Month: October 2013

In 2010 I monitored the nest of an Owlet Nightjar, which was 900mm below top of 90mm internal diameter Fibre Cement flue. Two chicks were successfully raised. Refer to the link below for a brief report with lots of photos. http://www.roundthebend.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/owlet-nightjar-at-parriss-a2.pdf The birds did not reuse the flue the following year. Round the Bend Conservation Co-operative is in the Bend of Islands, 33km north east of Melbourne. Frank Pierce =============================== 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 Pitt Town Lagoon (NW Sydney, Hawkesbury district) is currently hosting some good water birds, with sightings over the last week or so including 2 Ruff and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Freckled Duck, lots of Sharp Tailed Sandpipers, 16 Glossy Ibis, Baillons Crake, 3 Lathams Snipe, both spoonbills (all there today), and Whiskered Terns, Spotless Crakes and Marsh Sandpipers (not there or not seen by me today). There’s an interesting “mixed” flock of Chestnut-breasted and Nutmeg Mannikins – interesting because although they fly around together, when I observed them feeding last week there was a distinct demarcation line between the two species. However, my dilemma is the Painted Honeyeater that has been reported and photographed hanging around the mistletoe-bearing acacias near the reserve entrance and by the Friendship Bridge on Pitt Town Bottoms Rd. I’ve had 2 goes for it and dipped twice and am starting to worry that the name “Painted whatever” is a curse for me – it took me 8 goes for Painted Snipe before I got one and I’ve had three or four futile forays for them since. In the last week I’ve had my 4th & 5th (unsuccessful) attempts for a Painted Honeyeater. Maybe it’s bird revenge because my first Painted Button Quail was almost a squashed Painted Button Quail? (Saved by my wife saying “I think you’re about to step on something moving in that long grass….it might be a snake”.) Cheers Tom Wilson =============================== 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 ===============================

Hello Debbie On several occasions in the mallee, where hollows are quite scarce, I¹ve flushed an owlet-nightjar from the ground or close to the ground, roosting near or on the trunk of a tree. They are probably young birds dispersing after fledging. I suspect your bird has found itself in a tree guard accidently, although it is a species that will take advantage of what¹s on offer. Late last year, on two occasions, an owlet-nightjar (or possibly two separate birds) went down the flue of a pot-bellied stove in my sister¹s house and lived to tell the tale (see Latest News 18 December 2012 on my website). I¹ve also seen one come out of a round hole in a concrete bridge at Lake Bindegolly in SW Queensland. Cheers Philip Maher Philip Maher Deniliquin +61 3 58813378 Australian Ornithological Services Pty Ltd PO Box 385 South Yarra 3141 Victoria Australia Tel: + 61 3 98204223 Mobile: 0417310200 http://www.philipmaher.com http://www.youtube.com/user/AOS3141 Skype: patricia.maher3141 =============================== 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 ===============================

Threatened species list in need of a good edit Stephen Garnett The Australian October 24, 2013 5:41PM http://m.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/big-idea/threatened-species-list-in-need-of-a-good-edit/story-fnjtmnpc-1226746203192 [start of text only….] “ON July 9, 1904, Alan Owston shot a female rainbow bee-eater that had migrated north from Australia to the island of Okinawa south of Japan. This bedraggled bird, now in the American Museum of Natural History, remains the only record of a bee-eater from Japan. Despite this, 70 years after the bird died, the bee-eater was appended to the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement. JAMBA, as it is known, is one four international agreements that make migrants matters of national environmental significance under Australia’s foremost environmental legislation, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Because bee-eaters appear on an EPBC Act list of migrants, every environmental impact assessment has to consider whether a proposed development will have a detrimental effect on the species. None ever have, because bee-eaters are abundant and widespread. However, for the very reason that they are so common, almost every environmental consultant has a copy-and-paste paragraph justifying why bee-eaters should again be ignored – though they have sometimes had to argue hard to convince those setting conditions. Forty years ago the author of the JAMBA schedules was probably pleased to get any bird recognised under international law. The same list includes several extinct species and one, the Roper River scrub-robin, which we now think never existed. Today, however, such inclusions are seen as at best a waste of time, at worst a major unnecessary impediment. So too are the many marine species than never touch the sea – including some that never cross water at all if they can help it. Birds like Trumpet Manucodes that never fly across water, even to islands just offshore, are still listed as marine species. Such errors in listing are more than petty mistakes. They can have major ramifications – both for the species they miss and the species wrongly included.” =============================== 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 ===============================

On our land in Bundaberg we have several paperbark trees (Melaleuca quinquenervia). We have a flock of 8-10 Grey-crowned Babblers that built nests in many of these trees. About a fortnight ago we watched a Laughing Kookaburra continually visit one of these nests. At first we thought the Kookaburra was attacking an active Babbler nest but we realised the Kookaburra was rearranging the sticks of a disused nest. It is now a saucer shape and the bird has been sitting on it for a week. It appears there are only a pair of Kookaburras not a family group which helps. However we will know more when the eggs hatch. A friend, Deane Lewis took a photo yesterday and I put it on my PBase site here http://www.pbase.com/trevor_quested/image/153161945 =============================== 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 ===============================

Regarding the report of an Eastern Yellow Wagtail on Eremaea (Southern Queensland Birdline). Unfortunately, this report was not accompanied by any identification notes or photo. I have some rather poor record shots at http://www.pbase.com/sjmurray/recent_images Better ones may be forthcoming from someone else (I tried again this morning without luck). As an inexperienced Wagtail observer, I would have liked to know how other species were ruled out (e.g., juvenile Citrine, which is said to have double wing bars). Steve Murray =============================== 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, Last week Saturday, 26th October, Raja and I found an Australasian Bittern at Buckley’s Hole, Bribie Island. Subsequently, many local/regional birders travelled there to twitch it. Several of them were lucky to relocate it. Others did not see it but found instead an Australian Little/Black-backed Bittern (Marie Tarrant, 29th October) or an Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Judy Leitch et al., 31st October). This reminds me of the famous ‘Patagonia picnic table effect’, in which an influx of birdwatchers following the discovery of a rare bird at a location results in the discovery of further rare birds at that location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia_picnic_table_effect Other good birds that Raja, I and others saw at Buckley’s Hole in the last few days were Glossy Ibis (1), Buff-banded Rail (1), Baillon’s Crake (1), Spotless Crake (4), Latham’s Snipe (5), Lesser Crested Tern (5), Little Grassbird (2). Detailed lists are here: http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineRecentSightings.aspx?Birdline=7 and here: http://www.eremaea.com/LatestLists.aspx?Context=LatestLists&Region=15 Cheers, Nikolas   —————- Nikolas Haass nhaass@yahoo.com Brisbane, QLD =============================== 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 ===============================

All,   I believe I responded directly to those that gave me tips on finding my targets in WA, but to share with the rest of the list, it was a successful trip.   I have now banked three “sub-species” when Clements gets around to splitting them.   All were found in the Stirling Ranges, 4.5 hours SE of Perth   1. A nesting pair of Western Shrike-Tit was found in the northern block of the Stirling Ranges Retreat grounds…good recordings were made with a few snaps.  In addition to some fantastic Wildflowers   2. A number of spots were tried for Western Fieldwren, but the only one I found was at Camel Lake on the north Side of the Ranges…good recordings and a few nice close photos   3. Western Whipbird was seen a couple of times without difficulty on the road up to Mt Trio…Also got some nice recordings of these birds.     However the best “bird” was a Honey Possum, seen and photographed on the road while out spotlighting.  Lots of other good local species, some nice frogs…a good weekend to be sure.   Thanks again! Cheers, Roger Roger McNeill Samford Valley, SEQ =============================== 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, Alan Morris (NSW Twitchathon co-ordinator) no longer posts to Birding-aus, so I have copied below the ‘very preliminary results’ from the NSW Twitchathon on the weekend below. Our score of 252 was a new record and came about by combining the NSW mallee (on Saturday) with the Hunter Valley (on Sunday). Our compulsory break was made a long way from rainforest and the dawn chorus was happening while we were in the car! Still, we managed to peg back most of the rainforest birds and are very happy with the 252 total in our 15th consecutive Twitchathon (even allowing for the ridiculous dips….they’re always the birds you recall the most!). At some stage I’m sure Jacqueline Winter will pen a trip report. The Dry-throated Buzzards, who do their Twitchathons entirely on pushbike, managed 180 spp. They have posted a trip report already to our local Hunterbirding chat group and I can forward it to anyone who is interested (it is a great read I can tell you!). In the meantime, here are some very rapid stats of ours that I have at hand… Total score = 252 Score arriving at camp = 127 Time reached 200 = 0930 Sunday (Varied Sitella) Time reached 240 = 1249 Sunday (Whimbrel) Score when Silver Gull added = 224 # Honeyeaters = 30 # Threatened species = 23 (actually down on previous years) # Raptors = 13 (2 down on our best) Cheers, Mick Roderick (Hunter Home Brewers and Hunter Twitchathon co-ordinator) NSW & ACT TWITCHATHON VERY PRELIMINARY RESULTS 2013   The NSW & ACT Twitchathon 2013 was down on numbers of previous years. This was because a number of team leaders have moved, were having had medical operations or family commitments and could not attend, and there was the bushfires. In the Greater Sydney Region all the National Parks and Nature Reserves were still closed so that access to favourite birding sites was just not available. Birdwatchers in the Blue Mountains were particularly affected. So this year only 37 teams and 124 participants in 15 Main Race Teams, 18 Champagne Teams and 5 Children’s Teams (Dollarbirds and Little Curlews) took part. But what we lost in numbers we have made up in good money raisers! It is estimated by the participants that over $23,000 has been raised in sponsorship (note that in 2010 we estimated $22,000 and actually raised $25,000 so I am hoping it is like that this and we actually reach our target of $30,000). Note that not all the results are to hand so don’t take this as gospel yet! I will be busy following though on the details and verifying the claims over the next few days. Next week I will publish the “Preliminary Result”. No Childrens’ Teams details are available as yet.   MAIN RACE This year the probable top team, the Hunter Home Brewers, seen & heard 252 species,two more than the previous record of 250 (The Menacing Monarchs). If the details are confirmed, the Hunter Home Brewers will have now won the Main Race again after being second to the Menancing Monarchs for the past three years. The Brewers count of 252 is a New Record for the Twitch! Congratulations to Mick, Steve, Craig & Lucas!!! Congratulations too, to the Black-necked Stalkers who have finally made it into the top three Teams!   252                  Hunter Home Brewers (Steve & Mick Roderick, Craig Anderson, Lucas Grenadier) 224                  Menacing Monarchs (R. McDonald, M. Kearns & A. Rudder HBOC).       221                  Black-necked Stalkers (Greg Clancy,R. Jago & G.Eggins Clarence Valley) 218                  Dodgy Drongos (Grant Brosie, Nick Livanos, Robert Kilkelly HBOC)       205                  C.C. Champion Choughs (Alan Morris, M.Kuhl, Nick Carson CCG) 191                  The Plains Wanderers (Rob Hynson,A. Stewart, A. Holmes, D.Langley.S) 190                  Blind Babblers (Brendon Sheeon,S,Ryan,B Walmesly, D.Ginty W’gong) 190                  Gang-Gang Gang (Steve Edwards, L.Johnson, M.Filipczyk et al W’gong)* 189                  Varied Wrenegades (Janeen Grieg, Liz & Chris Herbert HBOC) 184                  The Lousy Jacks (Paul Burcher, S. Bloomfield & D.Engel. Sydney) 180                  Dry Throated Buzzards (Dan Williams, D. Lyons, C.Bagnall HBOC) 178                  Weebill Rock-yous (Steven Cox, Rebecca Vere. HBOC) 156                  Cheerful Drongos (Kevin Cheers, L.Trice, B.Bolt & T.Lawer Sawtell) 156                  Gong Gangs (Martin Potter, Paul Nesbitt, Carla Jackett  W’gong) 109                  The Dubbo Dippers (Craig Arms & Simone Pye, Dubbo)                                                                                       CHAMPAGNE RACE   162                  Night Poirots (Peter West, S.Proust, L.Earnshaw C.Meadows PtMac) 147                  Which-is-it? (Margaret & Kaye Pointer, Michael Breheny CCG) 143                  Highland Harriers (Ian Kerr, Ted Giblin, Dwaine Laxdal Pt Macquarie) * 137                  Not One Wrong Tern (Tiffany & M. Mason, R.Porter et al Bathurst) 137                  Cowra Woodland Bird Brainers (Warren Chad, N.Courtance, et al Cowra) 135                  Champagne Shrike-tits (Eliz. & T. Karplus, P.Brook, D.Price BNSW) 133                  Silly Galahs (Max O’Sullivan, P.Williams, P.Tenison  MFN) 126                  Grumpy Frogmouths (Jack Adams, A.Taylor, E.McKane et al  HBOC) 119                  Lying Lapwings (Mike Jefferis, B.Rusk, R.Hale, E. May Ulladulla)* 109                  Noisy Minors/Majors (Michael Cheers, K.Flavell et al Sawtell) * 106                  Matheson Mopokes (Jo & Archie Cameron, K. Hindmarsh, Inverell) 105                  Wooden Spoonbills (Margaret Harmon, B.Rusk et al BA-Sth Coast) 100                  City Chicks (Jo Hanley, P Norris, K. Hullegie, K.West . Hunter) 93                    Red-faced Parrots (Judy Harrington, G. Hutchinson, J.Stiles et al  BAS) 73                    The Naggy Magpies (Krishna & M. Nagarajan, Miranda Moore. Hunter) * 62                    Rocking Warblers (Leanne & Chris Huxley, Sue Thomson. Blue Mtns) —                     Three of us (Susan & r. Woodhouse, G. Hickson Sawtell)   Children’s Teams – Little Curlews (Under 10 years) —                     The Young Young-ones (Kate & Elise Richard, Young) * —                     Sawtell Kites (Kirra, Anthony & Zachary Moore, Sawtell) * —                     Sawtell King Parrots *   Childrens Teams – Dollarbirds (10-16 years) —                     Field Wrens (Georgina, Luke & Julie Field, Sawtell) * —                     Malcolm’s Falcons (Jack, Kate & Natham Malcolm, Sawtell)   In the next few days I will be following up with the different teams on the details that I don’t have, so I can give a preliminary results and later, final results sheet. If there are any details I have wrong please let me know!   Alan Morris, Twitchathon Co-ordinator 28/10/13   Note (*) – New Teams for 2013 =============================== 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 ===============================

G’day all The Newman guide is now available as an app. Introductory price about $20. Requires iOS 6.1 or above. http://www.newmansbirdsapp.com/ Cheers Steve =============================== 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 ===============================