Birdline New South Wales Published sightings for the week ending 12 Jan 2014. Sat 11 Jan Barking Owl Capertee Valley (Genowlan Bridge) One Barking Owl roosting in River Oak, viewed from Genowlan Bridge Mark Hocking Black Swan, Red-necked Stint, Pacific Golden Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Grey-tailed Tattler Long Reef Aquatic Reserve While 20 or so at Dee Why Lagoon was not surprising, a single adult Black Swan floating 10 to 20 metres offshore on the south side of Long Reef for at least a half hour in the heat of the early afternoon was most unusual. The bird seemed in good health and not phased by the attention of many onshore. The tide was very low and the swan was within 100 metres of good numbers of Red-necked Stints (100+), Pacific Golden Plovers (20+), Ruddy Turnstones (20+) and two Grey-tailed Tattlers. Also nice to see a pair of local lifesavers give marching orders to a group of at least a dozen persons illegally collecting aquatic life from the reef. Cameron Ward Australian Painted Snipe Wallsend (near Newcastle) Made a brief visit to the wetland beside the new Bunnings store at Wallsend (off Minmi Rd) seeing 3 Australian Painted Snipe, 2 Latham’s Snipe, 3 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 10 Black-fronted Dotterels and a Buff-banded Rail feeding out in the open in the heat of the day. Edwin Vella Black Kite Lenaghan From Lenaghan Drive at least 7 Black Kites with a few Whistling Kites amongst them. Edwin Vella Ruff, Eastern Yellow Wagtail Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve Saw a Ruff amongst the 1,000 plus Sharp-tailed Sandpipers as well as at least 50 Red-necked Stints, about 30 Marsh Sandpiper and about 5 Red-necked Avocet amongst 100 or so Black-winged Stilts. Saw at least one Eastern Yellow Wagtail on the track but very flighty! Also of interest were 40 Great Egrets foraging together. Edwin Vella et al Pied Cormorant Spring Creek Reservoir, Orange Pied Cormorant (1) – (Moderator’s Note: Pied Cormorants are rarely reported on the Orange District reservoirs of the Central Tablelands. AKM) Neville Schrader (1702) Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Peaceful Dove, Peregrine Falcon Coorabakh National Park Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brown Cuckoo-Dove & Peaceful Dove (4) all sighted in farmland on Forest Drive just outside of Coorabakh NP heading towards Hannam Vale. the Peregrine Falcon, Yellow-throated Scrubwren (2) & Rufous Fantail were seen on Starrs Creek Boardwalk while the Black-faced Monarch was sighted at Waitui Falls. Danny Green Fri 10 Jan White-browed Babbler, Brown Treecreeper and Speckled Warbler Private property near Gowan, 40kms NW of Bathurst Very excited to find a small group (probably 6 individuals) of White-browed Babblers in a region almost devoid of any babbler species. They seemed to be particularly fond of the Blackberry thickets, although native understorey was present. The Brown Treecreepers (two adults and a juvenile) were close by, as was a pair of Speckled Warblers. Tiffany Mason Australian Hobby Kiama 2 Australian Hobbies hunting insects by a row of pine trees on Terralong Street mid-afternoon. Lorne Johnson Painted Honeyeater Billinudgel Nature Reserve Male Painted Honeyeater feeding in eucalyptus on the northern side of the Quarry Track. Deep pink beak, quite black upper parts, throat and belly all white and yellow in the wing although I did not see as much yellow in the wing as depicted in the illustrations. There were White-cheeked Honeyeaters and a Varied Triller in the same trees. Jan Olley Little Eagle, White-throated Needletail Deriah Aboriginal Area While out in the plains bird numbers are down, Deriah Aboriginal Area was busy with all the usual species, and in good numbers. A young Little Eagle (no parents in sight) stopped in a Currajong tree in dry woodland and a flock of about 50 White-throated Needletails was seen above the woodland, circling in a thermal. Michael Dahlem (Green-headed and Eastern) Yellow Wagtails Hexham Swamp There are now at least 7 Yellow Wagtails at this site, including the one likely taivana bird that was seen on Wed. A second bird this morning with a yellow brow was seen and photographed but the identification of that bird is still under discussion. I strongly suspect there are more than 7 birds as I encountered them often by call while I was watching others and also found them off the track in swampy habitat. There are 5 birds in the attached image (these birds are very difficult to get close to!), with the taivana bird being the one at the rear-middle. Mick Roderick Thu 9 Jan White-throated Needletail, Freckled Duck, Brolga, Swamp Harrier, Marsh Sandpiper Gwydir Watercourse Wetlands 4 Rainbow Lorikeets (first for site & area) were observed, there was no suitable habitat for them however. A White-throated Needletail was distantly observed in flight (first for site & area). The overcast, humid conditions and (dry) thunderstorms may have attracted this species. A Silver Gull was heard calling (first for site). Although, unusually no Terns were seen throughout the day. Little Corellas, Freckled Ducks and Australasian Grebes were observed which have not been present in recent months. Other highlights (but recently seen here): Hundreds of Glossy Ibis, 2 Wedge-tailed Eagles, 2 White-bellied Sea-Eagles, 1 Swamp Harrier, Large flocks of 270+ Brolgas, (all observed in dry broadacre wheat stubble field, there were a few dancing), 100+ Masked Lapwings (flock of 80 birds amongst Brolgas in dry wheat stubble field), Marsh Sandpipers, Latham’s Snipes, Budgerigars (in abundance; large flocks), a female White-winged Triller (scarce at the moment), Jacky Winters (in abundance, most were immatures, lots of juveniles being fed), a pair of Horsfield’s Bushlarks and several (highly vocal) Tawny & Little Grassbirds. Mistletoebirds were found in abundance like last time but were also observed feeding in lignum (in wetlands) which we have not seen before. Not a solitary Egret was even seen throughout the day. Curtis Hayne and Ainslee Lines Thu 9 Jan Pacific Baza, Eastern Bristlebird Bellawongarah – Private property Bazas seen and heard for 5 consecutive days since 4/1 on our property. Observed parents feeding two immatures on several occasions. Two E. Bristlebirds heard. Carla Jackett Wed 8 Jan (Green-headed) Yellow Wagtail Hexham Swamp A likely Green-headed (taivana) Yellow Wagtail has arrived at Hexham Swamp, joining the 2, maybe 3 other Yellow Wagtails. From the images I have been sent the features leaning towards a taivana bird are the obvious yellow brow and throat, olive back and nape (the head less so?) and olive-green ear coverts. John Cockerell per Mick Roderick King Quail Ash Island, Hexham Initially found by Alan Stuart on 06/01, a few of us located King Quails in overgrown paspalum and other grasses on Ash Island yesterday. Flight shot of a male attached. Mick and Steve Roderick, Dan, Trevor and Jane Williams Tue 7 Jan Sooty Owl Glenbrook, near RAAF base I was contacted after a friend heard strange calls from her yard and she described them as downward screams and then trilling. At first she thought they were a Powerful Owl’s calls, but after we talked today and I directed her to Sooty Owl calls (bomb whistle and trills) she confirmed she heard exactly that species at 4am on Tuesday. Ákos Lumnitzer on behalf of Leonie Nealon (Eastern) Yellow Wagtail, Australian Painted Snipe Wallsend, Newcastle (wetland near new Bunnings) A non-breeding Eastern Yellow Wagtail was found by Trevor Williams this afternoon at a great little wetland area right next to the new Bunnings complex on Minmi Road, Wallsend. This is approximately 4 km from where they are being seen on Hexham Swamp. When I joined him I noticed a male Australian Painted Snipe which was feeding frantically out in the open, then walked out of view at the rear of the swamp. About a minute later a group of 8 more Australian Painted Snipes appeared about 10 m closer to the road, all of which walked as a group towards us and disappeared into thick veg. Finally 2 more birds revealed themselves in another part of the wetland. 11 Australian Painted Snipes all up and we all had to leave so there could be more there that weren’t apparent to us. There are 5 Australian Painted Snipes visible in the image (the birds are distant and a scope is recommended) but unfortunately the Eastern Yellow Wagtail had just walked out of frame before I took the photo! Also present were 6 Latham’s Snipe, c.15 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and about that same number of Black-fronted Dotterels. Mick Roderick and Trevor Williams Banded Lapwing Cornwallis Road, Windsor I counted 41 Banded Lapwings on one of the turf farms, a few hundred metres beyond the last house heading out of Windsor. Simon Keizer Little Grassbird, Pheasant Coucal Mehi River, Moree East This morning around 0700, at a small section of the Mehi River on Morton Street, opposite the Motel & Services Club (east side of town), 5+ Little Grassbirds were heard and seen. First record for this location, and township (also unusual, as there wasn’t many reeds present). Also a Pheasant Coucal was heard calling from dense growth near the riverbank; again, still yet to see one. Tree Martins, Scaly-breasted & Musk Lorikeets were also present; Curtis Hayne Fork-tailed Swift, White-throated Needletail Lower Pappinbarra One Fork-tailed Swift was seen in a group of over 80 White-throated Needletails, all heading west at 11:20am. Ian Kerr Mon 6 Jan White-throated Needletail Khancoban Approximately 1000 White-throated Needletails circling over the surrounding hills at sunset. A spectacular sight. Michael Ramsey Collared Sparrowhawk, Freckled Duck, Lewin’s Rail, Little Tern Eastlakes Golf Course 3 Freckled Ducks, 7 Little Terns, 8 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 1 Collared Sparrowhawk, 1 Baillon’s Crake and 2 Lewin’s Rail present today. Water level dropping and becoming more suitable for attracting waders. David Mitford Black Kites Over Gwydir Highway near Ramornie, west of Grafton 13+ Black Kites & several Whistling Kites Simon Clayton & 1 other Australian Brush-turkey, Rufous Night-Heron, Azure Kingfisher, Sup Lyrebird, Lewin’s Honeyeater Warriewood Wetlands Morning walk, warming up too. Includes Irrawong path. Australian Brush-turkey (2 ad., 2 juv.), Rufous Night-Heron (1), Azure Kingfisher (likely nesting), Superb Lyrebird (1); Lewin’s Honeyeater: For a few minutes watched a group taking a sand bath, with the male being pretty bossy over the hens, 3 or 4 in number. He pretty well kept the “site” to himself, keeping the hens at bay. Paddy de Klerk Fork-tailed Swift & White-throated Needletails The Entrance Channel, Tuggerah Lake During the period 7.20 to 7.50 am a mixed flock of Swifts crossed south over The Entrance Channel, from North Entrance to Picnic Point. During that time I estimated 250 WTN and 40+ Fork-tailed Swifts went past. When I left the swifts were still passing south over the Channel. Other birds present were Welcome Swallows and White-breasted Woodswallows. Alan Morris Sun 5 Jan Common Noddy Big Ben Rocks (Nobby’s) Single Common Noddy seen working the wash off Big Ben Rocks (off Nobby’s Lighthouse, Newcastle) on Sunday afternoon. Dan, Trevor and Jane Williams per Mick Roderick Red-kneed Dotterel Hexham Swamp 160+ Red-kneed Dotterels near Fishery Creek on Hexham Swamp. Possibly the highest single count for the Hunter Region. Many birds visible in the attached image (taken by Jane Williams). Dan, Trevor and Jane Williams per Mick Roderick Peregrine Falcon Coutts Crossing Village One adult hunting low over village. Greg Clancy Eastern Osprey Orara River, Coramba One Osprey circling over River and village Greg Clancy Sat 4 Jan Blue-billed Duck Hunter Wetlands Centre, Newcastle Male Blue-billed Duck on Water Ribbon Swamp (note [MR], despite searches by others I do not think it has been seen since). Dan, Trevor and Jane Williams per Mick Roderick Glossy Black-Cockatoo Carinya Close, East Kurrajong A pair of Glossy Black-Cockatoos about 6 pm in an unidentified type of gum tree. andrew sinclair Fri 3 Jan Black Honeyeater Willows picnic area, Yanga NP (SE Balranald, S of Sturt Hwy) Limited search of Casuarina woodland with flowering mistletoes revealed approx. 20 Black Honeyeaters (male, female & imm). Jim Allen Superb Parrots + Hybrid?? Start of Barryrennie Rd. Cowra Observed about 100 or so Superb Parrots as per other folk, but mixed in with the flock was an interesting specimen. The only way we could describe it was to liken it to a Superb/King Parrot mix?? About the same length, but more solid in the body. Any comments appreciated. See photo, I have others also. {Moderator’s note (NH & AKM): As both its structure and colour pattern around the head looks somewhat intermediate between Superb and Australian King-Parrot, this is certainly an option. Interestingly, EUGENE M. McCARTHY (2006) lists a number of reports of Superb x King hybrids in his book ‘Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World’: “Alisterus scapularis [Australian King-Parrot] x Polytelis swainsonii [Superb Parrot] CHR. BRO: e New South Wales (Australia). Cayley 1938; Fasey 1908; Hopkinson 1926, 1942; Page 1914b; Prestwich 1950–1951. Internet: KING.”} John and Sue O’Malley Birdline New South Wales is sponsored by Birding NSW
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