Birdpedia – Australia – Weekly Digest

The following is a digest of Sightings Reported on Birdpedia for the period Monday, September 15, 2014 to Sunday, September 21, 2014: Area: SA Location: Laratinga Wetlands Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) (1) at Laratinga Wetlands on 12/9/14 Reported by: Gordon Pateman on Monday, September 15, 2014 ——————————————— Date: Monday, September 15, 2014 Location: In our St Peters garden Little Raven (Corvus mellori) (2) Starting 2 weeks ago and for about 10 days between 6.45am and 7.15am 2 little ravens landed on the gently sloping roof over our sunroom, which has a leadlight window at the upper side. They tramped around making quite a din, calling very loudly to each other and pecking savagely at their reflections in the window. Sometimes they hammered on the glass so noisily they woke us up. For the last few days only 1 little raven has arrived, spending less time tramping and calling, and pecking with far less enthusiasm at the glass. Previously little ravens were only an occasional visitor, maybe heard once a week or fortnight. Does anyone have any idea what this behaviour is all about ? Reported by: Barbara and Peter Bansemer on Monday, September 15, 2014 ——————————————— Date: Monday, September 15, 2014 Location: Whites Road Wetlands Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) (1) 4 photos. Do I hear breakfast, there it is, go get it, damn,missed Little Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos) (1) High on a tree limb. Photo attached Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) (1) Photos of Royal Spoonbill with breeding plumage. Reported by: Gordon Pateman on Monday, September 15, 2014 ——————————————— Date: Thursday, September 18, 2014 Location: Bunnings Warehouse, Marion Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) (1) I went to Bunnings at Marion today. As I approached the door a Magpie Lark flew into the cavernous building. I asked the team member about it and she said there was a pair who lived inside and had a nest. I replied that Magpie Larks were mud nesters but she turned and pointed to the interior scaffolding and there high up in amongst the high-powered fluoros was a nest! I asked how they got in and out as the doors are self closing and but she said that they had discovered a gap between the top of the door and the wall and so could come and go when they pleased. As far as I know the nearest mud would be miles away. Reported by: David Robertson on Thursday, September 18, 2014 ——————————————— Date: Friday, September 19, 2014 Location: Kangaroo Island Latham’s Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii) (1) flushed from within dense sedge tussocks growing in a small shallow flood water swamp on E side of Birchmore Lagoon, KI, 18 September 14. Called loud ‘kek’ several times as took flight. Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa) (160) roosting on emergent dead logs and branches in freshwater River Red Gum swamp, Duck Lagoon, KI, 18 September 14. Numbers grew steadily from early August 14 when numbered c 90 birds to 300 on 25 August 14 Now declined to present number. Birds inactive during day and are most probably feeding on algae at night?. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) (36) feeding as single flock in grass tussocks and Bulbine semibarbata ground cover growing in a water-logged paddock alongside a small shallow flood water swamp on E side of Birchmore Lagoon, KI, 18 September 14. Black Kite (Milvus migrans) (1) single bird low over Vivonne Bay village (sub-division), KI, 7 September 14. Only second personal sighting of this species on KI in over 40 years of observation. Thought to have ‘floated’ across to KI from mainland on strong warm N winds which persisted at that time. Only other observations for KI: one on a farm c 20 KM S of Kingscote, March-April 1957; one over Hog Bay Road near Pelican Lagoon, Dudley Peninsula, 5 October 2011. White-faced Storm-Petrel (Pelagodroma marina) (2) one beach-washed alive on Vivonne Bay Beach, KI, 10 August 14-unfortunately dies soon after and collected for SA Museum. one beach-washed derelict on Vivonne Bay Beach, KI, 6 September 14-unfortunately only back half intact and so discarded. White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) (1) Most unfortunately, an immature bird found by ETSA workers inside fenced sub-station compound at Cuttlefish Bay, KI, 13 September 14. Bird was taken to local vet clinic and sadly euthanased due to extent of injuries. Believed to have struck ETSA powerlines. SA NP&W notified and believe carcase was salvaged for scientific analysis at SA Museum Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) (2) a pair, observed by Craig Wickham, crossing Seal Bay Road c 500 m S of Playford Highway intersection, KI, 27 August 14. Worrying sign for KI. Over past two years I have observed single male Common Pheasant at Karatta and Vivonne Bay. 24+ of this species were released on Dudley Peninsula during late 1970s (unbelievable?!!) and one wonders at their status down on E KI. A pair of Californian Quail at central KI last year. NRM pest people have been informed. No foxes here-so beware of colonisation, ala Peafowl common! Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis) (20) with Grey Teal at Birchmore Lagoon, KI, 18 September 14. Breeding evidenced by observation of a female with 6 tiny ducklings in tow. Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) (101) eclipse-plumaged male at Duck Lagoon, KI, 18 September 14-has been present for several weeks now. c 100 observed at some distance, swimming, diving and in small rafts out on open, deep water of Birchmore Lagoon, KI, 18 September 14 Hardhead (Aythya australis) (6) 3 pair amongst much more numerous Freckled Duck (160 of), Duck Lagoon, KI, 18 September 14. Reported by: Chris Baxter on Friday, September 19, 2014 ——————————————— Date: Friday, September 19, 2014 Location: In our garden at St Peters Little Raven (Corvus mellori) (2) The little ravens that have been tramping over our sunroom roof since the beginning of the month have increased their activity, sometimes one, sometimes two birds. By 7am this morning they had already paid 4 visits, pecking at the window, doing their heavy-footed march and calling. Yesterday they were there on and off all day. Once they marched in step and pecked in unison, uttered a little tummy-rumble sound together, then sang a duet of the typical Aussie raven long drawn-out wail. It is very entertaining, though they may find themselves with lead poisoning and our leadlight may end up in pieces. We have told them it is time they built a nest and got on with it. Reported by: Barbara and Peter Bansemer on Friday, September 19, 2014 ——————————————— Date: Saturday, September 20, 2014 Location: Dry Creek Salt Fields Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) (1) 1 bird flushed at southern end of western track. Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) (300) A number of groups feeding alongside western track. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) (60) Small groups scattered along western track. Buckland Lake is full and has several hundred Grey and Chestnut Teal and many Black Swan, a number of earth works being carried out with some heavy equipment up near lake. Reported by: William Brooker on Sunday, September 21, 2014 ——————————————— Need more information about a sighting? Login and contact the poster directly. Receive sightings via email or SMS immediately they are posted. Not a member of Birdpedia? Membership is free and gives you access to information for over 230 countries. To sign up go to the Birdpedia Web Site (http://www.birdpedia.com/). 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