| Mon 22 | | Musk, Rainbow, Scaly-breasted and Little Lorikeets, Noisy Friarbirds
Coffs Coast |
| Mass flowering of Blackbutt and Forest Red Gum from Coffs Harbour north to Corindi Beach attracting thousands of lorikeets and Noisy Friarbirds. Impossible to accurately estimate numbers but I would hazard a guess that there would be >10,000 birds in this area at present. In just 15 minutes late on Sunday afternoon I counted well over 500 Musk Lorikeets flying south over the Arrawarra rest area. I’d think there’s a good chance of Swift Parrots being in the area somewhere. |
| Liam Murphy 22/7 #240832 |
| Sun 21 |  | Glossy Black Cockatoo- breeding
private property SE of Condobolin |
|
| There are seven adult birds currently living in this area and three pairs have nests. Saw today for the first time a chick in one nest . This chick will fledge in the next week and then all the birds dissappear to areas unknown. Four pairs nested here last year in hollows of River Redgums along Wallaroi Ck |
| Warren Chad 21/7 #240829 |
| | Swift Parrot
Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum |
|
| Feeding in E. albens along with miners, friarbirds and wattlebirds. Watched for about ten minutes until it flew off alone. eBird checklist |
| Bec Read 21/7 #240826 |
| | Spotted Harrier
Luddenham |
| Adult Spotted Harrier flew over Elizabeth Dr near The Northern Rd, coming down to land in adjacent farmland south of Elizabeth Dr, near western-most pond, approx 12:30pm. I stopped at the same spot at about 2:10pm but could not relocate it. eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg 21/7 #240824 |
| | Swift Parrot, Speckled Warbler
Scheyville National Park |
|
| At least 18 Swift Parrots observed feeding on lerp along the Market Garden Trail [accessed from Old Pitt Town Rd near Memorial Dr via gate A3]. 2 Speckled Warbler observed along Saunders Boundary Trail. eBird checklist |
| Jenny & Rod Stiles 21/7 #240823 |
| Sat 20 | | Rainbow Bee-eater
Bundjalung National Park--Woody Head Iluka |
|
| Three early arrivals of Rainbow-bee-eaters observed in banksia and wattles about I km south of Woody head campground and about 100 metres from the beach. (Moderator's Note: There have been a few bee-eater reports from northern NSW, per eBird and Birdata). |
| Phil O'Shea 22/7 #240833 |
| | Black-chinned Honeyeater, Eastern Ground Parrot, White-throated Nightjar
Bundjalung Wilderness, Woombah East management trail |
|
| A single Black-chinned Honeyeater seen alighting momentarily in a small eucalypt, unexpected here. Ground Parrot calling from the low heath, approx GPS -29.3511, 153.3080 (few recent records from this southern section of Bundjalung NP), and a White-throated Nightjar calling from the dry ridge line to the west at dusk. eBird checklist |
| Liam Murphy and Heath Milne 20/7 #240822 |
| Fri 19 | | South Island Pied Oystercatcher
Stockton Beach (Worimi Conservation Lands) |
|
| The South Island Pied Oystercatcher "N1" was present amongst a flock of 24 oystercatchers approximately 2 km south of the Gan Gan Road/Anna Bay entrance to Stockton Beach yesterday during a regular survey of the beach. An adult Shy-type Albatross was also found washed up on the beach. Photo by Rob Palazzi. |
| Neil Fraser and Rob Palazzi per Mick Roderick 20/7 #240820 |
| Thu 18 | | Spotted Harrier
Goolma Rd, Bodangora |
|
| Spotted Harrier encountered standing beside roadkill Eastern Grey Kangaroo, on Goolma Rd (-32.45985, 149.01235) approximately 5 km NE of Wellington Correctional Centre. Apologies for phone-quality photo!! eBird checklist |
| Tom Kelly 18/7 #240815 |
| | Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
Private garden at Kariong |
| 2 x Spiny-cheeked feeding in a flowering Ironbark, very vocal. (Moderator's note: Previously reported at this site on 14/4/19, but prior to this only 3 Central Coast records, the blast report, a single bird feeding in a planted flowering sapling Swamp Mahogany on Tuggerah Creek, Central Coast Wetland, Tuggerah 4/8/2008.AKM) |
| david catt 18/7 #240814 |
| | Swift Parrot
Scheyville National Park (north-west Sydney) |
| Five Swift Parrots were seen at lunchtime today in the southern section of Scheyville National Park on the south side of Old Pitt Town Road, along the Market Garden Trail. They were mostly quiet. They were seen feeding on lerps in the mid canopy and sleeping higher up. One pair slept for 45 minutes before preening, stretching and flying away. Swift Parrots have been seen here last week and last month. Two Speckled Warblers were also seen. |
| Andrew Patrick 18/7 #240812 |
| Wed 17 | | Powerful Owl
29 Athel Tree Cres Bradbury, nr Campbelltown NSW 2560 |
| The Powerful Owl flew over my backyard as I was out there preparing to take night sky photos.
It may have been looking in backyards looking for rodents or heading to tall trees in a nearby reserve. (Moderator's Note: The most common prey of Powerful Owls in urban areas are not rodents but marsupials like Ring-tailed and Brush-tailed Possum and Flying Foxes. AKM) |
| Chris Munson 20/7 #240821 |
| | Spotted Harrier
Crossmaglen Rd, Bonville |
| Pair of Spotted Harriers have been hunting over tall grassland in Crossmaglen Valley all week. |
| Michael Cheers 18/7 #240816 |
| | Brown Falcon
Heffron Park, Matraville |
| Triggered by alarm calls I stopped while biking to work, to discover a dark phase Brown Falcon being chased by a raven. Not seen very often in the Eastern Suburbs, I believe. |
| Vincent Mourik 17/7 #240808 |
| | Spotted Quail-thrush
Mittagong |
| One bird heard briefly in Alexandra Reserve late this afternoon, on hillside above Lake Alexandra. Only my second record of SQT in the Southern Highlands in a decade of serious birding in the area. The other record is from Tallong some years ago. |
| Lorne Johnson 17/7 #240807 |
| Tue 16 | | Eastern Osprey (2)
Hamilton Avenue, Earlwood |
| A pair of Osprey seen flying south across Hamilton Ave around 4:30pm. |
| James Schlunke 16/7 #240802 |
| | White-winged Choughs
Pineforest road, Tomerong, Jervis Bay area |
| Small flock on the roadside verge.Never seen them around here before so therefore maybe worth reporting. |
| Andy Wood 16/7 #240800 |
| | Swift Parrot
The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan |
| At least 25 Swift Parrots with me in the wooded gully close to the Banksia Garden from 10-11am. Birds feeding frantically and darting from tree to tree. All of them froze and were silent three times when Noisy Miners made raptor alerts. Stunning to see these magnificent birds! |
| Lorne Johnson 16/7 #240799 |
| Mon 15 | | Regent Honeyeater
Nerangie Camp, Seal Rocks Rd, Bungwhal |
| Regent Honeyeaters still present this morning. Total of 12 birds hawking and nectar feeding ....Very active. |
| Chris Catt 16/7 #240803 |
| | Regent Honeyeater
Water Reserve, cnr Nelmes & Marsden St Blue Haven |
|
| Three Regent Honeyeaters have been observed at the wetland in Blue Haven on Nelmes Rd. When I went there yesterday there were definitely two. There was also a Little Friarbird, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, two Royal Spoonbills and a number of Little Wattlebirds which don’t seem to be aggressive towards the Regent Honeyeaters. They were hawking for insects from a stand of Casuarina trees.(Moderator's Note: This is an update on the Regents at Blue Haven, first reported on 30/6/19 when four were seen. Since then the max reported has been 3 birds, basically seen daily since 8/7/19. Other birds present in the past two days have included a Square-tailed Kite, a Collared Sparrowhawk and a pair of Azure Kingfishers. AKM) |
| Greg Miles 16/7 #240801 |
| | Black Kite
Coutts Crossing |
| On a very windy morning 3 Black Kites were flying over Coutts Crossing Croquet Courts |
| Eric Wheeler 15/7 #240797 |
| Sun 14 | | Pacific Baza
Cremorne Point, NSW |
|
| I am uncertain about what species, and the bird did not show front side so not able to see if its chest was striped. Tuft on head suggests may be a Pacific Baza.
Sghting was in park at Cremorne Point
(Moderators Note: we agree that this is a Pacific Baza and whilst this species isn’t unusual in the Sydney area, it is an interesting record at Cremorne Point. SB) |
| Charles Loxton 17/7 #240806 |
| | Spotted Harrier
Castlereagh Highway, Ilford |
| Harrier was flying low over paddock directly adjacent to highway (left hand side of the road heading northbound towards Mudgee) eBird checklist |
| Tom Kelly 15/7 #240793 |
| | Grey Goshawk (White Morph), Australian Hobby & Noisy Friarbird
16 Eino Place, Eleebana, 2282, NSW, Australia |
| I just got home from England this week & I was surprised to see that the female White Morph Grey Goshawk is still here from March. It was first seen on the 14th of March & I've had nearly daily sightings since. If someone would like to see it there is a Landcare Site across the road also accessible from Glad Gunson Rd by Lindeman Close across from the field. Also seen was an Australian Hobby & I heard a Noisy Friarbird (not often seen here) |
| Archie Brennan 14/7 #240789 |
| | Fuscous Honeyeater
Warriewood Wetlands |
| Single Fuscous HE observed foraging in flowering Swamp Mahogany on the edge of the Bell Miner colony (over the boardwalk). Bell Miners were chasing lots of other HEs (plenty of Yellow-faced and Scarlets across teh 2 reserves) away but the Fuscous HE seemed to go unnoticed. Also a male Rose Robin near the Katoa Close entrance and a displaying male Superb Lyrebird in Irrawong Reserve (near the Cabbage Tree Palm grove) eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 14/7 #240788 |
| Sat 13 | | White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (dark morph)
O'Hara Head, Kioloa |
| With the head and neck being very black, this was a very striking bird (and the first 'dark morph' I have seen). |
| David George 15/7 #240798 |
| | Swift Parrot
Private Property - Badgery Rd, SE of Cowra |
|
| 1 bird seen in flowering white-box, with numerous Red Wattlebirds & White-plumed HE’s - during Birdlife’s Cowra Woodland Bird Program quarterly surveys. Bird on survey site. |
| John French, Fiona Lumsden & Gwen Bush. 13/7 #240785 |
| Fri 12 | | Regent Honeyeater
Neranie Head Rd |
| A total of 12 Regent Honeyeaters seen at the Neranie Head Road (Camping Ground) site on the morning of Saturday 12/07/2019. In one Swamp Mahogany tree there were 3 birds feeding and then at the same time from a nearby tree two separate groups (one of 5 birds, the other of 4 birds) flew out. (Moderator's Note: Some observers have since reported birds using blossom further along the track from the clearing where most observations have been, using Swamp Mahogany blossom on the left side. This is the largest wintering flock of Regent Honeyeaters in Swamp Mahogany habitat in many years and highlights how important these coastal forests are for this critically endangered species. MR) eBird checklist |
| Grant Brosie per Mick Roderick 14/7 #240787 |
| | Eastern Osprey
Macquarie University, North Ryde Campus |
| Single bird flew north over pool complex approx 8:10am. (Much consternation from Galahs, Wood Duck and Masked Lapwings that hang about the pool complex alerted me to its arrival.) Presumably one of the birds that has taken up residence on the Lane Cover Rover out for a morning cruise around the district. |
| Tom Wilson 12/7 #240778 |
| Thu 11 | | Yellow-plumed Honeyeater
Dirnaseer (West of Cootamundra) on private land. |
|
| White Box stands flowering in mixed Red Stringy-bark woodland on stony ridges attracting an influx of Red Wattlebirds, Noisy Friarbirds, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater and Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters (2). Resident Noisy Miners (many) and White-plumed Honeyeaters also present. Surrounding areas on the flats devoid of nectarivorous bird activity. |
| Allan Richardson 11/7 #240777 |
| | Sacred Kingfisher
Tempe Reserve |
| Overwintering bird near mangroves (Moderator: Very few winter records in this area). |
| Lindsay Partridge 11/7 #240776 |
| Wed 10 | | Dusky Woodswallow
Liverpool Weir |
|
| Was looking around the Georges river just near the Liverpool Weir and saw this bird fly up to the wires. Was by itself. |
| Sharon Redman 10/7 #240772 |
| | Regent Honeyeater
Cnr Mardsen and Nelmes Rd Bluehaven |
| Following up a reported sighting of 4 Regent Honeyeaters on the 30th June at this site, at least one bird was refound, It was found in Casuarina looking for insects and once hawking over the water. The bird did not call and did not respond to play back. This is the first sighting on the Central Coast since 2010 |
| Allan Benson 10/7 #240770 |
| | Black-eared Cuckoo, Speckled Warbler
Old quarry NE of Narrabri along Bingara Road |
| This morning about 8:45 I heard the first cuckoo calling for the season. It was a Black-eared Cuckoo, in rather poor scrub with remnant woodland, near where I found two Speckled Warblers building a nest. The location is an old quarry eastward of the Killarney SCA, near the Bingara Road ca. 15 km from the Newell Highway turn-off (where the road goes over a hill crest). |
| Michael Dahlem 10/7 #240769 |
| Tue 9 | | Brahminy Kite
Kurnell |
| Immature bird seen early afternoon. Bird was flying over Kamay Botany Bay NP, then Botany Bay. It headed towards Bonna Point, but couldn’t be found later. Seen from outside fish n chip shop on Captain Cook Drive. Impression was of mainly dark brown bird with pale panels in wings, fingered wingtips, short, square tail and carpals held forward. When soaring and circling, wings were slightly raised. Missing primary feathers in one wing. Bird was silent. Unobtrusive - not harassed by other birds. Maybe, same bird seen in area earlier in 2019. |
| Lorne Johnson and Steve Edwards 10/7 #240768 |
| Mon 8 | | Black Bittern
Mullet Creek alongside Progress Park, Warriewood |
|
| Excellent views of a single adult bird at Mullet Creek at the following coordinates: -33.697446, 151.294051
Bird initially flew and turned to stone, but then began to relax and skulk along the shoreline, taking 3 fish.
Has been sighted previously, but not for over a month. eBird checklist |
| David Sinnott 9/7 #240765 |
| | Jacky Winter
Freemans Reach |
| Pair of Jacky's this afternoon in a paddock on Linden Drive. See a few Flame robins most winters, but first time I've seen Jacky's here in the 6 years I've been living locally. |
| Mike Felstead 9/7 #240764 |
| | Regent Honeyeater
Road into Neranie Campground, Myall Lakes NP |
|
| 8 Regent Honeyeaters feeding in Swamp Mahogany blossom on the edge of the first clearing along the road into Neranie Campground in Myall Lakes NP, near Bungwahl, today. The birds were dominating the trees, chasing smaller honeyeaters away and tolerating a single Noisy Friarbird that was also in the trees. Several juvenile birds amongst the flock. Photo shows 5 of the birds perched together late in the day. |
| Mick Roderick 8/7 #240763 |
| Sun 7 | | Singing Honeyeater
Glen Davis, Capertee |
|
| Sighted an out of range Singing Honeyeater on the treetop next to the boutique hotel at 0830 Sunday morning.
Plenty of birds in the Glen Davis area, especially around the campground and the rubbish tip up the hill. Also check out the other campground across the valley. Top few days in the area netted 82 species. |
| Mike Barrow 8/7 #240762 |
| | Musk Duck, Topknot Pigeon and Fairy Martin
Eastlakes golf course |
| A drake Musk Duck on the main lake was a nice surprise, also 2 Fairy Martins (did not go near nesting area) probably passage birds moving south. No Martin records here at all this winter. 25 low flying Topknots were noted as well as a Tawny Grassbird, a Reed Warbler, a Fan-tailed Cuckoo, 6 Grey Fantails and an Eastern Spinebill. |
| David Mitford 8/7 #240759 |
| | Little Shearwater
Cape Solander, Kamay Botany Bay NP, Kurnell (22/06/2019) |
| Belated report from 22/06/2019 of a brief seawatch from the carpark next to the whale watching platform that turned interesting. This was on a very windy day, with ~3 m waveheight and F6 southerly winds. Bird came flying from the north, passed at about 150 m in front of us and continued south. Within a few minutes two Fluttering type shearwaters passed by at similar distance and lighting conditions, allowing excellent comparison. Bird stood out because of small size, single tone cold dark grey upperparts, completely clean white underparts, neat narrow black lining to leading and trailing edge of underwing, and flightstyle not unlike fluttering type shearwaters, but with faster wingbeat in fluttering phase, and shorter, shallower arcs closer to the water. This sighting precedes the finding of 6 beachwashed Little Shearwaters on the NSW North coast by 6-8 days. Observation has been submitted to ORAC. (Moderator's Note: Publishing date has been changed so people notice the report. Will be changed back later. MR). |
| Vincent Mourik & Allan Richards 7/7 #240756 |
| Sat 6 | | White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
Sydney Olympic Park |
| A single dark morph was seen well and heard calling in a large flock of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes (20) that were sunning themselves early this morning (0750) on the cables attached to the large antenna behind the waterbird refuge. A real rarity in coastal Sydney and a patch tick-number 199! |
| Dion Hobcroft 6/7 #240748 |
| Fri 5 | | Marsh Sandpiper
Hexham Swamp Nature Reserve |
|
| Seen in nature reserve on left hand side friday |
| luke ullrich frank ullrich 7/7 #240752 |
| Mon 1 | | Swift Parrot
Mater Dei biobank (private) |
| 2 birds observed feeding on lerps on Eucalyptus tereticornis. |
| Leo Skowronek 2/7 #239729 |
| | Cattle Egret
Malabar |
| Interesting, and a little surprising, to see 16 Cattle Egrets at Pioneers Park mid-afternoon. |
| Lorne Johnson and Steve Edwards 1/7 #239727 |
| | Black Bittern
Second Ponds Creek Wetland, Rouse Hill |
| Single Black Bittern observed in the large north west pond. Good views. Flushed from small patch of reeds north end. eBird checklist |
| David Sinnott 1/7 #239725 |
| Sun 30 | | Bassian Thrush
Larool Creek, Thornleigh |
| Two birds, presumably a pair, seen near where Wareemba Ave crosses Larool Ck. One bird seen carrying food (worm) to and sitting on what appeared to be a nest. About 3m up in top of angophera stump so not easy to see. I have seen this species here only once or twice in the 18 years I have lived here |
| Lewis Benham 2/7 #239730 |
| | Little Shearwater
Broadwater Beach |
|
| Another recently deceased Little Shearwater found washed up on the beach near Broadwater, northern NSW. |
| Steven McBride 1/7 #239723 |
| | Spangled Drongo
Bellambi Lagoon |
| Single bird seen here: -34.371445,150.919595
I was very surprised to see this bird in the middle of winter at this latitude.
Only seen in 3 other localities in Wollongong in recent years during winter.
The bird became very active when I played some calls.
Also seen nearby on grass was a single European goldfinch. (Moderator's Note: Spangled Drongos are an uncommon visitor to this region from about late summer through winter into spring, with occasional records outside of these times. MR). |
| David Sinnott 30/6 #239721 |
| Sat 29 | | Cape Petrel, Wandering Albatross, Buller's Albatross, Brown Skua
Offshore Kiama, SOSSA pelagic trip |
| This trip was shifted by a week, as the originally scheduled trip could not go out due to severe winds. After relatively low numbers of cold water species in April and May, winter had finally arrived. There were good numbers of Black-browed (40+) and Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses (20+). Several Campbell Albatrosses (5+) among the Black-brows. A single adult Shy type (likely the Tasmanian subsp. cauta undergoing post-breedding moult) and Buller's Albatross were seen. Two Wandering type Albatrosses were seen, likely both D. exulans, both were banded off Wollogong/Kiama in the past, as both bands were (partially) visible on photographs, the one band fully readable belonged to a bird banded as an adult in 2014. About 10+ Providence Petrels , 3+ Grey-faced Petrels, a single Cape Petrel, 3+ Brown Skuas and 15+ Fairy Prions where the other highlights. One of the prions is a good contender for Antarctic, photographs are being scrutinised. |
| Lindsay Smith, Vincent Mourik and all aboard MV Kato. 7/7 #240758 |
| | Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Little Shearwater (5)
Broadwater Beach |
|
| A Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, 5 Little Shearwaters & a couple of Fairy Prions, all found dead beach-washed on the beach between Ballina & Evans Head. (Moderator's Note: both Light-mantled Sooty Albatross and Little Shearwater are on the NSW ORAC review list. MR) |
| Steven McBride 29/6 #239720 |
| | Glossy Black-Cockatoo; Rose Robin
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park--West Head |
| 1 GBC (male) observed feeding near toilet block at Resolute Picnic area; 2 on Resolute Track (male & female). 2 Rose Robin (1 male; 1 female) seen at different spots along the Resolute Track - male closer to West Head. At West Head, 2 Sea-Eagles and a Peregrine dive-bombing them. GBCs seem to be moving actively and feeding at many spots along the access road based on the number of chewed nuts on the roadside. eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 29/6 #239716 |
| | Australasian Bittern
Bushells Lagoon |
| One still present near the causeway about mid-day. |
| Edwin Vella 29/6 #239714 |
| Fri 28 | | Little Shearwater
Sawtell Beach |
|
| Freshly beachcast, found early morning, matching the other recent north coast records. |
| Peter Higgins & Jill Smith 2/7 #239737 |
| | Square-tailed kite
Sth Grafton golf course |
| Single bird gliding over the course. Also small party of grey crowned babblers in urban gardens along Bent Street. |
| Ian Colvin 1/7 #239728 |
| | Red-winged Parrot
Geurie Cemetery |
| A pair and a single female flying around the cemetery as sunset approached. The female of the pair seemed to be inspecting potential nest hollows. There is a chance that there was another pair there as well but I wasn't able to confirm that they were separate birds from the first pair. Looks like Guerie is the hotspot in the Central West for Red-winged Parrots at the moment. |
| Darryl Smedley 28/6 #239711 |
| | Black Falcon
Dangars Lagoon |
| Perched on a dead tree. Good views achieved with binoculars, some facial markings but flight swift and direct |
| Caleb Murray 28/6 #239708 |
| Thu 27 | | Superb Parrot
Adventist Alpine Village, Jindabyne |
| A male and female Superb Parrot, sitting in an Italian Popular tree chewing something in the tree. (Moderator's Note: Unusual location! AKM) |
| Nicola Theile 5/7 #239746 |
| | Swift Parrot
Cowan |
| A total of at approximately 30 Swift Parrots has been in the Cowan area for at least the past fortnight passing through the settled part each morning and afternoon and occasionally small numbers have been sighted foraging on planted flowering Swamp Mahogany. Roost site is known and has been passed onto recovery team. Movement and foraging species during middle of day as yet unknown. |
| Paul Burcher & Jonathan Sanders 2/7 #239735 |
| | Brown Honeyeater
Bomaderry Creek |
| This is one of 4 reports from Illawarra Birders members from the Illawarra over the past 2.5 weeks. This site is just north of Nowra, so a long way south for this bird. This was two birds in good light at close range.
A single bird was seen separately the next day at same location. eBird checklist |
| Ralph Stadus 29/6 #239715 |
| | Cattle Egret
Eulah Creek |
| On a paddock 1 km from the turn-off of Eulah Creek Road from Mt. Kaputar Road, 15 km E of Narrabri, a small flock of 12 Cattle Egrets in non-breeding plumage is still present, overwintering in the area despite the lack of surface water. Seen also on the 28th. They are only there when there is cattle on the paddock. At other times another(?) small mob stays in paddocks near the Mt. Kaputar Road turn-off off Old Gunnedah Road, just outside Narrabri, less than 10 km from the current location. Looks like this was the only sizeable mob of Cattle Egrets staying inland through the winter. Their prime breeding site in the area, the bird refuge island in Narrabri Lake, is currently vacant because the lake has been dry for a long time. eBird checklist |
| Michael Dahlem 28/6 #239710 |
| | Swift Parrot - Lathamus discolor
Wilton |
| A flock of at least 6 birds were seen feeding in flowering Eucalyptus sideroxylon with Noisy Friarbirds and Musk Lorikeets around lunchtime on private land. Later in the day, about 1 km from the first observation (also on private land) , a flock of about 20 birds were seen perched in a Eucalyptus tereticornis before being chased away by a Noisy Miner. |
| Bruce Mullins 28/6 #239707 |
| | Cinnamon Quail-thrush
30 kms north of Packsaddle |
|
| One male near roadside. This appears to be near the limit of its range. Poor photo. |
| Paul Taylor and Stuart Milde 27/6 #239706 |
| Wed 26 | | Brown Skua, Giant Petrel sp., Black-browed Albatross
Mistral Point, Maroubra |
| Birding NSW outing, seawatch at Maroubra, 08:45-10:15 Sea was flat, and there was little wind, leading to sub-optimal birdwatching conditions. During the second half of the seawatch there was a slight breeze, leading to a few birds passing by. A distant Brown Skua was the highlight. Other birds seen where a single Giant Petrel sp., about 5 Black-browed type Albatrosses, 3 Kelp Gulls and some tens of Gannets. Good conditions for whale watching, we got about 10 humpbacks and a sizeable spread out pod of Common Dolphins. |
| Allan Richards (leader), Vincent Mourik and other Birding NSW members 7/7 #240757 |
| Tue 25 | | Pacific Gull
La Perouse |
|
| An Immature Pacific Gull flew over. Joined in flight by one of the resident Kelp Gulls. My first record here this year. eBird checklist |
| Richard Murray 25/6 #239696 |
| Mon 24 | | Black Bittern
Blue Hills Wetland, Glenmore Park |
|
| Flushed from reeds about 50m SW of the high voltage tower (where the wetland marker is on Google Maps) - unintentionally, it just didn't like the look of me.
It flew north and then looped back to the middle pond. Excellent views.
Trees obscured it's landing, didn't try very hard to flush it again. eBird checklist |
| David Sinnott 24/6 #239694 |
| | Blue-billed Duck (126), Freckled Duck (40), Dusky Woodswallow
Umberumberka Reservoir, Silverton |
| The highlights among a surprising array of ducks at Umberumberka Reservoir were a large raft of Blue-billed Ducks along with roughly 40 Freckled Ducks loafing on the bank. A group of Dusky Woodswallows hawking over the picnic area appear to be a good record for the Broken Hill region. eBird checklist |
| Max Breckenridge and Simon Gorta 24/6 #239693 |
| Sun 23 | | Eastern Barn Owl
Jilliby Swamp, Jilliby |
|
| Single Eastern Barn Owl seen in a tree up Watagans Forest Dr near the farms. This bird is assumed to be the same bird heard but not seen a few months ago at the same location.(Moderator's Note: On the Central Coast there are few Barn Owl records. AKM) |
| Dean Purcell and Daniel McKeon 23/6 #239691 |
| Sat 22 | | Possible Grey Falcon
Ulmarra Public School area |
| Russell Jago observed a raptor that he is convinced was a Grey Falcon flying in a north-easterly direction over his home opposite Ulmarra Public School at 16:00 hrs. It was observed in good ight at about 70 m above ground and flew very swiftly so was only observed for a matter of seconds. He has seen the species a number of times in its usual habitat and distribution area and is aware that a Grey Falcon on the NSW North Coast is almost unheard of but has considered all other possibilities and keeps coming back to Grey Falcon. It is worth noting that Melinda Guise observed what she was convinced was a Grey Falcon in flight somewhere in the Ulmarra are a few weeks ago. Both observers are very experienced and both realize the significance of their observations. They are being published here to hopefully alert others in the area to be on the lookout for the species and to hopefully get views of one perched or to photograph one. [Moderators Note: I spoke to the observer and bird clearly had tapered, pointed wings with dark tips and the stockier shape of a Falcon vs Accipiter - coastal records of this species are extremely rare and unlikely however the description given rules out similar species - hopefully the bird is in area for longer so others can corroborate the record, SB] |
| Russell Jago per G P Clancy 23/6 #239689 |
| | Square-tailed Kite
Dirawong Reserve, Chinamens Beach, Evans Head |
|
| Adult Square-tailed Kite present since Thursday. Species is very scarce locally. |
| Hans Wohlmuth 22/6 #239686 |
| | Black Falcon
Denman-Muswellbrook Rd. 10 km north Denman |
| A pair were seen soaring. |
| Allan Benson 22/6 #239685 |
| | Probable Grey-headed Albatross
Moruya Heads |
| A small albatross- Yellow-nosed in size- with dusky underwings was very likely an immature of this species. Direct comparisons with Black-browed were had. Unfortunately on the two passes the bird made it remained stubbornly distant-too far away for photos. Otherwise it was just the standard fair of winter seabirds:
20 Black-browed Albatross
10 Shy Albatross
1 Indian Yellow-nosed
5 Prion sp.
1 White-fronted Tern. |
| Demetrios Bertzeletos 22/6 #239683 |
| | Brolga (20), Red-necked Avocet (6)
Fivebough Wetlands |
| After a long closure due to track work, the barricade was down today so I took the opportunity to have a walk. The Brolgas are still present and the avocet have only recently returned to the swamp.
Because of some rain, work has been slow and the swamp is likely to be closed for some more weeks. If any visitors wish to go there, then weekends would be the best time - ring Michael the overseer on 0427641849 a few days before to arrange for the gate to be removed. eBird checklist |
| Max O'Sullivan 22/6 #239681 |