Month: January 2023

square tail kite near Central Tilba, south coast NSW

Hi Folks

I do not know how unusual this is, but a square tailed kite soared over my head, just a few metres up, near Central Tilba yesterday, just above the treeline-level. I have never seen them here and initially thought it was a whistling kite, which are fairly regular. I checked my literature which suggests that they are spring/summer visitors to the south east. So perhaps not too unexpected. Likewise, I do not know whether they are apt to stay in a fairly local patch, but if they are, for those who know the area, the bird was quartering the valley where Punkalla-Tilba Rd meets Ridge Road.

Happy new year, all
Kim

Kim Sterelny, School of Philosophy, Research School of the Social Sciences, Australian National University, Acton, 0200, ACT, Australia

61-(0)2-6125-2886

 

Newcastle birding

Good evening
I am planning a few days in Newcastle, hoping to search for the Asian Dowitcher but note that the last eBird record is for 31 Dec. Perhaps this is because 2023 records have not yet been confirmed.  Has anyone seen the bird since 31 Dec?
Also, I would appreciate any tips from locals on the best birding spots around Newcastle at present.  I am aware of the excellent HBOC bird routes.
Many thanks
Sue Lashko

Birdpedia – Australia – Weekly Digest

The following is a digest of Sightings Reported on Birdpedia for the period Monday, January 2, 2023 to Sunday, January 8, 2023:

Area: SA

Location: Middleton Point Fleurieu peninsula SA

Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus) (1) 6 birds were feeding on the rocks

Reported by: Winston Syson on Tuesday, January 3, 2023

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Australian Painted-snipe

Now that 2022 is done, I checked ebird for records of the species for that year.  This brought up a map unburdened by any reports, with the depressing notation ‘No data for this taxon’. This contrasts with the reporting for 2022 of the relatively commonplace Orange-bellied Parrot. I had previously mentioned to this forum a sighting of the p-snipe near Rockhampton at end October, but I can no longer find that ebird record. I cannot explain this.  Perhaps my memory is worse than I thought.

 

This led me to recall one of the last photographic records of the species, in Canberra almost exactly 2 years ago. This was photographed across Kelly Swamp at a distance of more than 100m, from the position indicated by the yellow star.  From that distance, it is quite possible to pick out the species with binoculars, and identify it. However, as with that pair there might be a certain amount of hide and seek as they move in and out of the vegetation.  At other times they might rest for hours at the one spot.  More recently, at the point indicated by the red star, the ACT authorities have taken the edge off the stern prohibition against proceeding further by offering the possibility of a distant view of a painted-snipe. While this is certainly a theoretical possibility, as the species has not been seen for two years it would be prudent for the out-of-town birdwatcher to check for any recent news of the species before travelling to this spot  with the expectation of seeing it.

 

I have included a dock in the picture.   The reason for this is that there seems to be some association between painted-snipe and this particular weed, in my experience anyway.  During more than one appearance of the painted-snipe at Kellys, the dock has been a useful reference point. ‘It’s near the dock’, people would say, ‘just find the dock and look right next to it’.