Month: November 2011

Hello all, We arrived on a very dry Christmas Island on Saturday afternoon with all the usual pools/ponds of water bone dry. Sunday night bought a change of weather, with over night rain, which has continued intermittently for the last two days.

The first morning after the rain we found a nice PURPLE-BACKED STARLING close to our accommodation which was very co-operative with several excellent photos obtained. An afternoon storm had us all heading to North West Point in search of incoming swifts and we weren’t disappointed. Two hours of exciting swift watching revealed over 30 ASIAN HOUSE MARTINS, EDIBLE-NEST SWIFTLET, HOUSE SWIFT and a yet to be identified larger swift/swiftlet which we are thinking is HIMALAYAN SWIFTLET. We have video footage and photos of this bird which should help with ID.

Cheers Richard Baxter WWW.birdingtours.com.au

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Dear Birders, Ron Broomham, Bob Way, Rob Burgoyne and I have just spent a few days staying at Kingfisher Park as a base for a search for Buff-breasted Button-quail (BBBQ). Given the rarity of this bird I thought the results of this outing may be of interest to others and hence the rather long report.

Preparation I had been to the Mt Malloy area looking for BBBQ on two previous occasions and had some idea of the habitat. On those occasions I had been alone and the literature suggests that the chance of success is enhanced by a group of people walking in line apart spaced by 2 or 3 meters. I therefor posted a note on Birding-Aus (what a great facility it is!) and from this initiative assembled the group noted above. We chose the period 24 to 29 November for the trip based on the literature suggesting it was better to search before the wet season produced significant grass growth. In addition to the participants mentioned above Dominic Chaplin from Cairns joined us on the 25th November.

We assembled all the literature on BBBQ we could including all postings on Birding-Aus, the HANZAB entry and an article in Wingspan March 1995 by Danny Rogers entitled “A Mystery with History – The Buff-breasted Button-quail”. In addition we sought advice from Lloyd Nielson, Rohan Clarke and Richard Baxter. Many thanks to all those who provided advice and assistance.

Method On the basis of the advice received we decided to concentrate our search in two places. The first was an area just south of Mt Malloy, Queensland and beside Lake Mitchell. As one heads south on the main road (Mulligan Highway) from Mt Malloy one passed Big Mitchell Creek and shortly after the road is widened on both sides of the road to provide truck parking. Lake Mitchell is on the western side of the road. There is a car park off the road at S16 48 59 E145 22 07. The “Mt Malloy” target site is to the east of the road adjacent to the road widening. The site is unfenced and appears to be public land though I am not certain of its legal status. Suffice to say access is not an issue. Rohan Clarke had suggested :- Any habitat on the eastern side of the road adjacent to Lake Mitchell seems OK. Basically they occupy that narrow gravelly strip right at the base of the slope where there is a mix of grass patches and open bare ground and usually there is some sparse melaleuca in the same area. If you walk up the slope 10s of meters it becomes rocky and you are too high, if you get down onto the flats and it is finer soil or clay you are too low. Once on the right contour you just snake your way around all of the hills – the suitable habitat strip is only 10s of meters wide We adopted this suggestion and each time we searched the Mt Malloy site we parked at the road widening and walked east until we came tot he contour suggested by Rohan and followed it . Generally we went south falong the contour but we did also go north along it.

The second site (“Mareeba Wetlands”) was dry hillsides around the Mareeba Wetlands Reserve. We contacted Neil at the reserve and he kindly allowed us early access one morning. There is a modest charge for access to the reserve.

Results On the 24th November we arrived at the Mt Malloy site in overcast weather with intermittent light showers. We walked south along the contour and found that much of it had been reasonably recently burnt. recent rain had stimulated significaant grass growth and it was very noticeable that this new growth was seeding significantly. We walked for 2 hours out and back and in that time flushed at least 7 Painted Button-quail (PBQ) and a covey of 5 Brown Quail (BQ). In addition we flushed 1 BBBQ. The target bird flushed from beneath the feet of one of the searchers in about the middle of the line and flew uphill for about 30 m. It flew in a straight line and did not rise above about 1 m from the ground. This bird was noticeably different from the PBQs that we had already seen in that the back and the rump were considerably lighter (buffy brown) and there was a very distinct transition between the pale upper-wing covets and mantle and the very dark primaries (grey-black). We did not see any beak or facial characteristics. By contrast the PBQ were dark all over the back and upperwings. The BBBQ looked to be generally the same size as the PBQs we had already seen. We walked to where the bird landed but could not relocate it. The bird had flushed from a flattish area of ground within our contour that had been burnt and had a significant amount of seed. This bird was seen at S16 49 23 E145 22 15. This is south west of a power pylon that is on the hillside and supports a very prominent but unoccupied nest.

On the 25th we again visited the Mt Malloy site arriving at 6:30 in heavily overcast conditions. We were joined by Dominic Chaplin on this day. We repeated the previous days procedure with the exception that we only walked south to the site at which we flushed the BBBQ the previous day and then walked north along the contour past the latitude on which the cars were parked. We encountered 7 PBQ and 2 BQ and a single BBBQ. We did get a brief deck view of a PBQ on this day when we relocated a flushed bird confirming our flight identification of this species.The BBBQ was flushed at a spot almost directly east of the cars (S16 49 00 E145 22 19. It was again flushed on an almost flat spot with sparse seeding grass. It flew uphill for around 30 m and landed again not rising more than 1 m above the ground in straight flight. We walked to where it landed. After scouting around that area for a few minutes a BBBQ flushed about 60 m above the landing spot and flew quite high and straight down hill for in excess of 300 m. the bird was briefly seen in side view and again the paler colour and the wing contrast made us pick the bird as a BBBQ. This bird seemed to be larger than the PBQs we had seen with Ron initially thinking it might be a pigeon. It flew into a flat sparsely grassed area with Calitris and Eucalypt trees. We were unable to relocate it. We presumed that the second sighting was of the same bird and that as we had walked up the hill it had run along the ground to the site where it flushed for the second time. We returned to the cars at 11:15.

On 26th we arrived at the Mareeba Wetlands at 7:00 in lightly overcast conditions but no rain. we walked north from the car park around the side of a hill for about 1.5 Km. We did not feel that this area was suitable for BBBQ with quite thick grass tat had not been burnt for a long time. There was little or no seed on this grass. We flushed a single PBQ. We returned to the car park and walked out to the bird hide Pandanas Lagoon and then walked back up the track behind the hide to a saddle and then headed north sidling around a hillside. the habitat here looked more suitable for BBBQ with sparse, short grass. The area had not been burnt and there was little or no seed. We walked around the hillside to its end but only flushed 2 coveys of BQ. We returned to the cars at 11:30.

On 27th we returned to the Mt Malloy site at 6:30 in clear conditions. We spent the next 2 hours walking the contour between our two previous sightings. We encountered 3 PBQ and a single BBBQ. This bird flushed from flat ground on the contour which was lightly grassed but without seed at s16 49 12 E145 22 19. We walked through a well seeded grass patch just before the bird flushed and it is quite possible that it was feeding in this area and ran for a short distance before flushing. The bird flew only a short distance(about 10 m) and was flushed a second time. It then flew >100m and was not re-found. This bird was flushed right at the end of the line and only those observers at that end of the line got aa reasonable view of the bird. Rob Burgoyne did however manage to get the bird in his bins as he mentioned in his earlier posting on this forum. We again saw a number of PBQ during our search. We returned tot he cars at 9:30

Discussion We found the birds at the Mt Malloy site along the contour suggested by Rohan Clarke. We always flushed the birds from (or very close to) areas where burnt grass was flushing and seeding prolifcally. We only got flight views but felt confident after seeing so many PBQ and BQ that we could distinguish BBBQ from the other species. All but 1 observer sighting was with the native eye. We only ever saw single BBBQ whereas we saw single PBQ, pairs of PBQ and one covey of 5 PBQ.

We stayed on at Kingfisher Park for a couple of days of more relaxing birding. We saw 160 species, the highlights being a male golden Bowerbird near its bower (thank you Alan!), a pair of Blue-faced parrot-finch at the clearing on Mt Lewis, a Sarus crane at Bloomfield’s Swamp and the first Red-necked crake for the year at kingfisher park. the Buff-breasted Paradise-kingfishers were very active at Kingfisher park. from a personal perspective sighting the BBBQ was satisfying as the achievement of a challenge but as an aesthetic event it left much to be desired. The fleeting flight view of the BBBQ was really nothing compared to a 6:00 pm (and thus very light) view of the Red-necked Crake washing itself in the front crake pond at Kingfisher Park or the wonderful spectacle of the Golden Bowerbird and his magnificent bower!

Hope this posting might be helpfull to others looking for the BBBQ in the future Regards Peter Marsh

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Another great day birding on the Sunshine Coast yesterday with records including: Black-breasted Buttonquail (a female showing magnificently near Imbil), Shining Flycatcher (a female in the mangroves on the Noosa River), Baillon’s Crake (1 at Cooroy), Cotton Pygmy-Goose (5 at Eumundi), King Quail (2 near Noosa), Little Grassbird (2 at Cooroy), White-eared Monarch (Little Yabba Creek & Yandina), Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove (late this year, but plenty about now).

Greg Roberts

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Does anyone with a video camera out there have any thoughts on a good model Sony to go for, up to $1000? Going to be filming OBPs! What would be a reasonable zoom? Cheers.

Debbie Lustig Phone 0402 887 248www.facebook.com/savetheobp

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Thanks for that Rohan. Not!

Now I hate my car (which has nice new rear shock absorbers and a fixed fuel tank – paid for with my pelagic fare money) even more : (

Pleased you got out and had a good trip though. Are there any spaces available for any of next years trips yet?

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Looks like the bog standard “I’m not a Tawny Frogmouth……I …..am…….a ……..tree……” posture to me Debbie : )

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This is the local Frogmouth with its week-old chick. Just wondered about the pose it’s holding. Any information? https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/316665_10150492824568125_638123124_10501353_1943650278_n.jpg

Debbie Lustig Phone 0402 887 248www.facebook.com/savetheobp

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Hi Dean,

Storr 19 is a standard reference, which we used throughout the series for commonly cited references to save space. The full reference is: Storr, G.M. 1984. The Revised List of Queensland Birds. /Rec. West. Aust. Mus. Suppl. 19/. There is a list of the standard references in the introductory page of each volume (for instance on page 30 of Volume 7).

Hope that clears that up! It was most certainly an oft-cited reference.

Cheers,

Geoff

On 29/11/2011 11:29 AM, Dean Portelli wrote: > Hi all, > Does anyone know what ‘Storr 19’ refers to in HANZAB? It is listed as a citation for the months in which nesting has been recorded but it is not given in the reference list as a publication. > The exact text is as follows:”Said to breed Aug.-Oct. and Mar.-May (Storr 19)” > Any enlightenment appreciated. > Cheers,Dean > =============================== > > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message: > unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) > to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au > > http://birding-aus.org > =============================== >

Hi all, Does anyone know what ‘Storr 19’ refers to in HANZAB? It is listed as a citation for the months in which nesting has been recorded but it is not given in the reference list as a publication. The exact text is as follows:”Said to breed Aug.-Oct. and Mar.-May (Storr 19)” Any enlightenment appreciated. Cheers,Dean ===============================

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Hi All,

Here’s the trip report for the Sunday pelagic. Given the marked change in the weather it is remarkable how similar the species lists and counts were for the two days.

Cheers,

Rohan Clarke

Bird Observation and Conservation Australia PELAGIC TRIP OFF EAGLEHAWK NECK, TASMANIA Sunday 27th Nov 2011

OBSERVERS: Frank Ball, Wendy Ball, Jan England, Geoff Jones, Elizabeth Lloyd, Grant Penrhyn, Geoff Smith, Lynn Smith, Jim Sneddon, Wes Tolhurst, Els Wakefield, Richard White & Rohan Clarke (organiser and report compiler).

WEATHER: Departed Pirates Bay with low misty cloud and persistent drizzle. Fortunately this began to clear as we entered offshore waters and for large parts of our time beyond the shelf we had intermittent sunshine. Gusty south westerly winds 20-25 knots were experienced on the way out, moderating an hour after crossing the shelf to 15 knots then easing further to around 10 knots on the return leg. We were fortunate with the timing, for another frontal system passed through with winds to 20-25 knots as we returned to the harbour.

SEA: A bumpy sea on a moderate swell with occasional larger sets. At the shelf there was a 1.5 – 2 m (short interval) swell with small but steep chop (0.5 to 1 m). With the addition of wind-driven white caps this was a fairly bumpy day with regular spray when underway and the occasional sloppy wave across the rear deck catching a few out. Conditions (movement, buffeting winds and spray) meant it was a poor day for photography. Inshore conditions were milder. Sunday’s conditions contrasted strongly with Saturday’s trip and highlight the need for participants to don good wet weather gear.

ACTIVITY: Departed Pirates Bay Wharf at 0730 EST. Headed south east out of Pirates Bay to the Hippolytes before heading in an easterly direction to the shelf. Many more birds were in evidence in both inshore and offshore waters (when compared with Saturday’s trip). We crossed the shelf break (100 fathoms) at 0930 before a 3 hr drift and berley session that commenced at 43º04.35’S 148º15.43’E over 200 fathoms and concluded at 43º01.74’S 148º17.71’E over ~550 fathoms (~5nM to the NE). From here we moved back to the shelf break (100 fathoms) for a third berley session at 43º00.42’S 148º14.85’E. Started heading in at 1320. Berley was a mix of chicken skin, fish frames and fish oil. Disembarked at ~1505.

MAMMALS: Australian Fur Seals ~5 on the Hippolytes. Also 1 offshore in the AM. In the rough seas on the return leg a blackish cetacean was also seen breaking through a wave. It was either a smallish Killer Whale or a Pilot Whale but the ID was not resolved.

BIRDS: 29 species (+ several additional albatross taxa) beyond the entrance to Pirates Bay is very good count for a Tasmanian pelagic. The vast numbers of ever-present Short-tailed Shearwaters provided a spectacular background to the regular passage of pterodromas, especially Mottled, Soft-plumaged and White-headed. The Black-bellied Storm-Petrels were also a great sighting for a Tassie pelagic.

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel: 1 pelagic in the PM White-faced Storm-Petrel: 1 pelagic in the PM Grey-backed Storm-Petrel: 1 pelagic soon after we stopped to berley BLACK-BELLIED STORM-PETREL: 2 (1) pelagic. Wandering Albatross: 12-14 on plumage/6 together at one time. All pelagic though one followed us back into offshore waters. Most appeared to be gibsoni but there was one exulens type individual. Northern Royal Albatross: 1 juvenile at the shelf in the PM. Yellow-nosed Albatross: 10 (3). All adult. 2 offshore, remainder pelagic. Black-browed Albatross: Nominate: 10 (4). 3 adult, 7 immature, 3 offshore remainder pelagic. impavida: 1 adult in pelagic waters. Shy Albatross: cauta: 100 (50). 5 inshore, 25 offshore, remainder pelagic. Mostly adult but at least 4 immature birds at berley points. salvini: 1 juvenile in pelagic waters. Northern Giant Petrel: 10 (4). At least 6 immature individuals on plumage and 2 young adult. 3 offshore, remainder pelagic. Fairy Prion: 30 (10). 20 offshore, remainder pelagic. Antarctic Prion: 1 briefly at the first berley point. Short-tailed Shearwater: 100,000+ (10,000). A feature of the day. Masses of birds visible at almost all times in both offshore and pelagic waters. Sooty Shearwater: 8 (2). 2 offshore in the PM remainder pelagic. Hutton’s Shearwater: 4 (2), 2 offshore in the AM, 1 pelagic and 1 offshore in the PM BULLER’S SHEARWATER: 1 briefly in offshore waters in the PM. White-chinned Petrel: 60 (30). 3 offshore in the AM, remainder pelagic, though many of these followed us back in the PM. Great-winged Petrel: 22 (10). All gouldi. All pelagic WHITE-HEADED PETREL: 8 (2). 1 inshore over 50 fathoms in the AM, the remainder pelagic, mostly as single flybys. A tail-less bird fed in the berley trail for ~20 mins. SOFT-PLUMAGED PETREL: 2 (1) at and beyond the shelf. MOTTLED PETREL: 15 (2). An identical count to the trip on Saturday! One just 2 miles beyond the Hipploytes in the AM (60 fathoms) and 1 offshore in the PM, remainder pelagic. Little Penguin: 3 (2). All in inshore waters in the PM. Australasian Gannet: 250 (200) 7 pelagic, 6 offshore, with the remainder inshore. Also 200 on the Hippolytes. Black-faced Cormorant: 85 (20). 80 inshore, 5 offshore (not counted on the Hipploytes as we did not circumnavigate the rock) Pomarine Jaeger: 1 inshore (briefly) in the AM. Crested Tern: 3 (2). All inshore in the AM Kelp Gull: 10 inshore, 11 offshore and 20 pelagic. Also at least 25 at the Hippolytes. Pacific Gull: 1 first year bird offshore. Silver Gull: 9 inshore and 100 around the Hippolytes.

On the Hippolytes 2 Forest Ravens and 1 Welcome Swallows rounded out the list.