Birdline New South Wales Weekly Update

Birdline New South Wales Published sightings for the week ending 9 Nov 2014. Sun 9 Nov South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Australian Shelduck, Cattle Egret, Dollarbird, Pectoral Sandpiper Lord Howe Island During Ian Hutton’s Bird Week on Lord Howe Island, several noteworthy observations were made , including Australian Shelduck (3-8/11), Pectoral Sandpiper (4-8/11) and 6 Cattle Egrets (6/11, most in full breeding plumage) at Moseley Park Swamp by the Airport, Dollarbird (4-5/11) at Ned’s Beach, and – the highlight – a South Island Pied Oystercatcher at the Airport and surrounding areas (6-7/11). Denise and Chris Kane, Catherine Johnson, Ian Hutton, Hans Wohlmuth and various others. Red-necked Avocet, Wood Sandpiper Bushell’s Lagoon At Bushell’s Lagoon, there was a Wood Sandpiper with 43 Sharpies, 8 Red-kneed and 4 Black-fronted Dotterels, 2 Red-necked Avocets, another 29 Pink-eared Duck, an adult White-bellied Sea-eagle, a Peregrine Falcon, Tawny Grassbird etc. Edwin Vella Marsh Sandpiper, Little Egret, Freckled Duck Pitt Town Lagoon At Pitt Town Lagoon this morning I had a Marsh Sandpiper with about 7 Sharpies, c25 Red-kneed and 2 Black-fronted Dotterel, 5 Freckled and c80 Pink-eared Ducks and a Little Egret. Edwin Vella Black Kite Casino Black Kite circling beside road about 10 kilometers east of Casino this morning. michael ronan Square-tailed Kite Eurobodalla National Park–Beachcomber Holiday Park Pair at nest approx 30 metres up a Spotted Gum (E. maculata). Very solidly built nest of sticks, perhaps a little under a metre across. One bird remained in nest and other visited periodically. Saw this adult very well and in detail. Noted that its dark primaries extended beyond the tail when bird perched, that it had a whitish face, forehead and chin, a dark tip to the bill, yellow iris, pale legs and feet, rufous underside and pale translucent bullseyes in underwing in flight. Have rather poor photos. Link below to Eremaea eBird list may not open but full list is a available on that site Kim and Geoff Larmour Magpie Goose Mehi River, Moree Over the last couple of weeks Magpie Geese have returned back to their usual wide spot, on the Mehi River, north side of the township (near the main street/CBD). They have not been seen since the last weekend of August. Yesterday about c. 25 Magpie Geese were found, now today a total of 80 Magpie Geese all together resting on a flat. This is the largest number I have ever seen here and unusual for the township. Curtis Hayne and Michael Dahlem Black Bittern Mullet Creek Warriewood A single Black Bittern was seen well this morning at Mullet Creek near the ‘weir’. Also of interest was 2 Dollarbirds seen hawking for insects along the creek and about 4 Magpie Lark nests. The Black Bittern has been present here for well over 2 weeks. Jayden Walsh White throated Needletail Bobbin Head Rd, North Turramurra Flock of 25-30 birds seen approx 7:45am. Low down and circling – feeding on something. Birds were calling as well. First Sydney sighting for me this season. Tom Wilson Sat 8 Nov Australian Shelduck Lord Howe Island A single Australian Shelduck shuttling from airstrip swamp to sit in The Lagoon, approx 50m offshore. A local told me that this is the first Shelduck since 1985. In searching (unsuccessfully) for reported SIPO, a range of waders were found, including 20+ Whimbrels and 6 Bar-tailed Godwits. Also on this day Jack Shick reported a Black Petrel approx 4nm off-shore. John Weigel Brown Falcon, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Riverstone Around noon, I went for a quick looks at Riverstone and can confirm that there are 2 young in the Brown Falcons nest with their parents seen hanging around nearby as well as a Pallid Cuckoo. Also seen were 9 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers with 5 Black-fronted Dotterels on a dam, 2 Shining Bronze-cuckoos, a male Leaden Flycatcher, Sacred Kingfisher, White-winged Triller, Crested Shrike-tits, Olive-backed Orioles, Golden and Rufous Whistlers, Varied Sitellas, Crested Shrike-tit etc. Not bad for an hour visit! Edwin Vella Blue-faced Honeyeater, Apostlebird Nurragingy Reserve Yesterday morning, I joined Mark for the What Bird is That Workshop in Nurragingy Reserve run in conjunction with the Blacktown Council and CBOC. We all enjoyed a good few hours with a family group of Blue-faced Honeyeaters with young, Scarlet Honeyeaters, Apostlebird and a group of White-winged Choughs, Australasian Figbirds , Crested Shrike-tit and what looked like a Square-tailed Kite flying away from us. Edwin Vella, Mark Fuller et al Forest Kingfisher, White-eared Monarch, Varied Triller Huonbrook, Mullumbimby Highlights from this morning was a Forest Kingfisher sitting on power lines. A pair of Varied Trillers building a nest also a pair of White-eared Monarchs and there was 4 Spangled Drongo nests within 100 metres of each other. michael ronan White-breasted Woodswallow Gosling Creek Reserve, Orange Two birds hawking for insects along with eight Dollarbirds. Neville Schrader Little Egret Spring Creek Reservoir, Orange Single bird in breeding plumage, scarce at Orange.. Neville Schrader Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Satin Bowerbird, Spangled Drongo Coutts Crossing Village Heard Little Bronze-Cuckoo and Spangled Drongo in our backyard. Drongos are rare at this site this time of year because they are usually breeding in wetter forests but an immature has been hanging around. Adult male Bowerbird bathing at bird bath and dish near our back door. Greg Clancy White-throated Needletail Caniaba, Lismore NSW Sighted most mornings this week flying east, sometimes returning west shortly after. 15 early in the week, 4 later when it was overcast and 50 today with the return of clear skies. paul griffin Black-tailed Native-hen Spring Creek Reservoir, Orange – private dam at W end 1 Black-tailed Native-hen along with at least 5 Latham’s Snipe feeding on open mud flats on quickly drying dam. Able to be seen from road. Rosemary Stapleton Fri 7 Nov Common Cicadabird, Painted Button-quail, Varied Sittella, Chambigne Nature Reserve/State Conservation Area (restricted access) Cicadabird heard calling (also on on Nov 4-6) at various sites, female Button-quail flushed from near creek line, 5+ Sittellas feeding in mixed flock with Grey Fantail, Rufous Whistler, female Leaden Flycatcher, Red-backed Fairy-wrens etc. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo Bundanoon township One bird calling behind the sewage works this afternoon. Species no. 173 for town. I’m surprised it’s taken me four years to add this to my Bundanoon list. Lorne Johnson White-throated Needletails Telegraph Point 50 seen on a Hastings Birdwatchers outing, on private property, 1.5km SW of town. Ian Kerr Red-backed Kingfisher, White-backed Swallow, Little Eagle Eulah Creek Still keeping an eye on the pair of Red-backed Kingfishers near the Bullawa Creek bridge (photo) and trying to find their nest tunnel (so far without success), this morning I have confirmed 4 active Rainbow Bee-eater nests in the area. In total there are about 10 bird species nesting along a 200 m section of the dry creek bed. Today there were 4 White-backed Swallows (inset on left), which are not showing any signs of breeding activity. As a bonus, today a Little Eagle passed over (second inset, upper right). Michael Dahlem Thu 6 Nov Collared Sparrowhawk, Brush Cuckoo, Musk Lorikeet Chambigne Nature Reserve & State Conservation Area (restricted access) Adult female Sparrowhawk sitting on nest in Coastal Blackbutt Eucalyptus pilularis (also observed on Nov 7), Brush Cuckoo heard calling at two sites on Nov 6 (also at different site on Nov 5), 11 Lorikeets observed at one site and 5 at another. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago White-throated Nightjar, Australian Owlet-nightjar, White-throated Needletail, Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chambigne Nature Reserve, W of Coutts Crossing White-throated Nightjars heard calling at two sites, also observed at separate site on Nov 3 (one seen one heard), 2 heard at fourth site on Nov 4 (all records at night), Owlet-nightjar heard calling during the day (also on Nov 3) and heard at night at four other sites. 50+ Needletails flying ahead of storm clouds. Two Bronze-Cuckoos heard calling (one heard calling same site on Nov 7). Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Pectoral Sandpiper Shoalhaven Heads Couldn’t find either the Grey Plover or Sanderlings that were reported on 3/11/14 (Reported at Shoalhaven Heads side of Comerong Island NR). I did however find one Pectoral Sandpiper with the Godwits and lone Red Knot after sunset on a rising tide. The bird could not be relocated this morning (7/11/14) Lachlan Hall South Island Pied Oystercatcher Lord Howe Island Single found during Lord Howe Island Bird Week (no specific site details). Ian Hutton (per Facebook) White-throated Needletail Lower Pappinbarra 3 heading west at 7:20am then 5 minutes later 3 heading east, possibly the same 3. Ian Kerr Little Eagle, Freckled Duck and Pink-eared Duck Tuggerah Waste Water Treatment Plant Visiting family on the central coast and checked out this location previously posted last week. Besides the 40 plus Red-necked Avocet and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper resident, additional interesting birds included Curlew Sandpiper, Latham’s Snipe, Black-winged Stilts, 2 Freckled Ducks and 6 Pink-eared Ducks, with a late fly over from a Little Eagle. Pete Knock Superb Parrot Bretts State Forest, Coleambally Passing through Colleambally early afternoon I stopped briefly and found about 15 Superb Parrots in small groups, resting in cypress pines and feeding on acacia seeds. Probably plenty more present. Some young birds amongst adults. David James Superb Fruit-Dove, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, White-eared Monarch Nightcap National Park Excellent numbers of pigeons at Rocky Creek Dam today. 10+ Superb Fruit-Doves (seen 3 males and 2 females and heard at least 5 more), about 30 Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves and up to 40 Wompoo Fruit-Doves. 2 White-eared Monarchs near the entrance. Emerald Doves and Wonga Pigeons were also there in good numbers. michael ronan Noisy Pitta Ourimbah Plenty of bird activity around my residence this morning after yesterday’s storm, yielding sightings of a Noisy Pitta, calling from 10m high branch (!), Eastern Koel, Cicadabird and Black-faced Monarch. Nice to be home for a short spell. John Weigel Wed 5 Nov White-browed Woodswallow Hunter Economic Zone (south of Abermain, near Cessnock) The White-browed Woodswallows that we first saw in HEZ on the 26th Oct (along with some Masked) have remained and are nesting. The attached image shows a male standing alongside a nest that a female had been sitting on just prior to the photo being taken. Although hard to count, there would have been about 30-40 birds in the area (which I didn’t explore extensively). There could easily have been Maskeds present but I wasn’t able to confirm this. Both species have bred in HEZ in recent years and is the only place that White-broweds have been confirmed breeding in the Lower Hunter and is the only place that Maskeds have been confirmed breeding anywhere in the Hunter Region. Mick Roderick Glossy Ibis Eurobodalla National Park at 36 15 48S 150 08 41E Single Glossy Ibis seen throughout the day at the lagoon within the Holiday Park. We note that this species is not commonly reported for the south coast. Have photos Kim and Geoff Larmour Barred Cuckoo-Shrike, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, White-eared Monarch Mebbin National Park Only 1 Barred Cuckoo-Shrike at Mebbin National Park, Murwillumbah. Also 10 Wompoo Fruit-Doves, 3 White-eared Monarchs and 1 big Tiger Snake beside a fallen log which I almost walked on. michael ronan. Southern Boobook, Australian Hobby Gwyneville, Wollongong One bird heard at 9pm. Also, an Australian Hobby seen at 7pm. Lorne Johnson Pacific Baza Forest Way, Belrose, Sydney Single Pacific Baza in trees alongside busy road at 7.00am this morning. Kevin Stone Tue 4 Nov White-winged Triller, Sacred Kingfisher, Weebill, Double-barred Finch, Peaceful Dove Private land between Chambigne Nature Reserve and Chambigne State Conservation Area (limited access) Adult male Triller observed in flight and perched in tree, Sacred Kingfisher, Finch and Dove observed in flight and Weebill heard calling. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Forest Kingfisher, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Nankeen Night Heron, Glossy Black-Cockatoo Chambigne Nature Reserve, W of Coutts Crossing (restricted access) Kingfisher observed at ridge site (single bird observed at second site on Nov 3), Bronze-Cuckoo heard calling, Night Heron heard calling at night, adult pair of Glossies feeding in Black She-oak along creek line. Greg Clancy & Russell Jago Australian Brush-turkey Farnells Rd, Katoomba An acquaintance sent me a phone pic she took of a bird in her Katoomba garden this morning – thinking it was a “Bush Turkey”. Couldn’t believe it – yes – an Australian Brush-turkey. Her place is about 1.5 km from the recent fires. Apparently, only the 2nd reporting in Katoomba (will try checking up with the Blue Mts Bird Observers when that first report was). Will keep an eye out in my travels. pic sent to John French – White-throated Nightjar, Powerful Owl, Musk Duck Wollemi National Park–Dunns Swamp White-throated Nightjar seen on road near the Ganguddy campground about 8pm on the 3rd November, and was also heard calling early in the morning, along with a distant Powerful Owl (and many Southern Boobooks). Also Musk Duck displaying and calling. Marc Anderson Hooded Robin, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Painted Buttonquail, Crested Shrike-Tit Capertee Valley–Genowlan Bridge Plenty of bird activity along the Capertee River this morning, with many species calling/singing including 2 x Hooded Robin, at least 2 x Black-chinned Honeyeater, 1 x Painted Buttonquail & a Crested Shrike Tit. No Regent Honeyeaters seen or heard. Marc Anderson Common Cicadabird, Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo, Australian Hobby, Mangrove Gerygone Sydney Olympic Park Single Common Cicadabird heard calling very clearly from inside Newington NR. Heard while walking the path along the western side of Woo-la-ra. Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo very vocal at the Waterbird Refuge. Australian Hobby in flight over Narrawang. Also Mangrove Gerygone (vocal at several sites, including the Brickpit), Leaden Flycatcher (Wentworth Common), Red-kneed Dotterel (Brickpit) and Brown Quail whistled in to within a metre of where I was standing at Wentworth Common. A good spring morning with 75 sp. recorded. Max Breckenridge Southern Whiteface Corner of Ophir Road & Cashens Lane, west of Bathurst Stopped here on the way to work this morning to ID a bird on the fence (White-winged Triller) then noticed a Southern Whiteface on the fence opposite. Only detected the one bird, but rather pressed for time…also Buff-rumped Thornbills, Grey Fantails, Australian Raven and Grey Butcherbird. Tiffany Mason Mon 3 Nov Beach Stone-curlew, Grey Plover, Little Tern, Sanderling Comerong Island Nature Reserve A single Beach Stone-curlew was roosting on the beach near a breakwater wall (opposite Crookshaven Head boat ramp). Good selection of waders on the beach and mudflats on the Shoalhaven Head site including: Little Tern (2), Pacific Golden Plover (103), Bar-tailed Godwit (156), Grey Plover (1 – nice black armpit showed during flight), Eastern Curlew (21), Red-necked Stilt (26), Whimbrel (3), Red Knot (2), Ruddy Turnstone (3), Sanderling (2), Red-capped Plover (27), Australian Pied Oystercatcher (6 + 2 very small chicks). In the swamps and ponds just 1 km for the Ferry : Black-fronted Dotterel (2), Marsh Sandpiper (1), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (16), and 4 very cheeky Buff-banded Rail (running in open at the edge of swamp vegetation). [Moderator’s Note: Visitors to the site failed to relocate any of the highlighted species today, 6/11. JB] Ted Wnorowski Pectoral Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Sanderling, Lesser Sand Plover, Little Tern Lake Wollumboola Fantastic waders, very easy to observe, mostly Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (236 – scattered in small flocks around lake edges) and Red-necked Stints (62). Other waders: Lesser Sand Plover (1 in nearly perfect breeding plumage), Sanderling (3), Marsh Sandpiper (1 – south east part of the lake), Red Knot (1), Ruddy Turnstone (1), Pectoral Sandpiper (1), Pacific Golden Plover (1), Red-capped Plover (3), Red-necked Avocet (38 – southern part), Grey-tailed Tattler (3). Little Tern (38). [Moderator’s Note: Visitors to the site failed to relocate any of the highlighted species today, 6/11. JB] Ted Wnorowski Australian Shelduck Coomaditchy Lagoon Reserve Heard new bird call & looked to the south side of the lagoon to see 4 Australian Shelducks. 1 male & 3 females. Paul Lynch Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Rockwarbler, Crested Shrike-tit, Variegated Fairywren, Hooded Robins Capertee Valley–#8 on C. Valley Bird Trail brochure (Coorongooba campsite area of Wollemi NP) 1 Chestnut-rumped Heathwren 1.7 km into Coorongooba campsite area of Wollemi NP on river bank. Emerged from undergrowth and sang heartily on low exposed branches at eye level about 6 m away for 1.5 minutes. All key features of ID readily observed and song was “territorial song” as per Pizzey and Knight e-guide repeated many times. Then sank back into undergrowth. Pair Variegated Fairywrens and 1 Rockwarbler on entrance to above NP (cattle grid). 1 Crested Shrike-tit at campground. Many Hooded Robin pairs drier areas of valley. ebird list when home tomorrow to laptop. Rob Reed Olive Whistler Barrington Tops National Park–Devil’s Hole Campground 2 x Olive Whistlers singing near the Devil’s Hole campground Marc Anderson Wedge-tailed Eagles Moonan Brook (-31.914644, 151.313353) Wonderful encounter with at least 11 x Wedge-tailed Eagles which had evidently been feasting on a carcass. I first flushed three from behind a rise as I drove past, then others appeared soaring overhead, while still more were perched in the distance on a few dead trees. Marc Anderson Glossy Black-Cockatoo Foxglove Oval, Mt Colah Three female Glossy Black-Cockatoos were observed drinking from a drainage pond in a small bushland strip between Foxglove Oval and Lancelot Street (southern end). They seemed tame, and were undeterred by my presence. There is a reasonable amount of Allocasuarina spp. in this suburb, although it is an interesting sighting for a relatively urban area of Mt Colah. (No photo available). Tom Hickman Pale-vented Bush-hen Avery’s Creek (Private Property), Glenreagh A single Pale-vented Bush-hen heard calling last night from reed bed along the creek of our property. Has started calling intermittently evenings and early mornings over the weekend. Mostly the single note repetitive piping call. I have now recorded this calling / breeding activity at this site for the last 3 years. Very difficult to get a photo opportunity. Pete Knock White-throated Nightjar Deriah Aboriginal Area (restricted access) Using playback around sunset tonight, I attracted one nightjar that came to check me out on the “Brush Turkey Trail”. It stayed air-borne, so no photo. The absence of white underwing spots indicates that this was a White-throated Nightjar (which is the call I had played). Later a few distant calls were heard from a gully where I had previously recorded White-throated Nightjar calls. Michael Dahlem Sun 2 Nov Plum-headed Finch, Painted Honeyeater, White-browed Woodswallow Capertee Valley–Genowlan Bridge Family group of Plum-headed Finches feeding in blackberries (2 ad, 3 juv), also Painted Honeyeater calling, a pair of dark phase Little Cuckoo-shrikes, a Restless Flycatcher, and about 40 White-browed Woodswallows. A Striped Honeyeater at the junction from the main road to Genowlan Road. Chris Gladwin Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Hooded Robin, Diamond Firetail Capertee Valley–#2 on Capertee Valley Bird Trail brochure 1 male Glossy Black-Cockatoo feeding on north side of road in small roadside casuarinas between #2 and #3 birders signposts, as well as 2 Black-chinned Honeyeaters, 3 Diamond Firetails and an immature Hooded Robin. What an impressive and most welcome job has been done with the new signposts throughout the valley. Chris Gladwin Tawny Frogmouth Ewen Park, Cooks River, inner west Sydney Pair of Tawny Frogmouth with 2 young. Another pair reported nearby on the Cooks River at the Boat Harbour also with 2 young. And a pair with young in Addison Rd Marrickville (via Damon Bassett). Interesting apparent local increase of this elsewhere common species. There was only one record prior to 2007 in over 60 years of surveys by Neil Rankin, Arnold McGill et al. of the apparently suitable habitat of nearby Wolli Creek (several records 2007 on). Andrew Taylor Sat 1 Nov Red-necked Avocet, Freckled Duck Pitt Town Lagoon 2 Red-necked Avocet, 4 Freckled Duck, also 20+ Pink-eared Duck and 20+ Chestnut-breasted Mannikins Chris Chafer Fri 31 Oct Brolga, Australian Painted Snipe Gwydir Wetlands–‘Bunnor’ Whilst on the Gwydir Wetlands Tour, at least 150 Brolgas were observed in wheatfields (photo shows 47 birds). A single male Australian Painted Snipe was also observed. The property is opened to the public until 30 November 2014. Curtis Hayne Pacific Baza Epping One Pacific Baza calling loudly as it flew over my place this morning. Never heard or seen by me before in the urban area of Epping. Brian Downer