Birdline Tasmania Weekly Update

Birdline Tasmania Published sightings for the week ending 28 Dec 2014. Sun 21 Dec White-winged Triller Maria Island National Park Single adult male sighted in swampy land south of Frenchs Farm. Ryan Steiner per Paul Brooks Red Knot Orielton Lagoon A single Red Knot was found on the eastern side of the causeway in a large group of Bar-tailed Godwits. Rob Hamilton Wed 17 Dec Australian Pelican Quoiba, Mersey River Estuary GDA94 MGA55 446 220E 5438 370N At low tide, around noon,9 pelicans roosting on a grassy islet 30 m long, 1 feeding in the gutter from Horsehead Creek. Have been casually observing this part of the estuary for 42 years and have never seen more than 2 or 3 pelicans here. Viewpoint: 446 004E 5438 414N Coordinates read from LISTmap at scale 1:1700 [The species is not unusual here, but the numbers may well be – Moderator] John Coombes Tue 16 Dec Swift Parrot Overland Track I encountered Swift Parrots at several spots while walking the Overland Track this past week. There were a few calling from Eucalyptus delegatensis trees near the Lake St Clair visitor centre on 16th Dec. The next ones I heard were several among E. coccifera(?) just S of Pelion Gap, on 20th Dec. I heard another flying over E. delegatensis near the Pine River turnoff on 22nd Dec; and there were several calling among E. delegatensis between Watersmeet and the Lake St Clair visitor centre on 23rd Dec. Presumably all these birds are post-breeding dispersers? Simon Grove