Birdline Tasmania Weekly Update

Birdline Tasmania Published sightings for the week ending 30 Nov 2014. Sat 29 Nov Australian Spotted Crake Goulds Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary 2 birds ‘frolicking’ or so it seemed. Southern end of lagoon very close to Hestercombe Rd. Jason Bolch Latham’s Snipe Goulds Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary 2 birds flushed from cover close to water at northern end. Jason Bolch Banded Lapwing Esk Hwy before Avoca A pair with their young were sighted close to highway (main road), also saw another pair on the wing crossing Royal George Road. Jason Bolch Mon 24 Nov Black Swan (breeding) Roaring Beach Lagoon A pair of Black Swans with five cygnets was observed on the lagoon. In nine years of observations at this site, this is the first sighting of a breeding pair. Cath de Little Swift Parrot, Bar-tailed Godwit Bir Roaring Beach, Surveyors Bay Five Swift Parrots observed flying between two young blue gums (Eucalyptus globulus) in flower, with their unmistakable chattering and calling. A lone Bar-tailed Godwit was ramming its bill into the wet tidal sand; only the second sighting on this beach, first in 2006. Cath de Little Sun 23 Nov Lathams Snipe Hydro Bay, Arthurs Lake At least a dozen birds disturbed while walking across the marsh leading down to the lake. Bill Scott-Young Sat 22 Nov Swift Parrot Tatnells Hill, above Waterfall Bay, Tasman Peninsula Perhaps forty or so Swift Parrots in very active and noisy small parties among the wet scrubland by the coastal track on the E side of Tatnells Hill, above the Eucalyptus delegatensis treeline. The birds seemed to be feeding in low vegetation and periodically flying up into the scattered myrtle and other trees. I could never confirm feeding, but the most likely blossoms for them would be Richea dracophylla or Anopterus glandulosus – not exactly typical parrot-food! On the subject of Swift Parrots, those that were around Taroona in the spring have now moved on, but I’m still hearing and seeing those that have been hanging around flowering bluegums at Rosny College and the Rosny Hill TMAG facility for the past few weeks. Simon Grove Southern Giant Petrel (white morph), Northern Royal Albatross, Salvin’s Albatross etc. Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic Trip A beautiful white morph Southern Giant Petrel was one of the highlights of this trip. The bird had clean, white plumage with no dark feathers at all but had dark eyes and bluish feet, so wasn’t an albino. Photo courtesy of Rob Hamilton. Other highlights included 2 Northern Royal Albatross, 2 immature Salvin’s Albatross, a White-headed Petrel and 5 Parasitic Jaegers, which is a high count for an Eaglehawk trip. Paul Brooks and all aboard the Pauletta