Birdline New South Wales
Published sightings for the week ending 7 Dec 2014.
Sun 7 Dec Satin Flycatcher Coachwood Glen near Blackheath
2 pairs Satin Flycatchers nesting in wet sclerophyll forest about 20
metres apart. At least one nestling being fed. All four adult birds
together drove away a Pied Currawong that ventured too close to the
nests.
Mark Hocking
Wandering-type Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Fork tailed Swift.
North Head, Manly
Highlights from a sea watch from north head today was a Wandering-type
Albatross,17 Black-browed Albatross and 4 Shy Albatross. There were
also 3 Arctic Jaegers and 2 Pomarine Jaegers, with 3 Fork-tailed Swifts
circling over the cliffs ahead of the storm.
michael ronan
Lesser Frigatebird Tweed Heads
Circled at the NSW/QLD border around Rainbox Rocks from around 1:30pm
until I left around 3:10. Female. Not sure if it is of interest. Hung
around for quite some time hassling the local terns. Great watching it
hovering in the northerly with some Ospreys for company. [Moderator's
Note: This is definitely of interest Cliff! All sightings of Lesser
Frigatebird in NSW should be submitted to NSW ORAC for review. JB]
Cliff Booth
Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck Laggon at -30.531548,153.01648 - Osprey
Drive, Urunga
One pair of Blue-billed Ducks on the lagoon at -30.531548,153.01648.
Also some Musk Ducks present.
Allen Hamilton
Sat 6 Dec Eastern Yellow Wagtail Lismore, 3 Chain Rd STW
Wagtail at 0645. Spotted during the Challenge Count. Found near the
fenced off ponds, from which it undertook undulating flight to far
perimeter fence and then back over ponds calling and out of sight.
(Note: You need permission to enter the STW's)
June Harris, Tony Trott, Faye Smith, Tony Gifford.
Spangled Drongo Pacific Highway, Milson's Point/Kirribilli
One bird observed whilst driving towards the Harbour Bridge. Seen on a
TV antenna just off the highway. Peculiar time of year (usually being a
winter migrant to Sydney).
Simon Gorta
Black-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Avocet, Curlew Sandpiper, Red Knot Lake
Innes Nature Reserve, Port Macquarie
A nice collection of waders were present in Lake Innes where there are
large areas of mud exposed. Black-tailed Godwit (1), Avocet (2), Curlew
Sandpiper (7) , Red Knot (8), Ruddy Turnstone (1) are all unusual in
the Port Macquarie area. Also present were Sharp-tailed Sandpipers
(52), Red-necked Stints (30), Caspian Terns (14) and an estimated 200
White-throated Needletails passed over.
Tim Morris
Red-necked Avocet Yarrie Lake
During a quick visit to Yarrie Lake near Wee Waa around noon today
about 80 Red-necked Avocets were spotted on a sand spit (see also
today's report from the Burren Junction Bore Bath). This is the first
time I have found Red-necked Avocets at Yarrie Lake (which is shallow
right now), although they have been spotted in other wetlands in the
area before.
Michael Dahlem
Marsh Sandpiper, Red-necked Avocet, Plumed Whistling-Duck Burren
Junction
Checking a few inland aquatic habitats before the rain can possibly
cause dispersal, I found good numbers of birds at the Burren Junction
Bore Bath this morning. Next to more common species, there were about
50 Red-necked Avocets (see also today's report from Yarrie Lake), ca.
70 Plumed Whistling-Ducks, at least 4 Marsh Sandpipers ("Further
information" link), some 50 Pink-eared Ducks and about 20 Hoary-headed
Grebes (photos taken of all species reported here).
Michael Dahlem
Australian Pied Oystercatcher Deeban Spit Port Hacking
Looks like our resident pair of Oystercatchers have bred. Saw four on
the beach this morning with the 18 Eastern Curlews.
Julie Keating
Fri 5 Dec Crested Shrike-tit, Crested Bellbird, Nankeen Night-Heron,
Rufous Whistler Eubalong West
Sighted in creek near rest area beside bridge just east of Eubalong
West, in centre of NSW.
Robert Shore
Broad-billed Sandpiper, Fairy Tern Lake Wollumboolla
Highlights observed - 1 Broad-billed Sandpiper, 3 Fairy Tern, 1 Curlew
Sandpiper, 90 Red-necked Avocet, 100+ Little Tern.
Carla Jackett
Black-necked stork Hexam Swamp
Spent the morning at Hexam Swamp to find a pair of Black-necked Storks,
20+ White-fronted Chats, White-winged Triller, White-breasted
Woodswallows with fledglings and babies in nests and an Australian
Hobby along with the usual suspects.
Sarah Moncrieff and Josh Allen
Topknot Pigeon Gordon
5 Topknot Pigeons flew in to feed on fruiting Bangalow Palms in a
suburban backyard in Gordon. Also Satin Bowerbirds nesting in a pine
tree.
Dan Vickers (via David Vickers)
Freckled Duck Deepwater Park Milperra
4 Freckled Ducks today at the Bankstown Tip detention pond. Perhaps 1
more has gone missing from East Lakes Golf Course, or perhaps they are
different birds?.
David James
Thu 4 Dec Cook's Petrel Pelagic off Swansea
A Cook's Petrel was the highlight of a pelagic out of Swansea today,
organised by Allan Benson. It was an unusual day with large periods
motoring across the ocean with not a bird in sightt. It took maybe 15
minutes at the shelf before we started seeing birds arrive. There were
several Sooty Shearwaters seen, all on migration, as well as 3
Long-tailed Jaegers (making it very similar to the Nov 2012 trip out of
Port Stephens). Other birds included ~10 Wilson's Storm-petrels, 4
White-faced Storm-petrels (a good count for this species these days),
an immature Black-browed type Albatross, a few Grey-faced Petrels and a
single Hutton's Shearwater. The attached image was taken by Steve
Roderick.
Mick Roderick, Allan Benson et al
Wed 3 Dec White-winged Black Tern Newcastle Ocean Baths
A White Winged Black Tern was seen at the baths on Wednesday afternoon
along with 20 Common Terns plus a few Crested Terns and Silver Gulls.
Richard Nicholas
Red-winged Parrot Wilbetree St, Gulgong NSW
Noticed two parrots fly into a Silky Oak tree about 7 pm very scruffy
and different from anything I had seen here this week took photos and
sought ID help from Australian Bird ID (Facebook), who suggested I let
you know. [Moderator's Note: This is almost the southernmost limit of
RWP distribution. JB]
Lorraine Hardwick
Red-kneed Dotterel (122+), NO Little Curlew Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve
Spent several hours searching for the Little Curlews to no avail. On a
whim, I checked out the south end of the pipeline and was amazed to
find a large flock of Red-kneed Dotterels. My biggest count from a
single view was 122, although doubtless there were more out of sight.
140 would be my best guess. Nesting and recently fledged White-breasted
Woodswallows was very nice.
Ashwin Rudder
Broad-billed Sandpiper, Fairy Tern, Sanderling Lake Wollumboola
2 Broad-billed Sandpipers, 2 Fairy Terns (amongst >100 Little Terns)
and 1 Sanderling seen today at the Lake. Other birds included ~5
non-breeding White-winged Black Terns, 20 Curlew Sandpiper and 40
Red-necked Avocets
Lachlan Hall
Lesser Sandplover Lake Conjola Entrance at -35.267925, 150.503352
The Lesser Sandplover along with 30 Little Terns, 2 Sanderling, 40+
Red-necked Stints arrived this morning to join the 50+ Crested Terns,
11 Pied Oystercatchers and Red-capped Plovers at the entrance to Lake
Conjola certainly turned a quiet area into a very busy place.
Charles Dove
Sooty Owl Blue Mountains National Park--Murphys Glen
I accidentally flushed a Sooty Owl from it's roost in an cave overhang
along the track from Murphy's Glen to Bedford Creek. It flew to a
nearby branch raising the alarm of a lot of the smaller resident birds,
then flew towards overhangs on the other side of Murphy's Creek.
Although I have only ever seen one other Sooty Owl in this area (2001),
there is plenty of good habitat (tall wet gullies) and roost sites over
a large area and I suspect there may be a few about.
Mark Ley
Tue 2 Dec Glossy Black Cockatoo, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin,
Black-chinned Honeyeater, Black-eared Cuckoo Gwydir Watercourse
Wetlands
Waterbird Lagoon in Gwydir Wetlands SCA is hoped to be reopened again
to the public in autumn 2015. Every site in the Gwydir Wetlands was
surveyed. Brolgas have decreased alot in numbers. Several small flocks
or pairs of Glossy Black Cockatoos were observed flying over in belah
country at various sites, about 20 in total. 30 Chestnut-breasted
Mannikins were observed in the reedbeds and cumbungi. Numerous
Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoos were heard calling. Many White-bellied Sea
Eagles were found, a total of 7 including a juvenile. Owlet Nightjars
heard calling at dusk. Horsfield's Bushlark observed. Some other
unusual species including a couple Black-eared Cuckoos and some
Black-chinned Honeyeaters were found by Steve Debus.
Curtis Hayne
Peregrine Falcon Ilarwill Quarry, Woodford Island, near Maclean
Adult female perched at edge of nest ledge. Nestling/s presumably out
of view on ledge. The quarry is fenced and access to nest only possibly
by abseiling down the cliff.
Greg Clancy, Russell Jago, Warren Thompson
Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpipers, Little Egret Bushell's Lagoon,
Hawkesbury
1 Common Greenshank and 3 Marsh Sandpipers, with one Little Egret
Keith Brandwood
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Channel-billed Cuckoo Woodford Dale,
Woodford Island
Adult Bronze-Cuckoo flew to roadside tree. Two separate Channel-billed
Cuckoos one observed in flight and one heard calling
Greg Clancy, Russell Jago, Warren Thompson
Freckled Ducks and Pink-eared Duck Eastlakes golf course
A Pink-eared Duck, an Australasian Shoveler and 4 Freckled Ducks seen
today. There were 7 Freckled Ducks on Sunday, but 3 seemed to have
moved on (maybe Milperra ?)
David Mitford
Plumed Whistling-Duck, Cattle Egret, Plum-headed Finch, Black-tailed
Nativehen Narrabri Lake
Some more bird species have arrived at Narrabri Lake, driven to the
water while the rest of the landscape dries up: A pair of Plumed
Whistling-Ducks (first in 8 years), at least 2 Plum-headed Finches and
2 Black-tailed Native-hens (composite photo). Also shown in the photo
is one of many Cattle Egret nests on the bird island.
Michael Dahlem
Freckled Duck Deepwater Park Milperra
3 (at least) Freckled Ducks in the detention basin of the former
Bankstown Tip adjacent to Deepwater Park (access via Kelso Park North).
A single Hoary-headed Grebe has been here for a few months. Black Swan,
Australasian Grebe and Little Pied Cormorant nesting here.
David James
Mon 1 Dec Brush Bronzewing Evan's Lookout, Blackheath
One bird seen this afternoon at the southern entrance to the Grand
Canyon walk.
Ian Kerr
Little Curlew Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve
Following up on the reports of Orange Chat and Little Curlew I spent
the day at Hexham Swamp arriving mid-morning and left around 4:30. I
got on to six Little Curlews, proper, around 4pm after having a brief
glimpse of one earlier. The six Little Curlew flew in, from the western
side, to the pond north of where they have been reported and landed
amongst the drier sedges only to disappear. Dorsal and side views in
flight only through bins. Couldn't track down the Orange Chat. There
are thousands of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers as well as a good number of
Curlew Sandpipers amongst the throng. A lone Ruddy Turnstone also.
White-fronted Chat, Crakes about as well as the usual species.
Greg McLachlan
Eastern Osprey Nepean Weir, Penrith
One adult perched in partly dead tree top approximately 200 meters
south from sake brewery in Casola Place. I was delighted to see one
here again, as my last sighting was (I think) in early February this
year.
Akos and Donata Lumnitzer
Little Curlew Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve
This morning at 0800 Lorna Mee and I sighted three Little Curlews at
Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve. They were seen about 100 m north of the
spot previously given by Mick Roderick (-32.84800 151.68255 ) From this
spot look north for the Hexham cell phone tower. They were well
camouflaged in dry reeds the same grey colour as their feathers. It
took about an hour to locate them, with repeated scans of the area with
a spotting scope. The Orange Chat was not seen anywhere along the
pipeline track but a nice sighting was a single Diamond Finch (probable
escapee).
Jim Smart per. hunterbirders
Common Cicadabird, Brush Cuckoo Ourimbah RTA Reserve
Male Cicadabird observed. Several more calling. Juvenile Brush Cuckoo
being harassed by pair of Grey Fantail. other Brush Cuckoo calling at
different sites.
Allan Benson, Chris and Kay Aisbett
Curlew Sandpiper, Red Knot, Red-necked Avocet, Horsfields Bronze-cuckoo
Mason Park, Homebush
Following up on recent sightings here I saw 1 Red Knot,1 Curlew
Sandpiper and 1 Red-necked Avocet along with 47 Sharp-tailed
Sandpipers. Calling from the edge of the water was a juvenile
Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo.
Jenny Stiles
Pink-eared Duck Sydney Olympic Park--Waterbird Refuge
I was extremely surprised to see 6 Pink-eared Ducks at the Waterbird
Refuge today [at the opposite end to the bird hide]. Also seen along
the mangroves 2 Nankeen Night Heron, 2 Striated Heron.
Jenny Stiles
Sun 30 Nov Beautiful Firetail Blue Mountains National Park--Govetts
Leap
On the track just south west of Boyds Beach on the Popes Glen track to
Govetts Leap Lookout. Only one seen.
Ian Kerr
Fri 28 Nov Powerful Owl, Australian Owlet-nightjar, White-throated
Nightjar Chambigne Nature Reserve
Powerful Owl observed in silhouette perched on low horizontal branch
above track. 3+ Owlet-nightjars heard calling and one White-throated
Nightjar flew from track in front of vehicle.
Greg Clancy, Russell Jago, Annette Cook
Thu 27 Nov Spotted Harrier Sandon Road, Yuraygir National Park
Adult Harrier hunting over grassland near Road.
Greg Clancy, Russell Jago, Matt Templeton
Wed 26 Nov Barking Owl, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Noisy Pitta, Brush
Cuckoo Chambigne Creek TSR
Two Barking Owls responding to playback, one observed second heard
calling. Three Owlet-nightjars, one Noisy Pitta and one Brush Cuckoo
all heard calling at night. An adult male Koala was also a bonus for
the night's observations being first detected by its distinctive call.
Greg Clancy, Geoff and Natalie Ryan, Andrew and Joan Watson
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