Birdline Western Australia Weekly Update

Birdline Western Australia Published sightings for the week ending 4 Jan 2015. Sat 3 Jan White-tailed Tropicbbird Mosman Park White-tailed Tropicbird flying overhead 4.30pm today. Seen again same place 6pm. Cloe Dale per Pam Smith Wed 31 Dec Rufous Night Heron, Australian Spotted Crake Lake Claremont 3 Rufous Night Herons and a Aust Spotted Crake were seen during a walk around the lake. 1 of the night-herons was an immature (see photo). Other birds of interest included Pink-eared Ducks with ducklings, Black-winged Stilts with young, Blue-billed Ducks. Have also seen Spotless Crake on previous visit two days before. Didn’t get time to look to see if Wood Sandpipers were still present. The lake is continuing to dry out. Have been surprised at the number of species that still have dependant young at this time of the year (approx. 10 species – ducks, grebes, cockatoos and honeyeaters). John Harris – Wildlife Experiences (Melbourne) red-necked avocet 11 Lake Claremont observed about 9:30 a.m. with Andrew Montgomery Bob Hay grey plover 3; fairy tern c10; little egret 3; knot species 5; greenshank 1 Point Waylen, Alfred Cove, Perth c30 pied oystercatcher observed about 11:00 a.m. with Andrew Montgomery on a rising tide (mudflats almost covered) Bob Hay buff-banded rail 1; spotless crake 1; Australian spotted crake 2; wood sandpiper 2 Lake Claremont red-kneed dotterel 1; black-fronted dotterel 2; nankeen night heron 1; yellow-billed spoonbill 1; white-faced heron 1 observed about 9:30 a.m. with Andrew Montgomery rails seen at east side of Lake on mud flats in the open Bob Hay Mon 29 Dec Black Breasted Buzzard Bullsbrook Soaring 1 kilometre NE Bullsbrook. Colin Ferrell Ruff (2), Pectoral Sandpiper (8), Long-toed Stint (1) Lake McLarty Lake is drying fast – probably less than a week in it. Most birds at the northern end so access best through western gate in NW corner. Broad-billed Sandpipers (2 – southern end) and Reeve (1) also reported in previous days, and 24 Pectoral Sandpipers reported yesterday for north and south ends combined. Plaxy Barratt, Micha Jackson, Peter Kyne Sat 27 Dec Banded Stilt c3500; Red-capped Plover c15; Sanderling 4; Ruddy Turnstone 4 Herschel and Government Lakes (Rottnest Island) At Government House Lake: crested tern c1000 (including c200 young); red-necked stint c30 At lake to east of Government House Lake: red-necked avocet 11; black-necked stilt 1 Elsewhere on Island: rainbow bee-eater 3; Pacific gull 1 sub-adult (at dock); tree martin c100 Bob Hay Fri 26 Dec Square-tailed Kite Margaret River Golf Club Single adult bird flying slowly over the course. Richard Nowotny & Diana Bryant