Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales Published sightings for the week ending 31 Aug 2014. Sun 31 Aug Glossy Black Cockatoo, Peregrine Falcon, Rock Warbler, Fuscous Honeyeater Patonga and environs Nice views of four Glossy Black Cockatoos in casuarinas half a kilometre up the Great North Walk from Patonga. Distant photos attached. Further along the track near Warrah Trig and the adjacent coastal lookout (which has great views of the Lower Hawkesbury and Barrenjoey), we saw a single Rock Warbler (a reliable spot for this species) and a single Peregrine Falcon. Also saw four Fuscous Honeyaters, the first time I have seen this species in this area, probably having walked this track atleast 15 times over the last twenty years. Wildflowers and HE’s in profusion. Cameron Ward, Janette Ward Citrine Wagtail Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee Seen by lots of people today up to the time we left at about 1 pm. Seems to be in worn adult female summer plumage. The very worn wing coverts make the double wingbars very narrow, suggesting it migrated here before moulting. Interesting plumage features include: dark-spoted necklace between the yellow throat and white breast; mirky ear-coverts patch; scaly grey mantle and scapulars (dark centres graduating to paler edges); grey flanks but yellow thighs. It looks very comfortable and settled, but it does like to work a lot of the shoreline, moving around regularly. Noted one avid photographer who moved down from the banks into the shoreline habitat that the bird sometimes frequents, but he moved back when I asked him too. I hope others can be patient and put the bird’s comfort before their own need to get better photos. I think this bird may hang around and moult if it feels comfortable. Sure hope so. David James, Brigitte Dawson, Ian McAllan and others Citrine Wagtail Putta Bucca Wetlands Mudgee Wagtail seen by 15+ observers between 8.00 and 8.30 and still showing well when we left. Please note there are two hides at the wetlands and the wagtail is seen from the one on the quarry track not the one that is sign posted. Allan Benson, Alan Morris and Mike Kuhl Brush Bronzewing Deep Creek Reserve, Narrabeen In addition to Henry Coleman’s report from yesterday, I saw two Brush Bronzewings today and on the 2nd and the 3rd of this month I saw one in the same area (near the large bridge and freshwater pond) Jayden Walsh Square-tailed Kite Warden Head, Ulladulla A STK was seen this morning sailing along the escarpment at app 11am. There was possibly 2 but I didn’t get a good look at the other bird which could have been the commoner W B Sea Eagle. This is the first sighting for me this season but Mike Jefferis has seen two, on seperate occasions, flying along the escarpment at Rennie’s Beach last week. Bob Rusk Kelp Gull, Pacific Golden Plover Long Reef Aquatic Reserve 2 Kelp Gulls sitting in with a large (200+) mixed roost of Silver Gulls and Crested Terns on the SE corner of the reef flat approx 7am. All the birds were flushed off the reef flat by some surfers crossing out to the end and the 2 Kelp Gulls appeared to head off south. Also one Pacific Golden Plover seen on the reef flat, together with 15 Sooty Oystercatchers, 6 Ruddy Turnstones and approx 20 Red-necked Stint. Tom Wilson Sat 30 Aug Citrine Wagtail Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee The Citrine Wagtail was seen by a number of observers between 12:15 and about 1:45pm, it was flitting quickly between locations, and foraging in the muddy edges. I am not aware of it being seen for the following hour or so. Many photos much better than mine were taken. Despite the warning sign I almost stepped on a brown snake, so tread carefully. Christine D 70 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Great Knot, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Grey-tailed Tattler Yamba Mixed goup of waders observed ‘roosting’ approx 100m west of Yamba Tavern on flats near mangrove on banks of Clarence River. Most of the usual wader locations inundated by extremely high tide. Darryl and Gary Eggins White-headed Petrel, Great-winged Petrel, Buller’s Albatross Wattamolla.Royal National Park. Highlights from a seawatch today from Wattamolla was a White- headed Petrel.about 40 Great-winged Petrels.5 Buller’s Albatross including 2 juveniles 1 Wandering type Albatross,2 Fairy Prions and 2 Brown Skuas. michael ronan. Citrine Wagtail, Plum-headed Finch, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Little Eagle Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee Besides the Citrine Wagtail (which showed well up to at least 3:30 pm), there were also 3 Plum-headed Finches around the wetland, a pair of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes (both light and dark-morph birds) and a Little Eagle. Edwin Vella, Mark Fuller et al Citrine Wagtail (Subject to submission to BARC) Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee The Citrine Wagtail was present this morning at 7.30am in front of the bird hide. Richard Baxter (posted on Birding-Aus) Black-necked Stork Ellalong Lagoon, Paxton A female Black-necked Stork was seen today on the far side of Ellalong Lagoon. Christina Port and participents with Follow that bird Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe Penrith Regatta Center A Little Egret was hunting on the southernmost edge of the racing lake, near the security station end in the company of a breeding Royal Spoonbill. About 30 meters beyond, there were two adult Great Crested Grebes diving, looking for food. I’ve never seen the grebes in this close and on this very lake. They tend to be on the less people inhabited water bodies. Akos Lumnitzer Brush Bronzewing, Black Bittern Deep Creek Reserve, Narrabeen On this cool and rainy day, a Brush Bronzewing was on the pipeline track around midday. I haven’t seen Brush Bronzewings at Deep Creek for years; since the area around the pipeline track was weeded, and I’d thought they’d left the area. Good to know there’s still at least one around. I wonder if others have seen any more recently? Also saw a Black Bittern which was nice . A nice pair of Azure Kingfishers near the dog park, and a vocal female Lyrebird. Henry Coleman Australian Koel Kingsford, Sydney Male Australian Koel calling for a few minutes at about 10.30am. The first of the season. Cold, rainy, day. Michael Hooper Fri 29 Aug Swift Parrot, Black-necked Stork McPherson Rd Swamp, Tuggerah A pair of Swift Parrots were disturbed from the only flowering Swamp Mahogany at this site located behind the houses, and they flew past in front of me. Also present was the immature Black-necked Stork but following heavy rain, the wetland is full and the Freckled Ducks would appear to have departed,. Tawny Grassbirds and a Black-shouldered Kite were the only other significant birds present. Alan Morris Regent Honeyeater Giants Creek (Upper Hunter Valley) At least 4 Regents still present in flowering ironbark (spp.) along Giants Creek Road. Many of the smaller HE’s seem to have left the site and there are not as many Noisy Friars (and no Red Wattlebirds now). Still plenty of Fuscous and Spiny-cheeks present however. Also 3 White-winged Trillers, a family of 4 Hooded Robins and many White-browed Babblers. Mick Roderick Citrine Wagtail (probable) Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee We got brief views of the wagtail that was reported yesterday. Unfortunately the light was failing but the bird was clearly a Motacilla wagtail. We will go back in the morning to try for a better look. Frank Antram with Chris Cott Citrine Wagtail Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee The Citrine Wagtail found and reported yesterday by Sue Chatfield was present at the same location today. I arrived at 0830 but it took about 15 minutes to get onto the bird. Kurtis and then (a pretty excited) John arrived soon after. The best strategy is to position one’s self in the hide and scan the far shoreline, in particular a section on the right-hand side of the shoreline at the base of a fallen dead she-oak that is splayed out. The wag favoured this area for foraging for quite some time this morning. If the bird is not immediately obvious just wait for movement as it can disappear behind rocks and weeds. It also occasionally visited the muddy patch closer to the hide, as well as the narrow ‘levy’ of rocky substrate that separates the main body of water to the one behind (to the left of its ‘favourite’ spot). Twice it was seen to fly into dead trees, once in response to a Peregrine circling high above. There were numerous occasions where we lost sight of the bird but it wasn’t long before it reappeared, so be patient. I understand that it was seen late this afternoon by a local birder and I would imagine that there will be plenty of people there over the weekend (a scope is advisable for scanning the far shore but you may get away without one over the weekend). Mick Roderick, Kurtis Lindsay and John Weigel Rufous Whistler Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park A single male Rufous Whistler was seen at 1:35pm on the Western side of the park just north of the Guide Hall. Ian Kerr Red-rumped Parrot and Glossy Black-Cockatoos (4) Oatlands NSW and Tascott NSW An interesting day – I saw 2 Red-rumped Parrots feeding at Oatlands NSW (photo included – you may need to zoom in to top right as it was taken by phone of bird in flight). Later this afternoon – 4 Glossy Black-Cockatoos in my garden at Tascott feeding – just departed at dusk. I have noticed a regular pattern with the Glossy Black-Cockatoos in recent years – they spend a lot of time feeding in the area from late August to end October and return to feed in March and April – we see them in Summer too but they only pass occasionally and tend not to feed for long periods as they do in the aforementioned months. Andrew Whitaker Baillon’s Crake Fivebough Wetlands Leeton A single bird clearly seen this morning along with 4 Spotted Crake. Spotless Crake were calling in the cumbungi but not showing. This is the first Baillon’s seen this season – the first last year wasn’t recorded until 21 September! Also a male Musk Duck was displaying in the settling ponds. Max O’Sullivan Emu Dunheved Golf Course, St Marys Good numbers of Olive-backed Orioles and Australasian Figbirds were feeding on privet berries, along with small flocks of Silvereyes. An Emu was also feeding on the berries and had been present for some time judging by the amount of berry-laden scat present. Probably an escapee from the captive group on a nearby housing development. I’m not sure what the status of these remaining individuals is, a starting point for a wild population of Sydney? Mark Fuller Topknot Pigeon Pelican Flat Topknot Pigeons feeding in cabbage palms along Soldiers Road bill boyd White-headed Pigeon Belmont Central White-headed Pigeon feeding in camphor laurels opposite Belmont TAFE in old school grounds bill boyd Pacific Baza Terrys Creek Parklands Vimiera Park Also in adjoining residential trees of tall eucalypts Vimiera Road & Essex Street. Found regularly here the whole month of August this year. Irene Timmins Thu 28 Aug Citrine Wagtail (Subject to submission to BARC) Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee A single Citrine Wagtail was sighted this morning walking along the shoreline in front of the reed bed near the first bird hide (near the truck). It was seen twice and then lost to view. On checking form the other side it was not to be seen. A pair of Red-kneed Dotterels had been chasing a pair of Black-fronted Dotterels in the same area. Pink-eared and Pacific Black Ducks, Grey and Chestnut Teal and Australian Shovelers were on the water. [Moderator’s note (NH): Sightings of Citrine Wagtail should be submitted to BARC. So far only three Citrine Wagtails have been accepted by BARC: Botany Bay, NSW, 1962; Goolwa, SA, 1987; Christmas Island, 2009.] Sue Chatfield Red-necked Avocet Lake Rd, Tuggerah Lake, Central Coast Around 40 Red-necked Avocets end lake rd luke ullrich Wed 27 Aug Regent Bowerbird Caniaba, Lismore NSW Regent Bowerbird an altitudinal nomad, left this week for highland forest having arrived in May. Note the yellow eye of the imm. male, which differs from the dark (brown) eye of the female. paul griffin Wandering Albatross and thousands of Fluttering-type Shearwaters North Head, Sydney One Wandering Albatross, 6 Shy & ~15 Black-browed Albatross plus many thousands of Fluttering-type Shearwaters [Moderator’s note (NH): According to Ivan’s description they were likely Fluttering Shearwaters. However, due to the current preponderance of Hutton’s Shearwaters in the area, I was hesitant regarding the identification on species level.] Ivan Chapman White-headed Pigeon Turramurra station Two White-headed Pigeons on power lines at north end of station approx 7am Tom Wilson Mon 25 Aug Pacific Baza Korora Adult bird, flew around various trees in garden emerged landed on Frangipani with a small green tree frog in its beak. Then using its claws held it and consumed it. It hung around for about 30 minutes. Rod B-King Sun 24 Aug White-headed Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-dove Epping At least 50 White-headed Pigeons flew low overhead at the corner of Derby& Somerset St. 8 came down to perch on powerlines and at least 25 roosted on the corner of Sutherland Rd on the other side of the M2. The rest kept flying. Several Brown Cuckoo-doves also feeding in Privet at the same site and a further 9 seen at Sutherland Rd. Jenny & Rod Stiles Noisy Pitta, White-eared Monarch Iluka Nature Reserve One Noisy Pitta heard calling during day. This was the only one heard in Reserve over three days possibly due to wet weather or possibly others had returned to their breeding areas. One White-eared Monarch heard calling briefly. Greg Clancy Swift Parrot St Clair Saw 2 Swift Parrots, with several other similar sized birds hiding from view, feeding in a gumtree around 2pm. Stayed for well over 30 minutes before taking off. One adult and one that looked juvenile in appearance. Johan Olsson Sat 23 Aug Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Iluka Nature Reserve One Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove heard calling briefly during break in rain. Greg Clancy Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (BARC submission in prep), White-headed Petrel Offshore–Wollongong pelagic Highlights of the Saturday pelagic were: 1 Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (BARC submission in prep), 2 White-headed Petrels and 15-20 Pygmy Killer Whales. Attached photos by Duade Paton. A detailed trip report will be posted on the SOSSA website soon. Nikolas Haass and all on the Sandra K Fri 22 Aug Noisy Pitta Bundjalung National Park–Woody Head Noisy Pitta heard calling at night, also at night on 23 August. One observed flying across Woody Head access road on 25 August. Greg Clancy Square-tailed Kite Ananngrove NSW A single adult Square-tailed Kite hunting by circling along the trees along the ridge of Shoplands Road. Almost becoming ‘common’ here this year. Darryl Smedley