December 2015 – Birding-Aus

Upper Lane Cover River Valley – S Turramurra area – Gang-gangs

Hi all following my post from last week, I diverted via Pennant Hills Park in Thornleigh/Pennant Hills this morning (Brittania St/Kurrajong St area) whilst on my way to Macquarie Uni pool for a swim. I was there from approx 8-8:40am. While I did not see any Gang-gangs, I definitely heard a least two – the creaky call easily distinguishable from the cockies’ noises this morning (so I reckon you were hearing them Peter Ewin). Sounded like they were in flight as I picked up the calls a bit to my right as I looked along Kurrajong St to where it kinks into Blackbutt Ave) and they disappeared to my left (heading towards the north side of the park). So good news that there are a few still around. May try and devote a Sunday morning at some point in 2016 to finding them. Cheers Tom Wilson From: Stephen Ambrose Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2015 1:57 PM To: ‘Jenny Stiles’ ; ‘Peter Ewin’ ; wilsonsinoz@optusnet.com.au ; birding-aus@birding-aus.org Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Upper Lane Cover River Valley – S Turramurra area Hi Jenny, I very occasionally see Gang-gangs, usually 1-3 individuals, flying along Buffalo Creek in Ryde. Stephen Ambrose Ryde, NSW —–Original Message—– From: Birding-Aus [mailto:birding-aus-bounces@birding-aus.org] On Behalf Of Jenny Stiles Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 9:05 PM To: Peter Ewin; wilsonsinoz@optusnet.com.au; birding-aus@birding-aus.org Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Upper Lane Cover River Valley – S Turramurra area HI Peter, I would be very interested to know if you spot any Gang-gangs. I live in Epping & often walk along the Beecroft/Cheltenham/Marsfield/Epping stretch. I can cross the creek & head towards Pennant Hills & would definitely do so for local Gang-gangs. I have only seen the once locally. From Jenny Stiles —–Original Message—– From: Peter Ewin Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2015 3:30 PM To: wilsonsinoz@optusnet.com.au ; birding-aus@birding-aus.org Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Upper Lane Cover River Valley – S Turramurra area Tom, I have spent a few days around Christmas at my inlaws at Pennant Hills (Blackbutt avenue) just near Pennant Hills park and upper Lane Cove NP. The weather hasn’t been great for walking but I am back in a few days and I will probably head down the same way around New Years. I regularly (though not every trip) see Gang Gangs around their house – the native nursery is just around the corner. This trip I think I have heard gang gangs a couple of times (though difficult amongst the many sulphur-cresteds) but I also don’t pay much attention as I get them in my backyard at this time of year in Albury as well. I will let you know once I return if the are definitely about. Cheers, Peter > From: wilsonsinoz@optusnet.com.au > To: birding-aus@birding-aus.org > Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2015 12:41:28 +1100 > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Upper Lane Cover River Valley – S Turramurra > area > > Hi all > I spent from 7-9am walking parts of the Great North Walk and STEP > track in the Upper Lane Cove Valley this morning (20 December). > Highlight was a single Bassian Thrush seen foraging in the Great North > Walk just north of Browns Waterhole approx 8:30am. There were lost of > Scarlet Honeyeaters along the track as well as 3 Rufous Fantails and > the more common species that I’d expect to see. A colony of Bell > Miners has taken up residence in the area around Browns Waterhole, > which is new since my last visit (some time in 2014 admittedly). > There were no Gang-gangs seen or heard – although it is entirely > possible that the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos drowned out anything else as they were particularly loud this morning. > Are there still a small number of Gang-gangs resident in the upper > Lane Cove Valley or if I want to get one on my 2015 list do I need to > go a bit further afield? > Cheers > Tom Wilson >

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BirdLife Victoria – Portland Pelagic Trip Report 10 December 2015

BirdLife Victoria Pelagic off Portland, Victoria, 10 December 2015 Participants: Scott Baker, Tim Bawden, Matthew Crawford, Rob Drummond, Rob Farnes, Graham and Linda Lee, Rosemary Lester, John McRae, Chris Lester (organiser). Crew: Chris and Nick. Activity: Departed Portland Harbour aboard the Timaru at 7.00 and headed southwest towards the shelf. Stopped at the shelf for our first stop at 38 degrees 41.161 minutes, 141 degrees 18.113 minutes in 106 fathoms of water where we stayed from 9.30 until 10.30. We moved to the southwest to our second stop at 38 45.269, 141 15.885 in 270 fathoms and stayed there from 10.50 until 12.00 noon. Then, we moved to the east to our third stop at 38 45.710, 141 21.381 in 270 fathoms and stayed there between 12.25 and 13.25. We returned via Lawrence Rocks, arriving at Portland Harbour at 16.25. Conditions: Initially, it was fine and mostly sunny with only light cloud. It pretty much stayed that way for the whole day. At the first stop, there was a light breeze of about 5-8 knots from the northeast with a 1-2 m swell and no sea. There was a tide of about 8 knots running from the southeast. At the end of the day, the wind was 4-6 knots from the southeast with the swell less than 1 m and no sea. The tide had disappeared. So, it was a very pleasant trip from a weather viewpoint. Summary: A relatively quiet day with 17 seabird species. The bird highlights was the WHITE-HEADED PETRELS along with the high numbers of Great-winged Petrels and the mammal highlight of the day was the pod of LONG-FINNED PILOT WHALES. Mammals: Common Dolphin: small groups on the way out and the way in. Australian Fur Seal: the normal number (around 30) loafing at Lawrence Rocks. LONG-FINNED PILOT WHALE: A pod of 15-20 at the second stop. We had excellent, medium-distance views for about 30 minutes. Birds: (Total number of birds with the maximum seen at one time in brackets) Wilson’s Storm-Petrel: 1. Pelagic. White-faced Storm-Petrel: 3 (1). Pelagic. Wandering Albatross: 1. Race exulans. At the third stop. Shy Albatross: 30 (15). All nominate. Pelagic with small numbers inshore. Yellow-nosed Albatross: 3 (1). Pelagic. Northern Giant-Petrel: 2 (1). Pelagic. Giant-Petrel spp: 2. On the way out and in. White-chinned Petrel: 12 (7). All pelagic. Flesh-footed Shearwater: 3 (1). Pelagic. Short-tailed Shearwater: 10 (4). On the way out and in. Only a couple at the shelf. WHITE-HEADED PETREL: 3 (1). At and near the second stop. Great-winged Petrel: 200 (30). Surprising numbers. We started seeing good numbers of them well before we got to the shelf and they passed through all day. Common Diving-Petrel: 3 (3). On the way back in. Australasian Gannet: about 10,000. Mostly on Lawrence Rocks with small numbers on the way out and in. Black-faced Cormorant: 60. Mostly at Lawrence Rocks with a few between there and Portland Harbour. Crested Tern: 150. Nearly all at or near Lawrence Rocks. Kelp Gull: 3. 1 at Lawrence Rocks and 2 in Portland Harbour. Silver Gull: 100. Nearly all at or near Lawrence Rocks. There were also 1 Little Black Cormorant near Portland Harbour on the way in and 3 Sooty Oystercatchers and 2 Masked Lapwings at Lawrence Rocks. Regards Chris For details of future Portland trips, go to the BirdLife Australia web site at the bottom of the relevant Birdlife Victoria page at http://www.birdlife.org.au/locations/all-victoria-statewide/activities-vic For reports of past BA-Vic and BirdLife Victoria trips from Portland and Port Fairy, search the Birding-Aus archives for the trip reports at http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/

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Fox poo?

Paradise Shelduck – NSW

Hi all, For those not on Facebook, a Paradise Shelduck has been identified at Lake Wollumboola – the same place as the Hudsonian Godwit and the White-rumped Sandpiper from earlier in the year. It appears to have been present for the last few days but has gone unnoticed since today due to the Hudsonian Godwit attention. I believe the immediate consensus is that the bird is a wild one versus an escapee. Apparently all 6 captive birds have been accounted for and this bird is unbounded and capable of flight. See this link for more details: https://www.facebook.com/groups/718576241555767/ I’m sure a BirdLine report will be posted soon and someone who’s seen the bird can fill us all in with a bit more detail. Happy Twitching! James Mustafa

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Subject: Tasmania

I love Tasmania. A visit to Maria Island one year was very enjoyable. Greeted by Cape Barren Geese on arrival we were onto a good start. we walked to Frenchs Farm and camped there for a few days. The waterhole behind the old house hosted many of the endemics Yellow Wattle, Yellow-throated HE,Green Rosellas, Beautiful Firetails, as the week was rather dry and hot (we were there in March). On a day walk from there we came upon a grove of suitable trees near Chinaman’s Bay with a dozen Forty-spotted Pardalotte. On a return trip, I flew from Hobart to the south-west corner, for Orange-bellied Parrot. I stayed for five days in one of the hikers huts there. Olive Whistlers, Crescent HE and Beautiful Firetails sang in trees by the stairs of the hut. The field nearby had Striated Fieldwrens and I saw 20 newly fledged OBP. Another great trip. Burney Message: 3 From: christinaport@iinet.net.au To: birding-aus@birding-aus.org Subject: [Birding-Aus] Tasmania Message-ID: < 170b897115479c7dd349a45668f75dfa6d16356b@webmail.iinet.net.au> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Hi all,I’m planning a trip to Tasmania in February. I’ve never been before so any help is greatly appreciated. ThanksChristina Port Sent from my generic tablet device

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Tasmania

Hi all,I’m planning a trip to Tasmania in February. I’ve never been before so any help is greatly appreciated. ThanksChristina Port

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Pacific Golden Plovers

We’ve just returned from a week on Lady Elliot Island. There were quite a few PGPs there . My query is about the size of these birds – they all seemed very small. Earlier this year, we saw 100s of PGPs on Norfolk Island and we also see many here on Bribie Island all the time each summer. All of these birds seemed to be much larger than what we saw on Lady Elliot. The birds were definitely PGPs. I mentioned these observations to another visiting birder who agreed that they did seem smaller. Is it just my imagination or is there some other possibility??? Brian

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