| Sat 14 | | Spangled Drongo
Kiama (South Coast) |
| One Spangled Drongo seen in trees near Kiama Railway Station.(Moderator's Note: There have only been a few Drongo reports in the Illawarra Region in the past 30 days!. AKM) |
| Nick Hodges 16/5 #267005 |
| | Streaked Shearwater, Campbell Albatross, Hutton's Shearwater
Offshore--Sydney Pelagic |
|
| Overall, we had a reasonable May day with all the expected species seen as well as a few surprises. A late Streaked Shearwater passed in front of the boat some distance away only to promptly disappear in the glare of the sun. The other highlights included 3 Campbell Albatrosses of various ages a mix of Shearwaters, a number of Wilson's Storm-Petrels and a couple of rare sea mammals (a mixed pod of Melon-headed whales and the even rarer Fraser's dolphin). Both species often associate together. Risso's dolphins were also seen. Similar to last month the Storm-Petrels were first observed close to shore (2NM in 70m). Water temperature was still high reaching 24C at the shelf, moderate winds. Photograph thanks to Nick Thompson. eBird checklist |
| Sydney Pelagics and all aboard the Sea Eagle 15/5 #267002 |
| Fri 13 | | Scarlet Robin
Morton National Park--Pointer Gap Lookout |
| Male and female Scarlet Robins near the car park at the lookout - an unexpected surprise! |
| Claire Wolinski 14/5 #267001 |
| Thu 12 | | Bush Stone-curlew
Lewis Lane, Maroro (Clarence Valley) |
| Bird flushed from roadside scrub. Flew approximately 50 metres landing on road where it stayed for approximately 10minutes.
Seen clearly with and without binos. It moved sedately across the road and into roadside undergrowth
Seen by two observers.
Reported on ebird. Photos attached to eBird list.
Area of first sighting checked again later. Bird still present, lying flat and still in leaf litter. (Stealth mode) eBird checklist |
| Pauline and Ray Priest. 12/5 #266998 |
| Wed 11 | | Bush Stone-curlew
Rookwood Cemetery |
| Spotted over near the rail corridor, not far from the intersection of Weeroona Road and East Street. I am a caretaker in the Cemetery at night. It's a bird I don't often see. |
| Ken Day 15/5 #267003 |
| | Glossy Black Cockatoo
Goonoo State Conservation Area |
| A pair of Glossies observed in ironbark trees at the intersection of Breelong Trail and Mendooran Road |
| Robert Porter 12/5 #266995 |
| Tue 10 | | Australian Brushturkey
Mount Annan Drive NSW |
|
| I spotted this Brushturkey in someone's front yard on Mount Annan Drive today. According to Ebird and local birders none have been sighted this far west in the Macarthur Region before. eBird checklist |
| Brett Mezen 10/5 #266992 |
| Mon 9 | | Topknot Pigeon (300+)
Lisarow |
| Topknot numbers continue to build in response to fruiting Camphor Laurel with an impressive 300+ flock seen wheeling above trees near Pluim Park today. While they are seen in small numbers here every year this is easily the most birds I’ve observed. |
| Andrew Robinson 9/5 #266989 |
| | Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Mason Park, Homebush |
|
| Following report on social media visited this morning and found the YBS amongst a large gathering of fish-eating birds attracted to a concentration of small fish exposed by the mangrove control going on that is very important for the migratory shorebirds. There were 15 Royal Spoonbills, 15 Great Egrets, 10 White-faced Herons, 2 Little Egrets and 20 Australian White Ibis. |
| Dion Hobcroft 9/5 #266987 |
| Sat 7 |  | Torresian Imperial Pigeon
Ivers Rd, Kew |
| This is an update on the Torresian Imperial Pigeon, first seen and photograhed by Diana Shang on 17/4/2022, at the junctiuon of Ivers Rd & Sunnyvale Rd Kew, see # 264922. The bird was subsequently seen by a number of people as it fed on Camphor Laurel fruit and or roosted in adjoining trees, often in Flooded Gums or Swamp Oaks, that line the Camden Haven River. The bird is still present but of late, but it has been seen on the south bank of the Camden Haven River, opposite the junction of Ivers Rd & Sunnyvale Rd, where the Camphor Laurel Trees are much favoured by the 40-50 White-headed Pigeosn and often Topknot Pigeons as well. On 4/5/22, the bird was seen by Grant Brose , James Oates and myself. On 5/5/22 it was seen by Sue Proust and Peter West, and on 7/5/22 by Tim Morris. Most sightings are in the period 7-800 hrs, and the bird is seen from Ivers Rd side, looking across the river. |
| Alan Morris 8/5 #266984 |
| Fri 6 | | Malleefowl
Goonoo State Conservation Area |
| Single Malleefowl flushed off the side of the track while mountain-biking along Mount Carl Trail, between Frost Trail and Garlings Trail. Very scarcely reported in Goonoo nowadays. |
| Drew Garnett per Mick Roderick 13/5 #267000 |
| Mon 2 | | Brahminy Kite
Mill Stream Lookout (Botany) |
|
| A young Brahminy Kite soared over the Mill Stream canal, upsetting the flock of Pied Stilts feeding here. It was intercepted and chased off by Ravens. Drifted northwards towards Eastern Suburbs. |
| Richard Murray 2/5 #265977 |
| Sun 1 | | Stubble Quail
Sydney Airport |
|
| A single male Stubble Quail was a surprise visitor to the international Freight Apron this evening. Initially found at the base of a flood light mast, it was more than happy to play hide and seek under some equipment until I identified it. It’s been quite a few years since we last observed one on the airfield. |
| Nigel Coghlan 1/5 #265976 |
| Fri 29 | | Providence Petrel, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Campbell Albatross
Terrigal Pelagic |
| The first Terrigal pelagic of the year went ahead yesterday in relatively calm conditions. In total 13 species were observed, including 9 Tubenoses. Highlights were Providence Petrel 20 (3), large numbers of Wilson’s SP (100+) and a Campbell Albatross, along with a few Black-browed Albatross and the expected Shearwater sp. Also of note was a very obliging pod Pygmy Killer Whale. |
| Andrew Robinson and 12 other observers 30/4 #265971 |
| | Buff-banded rail
Chinaman’s Beach (Mosman) |
| Juvenile seen by my father this morning. |
| J. Christoper Hunter 29/4 #265968 |
| | Powerful Owl
Cowan |
| One roadkill seen on M1 LHS going north just after Jerusalem Bay footbridge |
| Ian McAllan and David Martin 29/4 #265967 |
| Thu 28 | | Brown Booby
Offshore--South West Rocks Pelagic |
| Skipper Brian Dodge of Trial Bay Fishing Charters reports a Brown Booby offshore from South West Rocks this morning. |
| Brian Dodge via Liam Murphy 28/4 #265962 |
| Wed 27 | | Eastern Koel and Little Wattlebird
Home garden -Iluka -Northern NSW |
|
| I took this photo this afternoon in our garden in Iluka-Northern NSW.
Juvenile Eastern Koel being fed by a pair of Little Wattle Birds.
Seems late in the season but I guess the recent major rain events could have contributed to this late hatching! |
| Tony Belton 28/4 #265961 |
| Tue 26 | | Superb Fruit-Dove
house garden Leichhardt St Bronte |
|
| A Juvenile Superb Fruit-Dove was found in the yard of a private house at Leichhhardyt St Bronte by David Hutton on 26 April 2022 which was taken into care by WIRES. The bird is in good condition and it is expected by carer Gillian that it will be released in due course in Lady Carrington Drive in Royal NP. The bird was identified as a juvenile/immature bird, from an a juvenile Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, by its white underparts. |
| David Hutton per Alan Morris 27/4 #265959 |
| | Grey Fantail
Liverpool City Centre |
| One Grey Fantail in Leptospermum below our kitchen window. A first in 30 years. A spot surrounded by flats and townhouses. Unfortunately the SP committee has condemned the bushes. |
| Ian Bailey 26/4 #265952 |
| Mon 25 | | Striated Pardalote (yellow-tipped)
Flaggs Road at -32.27018, 150.47361 |
|
| Tasmanian subspecies. Notwithstanding the record from outside Brisbane, this appears to be the northernmost record in eBird. Granted - most times subspecies detail is probably not recorded. (Moderator's Note: I have recorded striatus in the Upper Hunter on a couple of occasions but it is great to see people looking at Striated Pard subspecies as there are three subspecies present in the Hunter during autumn/winter. On 30/06/2016 I recorded all three on the Singleton Army Base, where substriatus is the dominant one. MR). eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg - Sydney Birding 25/4 #264952 |
| | Flesh-footed Shearwater, Common Noddy
Long Reef Aquatic Reserve |
| A few shearwaters seen heading north during a short afternoon session today - inc 1 Flesh-footed (larger, straight winged, pale bill), as well as a Sooty and 5 Wedge-tailed; 2 Albatross alos seen offshore - underwing pattern suggested Black-browed. One immature Common Noddy still present. Very few summer migratory waders left (1 Turnstone, 4 Red-necked Stints). eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 25/4 #264950 |
| | Noisy Pitta
Washington Avenue, Cromer |
| Single Noisy Pitta heard calling whilst flying over just after midnight. |
| Jayden Walsh 25/4 #264948 |
| Sun 24 | | Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Juvenile)
Anzac Pde Malabar Beach area |
|
| Handed into Matraville vet.
Picked up by Wires member, taken into care. (A number of young WTSH have been handed into care around Port Stephens as well. MR) |
| Penelope McMullin 27/4 #265957 |
| | Noisy Pitta
Harrington rainforest |
|
| Not reported here (on eBird, anyway) for 8 years. eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg - Sydney Birding 26/4 #264954 |
| | Torresian Imperial Pigeon
Ivers Rd, Kew |
|
| The Torresian Imperial Pigeon reported by Diana Shang last week and relocated by Liam Murphy during the week, continues. On arrival at circa 7am there were approx 200 pigeons present - slightly more White-headed than Topknot. Over 125 departed before 7:30 but the Torresian first showed later than this - close to where Diana originally reported it, right at the junction of Sunnyvale and Ivers Rds. Extensive views as it sunned and preened. Photos and video taken. eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg - Sydney Birding 26/4 #264953 |
| | New Zealand Storm-petrel, White-tailed Tropicbird
Offshore--Port Stephens pelagic |
|
| A New Zealand Storm-Petrel that was first picked up by Allan Richardson was the highlight of a Port Stephens pelagic today that otherwise was pretty light-on for diversity. The bird made several passes of the boat over the course of an hour or so, and enabled prolonged views, numerous photos and brief videos to be obtained. This is the second NZSP record off Port Stephens; the first being one seen and photographed 28/03/2010, which was in fact the first record away from New Zealand (contra Flood and Wilson 2017 and Bretagnolle, et al 2022). Today's bird would be the ~6th Australian record of NZSP in Australian waters by my assessment. A BARC submission will be made. We also had a distant tropicbird that has been subsequently confirmed as an adult White-tailed. |
| Mick Roderick, Allan Richardson and others on board the MV Contagious 24/4 #264946 |
| Sat 23 | | South Polar Skua, Buller's Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
Offshore--Kiama Pelagic (SOSSA) |
|
| A pale morph South Polar Skua was the highlight of the April SOSSA pelagic (ORAC submission to come). It was observed on the way to the shelf, but didn't approach the boat. Overall, it was an average April trip, with 5 albatross species, (Shy, Black-browed, Campbell, Indian Yellow-nosed and Buller's) but no petrels. We did have good numbers of Flesh-footed Shearwaters, which were the most numerous species of the day. |
| B Whylie and all aboard the MV Kato 25/4 #264947 |
| | Barking Owl
South Creek Trail, Narrabeen Lakes |
| Single bird calling and then seen at dusk in same area as was seen in late 2021. Also saw a Tawny Frogmouth roosting in trees near ANZAC Village and an Azure Kingfisher from the bridge crossing South Creek. eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 23/4 #264944 |
| Thu 21 | | Great Crested Grebe
Sydney Olympic Park |
|
| Great Crested Grebe sighted this morning in the bay from Shipwreck Point at Sydney Olympic Park. I have been looking in vain for the past ten years, so terrific to finally spot one there. eBird checklist |
| Jenny & Rod Stiles 21/4 #264931 |
| Tue 19 | | Beach Stone-curlew
Bateau Bay |
|
| Just submitting this to say that the continuing beach stone-curlew is still hanging around. Seen by others both yesterday and on Easter Sunday. Found this morning, just after sunrise, roosting in the northern sand dunes on Bateau Bay Beach. eBird checklist |
| Joel Poyitt 19/4 #264924 |
| Sun 17 | | Torresian Imperial Pigeon
Sunnyvale Road, Kew, NSW |
|
| Saw and photographed one Torresian Imperial Pigeon in the tree where both White-headed and Topknot Pigeons are feeding. (Modserator's Note: This is a rare bird in NSW and subject to NSWORAC ReEview. Last time reported from the Port Macquarie area was 26/3/2005 at Fernbank and 18/8/2009 at Summer island near Frederickton.AKM) eBird checklist |
| Diana Shang 18/4 #264922 |
| | Great Crested Grebe
Meadowbank Park, Meadowbank |
| Quite an interesting sighting to find a Great Crested Grebe floating around on the Parramatta River opposite Meadowbank Park. |
| Michael Ronan 17/4 #264918 |
| | White-winged Triller
Central Coast Wetlands (Tuggerah) |
|
| Single immature White-winged Triller has been reported on site since 14/2/22 when seen & photographed by David Russell. Frequents areas around the car park near the silos. Seen at approx 11am for 20 minutes; last seen heading towards the tea tree clump on the east side of the swamp. Also in the reeds 2 Little Grassbirds, with one begging and being fed - possible breeding record? (Moderator's Note: This is the second WWT record for the Central Coast LGA for 2022, the first was a juvenile/immature bird at Ironbark Rd Mangrove Mountain on 21/2/2022. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 17/4 #264915 |
| Sat 16 | | Wandering Whistling Duck
Saumarez Ponds nr Armidale |
| 12 birds feeding and resting at an edge of the ponds. 8 Black Swans and many Coots present. One White-necked Heron flew in. Water level stable. |
| Ian Bailey 19/4 #264927 |
| | Common Noddy
Long Reef Aquatic Reserve |
| Continuing bird - single Common Noddy came in off the sea at approx 4:10pm and spent some time sitting on reef and fishing in surf. (There have been 3, but I only saw one at any given point and I think it was the same bird at all times based on head pattern.) Also seen offshore a single albatross but not identifiable to species. Reef also hosting 3x Double-banded Dotterels, 6x Ruddy Turnstone, 4x Red-necked Stint, 2x Grey-tailed Tattler and 14x Sooty Oystercatchers |
| Tom Wilson 16/4 #264912 |