Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales Published sightings for the week ending 21 Sep 2014. Sun 21 Sep Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Brush Bronzewing, Black Bittern, Spangled Drongo Deep Creek A great morning on the PNHA Deep Creek outing with many birds seen including a single Shining Bronze-Cuckoo was seen near the beginning of the track whislt a single Black Bittern and Spangled Drongo were seen about 500m into the trail near the large stand of Cabbage Tree palms. Also an Eastern Rosella inspecting a hollow, a single White Headed Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo Dove and a Tawny Frogmouth on a nest. Jayden Walsh White-throated Gerygone Scheyville National Park – Longneck Lagoon Saw/heard at least ten White-throated Gerygones today on the main track in and the gas pipe track. Also saw several Fri 12 Sept at Mulgoa Rsv . Pic of one of today’s birds obtained. Michael Rutkowski Little Curlew (Subject to submission to NSW ORAC) Stockton Sandspit Solitary Little Curlew present this afternoon, easy to compare with the many Easter Curlews and the few Whimbrels present. [Moderator’s note (NH): Sightings of Little Curlews should be submitted to NSW ORAC. Please be aware that a pair of Pied Oystercatchers are nesting in the lagoon at the sandspit. Please obey the signs that are in place and do not disturb these endangered birds that already face a number of disturbances at this site.] Andrew O’Brien Dollarbird Richmond Vale (Lower Hunter Valley) Today Dan Williams and I saw our first Dollarbird for the Hunter Valley this season at Richmond Vale. Reporting it here as there do not seem to be any NSW reports of Dollarbirds thus far. I heard from Simon Gorta that he had one at Hawks Nest today too. (My first Dollarbird last year was from Shortland on the 21st Sept also). There was also a Pallid Cuckoo not far from the Dollarbird site.The Cessnock woodlands are now full of White-throated Gerygones and we had a single Leaden Flycatcher today as well. Mick Roderick and Dan Williams Rufous Songlark, Tawny Grassbird, Zebra Finch Richmond Lowlands In Onus Lane this afternoon we had 13 Zebra Finches, at least two Tawny Grassbirds and one Rufous Songlark (heard calls clearly). Akos and Donata Lumnitzer Brahminy Kite Lake Munmorah SCA – Snapper Point Two immature Brahminy Kites near Snapper Point. Frustratingly had my wide angle lens on so only managed a couple of poor ID shots before they were gone. The other bird was directly into the sun but I’m quite certain it was also an immature bird. Rebecca Citroni White-throated Gerygone South Coffs Harbour-Toormina One White-throated Gerygone heard singing; first returns for the area. Peter Higgins Glossy Black-Cockatoo 11a Dirigeree Road Nelson Bay NSW One adult male Glossy Black-Cockatoo feeding on she-oak in backyard bordering water board land/national park. Bryony Brownlie Sat 20 Sep Latham’s Snipe La Perouse [Botany Bay NP] Flushed from the edge of a rivulet almost opposite the cottages at the 12th hole of the golf course [2 p.m] Ted Nixon Latham’s Snipe (2), Little Lorikeet, Brown Goshawk (2), Dusky Woodswallow (2) Mt Annan Botanical Gardens 2 Latham’s Snipe at the larger top pond. Little Lorikeet (many) including some checking out tree hollows. Pair of Dusky Woodswallows also seen and pair of Brown Goshawk circling over the woodland creek walk. Plenty of Striated Pardalotes and an echidna there too. Tree Martins have returned to nest in the big gum just beyond the first entry roundabout. A dozen Satin Bowerbirds (mostly females/imm) feeding on figs in the main gardens was also good to see. David Vickers White-throated Gerygone Valery, Valery Rd First White-throated Gerygone for season. Valery is about 10 km inland. Michael Cheers Varied Sittella, Pacific Baza, Restless Flycatcher, Leaden Flycatcher South Grafton Water Reserve (Abattoir TSR) 4 Varied Sittellas in mixed feeding flock with White-throated Gerygone, White-throated Honeyeater, Golden Whistler, Leaden Flycatcher, Black-faced Monarch etc. 1 Restless Flycatcher nearby. Adult Pacific Baza soaring over canopy then flew up and performed undulating display. Greg Clancy, Alan Pilkington Australian Koel Hawks Nest Australian Koels continue to arrive back at their summer haunts with one heard this evening. Not many reports about yet this season. Simon Gorta per Ashwin Rudder Pacific Baza, Grey Goshawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle Devlin Rd, Castleraegh A single Pacific Baza on w bank of river, performing tumbling display flight. Also present one Grey Goshawk and pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles. At nearby Agnes Banks NR several breeding pairs of Spotted Pardalote and several Striated Pardalotes also seen. Eric Finley Rainbow Bee-eater, White-throated Gerygone, Grey Goshawk, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Cattai National Park Both Rainbow Bee-eaters and White-throated Gerygones have now returned to the Hawkesbury. At least one Grey Goshawk seen and a dark morph White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike and a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles seen displaying over Cattai NP. Edwin Vella and Follow That Bird Channel-billed Cuckoo, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Black-faced Monarch, Black-chinned Honeyeater South Grafton Water Reserve (Abattoir TSR) Channel-billed Cuckoo and Little Bronze-Cuckoo heard calling, 2 Black-faced Monarchs observed (observer’s first local records of these migrants this season), 3+ Black-chinned Honeyeaters heard calling, 1 observed. Greg Clancy & Alan Pilkington Chestnut Teal, Little Eagle Cotton Farm, Ashley A Little Eagle was observed above a farm irrigation dam for about 10 minutes. This is the first sighting at this location and first time we have seen this species over water. A single male Chestnut Teal was observed among tens of Grey Teal in an irrigation dam. This is also the first sighting at this location and a very unusual sighting for this area and habitat as it is an artificial dam. Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines Ground Cuckoo-shrike Eulah Creek Hadn’t seen or heard any for a while, but this morning 3 Ground Cuckoo-shrikes landed in short grass on our property, calling all the time (no photo taken). In the past I considered myself lucky to see them somewhere in the North-West about once a year. Now there have been 6 or 7 sightings in less than a year, all here on our small property at Eulah Creek. Michael Dahlem Black-fronted Dotterel Glenbrook Lagoon I was alerted to this species at the lagoon by Debbie Harris. First time I have seen or heard of them there in at least ten years. They could easily have been passed over as Masked Lapwing chicks. Julie Neumann Powerful Owl King Creek, Wauchope Heard calling at 4:30am. Clive Meadows Fri 19 Sep Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Channel-billed Cuckoo Mulgoa 2 two Yellow-billed Spoonbills were wading in our damn for a few hours in the morning. I spotted two Channel Billed Cuckoos in my mulberry tree on our property. I see them every year when the mulberries start to grow. Tanja Van Leaden Flycatchers, Rufous Whistler, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, White-throated Nightjar Yuraygir National park (near Station Creek) Minimum 7 Leaden Flycatchers along 2.5. km of fire trail, along with 2+ Rufous Whistlers, and group of 5 Glossy Black-Cockatoos. Many White-breasted Woodwallows and Rainbow Bee-eaters over heathland with many emergent pines and paperbarks. After dark, 2 White-throated Nightjars heard (1 seen), and 2 Owlet-nightjars also heard Peter Higgins Leaden Flycatcher Sawtell First return for season here. Michael Cheers & Peter Higgins Black-faced Monarch, White-breasted Woodswallow, Whiskered Tern Cattai Wetlands One Black-faced Monarch; 4 White-breasted Woodswallows hawking over the lake. Also 2 Eastern Shrike-tits, 2 Tawny Grassbirds and one Shining Bronze-cuckoo. Whiskered Tern in breeding plumage at nearby Cattai Creek ponds, viewed from Harrington Road. Nicholas Beswick Black-faced Monarch Caniaba, Lismore NSW Returning.Observed in euc. woodland with camphor laurel understorey, foraging around edge of canopy at middle height on sunlit side, regularly emerging from canopy to survey and chase insects. paul griffin Thu 18 Sep White-throated Nightjar, Eastern Ground Parrot Yuraygir National Park (near Brooms Head) Single White-throated Nightjar seen over heath, and a number of Eastern Ground Parrots heard. Peter Higgins Square-tailed Kite Sydney Olympic Park–Lake Belvedere During a visit to Lake Belvedere, we were very surprised to see a single Square-tailed Kite being harassed by an Australian Raven. Took a quick shot for id purposes, heavily cropped. The Square-tailed Kite has a distinctive right wing, missing some primaries. Never seen this species in the area previously. Stephen Davey, Shirley Clarke Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Latham’s Snipe, Common Blackbird Eastlakes golf course 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper were seen in the small pond. Only 2 Latham’s Snipes today. The Common Blackbird was in the same location as last week, singing very loudly Mark Young Pink-eared Duck Badgerys Swamp, Waterview, near Grafton 3 Pink-eared Ducks loafing in shallows of wetland. Greg Clancy, Alan & Wendy Pilkington Red-backed Kingfisher Rushforth Road, South Grafton Red-backed Kingfisher perched on powerline first observed by Alan then viewed and photographed by the three of us. Observer’s (GC) 2nd record for Clarence Valley in 36 years and only one other Valley record – a bird 6 Km E of Grafton in Oct 2002 (Peter Morgan). Alan & Wendy Pilkington, Greg Clancy Latham’s Snipe Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee A single Latham’s Snipe sighted to the left of the bird hide (one closest to the quarry truck) in the small bay area below the seat. A pair of Crested Shrike-tits also observed in the trees to the left past the quarry truck as we walked into the hide. Sue Chatfield Magpie Goose, Little Grassbird Narrabri Lake Update on the Magpie Goose population at Narrabri Lake – counted about 90 this morning (the photo shows only part of the mob). Also heard at least 3 Little Grassbirds calling from reeds. Michael Dahlem Scarlet Honeyeater Sydney Olympic Park Two male Scarlet Honeyeaters at Little Kronos Hill-vocal and looking good on a spring day. Only my second record for SOP. Also 50 Red-necked Avocets, 18 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 1 Little Egret and an adult female Brown Goshawk. Dion Hobcroft Latham’s Snipe, Australian Reed Warbler, Little Grassbird, Australasian Grebe Warriewood Wetlands A single Latham’s Snipe was seen in its usual spot. Australian Reed Warbler, Little Grassbird and Australasian Grebe all seen in the main pond near Shearwater Drive. Jayden Walsh Wed 17 Sep Freckled Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Little Egret Southgate Creek, N of Grafton One Freckled Duck loafing on log in water, one Pink-eared Duck on water and pair of Australasian Shovelers on water then loafing on bank. One juvenile Little Egret, with yellow-green legs, actively foraging. First record this site for Freckled and Pink-eared Ducks. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo, Red Wattlebird Great Marlow, N of Grafton One Horsfield’s Cuckoo observed in trees and riverside reeds. One Red Wattlebird moving S with other birds (?Australian Figbird). Red Wattlebirds are an uncommon winter visitor to the Clarence lowlands. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Pallid Cuckoo School Lane, Southgate One Pallid Cuckoo on powerline. First local record for season. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Black Kite, Gull-billed Tern, Torresian Crow, Cattle Egret Franks Creek, Southgate 90+ Black Kites, 100+ Torresian Crows, 19 Gull-billed Terns and 120+ Cattle Egrets as well as Australian Magpies and Common Mynas in or over paddock being ploughed by two tractors. Largest number of Black Kites seen in the Clarence Valley for some months. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Tue 16 Sep Australasian Bittern Fivebough Swamp Leeton Two and possibly three Australasian Bitterns seen in the reeds out towards the hide. Also single Spotted and Spotless and several Baillon’s Crakes found crossing the track. The swamp has been very dry for some time but was receiving 30,000 mega-litres a day of environmental flow with many other birds coming in. Two Bitterns were also seen on the 18th Sue Proust and a the Hastings Birdwatchers campout group Spotted Quail-thrush, Gang-gang Cockatoo Medlow Bath, Blue Mountains Two very tame Spotted Quail-thrushes were walking at the end of Blue Gum Ave (near bushland) at Medlow Bath. They jumped over the gate and walked straight to the dog bowl (stealing food from them). A flock of 12 Gang-gang Cockatoo flew over Blue Gum Ave early morning. [Moderator’s note (NH): There is a potential need to rewrite the ‘diet’ chapter for this species in HANZAB as it doesn’t mention dog food? ;-)] Ted Wnorowski White-bellied Sea-Eagle Bellawongarah (Berry Mountain) An adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle flew over the house yard at 2:35pm today being chased by Australian Magpies. First record for our property at Bellawongarah. We are on the escarpment 350m ASL west of Berry township. Carla Jackett Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Noisy Pitta, Spectacled Monarch, Rufous Fantail, Topknot Pigeon Iluka Nature Reserve Adult male New Zealand Shining Bronze-Cuckoo observed, Noisy Pitta heard calling (must be close to departing), 1+ adult Spectacled Monarch, 1+ adult Rufous Fantail, 30+ Topknot Pigeons over at south-west edge of Reserve. Greg Clancy Lewin’s Rail, Little Lorikeet Riverside Park, Riverside Rd, Chipping Norton 2 Lewin’s Rails, both calling ardently. 1 on the edge of the large pond has been calling from the exact spot (give or take 15 cm) for the third week running. Might be on a nest? The other is in a blackberry clump alongside Arthur St. There are still 50 or more Little Lorikeets in the riverflat forest, feeding in Euc. teriticornis and Euc. bauriana (a flock of 35 plus several pairs and flocks of 4-5). A pair was seen copulating in a dead red gum in the river flat forest. This follows observations of hollow prospecting here in May and on 2 September. HANZAB implies that they do not breed in central coastal NSW, but that is probably based on the first Atlas (1977-1981). Scarlet Honeyeater fairly common today in flowering eucalypts. David James Mon 15 Sep Silvereye Coutts Crossing, SW of South Grafton Flock of 20+ Silvereyes present, also on September 14, mostly local type birds (cornwalli) but at least one Tasmanian type (lateralis). Greg Clancy possible White-chinned Petrel (Subject to submission to HBOC ORAC) Old Bar Beach at 31 58 36S 152 35 08E Sea watch from 13.15 to 14.45. Weather conditions were good, the sun was behind me, there was a fresh sea breeze and the sea was choppy but not rough. At about 14.15, a large (roughly Pied Cormorant-sized) petrel flew strongly along the beach, close inshore. This petrel was completely black above and below, with no contrasting feet. It had a stout all-white tubenose bill. It was flying low over the water with steady wingbeats (no gliding or shearing). Also one Gull-billed Tern. [Moderator’s note (NH): Given the rarity of any Procellaria in the area – especially of a healthy one at the beach, I would have preferred a more detailed description. The sun was behind the observer. Could reflection have exaggerated the white bill? To rule out other Procellaria, I would have preferred a more detailed description of the bill, including a specific mention of the maxillary unguis. The described flight style is very unusual for a Procellaria, especially in a fresh sea breeze.White-chinned Petrel is on the review list of HBOC.] Nicholas Beswick Australian Koel Epping Male Australian Koel calling loudly at 5:10 pm from a tree in our neighbour’s yard. First I have seen/heard this season. Jenny Stiles Mangrove Gerygone, Glossy Ibis, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Fan-tailed Cuckoo Sydney Olympic Park 3 Mangrove Gerygone singing in the mangroves & casuarina on the Riverwalk, just past Woo-la-ra on the way to the river. 1 Glossy Ibis at the Northern Water Feature, 3 Fan-tailed Cuckoos seen and 12 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit at the Waterbird Refuge. Jenny Stiles Silvereye (lateralis) Caniaba, Lismore NSW On movement south, but with group of around 10 which included at least one cornwalli, moving through understorey of eucalypt woodland. In the same environment but in the canopy of ironbarks, a White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, male dark morph. paul griffin Sun 14 Sep Rufous Songlark Royal National Park–Picnic area at top causeway A single adult female Rufous Songlark feeding on the ground within the picnic area by 5 observers. Photograph by Martin Odino. Martin Odino & Max O’Sullivan Ground Cuckoo-shrike (4) Back Yamma State Forest Never seen the species in the area! Also a healthy number of the local specialities like Turquoise Parrot, Superb Parrot, Diamond Firetail and a lone Crested Shrike-tit. Lorand Szucs Sat 13 Sep Australian Koel Sawtell Single Australian Koel heard giving call in flight at 07:00 – first record here for season. A few calls heard early morning 14 and 16 Sep, and louder and more persistent calling heard this morning (17 Sep). Peter Higgins Australian Spotted Crake, Latham’s Snipe, Plum-headed Finch, Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Pucca Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee NSW While waiting in the bird hide to see the Citrine Wagtail saw an Australian Spotted Crake on the edge of the water and Plum-headed Finch were feeding in the low vegetation on the path leading to the hide. Also got good views of the Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo. Returned the following morning and saw through the fog a single Latham’s Snipe. A fantastic wetlands area that is in need of greater patronage by the birding community. BTW the Citrine Wagtail was not seen. Lisa Abra plus other bird watchers Glossy Black-Cockatoo Mulgoa On property on Fairlight Road in Mulgoa a male Glossy Black-Cockatoo. It was by itself and flew from gumtree to gumtree and also frequented She Oaks. Tanja Van Thu 11 Sep White-breasted Woodswallow Angophora Reserve, Bilgola Heights(Plateau) One White-breasted Woodswallow was seen Thursday morning, hawking over the reserve. A bird I’ve never seen south of Newcastle before this occasion. (Moderator’s Note. While Henry may not have seen these birds south of Newcastle before, they have certainly been summer migrants to the Tuggerah Lakes system since I have been birdwatching there from 1962 onwards. However it has only been in more recent years that they have moved south as summer migrants to the Hawkesbury Marshes and now they extend south to the Eurobodalla Coast, Batemans Bay-Bermagui.AKM) Henry Coleman