve, W of Coutts
Crossing
White-throated Nightjars heard calling at two sites, also observed at
separate site on Nov 3 (one seen one heard), 2 heard at fourth site on
Nov 4 (all records at night), Owlet-nightjar heard calling during the
day (also on Nov 3) and heard at night at four other sites. 50+
Needletails flying ahead of storm clouds. Two Bronze-Cuckoos heard
calling (one heard calling same site on Nov 7).
Greg Clancy & Russell Jago
Pectoral Sandpiper Shoalhaven Heads
Couldn't find either the Grey Plover or Sanderlings that were reported
on 3/11/14 (Reported at Shoalhaven Heads side of Comerong Island NR). I
did however find one Pectoral Sandpiper with the Godwits and lone Red
Knot after sunset on a rising tide. The bird could not be relocated
this morning (7/11/14)
Lachlan Hall
South Island Pied Oystercatcher Lord Howe Island
Single found during Lord Howe Island Bird Week (no specific site
details).
Ian Hutton (per Facebook)
White-throated Needletail Lower Pappinbarra
3 heading west at 7:20am then 5 minutes later 3 heading east, possibly
the same 3.
Ian Kerr
Little Eagle, Freckled Duck and Pink-eared Duck Tuggerah Waste Water
Treatment Plant
Visiting family on the central coast and checked out this location
previously posted last week. Besides the 40 plus Red-necked Avocet and
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper resident, additional interesting birds included
Curlew Sandpiper, Latham's Snipe, Black-winged Stilts, 2 Freckled Ducks
and 6 Pink-eared Ducks, with a late fly over from a Little Eagle.
Pete Knock
Superb Parrot Bretts State Forest, Coleambally
Passing through Colleambally early afternoon I stopped briefly and
found about 15 Superb Parrots in small groups, resting in cypress pines
and feeding on acacia seeds. Probably plenty more present. Some young
birds amongst adults.
David James
Superb Fruit-Dove, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, White-eared Monarch
Nightcap National Park
Excellent numbers of pigeons at Rocky Creek Dam today. 10+ Superb
Fruit-Doves (seen 3 males and 2 females and heard at least 5 more),
about 30 Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves and up to 40 Wompoo Fruit-Doves. 2
White-eared Monarchs near the entrance. Emerald Doves and Wonga Pigeons
were also there in good numbers.
michael ronan
Noisy Pitta Ourimbah
Plenty of bird activity around my residence this morning after
yesterday's storm, yielding sightings of a Noisy Pitta, calling from
10m high branch (!), Eastern Koel, Cicadabird and Black-faced Monarch.
Nice to be home for a short spell.
John Weigel
Wed 5 Nov White-browed Woodswallow Hunter Economic Zone (south of
Abermain, near Cessnock)
The White-browed Woodswallows that we first saw in HEZ on the 26th Oct
(along with some Masked) have remained and are nesting. The attached
image shows a male standing alongside a nest that a female had been
sitting on just prior to the photo being taken. Although hard to count,
there would have been about 30-40 birds in the area (which I didn't
explore extensively). There could easily have been Maskeds present but
I wasn't able to confirm this. Both species have bred in HEZ in recent
years and is the only place that White-broweds have been confirmed
breeding in the Lower Hunter and is the only place that Maskeds have
been confirmed breeding anywhere in the Hunter Region.
Mick Roderick
Glossy Ibis Eurobodalla National Park at 36 15 48S 150 08 41E
Single Glossy Ibis seen throughout the day at the lagoon within the
Holiday Park. We note that this species is not commonly reported for
the south coast. Have photos
Kim and Geoff Larmour
Barred Cuckoo-Shrike, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, White-eared Monarch Mebbin
National Park
Only 1 Barred Cuckoo-Shrike at Mebbin National Park, Murwillumbah. Also
10 Wompoo Fruit-Doves, 3 White-eared Monarchs and 1 big Tiger Snake
beside a fallen log which I almost walked on.
michael ronan.
Southern Boobook, Australian Hobby Gwyneville, Wollongong
One bird heard at 9pm. Also, an Australian Hobby seen at 7pm.
Lorne Johnson
Pacific Baza Forest Way, Belrose, Sydney
Single Pacific Baza in trees alongside busy road at 7.00am this
morning.
Kevin Stone
Tue 4 Nov White-winged Triller, Sacred Kingfisher, Weebill,
Double-barred Finch, Peaceful Dove Private land between Chambigne
Nature Reserve and Chambigne State Conservation Area (limited access)
Adult male Triller observed in flight and perched in tree, Sacred
Kingfisher, Finch and Dove observed in flight and Weebill heard
calling.
Greg Clancy & Russell Jago
Forest Kingfisher, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Nankeen Night Heron, Glossy
Black-Cockatoo Chambigne Nature Reserve, W of Coutts Crossing
(restricted access)
Kingfisher observed at ridge site (single bird observed at second site
on Nov 3), Bronze-Cuckoo heard calling, Night Heron heard calling at
night, adult pair of Glossies feeding in Black She-oak along creek
line.
Greg Clancy & Russell Jago
Australian Brush-turkey Farnells Rd, Katoomba
An acquaintance sent me a phone pic she took of a bird in her Katoomba
garden this morning - thinking it was a "Bush Turkey". Couldn't believe
it - yes - an Australian Brush-turkey. Her place is about 1.5 km from
the recent fires. Apparently, only the 2nd reporting in Katoomba (will
try checking up with the Blue Mts Bird Observers when that first report
was). Will keep an eye out in my travels.
pic sent to John French -
White-throated Nightjar, Powerful Owl, Musk Duck Wollemi National
Park--Dunns Swamp
White-throated Nightjar seen on road near the Ganguddy campground about
8pm on the 3rd November, and was also heard calling early in the
morning, along with a distant Powerful Owl (and many Southern
Boobooks). Also Musk Duck displaying and calling.
Marc Anderson
Hooded Robin, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Painted Buttonquail, Crested
Shrike-Tit Capertee Valley--Genowlan Bridge
Plenty of bird activity along the Capertee River this morning, with
many species calling/singing including 2 x Hooded Robin, at least 2 x
Black-chinned Honeyeater, 1 x Painted Buttonquail & a Crested Shrike
Tit. No Regent Honeyeaters seen or heard.
Marc Anderson
Common Cicadabird, Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Australian Hobby,
Mangrove Gerygone Sydney Olympic Park
Single Common Cicadabird heard calling very clearly from inside
Newington NR. Heard while walking the path along the western side of
Woo-la-ra. Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo very vocal at the Waterbird
Refuge. Australian Hobby in flight over Narrawang. Also Mangrove
Gerygone (vocal at several sites, including the Brickpit), Leaden
Flycatcher (Wentworth Common), Red-kneed Dotterel (Brickpit) and Brown
Quail whistled in to within a metre of where I was standing at
Wentworth Common. A good spring morning with 75 sp. recorded.
Max Breckenridge
Southern Whiteface Corner of Ophir Road & Cashens Lane, west of
Bathurst
Stopped here on the way to work this morning to ID a bird on the fence
(White-winged Triller) then noticed a Southern Whiteface on the fence
opposite. Only detected the one bird, but rather pressed for
time...also Buff-rumped Thornbills, Grey Fantails, Australian Raven and
Grey Butcherbird.
Tiffany Mason
Mon 3 Nov Beach Stone-curlew, Grey Plover, Little Tern, Sanderling
Comerong Island Nature Reserve
A single Beach Stone-curlew was roosting on the beach near a breakwater
wall (opposite Crookshaven Head boat ramp). Good selection of waders on
the beach and mudflats on the Shoalhaven Head site including: Little
Tern (2), Pacific Golden Plover (103), Bar-tailed Godwit (156), Grey
Plover (1 - nice black armpit showed during flight), Eastern Curlew
(21), Red-necked Stilt (26), Whimbrel (3), Red Knot (2), Ruddy
Turnstone (3), Sanderling (2), Red-capped Plover (27), Australian Pied
Oystercatcher (6 + 2 very small chicks). In the swamps and ponds just 1
km for the Ferry : Black-fronted Dotterel (2), Marsh Sandpiper (1),
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (16), and 4 very cheeky Buff-banded Rail
(running in open at the edge of swamp vegetation). [Moderator's Note:
Visitors to the site failed to relocate any of the highlighted species
today, 6/11. JB]
Ted Wnorowski
Pectoral Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Sanderling, Lesser Sand Plover,
Little Tern Lake Wollumboola
Fantastic waders, very easy to observe, mostly Sharp-tailed Sandpipers
(236 - scattered in small flocks around lake edges) and Red-necked
Stints (62). Other waders: Lesser Sand Plover (1 in nearly perfect
breeding plumage), Sanderling (3), Marsh Sandpiper (1 - south east part
of the lake), Red Knot (1), Ruddy Turnstone (1), Pectoral Sandpiper
(1), Pacific Golden Plover (1), Red-capped Plover (3), Red-necked
Avocet (38 - southern part), Grey-tailed Tattler (3). Little Tern (38).
[Moderator's Note: Visitors to the site failed to relocate any of the
highlighted species today, 6/11. JB]
Ted Wnorowski
Australian Shelduck Coomaditchy Lagoon Reserve
Heard new bird call & looked to the south side of the lagoon to see 4
Australian Shelducks. 1 male & 3 females.
Paul Lynch
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Rockwarbler, Crested Shrike-tit, Variegated
Fairywren, Hooded Robins Capertee Valley--#8 on C. Valley Bird Trail
brochure (Coorongooba campsite area of Wollemi NP)
1 Chestnut-rumped Heathwren 1.7 km into Coorongooba campsite area of
Wollemi NP on river bank. Emerged from undergrowth and sang heartily on
low exposed branches at eye level about 6 m away for 1.5 minutes. All
key features of ID readily observed and song was "territorial song" as
per Pizzey and Knight e-guide repeated many times. Then sank back into
undergrowth. Pair Variegated Fairywrens and 1 Rockwarbler on entrance
to above NP (cattle grid). 1 Crested Shrike-tit at campground. Many
Hooded Robin pairs drier areas of valley. ebird list when home tomorrow
to laptop.
Rob Reed
Olive Whistler Barrington Tops National Park--Devil's Hole Campground
2 x Olive Whistlers singing near the Devil's Hole campground
Marc Anderson
Wedge-tailed Eagles Moonan Brook (-31.914644, 151.313353)
Wonderful encounter with at least 11 x Wedge-tailed Eagles which had
evidently been feasting on a carcass. I first flushed three from behind
a rise as I drove past, then others appeared soaring overhead, while
still more were perched in the distance on a few dead trees.
Marc Anderson
Glossy Black-Cockatoo Foxglove Oval, Mt Colah
Three female Glossy Black-Cockatoos were observed drinking from a
drainage pond in a small bushland strip between Foxglove Oval and
Lancelot Street (southern end). They seemed tame, and were undeterred
by my presence. There is a reasonable amount of Allocasuarina spp. in
this suburb, although it is an interesting sighting for a relatively
urban area of Mt Colah. (No photo available).
Tom Hickman
Pale-vented Bush-hen Avery's Creek (Private Property), Glenreagh
A single Pale-vented Bush-hen heard calling last night from reed bed
along the creek of our property. Has started calling intermittently
evenings and early mornings over the weekend. Mostly the single note
repetitive piping call. I have now recorded this calling / breeding
activity at this site for the last 3 years. Very difficult to get a
photo opportunity.
Pete Knock
White-throated Nightjar Deriah Aboriginal Area (restricted access)
Using playback around sunset tonight, I attracted one nightjar that
came to check me out on the "Brush Turkey Trail". It stayed air-borne,
so no photo. The absence of white underwing spots indicates that this
was a White-throated Nightjar (which is the call I had played). Later a
few distant calls were heard from a gully where I had previously
recorded White-throated Nightjar calls.
Michael Dahlem
Sun 2 Nov Plum-headed Finch, Painted Honeyeater, White-browed
Woodswallow Capertee Valley--Genowlan Bridge
Family group of Plum-headed Finches feeding in blackberries (2 ad, 3
juv), also Painted Honeyeater calling, a pair of dark phase Little
Cuckoo-shrikes, a Restless Flycatcher, and about 40 White-browed
Woodswallows. A Striped Honeyeater at the junction from the main road
to Genowlan Road.
Chris Gladwin
Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Hooded Robin, Diamond
Firetail Capertee Valley--#2 on Capertee Valley Bird Trail brochure
1 male Glossy Black-Cockatoo feeding on north side of road in small
roadside casuarinas between #2 and #3 birders signposts, as well as 2
Black-chinned Honeyeaters, 3 Diamond Firetails and an immature Hooded
Robin. What an impressive and most welcome job has been done with the
new signposts throughout the valley.
Chris Gladwin
Tawny Frogmouth Ewen Park, Cooks River, inner west Sydney
Pair of Tawny Frogmouth with 2 young. Another pair reported nearby on
the Cooks River at the Boat Harbour also with 2 young. And a pair with
young in Addison Rd Marrickville (via Damon Bassett). Interesting
apparent local increase of this elsewhere common species. There was
only one record prior to 2007 in over 60 years of surveys by Neil
Rankin, Arnold McGill et al. of the apparently suitable habitat of
nearby Wolli Creek (several records 2007 on).
Andrew Taylor
Sat 1 Nov Red-necked Avocet, Freckled Duck Pitt Town Lagoon
2 Red-necked Avocet, 4 Freckled Duck, also 20+ Pink-eared Duck and 20+
Chestnut-breasted Mannikins
Chris Chafer
Fri 31 Oct Brolga, Australian Painted Snipe Gwydir Wetlands--'Bunnor'
Whilst on the Gwydir Wetlands Tour, at least 150 Brolgas were observed
in wheatfields (photo shows 47 birds). A single male Australian Painted
Snipe was also observed. The property is opened to the public until 30
November 2014.
Curtis Hayne
Pacific Baza Epping
One Pacific Baza calling loudly as it flew over my place this morning.
Never heard or seen by me before in the urban area of Epping.
Brian Downer
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