Eremaea Birdlines
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Reports published in the past 30 hours

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Tue 26highlightPossible Black Honeyeater
Nepean Weir, Penrith
Unusual small honeyeater at weir early this morning, 6.50am. Possible female Black HE. Initially thought female Scarlet HE, right size, but this bird was greyish not brown, dark legs, uniform dark downcurved bill, no reddish around face, mottling on whitish throat & chest and white belly, (not pure white - off whitish). Had bins on it for seconds rather than minutes, it looked different, so I checked out the books once I had the opportunity and it fits female black honeyeater. Wish I had grabbed the camera and not the bins! Consulting The Australian Bird Guide and features I did not see any yellow around the gape or a whitish eyebrow cf female or immature Black HE. No real markings around the eyes. Closest match found is photo on PK Field Guide of female Black HE. Familiar with Brown HE appeared overall slighter and smaller. No yellow tint. Eliminated as an option. Lack of red around face, or coloured gape and dark legs seems to eliminate immature Scarlet HE. Only seen Black HE years ago in Red Centre so not overly familiar with species, would appreciate any advice or suggestions. Not sure what else it could be. Anyone in the area please keep your eyes open. (Moderator - publishing as a highlight so that people notice this and go for a look, preferably with cameras at the ready. MR)
Martin Snowball 26/9 #269723
Fri 22highlightMangrove Gerygone
Armidale Road Coutts Crossing
The gerygone first observed at this location in June was originally thought to be a Brown Gerygone due to location. Brown Gerygone was ruled out when it was heard to emit a short burst of the typical Mangrove/Western/White-throated Gerygone type warble. Numerous photos were taken and at first it was thought that it was most likely a Western Gerygone, although there are no confirmed records of that species in the Clarence Valley, but they do occur at times in the Hunter Valley. I shared the photos with a few other experienced birdos and compared my bird with photos of a Mangrove Gerygone that I took in Queensland and a Western Gerygone that I took in SW Queensland. David Charley provided extra photos of the Western Gerygone and Clive Barker provided photos of the Mangrove Gerygone for comparison. After consideration of this I am convinced that the bird at Coutts Crossing is a Mangrove Gerygone. It has a broad white supercilium, a rather slender bill and the tail lacks the black and white patterning of the Western Gerygone. As further support for this conclusion the bird is observed almost exclusively in paperbarks and bottlebrushes. In the Kimberley the species can be found up to 20 km from the coast in paperbark woodlands. The nearest records of the Mangrove Gerygone are at Wooli, 36km from Coutts Crossing. (Moderator's Note: This is the third identification of this gerygone and the moderators are publishing in the interest of coming to firm conclusion for this conundrum. If anyone has particular expertise in this group of gerygones feel free to contact one of us and/or the observer! Publishing as a highlight to attract attention to this matter. MR).
Greg Clancy 22/9 #269704


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Sat 16Australasian Shoveler
Stieglitz Sewage Ponds
16, including10 males.
Ian May 24/9 #269711


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