Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: From: “notifications@eremaea.comnotifications@eremaea.com>” <notifications@eremaea.comnotifications@eremaea.com>> Date: 6 January 2014 4:02:11 am AEDT To: “birding-aus@vicnet.net.aubirding-aus@vicnet.net.au>” <birding-aus@vicnet.net.aubirding-aus@vicnet.net.au>> Subject: Birdline North Queensland Weekly Update Birdline North Queensland Published sightings for the week ending 5 Jan 2014. Sat 4 Jan Spotted Whistling-duck Lockhart River Sewage Ponds After numerous visits to the Lockhart River sewage ponds from 1 January, was pleased to see two Spotted Whistling-ducks this afternoon mixing with six Wandering Whistling-ducks. John Weigel Spotted Whistling-Duck Awonga Waste Treatment Plant, Weipa 11 birds present with assorted other ducks. Absent for much of dry season. Ben Bright Fri 3 Jan Freckled Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Red-necked Avocet ‘Duck World’, Brandon 11 observers. Very hot and dry. 7:30am -10:00am. Spent most of the time checking the waterbirds. Avocets have been there for at least a month. On Christmas day there were about 1000 seen. Freckled Duck (10) at least 10 mixed in with Grey Teal and Wandering Whistling Ducks at edge. Pink-eared Duck (3500) estimate Red-necked Avocet (350) estimate Note: – Private Property. Birding must be conducted from the adjacent public roads. Telescopes essential. Marleen Acton Barn Swallow Somerset Drive, North Mossman 2 Immature birds with messy black chest band and short tail streamers. Good views with telescope on wires alongside road. What seemed the smaller of the two repeatedly flew up to harass the larger which merely gaped at the other till it re-settled alongside. Carol Iles Red-rumped Swallow Somerset Drive, North Mossman One immature associating with Fairy and Tree Martins on wires, tree over shed and even landing on ground with Fairy Martins. Carol Iles Thu 2 Jan Purple Swamphen Unnamed Creek, Albatross Bay, Weipa Single bird seen high up in mangrove tree. Very uncommon up here but a couple turn up each year usually around this time. Ben Bright Wed 1 Jan Wood Sandpiper Masters Road Lagoons, Toobanna. Ingham One bird seen on the edge of the water on the left hand side of the road coming from the railway line. (Google earth 18 42 53.39S 146 09 31.65E) (Moderator’s Note: – Uncommon summer migrant) Ian Boyd, Ivor Preston, Gil Crabtree and Bill Holmes Black Butcherbird Trebonne Creek, Orient Road, Toobanna Qld Black Butcherbird seen eating a Green Tree-frog on the banks of the Trebonne Creek (18 43 19.16S 146 11 31.09E) Ian Boyd, Ivor Preston, Gil Grabtree and Bill Holmes Zitting Cisticola Orient Road Toobanna, near Ingham Three Zitting Cisticolas, possibly four, were seen on the northern fence-line of the road roughly 1km short of the entrance to the state forest at the eastern end of Orient Road (in the vicinity of 18°46′ 41.90″S; 146°014’53.35″E) Ian Boyd, Ivor Preston, Gil Crabtree and Bill Holmes Sat 28 Dec Yellow-billed Kingfisher Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers Lodge Bird seen and photographed along Bushy Creek on 28/12/2013, which forms one boundary of the Lodge. The bird is a female. This represents a considerable extension to its normal range on Cape York Peninsula which extends south to the lower reaches of the McIlwraith Range, south east of Coen. There have been unconfirmed records in past years as far south as Eubenangee Swamp, north of Innisfail Far North Queensland. (Moderator, Keith Fisher, Note:- I have seen images, which were taken by one of the guests at the Lodge this afternoon. Two others also saw this bird. I’ll post an image when I get it). Vena Beetson via Keith Fisher Birdline North Queensland is sponsored by BirdLife Northern Queensland and BirdLife Townsville and hosted by Eremaea Birds. _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
