Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales Published sightings for the week ending 28 Dec 2014. Sun 28 Dec Sooty Tern Richmond River, North Wall A juvenile Sooty Tern seen in the mouth of the Richmond River before it headed north along the coast. Hans Wohlmuth Latham’s Snipe, Spotless Crake The Ponds (near Blacktown) Saw for the first time at The Ponds a Latham’s Snipe as I accidentally flushed it beside the creek side vegetation where I also had a few Spotless Crakes. There were also a number of Double-barred Finches and also lots of Weebills about (with the later with young). Edwin Vella Sat 27 Dec Stubble Quail Kenneth Upton Reserve, Mt Druitt Flushed out a single Stubble Quail. Also always hear/see Golden-headed Cisticola here. L. Morgan Beach Stone-curlew Nambucca River Single bird seen on river bank at Bellwood Park picnic area Ivor Jones Freckled Duck Kiss’ Lagoon Bega Kiss’ Lagoon, is proximal to the Bega township (corner of Old Princess Highway and Poplar St, observed at the North-West corner of the lagoon). Single female duck among many Eurasian Coots. Possibly injured or diseased on the head (see photo) Megan Griffith Black Bittern Deepwater Park Milperra A female flushed from the shore of the second pond on Maxwell Ave about 11 am. First BB I’ve seen locally since mid August David James Wonga Pigeon Mt Hunter NSW, Burragarong Rd over Sickles Creek Flushed from road side on bridge…large, plump grey and white pigeon Michael Miller Fri 26 Dec Blue-billed Duck (2), Latham’s Snipe (1), Azure Kingfisher (2) Lake Wallace, Lithgow Also seen were Musk Duck (1) & Great-crested Grebe (10) Mark Hocking Little Eagle Berkshire Park Pet Cemetery One light morph eagle seen circling low above cemetery and slowly working its way north. Akos Lumnitzer Thu 25 Dec Glossy Black-Cockatoo Lower Pappinbarra 6 GBC seen flying East in a group this morning. Not seen here for many months. All 6 seen again in a group the following day at 6:30pm flying back in a westerly direction. Ian Kerr Tue 23 Dec Banded Lapwing Cornwallis Rd, Cornwallis 1′ Cell 8 Banded Lapwings seen by the track that leads into the first paddock to the right of Cornwallis Rd when heading away from Windsor – one has a gammy leg. Tom Wilson Freckled Duck Pitt Town Lagoon Pair of Freckled Duck seen in NW corner of lagoon approx 7:30am. Also 1 Australasian Shoveler, 10 Pink-eared Duck, 1 Glossy Ibis and pair of Sea Eagles. The lagoon is very full – waders are present but in an inaccessible spot in the very far NW corner (only saw them when flushed by something). Also at least 12 more Glossy Ibis seen in wet paddocks around Pitt Town Bottoms Rd. Tom Wilson Mon 22 Dec Tahiti Petrel Lord Howe Island – Balls Pyramid Single Tahiti Petrel flew past our boat just past half way out to Balls Pyramid from LHI. Turned front on towards the boat flying in the same direction offering a very clear view of sharp, straight demarkation between dark head and upper chest and white front. Seemed to have a more solid build than other gadfly petrels. Back and head looked black at sea. Rough out there and having to hang on with both hands so no photo. Martin Stokes Striated Heron, Pacific Baza, Azure Kingfisher Briner Bridge, Coldstream River near Tucabia Two juvenile Herons flew from Coldstream River to small creek/drain nearby. Adult Baza perched in Forest Red Gum near Bridge. Azure Kingfisher flying low over River. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Musk Lorikeet Coutts Crossing Village Adult pair of lorikeets with begging juvenile in our Large-leaved Spotted Gum. This is my first local breeding record and comes after a period of absence by the species. Greg Clancy Sun 21 Dec Sooty Tern Corindi Ck estuary (Red Rock) Beach-cast tern found by Russell. Russell Jago and Greg Clancy Sat 20 Dec Painted Honeyeater (3) & Superb Parrot (20) 9 Km west of Caragabal 3 Painted Honeyeaters and 20 Superb Parrots were observed in a 2 km stretch of trees by the side of the road to the west of Caragabal. There was plenty of recently flowered mistletoe that the Painted Honeyeaters were feeding on and there is plenty of similar habitat on this stretch of road which looks good for both species. Rob Hynson European Greenfinch Eastlake Golf Course 2 birds feeding on the ground with Superb Blue Wrens. I haven’t seen this species near Sydney recently, but they used to turn up from time to time at South Maroubra, adjoining the rifle range. Also 2 or possibly 3 Buff-banded Rails foraging in the open in different spots on the golf course, and a Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo harried by Superb Blue Wrens at South Maroubra. [Moderator’s Note: European Greenfinch are regular at Eastlakes in summer, disappearing in winter. This is the first record for the season as far as I’m aware, which is much later than usual. JB] Ted Nixon Fri 19 Dec Grey-fronted Honeyeater at water source Round Hill Nature Reserve–railway line at 33 03 09S 146 13 57E 2 Grey-fronted Honeyeaters were the highlight of the many birds coming to drink at a pool of water by the railway crossing in Round Hill NR. Also seen coming to drink were Common Bronzewing, Mulga Parrot, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater and a Red-capped Robin. This was the only water I could find in the reserve and was very productive early morning and late afternoon. Rob Hynson Thu 18 Dec Ground Cuckooshrike (8) Banded Lapwing (25) Road to Round Hill NR from Lake Cargelligo 8 Ground Cuckooshrikes and 25 Banded Lapwings were observed in a field to the left of the road from Lake Cargelligo to Round Hill NR. This spot is about 500 meters after the tarmac road turns into an unsealed road. Rob Hynson