Mid morning I saw an adult Channel-billed Cuckoo in my neighbour’s eucalypt tree. It was being mobbed by a pair of Australian Magpies with some assistance from Noisy Miners. Pied Currawongs raised a Channel-billed Cuckoo in that same tree last summer (reported on Birding-aus). I think the magpies will be nesting soon, but this is the earliest time of the year that I’ve seen a Channel-billed Cuckoo in Sydney. I’d be interested to know if there are any other CBC records from Sydney at this time of the year.
Stephen Ambrose
Ryde, NSW
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This is from Eremaea NSW, period June-August, 2006-2012:
8/26/2007 Channel billed CuckooPennant Hills Nick Hodges takes the prize for the first Channel billed Cuckoo record of the season, with one heard on the 26th and seen the next day. Nick Hodges via birdline phone service 2/9 #23196 7/22/2009 Channel-billed CuckooNorth Bombi, McMasters Beach John McLennan advises that at 700 hrs this morning a calling Channel-billed Cuckoo was flying around his property which is about 2 kms south of McMasters Beach on the Central Coast. In addition Dellas Johnston saw a Channel-billed Cuckoo just north of Taree on 12/7/09. Both of these records are presumably, early and out of season records for this summer migrant, the bulk of whose population normaly arrives in Stember. Alan Morris 22/7 #49477 8/31/2010 Channel-billed CuckooPennant Hills Have just received the Latest newsletter from Birding Australia (FOC) and note that I can beat the earliest sighted Channel-bill in the Sydney area: 31 8 10. The earliest I have heard one since living in the area. (The first Koel in Pennant Hills was later for me: 10 9 10). Also seen 1 8 10 in Cherrybrook bush: a Brown Goshawk. Nick Hodges 13/11 #71618
Cheers,
Nikolas