Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales Published sightings for the week ending 28 Sep 2014. Sun 28 Sep Square-tailed Kite Chiltern Trail, Ingleside The lack of birds along the the track during early afternoon more than made up by a Square-tailed Kite making several low passes over the track-head at Chiltern Road. Robert Griffin et al Australian Koel Glebe Point Road, near Glebe Public School Male Australian Koel was harassed by a Noisy Miner and chased along Glebe Point Road in front of our car. Simon Gorta Musk Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Whiskered Tern, Possible Blue-billed Duck? Lake Wallace, Wallerawang At least 6 Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage fishing over the lake. Counted at least 40 each of Musk Duck and Gt Crested Grebe. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Eurasian Coot on the water. Party of approx 20 Hoary-headed Grebe in the middle of the lake. 2 very small dark brown ducks asleep in the NE corner of the lake well beyond the barrage with heads tucked away, so could not see bills. Birds had a “domed” appearance in the water and I could not see any white towards rump – so may be Blue-billed Duck? (Would need to get much closer for a definitive view to be certain but worth checking out.) Tom Wilson Australasian Bittern Hexham Swamp Single heard booming all night long during a spotlighting foray. No Grass Owls. Joshua Bergmark, Nathan Ruser, Simon Gorta Black-faced Monarch, Sacred Kingfisher Bradley’s Head (Sydney Harbour NP) A single Black-faced Monarch heard calling near Athol Hall this morning was a welcome surprise. Two calling Sacred Kingfishers were also my first of the season. A possible Scarlet Honeyeater was also heard (two note contact call) in this patch that is overflowing with small birds. Ashwin Rudder Sat 27 Sep Rock Warbler, Musk Duck Wollemi National Park–Dunns Swamp Rock Warbler seen twice heading into rock cavity with food items – nesting? Pair of Musk Duck on a northern arm of the lake away from the kayak activity. Male bird was being very aggressive to any Coots that got too close. Tom Wilson Spotted Harrier Cnr Castlereagh Hwy & Bylong Valley Way Single bird seen quartering over rough ground at the junction, then diving onto a prey item, settling briefly on an earth mound and setting off with string flight towards the east – possible prey item for mate or chicks? Tom Wilson Dollarbird Clarence Town A single Dollarbird perched on powerlines beside Clarence Town-Dungog Rd. Clive Meadows Black-faced Monarch, Leaden Flycatcher, Brush Cuckoo Dubbo Gully Mangrove Mountain On an outing for the Central Coast Bird Group we had 3 Black-faced Monarch and a pair of Leaden Flycatchers on our stop down the hill to the gully. We also had many Fan-tailed Cuckoos and Shining Bronze-Cuckoos with a Brush Cuckoo calling as well. Christina Port for Kay Pointer and the CCB group Buller’s Shearwater Royal National Park–Wattamolla Seen my first Buller’s Shearwater for the spring today also thousands of Short-tailed Shearwaters moving down the coast including an albino or fully leukistic individual. [Moderator’s note (NH): This is a very an exceptionally early date for Buller’s Shearwater] michael ronan. Bush Stone-curlew Barham Two Bush Stone-curlews observed in a grassy carpark near the centre of town, potentially attempting breeding at this site. Both birds were observed on the 26th and 27th, one of which was squatting in the same location when observed several times over the two days (sitting on eggs?). Have never seen this species so close to dense housing before in south-eastern Australia. Perhaps attracted to the good source of invertebrate prey around the street lights. Karl Just Mallard Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo A solitary male Mallard hanging out with some Pacific Black Ducks on the billabong camp lake. I have been a keeper at the zoo for 5 1/2 year’s now and this is the first Mallard I’ve seen. Andrew O’Brien Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Myall Lakes National Park–Mungo Brush 2 Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves heard, one of which subsequently observed multiple times (quite skittish, but vocal) near the northern tip of the loop trail. Cabbage Tree Palms fruiting prolifically, many Green Catbirds, Topknot Pigeons and White-headed Pigeons also seen. Joshua Bergmark, Nathan Ruser, Simon Gorta Spectacled Monarch Caniaba, Lismore NSW First sighting for season. paul griffin Grey Goshawk Luddenham Single white morph seen being mobbed by Magpie-larks and Australian Magpies. Also great views when perched in a tree. Peter Bracken Fri 26 Sep Eurasian Coot Swan Lake, Cudmirrah, near Sussex Inlet Kayaked out mid afternoon to investigate a massive congregation of black birds on Swan Lake. They were all Eurasian Coots in one long narrow raft, and a conservative estimate would be 3,000 to 5,000. Attached is a photo of a small portion, perhaps a little blurred due to the rolling of the kayak. They were under attack by a White-breasted Sea-Eagle who successfully took two in separate sweeps, this following on directly from the same raptor flying overhead with a captured Black Swan and depositing it in its nest. A short drive early next morning to obtain a better photo was futile, with only a handful of Eurasian Coots remaining in the lake. Cameron Ward Superb Parrot, Blue-faced Honeyeater Orange Botanic Gardens Approx 25 Superb Parrots were feeding in cut grass between the gardens car park and the main road approx 5pm. A single Blue-faced Honeyeater was seen in the gardens near the entrance gate. Tom Wilson Australian Koel Kariong A male Australian Koel seen flying south. I don’t think he was stopping. I haven’t heard calling here yet. Christina Port Australian Shelduck Werai Lone Australian Shelduck in paddock by Mount Broughton Road mid-afternoon (not far from a dam and rivulet). Shelducks are rarely seen in the Southern Highlands. Lorne Johnson Thu 25 Sep Sooty Oystercatcher, Pied Oystercatcher, Grey Goshawk (white phase) Cudmirrah Beach (Berrara end) 7 Sooty Oystercatchers (photo of six attached), 2 Pied Oystercatchers and a lone white phase Grey Goshawk were the highlights in this scenic area of Cudmirrah Beach. Cameron Ward, Janette Ward Hooded Plover Cudmirrah Beach (Sussex Inlet end) 2 Hooded Plovers about half a kilometre along from the Sussex Inlet Surf Club. Despite all the signs warning of their presence people are letting their dogs run free (off leads) along this beach. Distant record photo attached. Cameron Ward, Janette Ward Freckled Duck Lithgow Wastewater Treatment Plant 2 Freckled Duck on middle pond in with many Australasian Shoveler, Pink-eared Duck, Hardhead, Wood and Black Duck, both teal and grebes – approx 5pm Tom Wilson Grey Goshawk Wingham Brush Nature Reserve Grey morph Grey Goshawk perched in dead tree on far bank of Manning River. Mobbed by three Torresian Crows and flew over to the Brush. Nicholas Beswick Swift Parrots West bound McDonalds, M4 Motorway (near blacktown) Four Swift Parrots were seen preening and squawking westbound McDonalds carpark on the M4 motorway. There is a planting of flowering ironbarks in the patch between the mcdonalds and the service station; they were in there. Sorry, no photo, it was windy, cold and raining when I saw them carrying on, obviously excited by this miserable tasmanian-style weather. So western sydney birders…. Perhaps a patch of birding mid-commute? Henry Cook Grey Plover Manyana – -35.268411, 150.508458 Grey Plover – Whimbrel, Hooded Plovers, Red Capped Plovers, Pied Oystercatchers, Egrets and Cormorants were some of the highlights at Manyana side of Lake Conjola entrance. Charles Dove Dollarbird Sawtell First return for season – about usual date here – catching its breath after migration on traditional spot on powerlines in main street. Peter Higgins Dollarbird Woodfield Avenue Bundeena We both heard a Dollarbird calling this morning. First we’ve heard for this locality this season. Deryk and Leslie Engel Wed 24 Sep Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Red-browed Treecreeper, Scarlet Robin Capertee Village 2 Glossy Black-Cockatoos (both males) seen feeding on a private property just south of Capertee village (but were observed from outside the locked property gate). In the woodland accessible from the Castlereagh Highway a male Scarlet Robin and 2 Red-browed Treecreepers were seen, along with a Wonga Pigeon, and singing White-throated Gerygones Tom Wilson Powerful Owl Royal Botanic Gardens (Sydney) The Powerful Owl seems to have transferred its roosting allegiance to the large Black Bean near the gap in the Macquarie Wall [to the left of the “Spring Walk” as you walk away from the cafetaria complex]. It was reported there on the 22nd [but apparently failed to show up on the 23rd]. Ted Nixon Dollarbird, Spangled Drongo, Regent Bowerbird Halliday’s Pt 10′ Cell Dollarbird in trees behind Black Head beach, also 3 Spangled Drongos, Shining Bronze-cuckoo and female Regent Bowerbird. Grey morph Eastern Reef Heron on rocks by Pebbly Beach Nicholas Beswick Spectacled Monarch, Wompoo Fruit-dove Lower Pappinbarra The first Spectacled Monarchs of the season seen this morning, They could have been here earlier as I have been away for ten days. Wompoo Fruit-doves are also back after a few weeks absence. Ian Kerr Tue 23 Sep Australian Koel Balmoral This morning heard my first Australian Koel calls of the season, from the large Moreton Bay fig tree next to the Bathers’ Pavilion, Balmoral Sylvia Griffin Rainbow Bee-eater, White-browed Woodswallow, Brown Goshawk Pearsons Lookout, Capertee A flock of over 40Rainbow Bee-eaters passed overhead approx 9:45am. 2 White-browed Woodswallows seen circling close to lookout. Dusky Woodswallows also seen from lookout. A party of 3 Brown Goshawk (1 male, 2 female) was seen circling low over the woodland. A Wedge-tailed Eagle also seen from here. Tom Wilson Little Eagle, Speckled Warbler, White-browed Babbler Capertee Valley–Coco Creek Speckled Warbler seen on side of road approx 10:30am. Little Eagle passed overhead just after. A gang (6-8) of White-browed Babblers was working through the trees about 100 metres on the Capertee side of the bridge. Tom Wilson Black-chinned Honeyeater, Diamond Firetail, Turquoise Parrot Capertee Valley–Crown Station Rd Singles of Black-chinned Honeyeater and Diamond Firetail seen at the mailboxes (Site 6 on the Capertee Valley Bird Routes brochure) – approx 11am. 2 Turquoise Parrots flew overhead and a single was seen close to the side of the road about 100 metres back towards Glen Davis Rd. Also at site 6 were 6 Jacky Winters, 8 Double-barred Finches, 2 Rufous Songlark Tom Wilson Southern Boobook Pacific Baza 105 Wallalong Cres West Pymble and Quarry Creek Lane Cove National Park Thought you might be interested in the following sightings at Wallalong Cres West Pymble and the area of Lane Cove National park (Quarry Creek) directly below. (56 h 0326788 UTM 6262115) Southern Boobook Owl roosting quite low down just below our back verandah in a King Fern (Angiopteris avecta) from 1 September on and off to 22 September. Pacific Baza (2) on 22 September 2014. Mating and actively displaying about 20 m south of the above (in Quarry Creek Bushland, Lane Cove National Park. Noela Jones (Birdlife member) Stubble Quail, Horsfield’s Bushlark, White-backed Swallow Bureen (south of Denman, Hunter Valley) There were Stubble Quails calling in the lucerne paddocks around Bureen yesterday afternoon. I haven’t seen any reported for a while and these are the first I’ve heard in the Hunter since May. Horsfield’s Bushlarks were vocal here and several other places nearby (e.g. Martindale, Yarrawa). There were 2 White-backed Swallows amongst the 100+ Fairy Martins over Bureen Creek and several Rainbow Bee-eaters are excavating already. Mick Roderick Painted Honeyeater Giants Creek (Upper Hunter Valley) Whilst the Regent Honeyeaters appear now to have departed Giants Creek (in fact, even have the Noisy Friars) there were 2 Painted Honeyeaters heard (and one seen) just west of where the Regents had been. I cannot see records of them in Giants Creek on any atlas. There is no mistletoe in flower or bud in the area. Of relevance I also called into Medhurst Bridge and found a few Painteds there – as reported by John Weigel the Amyema quandang in the wattles is not flowering, but I found yesterday that instead they are using the Amyema cambagei in the River Oaks. Mick Roderick Red-backed Kingfisher Rushforth Rd South Grafton sighted at 11.30am today at same position as reported by Greg Clancy. Observed flying down from power line and taking insects. Very active. Location was at the southern end of the badly eroded creek about half a kilometre before entrance to property Ballandean.. Warren Thompson Dollarbird, Bassian Thrush, Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo (3), Pacific Baza Warriewood Wetlands and Irrawong Reserve You can tell spring is definately underway with many migratory species back in the valley. Also many scarlet Honeyeaters and several Eastern Rosellas. Also of note was a Brown Antechinus running around my feet for ten minutes! At one point I sat down on a step nearby and it climbed to eye level about 10cm away from me and just looked at me! (Moderator’s Note: This is the first Dollarbird for the Greater Sydney area.AKM) Jayden Walsh Redthroat, Black Honeyeater, Chirruping Wedgebill, Crimson Chat Broken Hill Lots of good birds about the town, Redthroat common Greg Roberts Mon 22 Sep Grey Plover, Topnot Pigeon Lake Conjola Estuary Single Grey Plover observed at fairly close distance on expansive sand flats in the lake at present. It was moulting out of breeding plumage, but still had distinctive black front. Flock of 20+ Topnot Pigeons in the coastal scrub feeding on the many fruiting lilypilly trees. Both species not seen by us in over 30 years of visitation to this area. Wolinski and Richardson families Common Blackbird and Topknot Pigeon Royal National Park–Wattle Flat About 8 Topknot Pigeons and a male Blackbird Marie Lister and Athena Georgiou Spotted Quail-Thrush Conjola National Park – Cudmirrah Section Seen in regenerating section of Blackbutt Road on left hand side, approximately 500m west of the intersection of Slaty Box Road. Lesley May Eastern Bristlebird, Pilotbird, Beautiful Firetail, Southern Emu Wren Barren Grounds Nature Reserve Early morning walk along the Griffiths Trail at Barren Grounds NR and back again later in the afternoon. Most of the ‘specialties’ found within a few hundred metres of the carpark. Eastern Bristlebirds are quite vocal. No Ground Parrots seen or heard. Still very cool early in the morning and the birds were relatively quiet, even at dawn. Based on previous visits and audio recordings from this site it is much more ‘birdy’ later in the year from late October onwards. Marc Anderson Superb Parrot Tarcutta floodplain crossing on Hume Highway Sighted 2 Superb Parrots in flight crossing the highway, one of them kindly redecorating my windscreen while passing. Sighted plenty of other species while driving from Sydney to Albury including 3 x Square-tailed Kites, 5 Wedge-tailed Eagles (one trying to catch a rabbit on the freeway ahead of me), 1 Black-shouldered Kite and 1 Black-faced Monarch. Andrew Whitaker Swift Parrot, Painted Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Turquoise Parrot Wilpinjong Creek, Murragamba Two Swift Parrots feeding on fruiting mistletoe or lerp in Rough-barked Apple and Blakeley’s Red Gum on creek (no flower in red gums, just bud). Calling alerted to their presence. Theh were very ‘flighty’ and flew off twice before sundset could not relocate them. Passing through just for a day? Unfortunately on private property so there is no access. It is worth keeping a look out in the area. Three Painted Honeyeaters in fruiting mistletoe, two Turquoise Parrot and one Black-chinned Honeyeater nearby. Kurtis Lindsay Red-backed Kingfisher Rushforth Road, South Grafton Kingfisher still present this afternoon at the same location where it was observed on Thursday 18th. Also observed by local birdos on Friday and Saturday. Greg Clancy Painted Honeyeater Medhurst Bridge, Martindale Valley (Mid Hunter Valley) Up to 12 Painted Honeyeaters seen this morning at this well known site (the mistletoe at the site is Amyema quandang, which is growing in a bi-pinnate wattle, but apparently isn’t flowering strongly). Maximum number of birds seen at once was 8. John Weigel per Mick Roderick Forest Kingfisher Caniaba, Lismore NSW FK (male) first sighting for season. paul griffin Australian Koel Greenwich [Gore Cove area] Taking my cue from Simon Gorta’s posting of 20/9: one heard calling at 7 a.m. [my first this spring, locally] Ted Nixon Sun 21 Sep Black-necked Stork Pacific HWY Grafton NSW 2 Black-necked Storks in waterway alongside Pacific Highway. First time I’ve seen these birds! (Moderator’s Note: There are at least 10 breeding pairs in the Clarence Valley so a pair at Grafton are not unusual. AKM) Adrian O’Hara Diamond Firetail, Zebra Finch, Rufous Songlark, Brown Falcon 5 km SE Baldry on the Baldry-Molong Rd A pair of Diamond Firetails were found at a site where plantations of Spotted Gums had been planted to control salt problems in soil. Also present were 4 Zebra Finches, Rufous Songlarks and Fairy Martins, and a Brown Falcon. These were the only Diamond Firetails seen at 30 sites in and around the Parkes Shire in a 3 day survey. Alan Morris + 22 menbers of Birding NSW Central Coast Group Speckled Warbler, Brown Treecreeper, Black-chinned Honeyeater Spring Creek Picnic Area, Goobang NP, 35 km NE Parkes Highlights of a 2 hour morning stop at the Spring Creek Picnic Area by members of the CCGBNSW, included a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, 2 Speckled Warblers, 2 Black-chinned Honeyeaters, nesting Brown Treecreepers, Choughs & Grey-shrike-thrushes, a Brown Goshawk and a Collared Sparrowhawk, Inland Thornbill, both White-throated and Western Gerygones, 2 Wedge-tailed Eagles, 2 Little Lorikeets, White-browed Babblers, Crested Shrike-tits and Rufous Songlark. Alan Morris + 22 others Buller’s Albatross, Wandering type Albatros. wattamolla royal national park. Good numbers of albatross off wattamolla today including 45 Shy Albatross,about the same number of Black-browed Albatross.1 Wandering type Albatross, 3 Buller’s Albatross and 1 Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross also 4 giant petrel I didn’t get close enough views to identify witch species and 1 Fairy Prion. michael ronan. Top Knot Pigeons Deep Creek Reserve, Narrabeen Same walk as mentioned by Jayden Walsh. I arrived before other spotters & lost count as to how many TKP’s took flight from the car park region. Estimate 50 plus. Light drizzle & cool Paddy de Klerk Sat 20 Sep Black Kite, Freckled Duck, Sacred Kingfisher, Gum Swamp, Forbes Highlights from a 90 minute stint at Gum Swamp by members of the BNSWCCG, included 11 Freckled Duck, 5 Sacred Kingfishers some calling, 4 Black Kites, Sea-Eagle on nest, 1 Black-tailed Native-hen, nesting Choughs and Grey-crowned Babblers, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Australian Shovelers and Hoary-headed Grebes. Alan Morris & 22 others Glossy Black-Cockatoo Butterleaf State Forest / Glen Elgin area A total of ten birds sighted. Two groups of three (family groups) and two pairs. All feeding on Oak [Casuarina sp.]. All within a 50ha area. David Charley Fri 19 Sep Whiskered Tern, Australian Shelduck, Avocet, Freckled Duck Parkes Waste Water Treatment Park Highlights of a 2 hour stint at the Parkes STW by members of the Central Coast Group, Birding NSW included 9 Whiskered Terns, 2 Australian Shelducks, 10 Red-necked Avocet, 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 1 Black-tailed Native Hen, 1 Glossy Ibis, 3 Superb Parrots, 1 Freckled Duck, 10+ Australian Shovellers, 1 Rufous Songlark, a Swamp Harrier, Whistling Kite & 200+ Pink-eared Ducks and many Grey Teal etc. Alan Morris + 22 others Red-wing Parrot 19km west of Glenn Innes 3 parrot observed on buds in roadside trees. Eastern edge of range. David Charley Thu 18 Sep Superb Parrot Holmwood HSD Bumberry, 30 km E of Parkes on Orange Road. Group of three Superb Parrots flew across the road and landed in a flowering Yellow Box Doug Hocking per Alan Morris