Birdline Tasmania Weekly Update

Birdline Tasmania Published sightings for the week ending 9 Nov 2014. Sat 8 Nov Azure Kingfisher Duck River, Smithton Single bird 1 km upstream of Watsons Corner. Whitebait running. Richard Ashby Fri 7 Nov Royal Spoonbills Queechy Lake, Launceston One pair of Royal Spoonbills in breeding plumage as reported earlier. They were resting in the willows in the middle of the lake, visible from the viewing platform and also from the entrance to Scotch Oakburn Park. They were using a nest – could they be breeding in Tasmania? Also saw one Freckled Duck. Paul Tildesley Blue-billed Duck Lake Llewellyn, Sisters Beach A pair of birds, first time at this site that I can remember. Richard Ashby Thu 6 Nov Hooded Plover Big Roaring Beach, Surveyors Bay Two Hooded Plovers were observed running along the beach near Roaring Beach Lagoon. Our last sighting of Hooded Plovers on this beach was in 2005. Dave and Cath de Little Wed 5 Nov Satin Flycatcher, Swift Parrot, Blue-winged Parrot Piersons Point 1 flycatcher – first I’ve seen back. Also at least 6 Swift Parrots and 8 Blue-winged Parrots. Scott Linnane Bar-tailed Godwit Marion Bay 15 birds with two smaller companions, as yet unidentified. These have been present for over 2 weeks. Andrew North Mon 3 Nov Latham’s Snipe Lake Dulverton, Oatlands Pair of birds on eastern causeway. Richard Ashby Fri 31 Oct Crested Tern Great Oyster Bay, Little Swanport About 1500 birds on oyster racks just upstream of Limekiln Point. Richard Ashby Thu 30 Oct Possible Golden-headed Cisticola Queechy Lake Very small golden-headed, golden-backed passerine flew from reeds near viewing platform to low cover on island and was lost to view. Colour too strong for brown/tas thornbills, fieldwren or grassbird. This diagnosis by no means secure but heightened scrutiny by other visitors may be appropriate. Richard Ashby. Freckled Duck Queechy Lake Pair of birds. Richard Ashby Royal Spoonbill Queechy Lake Three birds in breeding plumage. Richard Ashby Sat 25 Oct Eurasian Coot Lake Leake Dam Over 200 sheltering in the lee of the dam wall. Andrew North Bar-tailed Godwit Marion Bay A party of about 20 foraging along the shoreline at Marion Bay, near the mouth of Bream Creek. Simon Grove and a party of field naturalists from the Australian Naturalists Network