Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales Published sightings for the week ending 14 Sep 2014. Mon 15 Sep Australian Koel Bellevue Hill (Sydney) 1 Australian Koel calling from 4 am onwards. Chris Gladwin Sun 14 Sep Whiskered Tern Pejar Dam, Crookwell (Goulburn) 10 Whiskered Terns (and 20 Great-crested Grebes) Chris Gladwin Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater End of Geoffrey Road Chittaway Point A Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater who was bathing in a puddle was flushed into the nearby Casuarina trees by my arrival. It was observed for a few minutes but was too difficult to photograph. Steve Merrett Regent Honeyeater Widden Valley, Upper Hunter Valley Pair of Regent Honeyeaters busy nest building and feeding on mistletoe in the river oaks along the river. Also large numbers of Rainbow Bee-eaters in the valley now. michael ronan. Plumed Whistling-Duck, Australian Shelduck Bungendore Meadow Dam 13 Plumed Whistling-Duck and 14 Australian Shelduck. Over the past 6 years Plumed Whistling-Ducks have become regular in this area, but not until mid/late October. Thus an unusually early return. Martin Butterfield Topknot Pigeon, Eastern Osprey, Pacific Baza Lane Cove National Park–Sugarloaf Point 30+ Topknot Pigeons were resting on a gumtree, flushed by a White-throated Treecreeper call nearby, interestingly. Also a single Pacific Baza soaring high and calling. Resident Eastern Osprey around the river chased by Masked (Black-shouldered) Lapwings. Fatih Sam White-eared Monarch, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Varied Triller Chambigne Creek TSR, Old Glen Innes Rd, via Grafton Unusal sighting (for this location) of single White-eared Monarch feeding in tops of wattles beside creek. Varied Triller in same location along with Olive-backed Oriole and many Australian Figbirds feeding on native Fig fruit. Many Scarlet and Brown Honeyeaters. Also good looks at a Little Bronze-Cuckoo in drier vegetation near road/TSR junction. Darryl and Gary Eggins Bar-shouldered Dove, Striated Heron, Channel-billed Cuckoo Warriewood Wetlands A single Bar-shouldered Dove was seen in clear view from about 10 m away and heard calling at about 8:45 am this morning. A Striated Heron was seen very briefly flying off through the wetlands. A Channel-billed Cuckoo was also heard this morning and 2 days ago. Jayden Walsh Sat 13 Sep Pacific Baza, White-headed Pigeon Kurrajong area One Pacific Baza in garden Grey Gums where this species formerly nested was my first local sighting in several years. Remarkably, another bird (different, worn secondaries) seen about an hour later in Kurrajong village about 3 km away. Also seen White-headed Pigeon, displaying Yellow-throated Scrubwren, nesting Common Bronzewing, and large numbers of southwards migrating Yellow-faced Honeyeaters with smaller numbers of White-naped Honeyeaters. Eric Finley Little Lorikeet Cambridge Gardens Approximately 6 Little Lorikeets feeding among Rainbow Lorikeets and a few Scaly-breasted Lorikeets in the large Mugga Ironbark on my street corner. Akos Lumnitzer Pacific Baza Kooringal Avenue, Thornleigh Noisy Miner alarm calls alerted me to 4 Pacific Bazas circling overhead (in shallow circles as per Pizzey and Knight). One peeled off and plunged down, and almost immediately the other 3 did likewise, with all 4 tumbling into large trees on all four sides of where I stood. Amazing to watch and first time I have seen more than 2 Bazas at any one time. I found one Baza four houses along from ours in an angophora feeding on a Noisy Miner, but could not locate the other 3. Cameron Ward Black-shouldered Kite breeding pair Pughs Lagoon Richmond NSW 2 Black-shouldered Kites, breeding pair. One called from a large stick nest at the top of a nearby pine tree. One fed the other. One broke of a twig from a gumtree and took it to the nest. Several Willie Wagtails calling in picnic area & a Restless Flycatcher. Adrian O’Hara Sacred Kingfisher Woodfield Avenue Bundeena NSW Heard this morning, first for me for this season of this returning migrant Deryk Engel Fri 12 Sep Plum-headed Finch, breeding Blue-billed Ducks Gum Swamp (Forbes) Very surprised to see 50 plus Plumheads at the swamp this afternoon. I’ve never recorded them at this site before. A pair of Bluebilled Ducks had three very small chicks, and Freckled Ducks were still very abundant. Sea Eagle was on nest and White-breasted Woodswallows were present. Warren Chad Regent Honeyeaters Private property Scrubby Rush Road, Cowra 2 individuals seen feeding about 5.00pm in a red flowering gum with Red Wattlebirds, Little Friarbirds, White-plumed Honeyeaters – has been seen previously by the property owner Frances Smith -Hastings Birdwatchers Latham’s Snipe, Comb-crested Jacana, Little Egret Kings Creek Road Swamp, Wauchope Saw my first Latham’s Snipe for the season, when it flushed from the edge of this wetland. Also present was a Jacana, and a Little Egret, an uncommon visitor to this swamp. For once, there were no Whistling Ducks of either species. Alan Morris Striated Heron Warriewood Wetlands Immature in full view at main boardwalk around 1 pm Carl Weber Striated Heron, Nankeen Night Heron, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Deep Water Park Milperra two separate adult Striated Herons, both along the river, one with green feet and one with bright orange feet. Single adult Night Heron on the island in the first pond on Maxwell Ave. Still hundreds of Musk Lorikeets feeding mostly on flowers of Blue Box and Forest Red Gum. One partially leucistic bird had yellow and green scaly upperprats. Probably more than 20 pairs of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets nesting. A pair of Australian King Parrots. !0 species of honeyeaters on the eucalypt blossum, including White-cheeked and Scarlet Honeyeater. (Moderator’s Note; Bright orange/red legs and feet in Striated Herons is a sign that they are breeding. AKM) David James Swift Parrot Deep Water Park Milperra 12 Swift Parrots this morning about 8 am. At least 5 adults and at least 2 immatures. Contra HANZAB, the immatures were obvious with reduced brightness and sharpness of red face, no red in vent. One had missing central tail feathers. Feeding on blossom of Blue Box Euc.bauriana and Forest Red Gum E. teriticornis along both sides of Maxwell Ave in front of the Paint Ball car park. David James Thu 11 Sep Pacific Baza pair Greggs rd/Redbank rd Kurrajong NSW 2 Pacific Bazas passed through canopy along Redbank creek, paused momentarily to copulate. 1 bird broke of small gum twig and ate fresh leaves (possibly lerps on leaf surface?) Adrian O’Hara Rainbow Bee-eater, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole Koolumbung Ck Reserve Port Macquarie When I visited this reserve at 930 hrs, Rainbow Bee-eaters were flying over heading south, in small numbers, I estimated 12 birds. Rufous Whistlers (saw 3) and Olive-backed Orioles were in full song as were Golden Whistlers. Alan Morris Leaden Flycatcher, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Rainbow Bee-eater Red Cliff, Yuraygir National Park Adult pair of Leaden Flycatchers, two Shining Bronze-Cuckoos, one adult male New Zealand race (very green head and nape, some purple brown patches, other either adult female New Zealand race or male or female Australian race (see photo). Rainbow Bee-eaters calling overhead. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Leaden Flycatcher, Forest Kingfisher, Coastal Emu, Rainbow Bee-eater Brooms Head Road, Taloumbi Female plumaged flycatcher in paperbarks and Forest Red Gums, Adult male Forest Kingfisher on powerline, 3 Coastal Emus, 2 foraging in old soya bean paddock, heard Rainbow Bee-eaters overhead. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Square-tailed Kite Kellyville 1 Square-tailed Kite seen circling low over vegetation near the corner of Balmoral Road and Old Windsor Road. Carl Corden Noisy Pitta Ourimbah Noisy Pitta heard from my front door in adjacent property (Forest of Tranquility) – the first visit I am aware of for several years. Moderator’s Note: A Noisy Pitta was observed at the Forest of Tranquility on 1/7/2014 by Colin Bradshaw and the observation was published on Birdline NSW. AKM) John Weigel Peregrine Falcon Penrith CBD One adult on the wing at 13:15 much to the displeasure of the city slicker bird population around Henry and High Streets. Akos and Donata Lumnitzer Painted Honeyeater Yarrie Lake At least 3 Painted Honeyeaters heard (1 visual ID; no photo) calling this morning from casuarinas with flowering mistletoes in them at the creek feeding Yarrie Lake near Wee Waa. Large numbers of other nectar-eating species competing with them – mostly Brown, White-plumed, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters and Little Friarbirds, but also many Mistletoebirds. Painted Honeyeater calls were recorded (“further information” link). Michael Dahlem Common Blackbird, Latham’s Snipe Eastlakes golf course Single bird Common Blackbird and 7 Latham’s Snipe this morning. Mark Young Wed 10 Sep Eastern Osprey Penrhyn Estuary, Botany Bay One Eastern Osprey flew in and landed on the edge of Estuary at about 11 am. We were at the viewing platform. Allan Richards & Max O’Sullivan Wedge-tailed Eagle Castlereagh Female and first-year seen along Castlereagh Road again at 15:50 and until 17:00. It is also of note, that last week we observed the same two birds on at least four afternoons in the same area, including my report on September 1. Akos Lumnitzer and Peter Phelan Paradise Riflebird Beechwood – private property A male Paradise Riflebird seen calling from the top emergent gums along Morton’s Creek. Further calls in the area to late morning Peter West & Sue Proust Square-tailed Kite, Sacred Kingfisher Ingleside, Sydney Northern Beaches An immature Square-tailed Kite is quite unusual for this area – the first I have seen here in five years. The Sacred Kingfisher was my first Sydney record of the spring and, with no others so far reported on Birdline, may be an early arrival? Roger McGovern Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Sacred Kingfisher, Leaden Flycatcher Coutts Crossing, SW of South Grafton Went to bushland near Coutts Crossing Cemetery early this morning to photograph the Glossy Black-Cockatoo family that I had seen late yesterday. They were feeding in a small Black She-oak adjacent to Armidale Road. The juvenile was heavily marked with yellow and had yellow on the red barred panels indicating that it was a female. Another trio, this time with a juvenile male was found feeding on Black She-oak ‘cones’ while at least two other birds, apparently adults joined the first trio, so a total of 8+ birds. Heard Sacred Kingfisher, first for season at this site and observed an adult male Leaden Flycatcher after hearing one late yesterday. Greg Clancy & Warren Thompson Tue 9 Sep Black Kite Duranbah, Tweed Valley 8 birds over road kill on Pacific Highway. Rob Morrow Eastern Koel Maryville (suburban Newcastle) Single bird heard in the early morning. Tom Clarke per Mick Roderick Regent Honeyeater, Rockwarbler, Rainbow Bee-eater Giants Creek (Upper Hunter) Whilst most of the ironbark blossom is tailing off, I found a single Regent HE ‘braving conditions’, with several aggressive Noisy Friars, in a pair of (planted) Mugga Ironbarks 600m south of where I’d previously found Regents earlier. I was granted access to the property so explored the area and to my complete surprise I found 2 further separate Regents on the ridge in habitat I’d never have expected them in (shrubby Grey Gum with Stypandra/Acacia understorey – no blossom anywhere). There was a pair of Rockwarbler on the edge of the ridge too, in fairly marginal habitat. Some early Rainbow Bee-eaters (for the Hunter Valley) were along Giants Creek. Mick Roderick Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Leaden Flycatcher Coutts Crossing SW of Grafton Adult pair of Glossy Black-Cockatoos with begging juvenile feeding on ‘cones’ in Black She-oaks in bushland at edge of village, flew to Spotted Gum to roost together at dusk. One Leaden Flycatcher heard calling on dusk. First record this season at this site. Greg Clancy Gang-gang Cockatoo North Epping This is my first sighting of Gang-gang Cockatoos in my suburb for many, many years. Frances Rein Australian Brush-turkey Pacific Hwy, Gore Hill Walking along the highway this afternoon, I spotted an Australian Brush-turkey ahead of me, just opposite the ABC tower. It then proceeded to walk down an entry way to a block of units. On reaching the front door which was closed, it flew up onto a window sill and in the window into a unit. Judy Clark Little Corella 147 Levenstrath Rd. Levenstrath, nr Grafton Flock of 250-300 Little Corella flying fairly high and direct in a westerly direction. Warren Thompson Red-necked Avocet, Caspian Tern Tuggerah Bay Saltmarsh, Tuggerah There were 58 Red-necked Avocet at the saltmarsh today. First reported by Luke Ullrich on 28/8/14, they have been coming and going since. Other birds present included 2 Little Egrets, 8 Caspian Terns, Black Swans etc.. Avocets are rare birds in the Tuggerah Lakes system. To access this site, you enter from the end of Lake Road, Tuggerah, and walk down the firetrail, which was once the road to Tuggerah Point, where early visitors to The Entrance caught a ferry, after having alighted from the train at Tuggerah Stn. Alan Morris Shy-type Albatross, Great-winged-type Petrel Brown’s Mountain, 20nm East of Sydney Two immature Shy-type Albatross and a single Great-winged-type Petrel noted whilst fishing at Brown’s Mountain off Sydney. [Moderator’s note (NH): According to geolocator data most (but not all) Shy-type Albatross of NSW and QLD are White-capped Albatross (Th. c. steadi). Also, it is currently not entirely clear, which of the two taxa of Great-winged Petrel are predominant. Grey-faced Petrel (P. m. gouldi) is certainly the predominant taxon in summer, but the winter/spring situation is unclear.] Darryl Smedley Mon 8 Sep Black-chinned Honeyeater, Little Lorikeet 8 Mile Lane & Avenue Rd Glenugie Nr Grafton There is profuse flowering of Forest Red Gum which is attracting many lorikeets and honeyeaters. At least 3 Black-chinned Honeyeaters were seen and birds were calling in several places so there may have been others around. Four species of Lorikeet were present but the majority perhaps 100+ were Little Lorikeets. Also feeding were, Scarlet, Fuscous, White-throated, Blue-faced and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters plus, Noisy Friarbirds. The light was poor and there were light showers so other species could easily have been missed. Peter West and Sue Proust Eastern Common Terns, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstones Soldiers Point, Norah Head I could see some small terns with black bills on the Island off Soldiers Pt, and assumed that they would be White-fronted Terns. Being low tide, I went out to check as it was possible to get onto the island. I was surprised to find that there were 78 Eastern Common Terns roosting there, which is an early date. At least 12 of the Common Terns were still in breeding plumage, the rest were both immatures/juveniles, or were in the process of changing into non-breeding plumage, also all appeared to have red legs. Also present were 9 Ruddy Turnstone (up from the usual winter number of 3-4), and a single Curlew Sandpiper, also a first return to the Central Coast. Alan Morris Citrine Wagtail (Subject to submission to BARC) Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee Citrine Wagtail still present during visit this afternoon at 4pm. We enjoyed good views for the whole time we were there, still in reported location. [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. It would be great if we could get a complete documentation of the Putta Bucca bird] Paul & Phillip Shelley Hooded Robin, Jacky Winter, Speckled Warbler Bullio, Southern Highlands It was great to see a variety of woodland species on private property in the north-western part of the Wingecarribee Shire. Other species included Brown Treecreeper, Crested Shrike-tit, Varied Sitella and a couple of Emus. Martin Filipczyk Superb Parrot Mangerton, Wollongong 2 adult Superb Parrots in trees in my backyard in Mangerton, Wollongong. (Moderator’s Note: Most likely these birds are aviary escapees. AKM). John Maughan Swift Parrot, Striated Heron, Long-billed Corella Deepwater Park, Milperra Four Swift Parrots in flowering Box near Blue Gum Farm. Also a pair of Striated Heron showing nesting behaviour. Also a pair of Long-billed Corella – not uncommon but a first for myself at this site. Greg McLachlan, Debbie Andrew Sun 7 Sep Channel-billed Cuckoo North Epping This is a very early sighting for my suburb – they, and the koels, usually arrive on or around the October long weekend. (Moderator’s note: This is the 10th report of the arrival of the Channel-billed Cuckoos, mostly to the Sydney and Central Coast Region. From now only special sightings at unusual locations and or large numbers will be published. AKM) Frances Rein White-winged Chough Quakers Hill Driving along the Quakers Hill Parkway I saw two White-winged Choughs in a tree in a park just north of the Quakers Hill railway station. Darryl Smedley Apostlebird Great Western Highway, Minchinbury Saw a single Apostlebird on the median strip at 7:15am whilst stopped at the traffic lights. [Moderator’s note (NH): AKM tells me that this is a known site for the feral Apostlebirds that escaped from Featherdale Farm 20-30 years ago.] L. Morgan Swift Parrot Capertee Valley–Genowlan Bridge Great views of 7 Swift Parrots seen by all on BMBO outing to Capertee Valley. They were in eucalypts on the north-east side of the bridge, gleaning leaves presumably for lerps, only 10m from observers and at eye level. Mark Ley and 14 members of Blue Mountains Bird Observers. Noisy Pitta, Spangled Drongo Irrawong Reserve Excellent views of foraging Noisy Pitta. Also Spangled Drongo. Nicholas Beswick Channel-billed Cuckoo Bicentennial Park (Glebe) 1 bird heard at around 10am, seems to be consistent date-wise with other other reports of them arriving in Sydney. First for Glebe that I know of, for the year. Simon Gorta Sat 6 Sep Spectacled Monarch Sawtell At least 2 Spectacled Monarchs in forest on southern side of headland; first returns for season. Many Scarlet Honeyeaters and Silvereyes around at present (two subspecies of Silvereye). Also observed four Grey Fantails, at least one of which appeared to have much less white on uppertail. Peter Higgins Brush Cuckoo Weston, Hunter Valley Heard calling around 6am. Usually passes through early Oct.. Early record. Steve Roderick Square-tailed Kite, correct e-mail address and correct name Cattai Wetlands “While photographing water birds two Square-tailed Kites flew over and I had them identified on a birding photography website from my pictures . They are reported to have been seen before.” [Moderator’s note (NH): This post came without a valid e-mail address, with no observer name and no photo attached. As this happens frequently, I’d like to address this issue here and now: While photos are certainly not mandatory (however often very useful as in this case), the name of the observer and an e-mail address are. Please always make sure that your e-mail address is correct so that we can reach you for queries. Thanks!] Nikolas Haass (moderator) white phase Southern Giant-petrel, White-headed Petrel, Buller’s Albatross Royal National Park–Wattamolla Seen my first white phase Southern Giant-petrel for this year which hung around off Wattamolla for most of the day. Also 1 White-headed Petrel and 2 Buller’s Albatross. michael ronan. Fri 5 Sep Citrine Wagtail (Subject to submission to BARC) Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee I have just published a video on youtube of the Citrine Wagtail at Putta Bucca wetlands, which I made on the morning of Sep 5: Bruce Roubin (per Birding-Aus) Thu 4 Sep Freckled Duck, White-breasted Woodswallow McPherson Rd Swamp, Tuggerah The Freckled Ducks had not been seen for the past few weeks, possibly because of all the rain the Central Coast has been receiving, but two were back today. Also present was a pair of White-breasted Woodswallows, first return report for the Central Coast, usually they turn up the last week of August. Alan Morris & Allan Benson Wed 3 Sep Spotted Harrier Lake Windamere Spotted Harrier at the southern end of Lake Windamere. Graham Blackwell & Alec Gillespie Mon 1 Sep Rainbow Bee-eater Sawtell Heard in flight at two separate locations over suburb, apparently moving southwards. First records for season in Sawtell (but note reports a few kilometres north, Sawtell-Coffs Harbour, 21 Aug). Michael Cheers & Peter Higgins Sun 31 Aug White-breasted Woodswallow, Olive-backed Oriole Sawtell White-breasted Woodswallows heard in flight over Sawtell (AM), moving south; later, seen flying south over Toormina shopping centre (26 birds in small groups, largest of nine birds, 16:50-17:00). Olive-backed Oriole heard calling from early morning, and heard persistently each day since (>1 week later). First returns noted for season (although note report of Oriole here 15 June). Peter Higgins Sat 30 Aug White-headed Petrel, Great-winged-type Petrel, Buller’s Albatross Wattamolla.Royal National Park. Highlights from a seawatch today from Wattamolla was a White-headed Petrel. About 40 Great-winged-type Petrels, 3 adult Buller’s Albatross, 1 Wandering-type Albatross, 2 Fairy Prions and 2 Brown Skuas. michael ronan. Sun 24 Aug Wandering Albatross Offshore–Wollongong pelagic Highlights of the Sunday SOSSA pelagic were approx. 20 Wandering-type Albatross (13 of which were exulans). Again not a single Cape Petrel and also no Giant-petrels on either trip. The photograph of the Buller’s Albatross was taken by Mick Roderick. For a detailed trip report and further pictures see here on the SOSSA website: Nikolas Haass and all on the Sandra K Sat 23 Aug 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. For a detailed trip report and further pictures see here on the SOSSA website: Nikolas Haass and all on the Sandra K