Last Saturday I spent a long half-day at Terrick Terrick NP, during which time I saw a M-F pair of Rufous Songlark and at least 2 additional males. I could not recall previously seeing this species in early winter in this area and contacted Simon Starr (local guru), who confirmed the current presence of the species and how unusual it is at this time of the year. I also posted the sighting on Birdline Victoria.
Subsequent emailed comments by Mick Ramsey and Tim Dolby confirming that in their experience this is a very unusual winter report at this site have led me to make this posting for more general information.
I’ve been wondering if these are overwintering birds (resulting from last spring/summer’s good numbers of this species in south-eastern Australia?) or uncommonly early returns for some reason.
Richard NOWOTNY
Port Melbourne, Victoria
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Hi Richard et al, I’ve just come back from a trip on the Birdsville track (photos here: http://sabirding.com/gallery.html ) and found Rufous Songlark as far south as Hawker, SA and Brown Songlark even in the Clare Valley. Both singing and behaving as if it was spring. At Hawker we also had singing Black-eared Cuckoo and Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo. On the Murray river in SA there are still nests of Darter and Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants with downy young. It certainly looks like the birds are taking advantage of the continuing good conditions by ‘skipping’ winter. cheers Peter