Eremaea Birdlines
Interesting and unusual bird observations
Birdline New South Wales

Birdline NSW is a site for the reporting of rare or unusual birds outside their normal range, unusually high or low numbers, early or late arrivals or departures for migrant species and interesting behaviour or unusual habitat usage. We may also consider publishing unusually-plumaged birds (e.g. albinistic/leucistic/melanistic) if they are considered interesting or are uncommonly seen.

Birdline New South Wales is supported by Birding NSW, Birdlife Southern NSW and Cumberland Bird Observers Club and moderated by Alan Morris, Liam Murphy, Mick Roderick and Simon Blanchflower.

We support ethical birding .

11/28/2021

Moderators' Note

Birders are encouraged to post lists to eBird Australia, where sightings are incorporated into the BirdLife Australia Atlas. To do this you need to register with eBird Australia then login. All Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot reports should be forwarded to Mick Roderick to assist in the recovery of these severely declining species: mick.roderick@birdlife.org.au. Note we will not be publishing reports of Accipiter raptors (Collared Sparrowhawk, Grey/Brown Goshawks) or Square-tailed Kites unless they are in unusual locations or are seen with unusual prey etc.

Recent Sightings

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Reports published in the past 30 hours.

highlightHighlight
September 2023
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
Sun 24Pallid Cuckoo, Banded Lapwings
Freeman's Reach
Good views of a perched Pallid Cuckoo. Did not call however. Outside of the Camden sighting on 17/09, it's the first Pallid Cuckoo seen and not heard. 3 Banded Lapwings were also observed through a scope. 2 Rufous Songlarks seen as well. Just South of the river in the lowlands, atleast 18 Banded Lapwings were counted but a good chance of more being present since the heat haze affected vision. Amongst them, 4 birds seemed to be nesting!
Edwin Vella and Raghav & Veeraj Sharma 25/9 #269720
Sat 23Glossy Black Cockatoo
Dubbo Gully, Mangrove Mountain
Four birds feeding in the Casuarinas right next to the track about 500 metres from the national parks gate at the start of the Dubbo Gully track. Mobile phone photo not great but you can just see the red in the tail. Clearly saw the red panes when a couple flew over the track.
Madeline Hourihan 24/9 #269714
Eastern Barn Owl
Royal National Park--Wises Track
While searching for White-throated Nightjars on Wises Track we had an Eastern Barn Owl circle us. Very unexpected in the verge between coastal heath and gum forest. No open fields etc anywhere nearby. Only 2 previous records of Barn Owls in The Royal National Park. Photo credit - Paul Pellegrini (Moderator: As mentioned a few times previously, Barn Owls are irrupting towards the coast at the moment and are being reported from atypical habitat/sites. MR). eBird checklist
Brett Mezen 24/9 #269713
Australian Spotted Crake
Australian Botanic Gardens Mount Annan
Australian Spotted Crake seen well by many birders and feeding well on muddy area between grass edge of lake and reed bed near large overflow drain on Lake Nadungamba. Last reports show a single sighting in 2020 then prior to that 2017. eBird checklist
Brett Mezen 24/9 #269712
Rufous Whistler and Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Scheyville National Park
One Fan-tailed Cuckoo and a number of Rufous Whistler recorded today for the first time this spring. No sign of White-throated Gerygone yet. no blossom on eucalypts.
Ian G Bailey 23/9 #269710
Crimson Chat
'The Glen' BULLARAH (private property) NW NSW 70km West of Moree
1 Adult male crimson chat sighted/photographed this morning near quarters @ 'The Glen'. (Moderator's Note: A female Crimson Chat was photographed >100km upstream of here in the Gwydir catchment at Bingara this morning 24/09 .MR). eBird checklist
Patrick Johnston 23/9 #269705
Fri 22Brown Songlark
Eastlakes golf course
Had a quick look at the Astrolabe Park section after work and the first bird I saw was a male Brown Songlark feeding in the dense cover where the driving range is. In 2017 we started with one in this exact location as well, just saying.
David Mitford 23/9 #269706
highlightMangrove 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
Thu 21Black-Shouldered Kite
Floodplain/Paddocks along Wyrallah Rd, Tuckurimba NSW
High count of Black-Shouldered Kite - 58 encountered in one scan of 180 degree view of large open cropping paddock. Birds most abundant in the late afternoon. Viewing from roadside of main road, private land no public access to paddocks and be sure not to block driveways/entry gates to private land. Accurate count to best of my ability, single scan to avoid duplication of individuals. Numbers have been increasing in past week and become concentrated in this location (observation suggest largely feeding on mice and other small prey). A number of other raptors present. Not ever experienced this amount of Black-Shouldered Kite accumulating to such density, locally not uncommon to be present at 5-10 over 3km area, regularly 2-3 birds. Have taken some videos to demonstrate the numbers present. See attached still frame from small area in a video capture, many birds present in just this small field of view alone. eBird checklist
Jacob Crisp 23/9 #269707
Rufous Songlark
Braeside Track, Blackheath
Another western bird in an unusual location. A rare bird in the upper Blue Mountains with only one previous eBird record in Blackheath
Mark Hocking 22/9 #269701
highlightAustralian Spotted Crake
Sydney Park
Following up on a report of a pair of Baillon’s Crakes (haven’t been seen heard since 2020) by another birder earlier today, I found an Australian Crake feeding in the Northeast corner of the Gulwali Wetland, appearing 4 times over about an hour. This is the first record for the park and the Sydney LGA as a whole. eBird checklist
Max Weatherall 21/9 #269700
highlightBrown Songlark
Kings Langley
Male Brown Songlark sighted next to the creek alongside of the bottom oval. My first sighting of this bird in 22 years of living here. Looks like a good year for dry country birds in Sydney. eBird checklist
Michael Rutkowski 21/9 #269697
highlightRed-backed Kingfisher
Lale Nadungamba at Mount Annan Botanic Gardens
(Moderator's Note: Well, I reckon it's official now - we're seeing a repeat of the 2017 influx of western species to the coast! The last two Sydney records were 24/102017 seen at Bensons Lane Richmond by Carol Abbott, and McGraths Hill 1982, while a pair bred at Castlereagh 1/11/1980 to 24/1/1981, first breeding record for the County of Cumberland. MR). eBird checklist
Anthony Katon 21/9 #269696
Wed 20Brush Cuckoo, Pallid Cuckoo, White-throated Gerygone, Rufous Whistler
Bogee, Capertee Valley
Early migrants seen around Bogee included a well seen and heard Brush Cuckoo, two Pallid Cuckoos, a White-throated Gerygone and several Rufous Whistlers. Interestingly, no Brown or Rufous Songlarks were seen in the valley during my three days there (although it was extremely windy which could have kept them less conspicuous)
Roger McGovern 22/9 #269703
White-browed and Masked Woodswallow, Pallid Cuckoo
Capertee Valley
Birded the Capertee Valley for three days September 18 - 20. There were several migrating flocks of mixed White-browed and Masked Woodswallows seen on all days with White-browed outnumbering Masked by about 10 to 1. Largest flock seen coming in to drink in the dam close to the entrance to Capertee NP on Port Macquarie Road numbering over 1000 individualls. (Interesting to note that no migrating woodswallow flocks were recorded in Capertee Valley at all in 2022) Three or four Pallid Cuckoos were seen/heard on all three days at various locations in the valley.
Roger McGovern 22/9 #269702
Eastern (Crested) Shrike-tit
Orara River, Ramornie.
Great to hear and see two or three shrike-tits in riparian forest beside the Orara River. They foraged among black bean, silky oak and narrow-leaved red gum. Species seems very sparse in the Clarence River catchment.
Clive Heywood Barker 21/9 #269695
Tue 19Channel-billed Cuckoo
Cobbadah Travelling Stock Reserve, near Barraba
Single bird flying and calling, pursued by crows. Never had one so far inland before. Brown Treecreepers and Grey-crowned Babblers also calling. (Moderator's Note: The range of Channel-billed Cuckoos extends a lot further west than Cobbadah, including the western side of both the Nandewar and the Warrumbungle Ranges. AKM)
Ian Colvin 19/9 #269690
Mon 18Orange Chats + Spotted Harrier
TSR, Harris Lane, west of Quandialla
4 Orange Chats in a group along with a Spotted Harrier, Stubble Quail & a good number of Brown Songlarks and Pipits. Long TSR east of Bland Creek has thick grass cover at present, unlike in other years since Chats were first seen in 2001.
Rosemary Stapleton 21/9 #269699
White-winged Triller
Mount Annan Botanic Gardens--Lake Nadungamba
One White-winged Triller observed and photographed this morning. First record at this specific location for 3 years. Also observed and unusual in last 2 days were 2 Red-capped Robins and 1 Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo. eBird checklist
Brett Mezen 18/9 #269689
Sun 17Pallid Cuckoo
Llewella Davies Memorial Walkway, Camden, NSW
Moderator's Note: Interesting to see that one has finally appeared as expected, the question is whether they will extend into other coastal areas? AKM. eBird checklist
Anthony Katon 20/9 #269694
White-browed and Masked Woodswallows
Castlereagh
About 15 White-browed and 2 Masked Woodswallows seen in the Castlereagh area along with a white morph Grey Goshawk, 5 Rainbow Bee-eaters and a single Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo (Moderator's Note: Certainly more signs of 2017 emerging - the Red-backed Kingfisher at Weddin Mtns over the weekend and the Red-capped Robins mentioned in #269689 [along with all the various triller/songlark/Baillon's reports] are further testament. MR).
Edwin Vella and Veeraj Sharma 18/9 #269688
Rufous Songlark
Barton Park South--Landing Lights Wetland
Rufous Songlark on the sports fields at Landing Lights today. Adult br. male. First report here in 5 years.
Richard Murray 17/9 #269684
Sacred Kingfisher
Kurrajong Hills, Hawkesbury
First arrival for the season. Our site arrival dates for the previous 3 years have been 27, 25 and 23 Sep, very consistent.
Eric Finley 17/9 #269682
Scarlet Robin, White-browed Woodswallow
Bilpin, nw of Sydney
This morning on a community birdwalk at Bilpin we had great views of a pair then another male Scarlet Robin, and a flock of 150+ mostly White-browed Woodswallows which took around 45 minutes to slowly head south (other eBird sightings of smaller numbers at Woodford and Castlereagh). Most of my sightings of this species in the Hawkesbury Hills are Sep and Oct.
Eric Finley 17/9 #269681
Red-capped Plover
North Quarry, Penrith Lakes
Single adult male seen through scope, red cap clearly seen along with white forehead and blavk strioe through eye. Based on eBird records thus would be a first for Penrith LGA
Martin Snowball 17/9 #269680
Whiskered Tern, Rufous Songlark
Bushells Lagoon
6 Whiskered Terns fishing over the large part of the lagoon and resting on the emerged fence posts. Single female Rufous Songlark seen in the old market garden area with trellises just before walking down the slope towards the causeway.
Tom Wilson 17/9 #269679
Channel-billed Cuckoo
St Helens Park, Campbelltown
First for the season for me. Screeching fly over at 6.35am
Paul Heath 17/9 #269678
Sat 16Greenshank, Red-kneed Dotterel, Australasian Crake
Pitt Town Lagoon
Uncertainty over the ID of the initially very distant Greenshank was resolved when it flew past the hide, clearly showing the thicker, pale-based and slightly upturned bill and the heavier structure, especially of the head, neck and shoulders. eBird checklist
Mike Kilburn, Veeraj & Raghav Sharma & Edwin Vella 17/9 #269686
highlightRufous Songlark
Bushells Lagoon
As per Ebird, it's the first sighting for the Sydney region this 'Summer'. Bird was flighty and initially mistaken for a Tawny Grassbird but the lack of a tawny crown and un-grassbird-like behaviour such as perching on the ground, determined otherwise. eBird checklist
Raghav and Veeraj Sharma, Mike Kilburn & Edwin Vella 16/9 #269677
Fri 15Albatross sp. Providence Petrel, Brown Skua
Terrigal Pelagic
Low species diversity for September with only 10 species seen beyond ‘The Haven’ with the highlights being Black-browed (23), Shy (21) and Buller’s (5) Albatross. along with Providence Petrel (4), Brown Skua (2), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (500+) and Fluttering type Shearwater (500+).
Andrew Robinson, Dean Purcell and 13 others on board 15/9 #269675
Black-chinned Honeyeater
"Jacana" Washpool Rd Clarenza 2460
At 4pm a group of Fuscous Honeyeaters came to our bird bath accompanied by a Black-chinned Honeyeater. Its large size and orange legs were distinctive.In contrast a group of White-throated Honeyeaters came the bird bath soon after.
Eric Wheeler 15/9 #269674
Thu 14highlightSlaty-backed Thornbill
Gundabooka National Park
I bumped into Mike Barrow on the Little Mountain trail mid morning and he advised a Slaty-backed Thornbill had been recorded on the track. After some searching i heard a faint call that was worth playing the call.Within 30 seconds of playing the call a male Slaty-back flew in to within 3m of me and called vigorously for at least a minute before slowly moving away. I have a poor mobile phone photo.I have no doubt it was a Slaty-backed Thornbill.
Douglas Hocking 24/9 #269716
Tue 12Rufous Songlark
Richard Woodbury Reserve Greengrove Central Coast LGA
Single bird seen . One of several reports of Rufous Songlark in coastal regions in the last few days. Last sighting on the Central Coast 2019
Allan Benson 13/9 #269668
Rainbow Bee-eater
Bunning Creek Rd Yarramalong
5 birds seen sitting on power lines and flying around catching insects, more Bee-eaters could be heard calling from across the paddock. Have been monitoring location for past 2 weeks in anticipation of their arrival back on the Central Coast. (Moderator's Note: This intersting record and great photo however are not the first Bee-eaters to return to the CC as 4 were seen at another regular site at Magenta Shores near North Entrance on 10/9/23 by Andrew Robinson. However, these reports are almost one month after the birds were first recorded at a number of sites in the Port Macquarie area from 15/8/2023. AKM) eBird checklist
David Schuemaker 12/9 #269666
Baillon's Crake
Glenbrook Lagoon
Another Baillon's (but first for Glenbrook Lagoon?) Single bird on southern side foraging on mud at 1pm for about 10 mins before scooted by a swamphen, continued skulking on lilly pads. eBird checklist
Matt Hughes 12/9 #269665
Mon 11Black-faced Monarch
Kurrajong Hills
First arrivals heard at dawn on 11 Sep, with 2-3 birds vocal and also seen on the following two days. This is 1-2 weeks earlier than local arrival dates of past 3 years. Poor phone image taken 12 Sep. Noticed no other eBird records logged to date in the Sydney area. Channel-billed Cuckoos arrived today 13 Sep. Good numbers of Silvereye and White-naped Honeyeater heading south. (Moderstor's Note: The first repoirts of Black-faced Monarchs on the Mid North Coast were at Goojit track, Limeburners Creek NR on 10/9 anjd Sea-Acres NR Port Macquarie on 11/9 (the latter by Clive Meadows), so that the move southwards appears tpo be many birds moving together, as per the Leaden Flycatchers, unlike the Koels and Channel-billed Cuckoos which seems to be all over the place! (AKM).
Eric Finley 14/9 #269672
Baillon's Crake
Northbridge Golf Course
A male and a female on two different ponds on Northbridge Golf Course. I could find no previous records from the North Shore on eBird. (Definite influx of Baillon's Crakes back to coastal wetlands. Could be harbingers of much rarer skulkers potentially arriving this spring/summer! MR). eBird checklist
Mike Kilburn 12/9 #269664
Green Catbird
Gordon Flying Fox Reserve
Very unexpected. Heard calling thought it may have been mimicry as Green Catbird would be unusual here. The bird was located after several minutes. Good views were given as it called from a Pittosporum undulatum. eBird checklist
Theo Kemp 11/9 #269663
Sun 10Lewin's Rail
Emu Green, Emu Plains
Single bird calling in small wetland on left of track as you walk towards the Nepean River. 5th bird record for Penrith and 4th for Emu Green, 2010, 2020 (x2), 2022 and now 2023. One 2020 bird stayed around for months. eBird checklist
Martin Snowball 11/9 #269658
Latham’s Snipe
Dubbo Sewage Treatment Plant
First this spring. One to a few are here most summers.
Robert Quinan 11/9 #269655
Rufous Songlark
The Weir Road - Teralba. NSW.
Spotted one Rufous Songlark on The Wire Mesh Fence ,at The Model Airplane Ground. eBird checklist
Gordon Arthur. Yvonne Van Netten. 10/9 #269653
Whiskered Tern, Latham's Snipe, Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoos(3)
Eastlakes golf course
Summer birds have returned to Eastlake Golf Course Sydney this weekend. Whiskered Tern is a good indicator of other birds to come, they have been absent here the last 3 years, usually only appearing in the drier years.
Richard Murray 10/9 #269651
Torresian Crow
Cornwallis Road, Cornwallis
Early this morning, I saw and heard calling several times a single Torresian Crow near the western end of Cornwallis Rd. It was associating with a small group of Australian Ravens. This being my only second sighting of one in the Sydney Region (both sightings only within the last 2 years) and this may only be the 4th Sydney record. Having now well established themselves north of the Hawkesbury it may only be a matter of time they will do the same south of the river. I also heard a Pied Butcherbird call in the distance a number of times from Triangle Lane (a species that is also making a foothold in the Sydney region). There were also a good count of 18 Banded Lapwing (with a pair mating) on a turf farm beside Cornwells Lane and also heard a Eurasian Skylark also beside that road which are not as common as they use to be in the Hawkesbury. A record shot of the Torresian Crow in flight.
Edwin Vella 10/9 #269650
Painted Honeyeater
15 km Sth of Condobolin
2 birds heard calling from Myall trees beside Gipps Way early this morning. My first record here this spring. Also saw first returning Rufous Songlarks as well at three locations around Lake Banar
warren Chad 10/9 #269649
Marsh Sandpiper,Whisked Tern,Crakes.
Pitt Town Lagoon.
Seen 2 Marsh Sandpipers at Pitt Town Lagoon this morning which I haven't seen for a long time also a Whisked Tern made a few circles of the Lagoon, there was also a single Australian Spotted Crake,a single Bailons Crake,and 2 Spotless Crakes,a Glossy Ibis and a Spotted Harrier.
Michael Ronan 10/9 #269648
Sat 9Koel
Moore Park, Sydney
A male calling from late afternoon on the golf course.
Chris Gladwin 9/9 #269643
Fri 8Leaden Flycatcher
Crowdy Bay National Park, north entrance near Dunbogan
A single adult male was seen and heard calling in Blackbutt Woodland, and on the following day, another was seen by Les Mitchell in woodland on Rawdon Island near Wauchope while Ian Bradshaw saw one at Hat Head National Park on the same day. Interesting that on that weekend, so many bushland migrants were first found & heard calling on the Mid North Coast.
Alan Morris & Les Mitchell 11/9 #269660
Sacred Kingfisher
Beach Rd Dunbogan
Sacred Kingfishers have started to return to coastal woodlands in the past few days, calling and staking out territories, My first was at Beach Rd Dunbogan on 8/9, then another at Kings Creek Road Swamp woodland, near Wauchope on 9/9 while Rob Montgomery had one at Rumbalara Reserve, Gosford also on 9/9, soon they will be everywhere.
Alan Morris & Rob Montgomery 10/9 #269647
highlightBlack Kite, Brown Songlark, Rufous Songlark
The Entrance Channel, Tuggerah Lake
A Black Kite and male Brown Songlark seen 8/9. The Brown Songlark was still present today (9/9), having been joined by an adult Rufous Songlark. Songlarks were loosely associating on the southern side of the channel between the channel mouth and The Entrance Surf Club (Moderator’s Note: the remarkable spring of 2017 where many western species irrupted into coastal NSW and things like Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoos turned up on Lord Howe etc, started with a report of a Brown Songlark at Wattamolla in Royal NP - just sayin’! MR, note also that another Rufous Songlark was reported by B. Callister in the North Coffs Regional Botanic Gardens on 5/9).)
Andrew Robinson 9/9 #269646
Thu 7Blue-faced Honeyeater
West Pennant Hills Sports Club, 103 New Line Rd, West Pennant Hills
One bird was on the wire fence surrounding our comp tennis court from 2.05pm for about 15 minutes. It was being harrassed by Noisy Miners. Never seen here before. Possibly driven from bushland by the back burning smoke plume this afternoon.
Judy Clark 7/9 #269641
Wed 6Channel-billed Cuckoo
Bundeena NSW
Heard calling
Deryk Engel 9/9 #269645
Sun 3highlightDouble-banded Plover
Lake Banar, Condobolin
went back out this morning to Lake Banar to check for waders and was surprised to find a Double-banded Plover with the Sharpies along with five Red-capped Plover. The bird was also in breeding plumage. This is my first record of this species in this area. Previously I have only ever recorded two at Lake Cargelligo STW about three years ago. The Redcaps are also not very common around here .
warren Chad 3/9 #269636
Sat 2Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Lake Banar, 20km Sth of Condobolin
6 birds feeding along muddy lake shore this morning visible from main road. My first record of returning waders for the season
warren Chad 2/9 #269632
Eastern Barn Owl
Dukes Oval, Park Street, Emu Plains
Wasn't expecting to see one at this location. There's nothing, except houses, around the oval for some distance. It was in a very exposed position and being mobbed by Noisy Miners. As it was early afternoon, it was surprising it hadn't been seen earlier. It flew off into denser cover, scattering a mixed flock of Corella's.
Brook Whylie 2/9 #269631
Fri 1Powerful Owl
430 Worlds End Rd Worlds End
Adult female and semi-mature chick sited over last month.
Hugh Taylor 7/9 #269639
Australian Spotted Crake
Barton Park South--Landing Lights Wetland
Seeing as no-one has reported here for a while .. several reports through Aug on EBird and seen again today with Emily and Raz. A dead Buff-banded Rail was on the ground and Raz noted that previously a dead Lewin’s Rail was in a nearby tree - seems a local raptor might be enjoying the rails. eBird checklist
Chris Rehberg - Sydney Birding 1/9 #269628
Banded Lapwing
Eulah Creek
Posted here to document behaviour, not a rarity in NSW at the moment: A recorder, left out over night, picked up calls of Banded Lapwings flying over twice, first at ca. 22:25 on 31 August, then again at 2:05 on 1 September. An example of the good nocturnal vision of aquatic bird species. The location is 20 km E of Narrabri, where in dry conditions rank grass left in paddocks has been grazed short by livestock.
Michael Dahlem 1/9 #269625

August 2023
Thu 31highlightSwift Parrots
Westmead nsw
4x parrots seen flying north direction, half hour late seen another 2 parrots flying south, possible same birds ?
michael david graham 2/9 #269629
Beach Stone-Curlew
Circuit Beach, Lilli Pilli, NSW
Bird seen on the pebbly section at the eastern end of the beach above the high tide mark. Observed for about 10 minutes before we retreated to main beach. Regular visits usually record only Sooty Oyster-catchers. This is a dog friendly beach.
Mike Fleming 31/8 #269624
Wed 30Rock warbler, Spotted Quailthrush
Avon dam picnic area
Great views of two Rockwarbers observed feeding in picnic area. Two Spotted Quailthrush were flushed from roadside on way out, they flew to the edge of the bushland where we also had great views.
Terrill Nordstrom, Brian Deans, Dave Rower 30/8 #269622
Barn Owl
2152 Castlereagh Road Penrith (private property)
Single bird found in morning being mobbed and injured by ravens. Taken to local vet and now in care of WIRES. (Moderator's Note: More evidence that Barn Owls are irrupting into built-up areas. MR).
Martin Snowball on behalf of individual who found bird 30/8 #269621
Tue 29Channel-billed Cuckoo
Ryde Park
Around 20 currawongs were quite vocal and finally flushed and chased a single Channel-billed Cuckoo. (Moderator's Note: It is Channel-billed Cuckoo time again, with another bird reported at Laurieton on 28/8/2023 by Daniel Hyde. AKM)
Fatih Sam 29/8 #269620
highlightRose Robin, Willie Wagtail, Little Grassbird
Lord Howe Island
Yesterday morning 28th Aug I found an adult male Rose Robin in Stevens Reserve behind the brewery. First record for this species for LHI. The Little Grassbird first found by Mark Holdsworth at the end of July is still present but has moved from Soldiers Creek to Cobbys Corner. This is also a first for the island. Last week a Willie Wagtail was hanging around the golf course dam and Cobbys Corner (<6 records for LHI).
Liam Murphy 29/8 #269619
Mon 28Western Gerygone
Coutts Crossing Village
Gerygone observed and photographed on Saturday (26/08) and again today. I have questioned the identity because the supecilium extends beyond the eye as in the Mangrove Gerygone but the base of the tail appears white (see photo) as in the Western Gerygone. Almost certainly the same bird first observed and reported to NSW Birdline on 15/06 and again on 16/06 as a Brown Gerygone. The lack of song meant that I wasn't alerted to the possibility of it being a Western Gerygone until Saturday (26/08) when it did a short burst of the typical Western/White-throated/Mangrove Gerygone song and not the characteristic Brown Gerygone call. Habitat is more Western Gerygone type than either the Brown or Mangrove. Also observed at same location on 12/06, 20/06, 26/07, 03/08, 13/08 (observer away most of July). If confirmed it will be the first record that I am aware of in the Clarence Valley, although a couple of observations of single birds in the bushland opposite the village a few years back may have been the same species. It was thought that they were Brown Gerygones wandering out of their usual habitat during the winter. They did not call.
Greg Clancy 28/8 #269614
Report
Outside normal range
Early arrival; late departure
Interesting behaviour
Threatened
Hard to see
Unusual habitat
Uncommon in area
Highlight
Rare
Endangered
Vagrant
Irruption
Unusual numbers
Mega
Rare vagrant
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