Warriewood Wetlands/Irrawong Reserve (Sydney northern beaches) - flowering Swamp Mahogany

[Mick Roderick via Birding-Aus <>]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for posting that. Just a couple of comments back.

Firstly, over the past few years the proportion of Swift Parrots being found feeding in flowering Swamp Mahogany appears to have dropped. This used to be a favourite of theirs, particularly on the Central Coast, but there have been very few reports in recent years. Some of the birds at Chain Valley Bay last year did feed on it, along with (planted) Blue Gum blossom, but overall few Swifties are being seen on Swamp Mahogany blossom. In fact, there seems to have been a drop in records of them feeding in blossom generally. Many reports nowadays are of birds in flight or taking lerp (which they go nuts over). We're experiencing a massive Spotted Gum flowering event in the Lower Hunter right now and there are Regent Honeyeaters present - but no Swifties - and we've been in the field solidly for the past two months. There are many thousands of Musk Lorikeets in the blossom; in fact tens of thousands across the region is not an exaggeration. There are big numbers of Rainbows with them. It's just my gut-feel, but I think the Swifties would give these places a wide berth because of the competition.

The other thing I wanted to draw attention to is the dearth of Swift Parrot reports in NSW/ACT/Qld in June. There are literally only 3 reliable reports of them this month - all in NSW and all of <5 birds. In my time tracking Swifties in NSW I don't think I've seen such a gap in reports at what is normally a bit of a peak-reporting period.

The reports pretty much tailed off around the same time that the Lord Howe Island bird was found, which was also around the same time as the fierce/persistent south-westerly winds that lashed the NSW coast. Take that as a comment!

Mick

On Wednesday, 24 June 2020, 11:33:34 am AEST, Tom Wilson <> wrote:

Hi All

a heads up to northern beaches and other northern Sydney birders. I was at Warriewood Wetlands/Irrawong Reserve on the afternoon of Sunday 21 June - the Swamp Mahogany is flowering and it had attracted hordes of lorikeets - predominantly Rainbow but I saw 10 Musks, 12 Littles and a single Scaly-breasted. If somewhere on the north-east side of Sydney is going to attract Swift Parrots this year it could be here. (Worth at least another visit next weekend I think. The flowering looks like it’s not at peak yet.)

Cheers

Tom Wilson

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