Month: August 2011

Hi all,

Just to let everyone know that today was the last day of my 12 month challenge to photograph as many wild Australian birds as I could. The previous record as such was 377 which was the only published one I could find going into this challenge. My wife (support person) and I began on 1st September 2010 in Carisbrook, Victoria and finished today, 31st August 2011. We travelled all around the country in our caravan and met and were helped by many fellow twitchers.

My final count is 518. I also photographed three more which at this time don’t appear to be on the Christidis & Boles List. They were the Western Grasswren, the Swan River Honeyeater and the Western Crested Shrike-tit.

Our thanks to everyone who has encouraged us on our journey and to those who have in some way helped. I hope it sets a useful benchmark for the growing number of us who enjoy photographing birds as well as observing them.

Best regards,

Gary Oliver

Birdshootaustralia.blogspot.com

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Gooday BA folks

In mid September, about 2 weeks time, Judy and I are racing across to Gluepot Reserve for a few days to try for a look at the Scarlet-chested Parrot and Red-lored Whistler. Hopefully, while chasing these birds we would like to see Purple-gaped Honeyeater, Slender-billed Thornbill, Mallee Emu-wren and Western Whipbird.

Research suggests we have a better chance of seeing the Slender-billed Thornbill at Ngarkat CP and the Mallee Emu-wren along the Nowingi Track at Hattah Kulkyne NP. Will stop at the Nowingi Track for a couple of hours or more on the way across.

If anyone can offer some advise on locations especially where we might see the SCP and RLW at Gluepot that would be fantastic and much appreciated.

While these are ticks for me, Judy will see these and heaps of new birds as well.

Greg Little

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After several years of gathering suitable photographs and several months of time at the computer, I have published an online guide to identifying Wandering Tattlers in non-breeding plumage as we see them in Australia. The guide can be found at http://users.tpg.com.au/inglisrc/html/id_wandering_tattler.html

Please keep in mind that the guide contains information which I have gathered from several years of photographing Wandering Tattlers. The opinions expressed in the guide are my personal opinions on a practical approach to the identification of Wandering Tattlers and the document should not be considered a definitive scientific paper. I offer the guide for the benefit of other birdwatchers as there seems to be no other detailed and reliable identification guide available for this difficult-to-identify species.

Bob Inglis Sandstone Point Qld Australia ===============================

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G’day All,

Just thought I’d get the word out that the latest review of the NT Threatened Species list is now available for public comment until the 9th of September.

Among many proposed changes, the status of Emu and Bustard are set to be downgraded. This has many NT birdos scratching their heads as many of us see these birds very infrequently these days.

Anyway, if anyone has anything to add I’d urge you to have a read of the proposed changes and make your own submission if you feel it is warranted. I’ve put a few more details on the blog.

http://comebirdwatching.blogspot.com/2011/08/threat-status-of-emu-and-bustard.html

Cheers,

Chris Watson Alice Springs ===============================

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See http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/89/i36/8936scene.html

Owl Eggs Reveal Complex Pollutant Patterns

Persistent Pollutants: Pollutant levels in owl eggs fluctuate with changes in climate and food sources

Sarah Webb

August 29, 2011 ===============================

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Folks

Some good sightings this winter around Toowoomba, the highlights being a male Satin Flycatcher at Rangeville on 29/8, and a male Scarlet Robin at Harlaxton – only the third TBO record in 30-odd years.

Local sightings (0-20km radius of Toowoomba) http://www.toowoombabirdobservers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2420 Wanted list (0-20km radius of Toowoomba) http://www.toowoombabirdobservers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2411

Also had some interesting reports beyond Toowoomba including Little Penguin at Inskip Point and Red-backed Kingfisher at Mt Tyson (near Oakey).

Non-local sightings (20-250km radius of Toowoomba) http://www.toowoombabirdobservers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2455 Wanted list (20-250km radius of Toowoomba) http://www.toowoombabirdobservers.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2454

Again, if you can help fill in gaps, please shoot them through.

If you’d like to join in the Spring campaign, drop me a line for the forum registration link. Will also send you a map with the boundaries.

Regards Mick Atzeni TBO Forum Adminstrator

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Hi all,

In the low coastal heath on the western side of Binalong Bay Road between Big Lagoon and Sloop lagoon 41º 12.076’S , 148º16.196’E (approx. 15 km north of St Helens, Tasmania), 3 separate sightings of Ground Parrots have occurred in the last month. The first sighting was 2 separate birds when I was with Eldert Groenewoud (Holland) and Des Wingfield (St Helens) while walking along the Old Train Line Track on the 25th July 2011 between 10.15-11.30am. The first bird flushed flew only a few meters before dropping into low (50-80cm) heath. When flushed the second time it flew about 40 meters to the eastern side of the track keeping low. The second bird was flushed about 30 meters further down the track. It flew directly to the western side of the track giving us clear views of the long tail with barring and bright green plumage. A few visits to the area in the following weeks did not produce any sightings. On the 20th August 2011 between 3.30-4.30pm, Ian May (St Helens) and I saw another Ground Parrot. It flushed at approximately 15 meters as I walked through the heath on the eastern side of the swamp.

Kind regards,

Liz Znidersic St Helens 0409 123322

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Hi friends,

I have been surprised to see that some authorities, including worldbirdnames, have accepted the split of the Eastern Cattle Egret from the taxon found in the rest of the world. Given the way that Cattle Egrets have spread so widely around the world in such a relatively short time, I find it hard to believe that gene flow could have been interrupted long enoguh for a new species to emerge.

I would welcome any thoughts.

Dr John Penhallurick

86 Bingley Cres

Fraser A.C.T. 2615

Australia

email:jpenhall@bigpond.net.au

Phone: Home (612) 62585428

Mobile:0408585426

sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt Aeneid Book 1,line 462 “The world is a world of tears, and the burdens of mortality touch the heart.”

Magna est veritas et praevilabit Vulgate, Book of Edras

Si vis pacem para bellum Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publius_Flavius_Vegetius_Renatus ‘s De Re http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Re_Militari Militari, book 3

Please visit my website:http://www.worldbirdinfo.net

Please also visit my blog at http://jpenhall.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/proof-that-there-is-not-a-scrap-of- evidence-in-favour-of-the-ipccs-attack-on-carbon-dioxide/

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Hi all,

Last year we got weathered out – this year we are trying again to get out from Eaglehawk Neck for some pelagic birding. We will have some time to look for some specialties (see below). Thanks to everyone again who responded to a similar e-mail last year – Murray Lord, Andy Jensen, John Tongue, Bill Moorhead, Richard Baxter, Giles Daubeney (hope I didn’t forget anyone) Now my question again: Are there any recent sightings (especially around Hobart or Eaglehawk Neck) of the following?

Tasmanian Masked Owl Tasmanian Southern Boobook/Morepork

Swamp (Brown) Quail Scrubtit 40-spotted Pardalote (we will try Peter Murrell or – if necessary – Bruny Island) Eastern Barred Bandicoot (We will try Hobart Waterworks) Southern Bettong (We will try Hobart Waterworks)

Spot-tailed Quoll Less likely ones: (Little and Eastern Pygmy Possums) (Swamp Antechinus, White-footed Dunnart) Cheers,

Nikolas

Test

Liz Znidersic Mobile 0409 123322

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