| Mon 7 | | Far Eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)
Corindi Ck estuary (Red Rock) |
| Group of 8 birds seen on sand bank near mouth of Corindi Creek.
Dog chasing unleashed with family group. (Moderator's Note: While Eastern Curlews are neither rare nor out of range and we would not normally publish random sightings of this species, they are a migratory Threatened Species and at this time of the year, small flocks are making their way down the NSW coast to their favorite estuaries here or further south in Victoria and Tasmania and they need their feeding and roosting areas to be protected and conserved. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Jo Conway 7/10 #271819 |
| | Spectacled Monarch
Narara |
|
| In a private area of Narara ecovillage. (Moderator's Note: Spectacled Monarchs are well out of range in the Central Coast but in recent years there have been regular sightings in the Ourimbah Creek RTA Landcare Reserve, a familiar story in respect to some other out of range rainforest species like Varied Trillers and Noisy Pittas!.AKM) eBird checklist |
| Guy Dutson & Andrew Robinson 7/10 #271815 |
| Sun 6 |  | Black-tailed Nativehen
Dicksons Rd, Jilliby |
|
| A Black-tailed Nativehen was reported seen at Dicksons Rd, Jilliby. I grabbed my camera and was lucky enough to spot it on the side of a dam on a private property. It is a very rare bird to the Central Coast of NSW. If I understand correctly the first was in November 2012 and this may be the second sighting. First reported by Ann Lindsay at the same location 5/10/2024. eBird checklist |
| Graham Nelson 7/10 #271814 |
| | Whiskered Tern; Wood Sandpiper
Central Coast Wetlands (Tuggerah) |
| 25 Whiskered Terns feeding over the main lake from approx 11:45-12:05. Flew off northwards. Single Wood Sandpiper in the swampy area closest to the entrance road on the SW side. The Wandering Whistling Ducks reported on 5 October had gone. eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 6/10 #271812 |
| Sat 5 | | Eastern Koel
River Road, Bathurst |
| first Koel for the season heard late in afternoon |
| Robert Porter 6/10 #271813 |
| | Wandering Whistling Duck
Central Coast Wetlands (Tuggerah) |
| 9 present this morning. |
| Andrew Robinson 5/10 #271811 |
| Fri 4 | | Dollarbird
Mitchell Park, Cattai |
| A Dollarbird was early for this site and there were also two White-throated Gerygone and three Rufous Whistlers |
| Roger McGovern 5/10 #271809 |
| | White-winged Triller
Richmond Lowlands |
| Good spring morning on the lowlands with3 Eastern Koel,1 White-winged Triller,1 Brown Songlark,4 Rufous Songlark,8 Banded Lapwing, a pair of Pink-eared Duck with three recently hatched downy young and1 Wedge-tailed Eagle |
| Roger McGovern 5/10 #271808 |
| Wed 2 | | Short-tailed Shearwater migration
Kamay Botany Bay National Park--Cape Banks |
| South-easterly wind today is enough to push the solid stream of migrating Short-tailed Shearwaters inshore. Quite far out say more than 5 kms from shore. Moving south. My rough estimate 500 birds per minute, say more than 20,000 birds in the short time I was there. Actual number could be a multiple of many times more. |
| Richard Murray 2/10 #271803 |
| Tue 1 | | Beach Stone-curlew
Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar |
|
| Was not expecting a quick scan with the binoculars to turn up a pair on the south side of the inlet - originally seen from Mudbishops Point Road. eBird checklist |
| Joel Poyitt 2/10 #271805 |
| | Dollarbird
Woombah village, northern NSW |
| Single bird observed sitting on powerline near village centre. My first for the season. (Moderator's Note: While this bird may be your first for the season, there were three earlier reports, 3 were seen in Koala St Port Macquarie by Ken Monson, and 2 at Sherwood, near Kempsey by Karen Smedley, both sightings on 14/9/2024, and 2 at Lees Reserve Chittaway 29/9 by Nick Carson. There were a number of reports on 1/10/2024 including David's..(AKM) |
| David Charley 2/10 #271804 |
| Sun 29 | | Rose-crowned Fruit Dove
Palm Beach Golf Course |
|
| Found in shed. Released outside after assessment and no injuries were found. |
| Holly Ross 29/9 #271794 |
| Sat 28 | | Powerful Owl, Black-faced Monarch, Dollarbird
Kurrajong Hills |
|
| A pair of Powerful Owls were calling then one sighted in shale-sandstone transition forest adjoining dry rainforest. I have only 3 previous records on this site in 20 years, and this was the first sighting. There are few records north of the Hawkesbury in the LGA, though anecdotally they are widespread if not common. Also calling were a Koala and a Southern Boobook.
Black-faced Monarch, Dollarbird and Pacific Koel also arrived here on 28 and 29 Sep, so all regular spring migrants now here except Rufous Fantail |
| Eric Finley 30/9 #271796 |
| | White-winged Triller.
George Kendall Park. |
| There are currently 4 White-winged Trillers in George Kendall Park Sydney 3 males and 1 female they have been present since the 26-9-24. |
| Michael Ronan 29/9 #271792 |
| | Dollarbird
Douglas Farm Rd, Kurrajong Hills |
| First arrival for the season. In line with usual arrival dates here between last week Sep and second week Oct - but appears to be the first eBird record for the season in w Sydney. (Moderator's Note: Another arrived at Lees Reserve, Chittaway in Central Coast LGA on 29/9/24. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Eric Finley 28/9 #271791 |
| | Little lorikeet
Glenwood |
| A pair in a small bush corridor Meurants Lane |
| David Potter 28/9 #271790 |
| | Glossy Black Cockatoo
Deep Creek Reserve, Narrabeen |
| Spotted three individuals feeding in a Casuarina tree. |
| Nikola Markovina 28/9 #271789 |
| Fri 27 | | Northern Giant Petrel and Arctic Jaeger
Mistral Point, Maroubra |
| An early Arctic Jaeger (breeding plumage)seen today along with 42 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Flesh-footed Shearwater, 8 Short-tailed Shearwater, 5 Black-browed Albatross, 2 Shy Albatross, 1 Northern Giant Petrel, 2 Kelp Gulls and a Caspian Tern. Currently there is a subtle passage of Caspian Terns occurring. |
| David Mitford 30/9 #271798 |
| | White-headed Petrel.
Sydney Harbour National Park,North Head Manly |
| Highlights of a sea watch from North Head this afternoon were 2 White-headed Petrels both travelling south. |
| Michael Ronan 27/9 #271788 |
| Thu 26 | | Sooty Shearwater, Giant Petrel & Shy Albatross
Mistral Point, Maroubra |
| Great passage of Shearwaters this afternoon, highlights: 71 Sooty Shearwater, 6 Short-tailed Shearwater, 3 Flesh-footed Shearwater, 2000+
Wedge-tailed Shearwater, 10 Hutton’s Shearwater and 35 Fluttering Shearwater. Other species noted were 2 Shy Albatross, a Giant Petrel (sp) and a Caspian Tern. |
| David Mitford 27/9 #271786 |
| | Brolga
North Macksville |
|
| Not sure if they are common or uncommen but I've never seen one in my life and I've been in the this region for 4 years.
A pair of Brolga in a paddock. I have photos but blurry. |
| Michelle 26/9 #271785 |
| | Brolga
Macksville |
|
| 9 AM Brolga pair opposite Mid Coast Trucks at north Macksville |
| John Gale 26/9 #271784 |
| Wed 25 | | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Warren Weir Reserve & Gin Gin Weir Reserve near Trangie |
| One bird seen and heard by 23 members of the Hastings Birdwatchers on their visit to this reserve. An hour later, and 20 km further to the southeast, another was heard calling at the Gin Gin Weir Reserve. These are rare sightings for this species in this part of the Central West of NSW. eBird checklist |
| Alan Morris and 23 members of the HBW 30/9 #271800 |
| | Red-chested Button-quail
University of Wollongong |
| Bird was found on UOW campus looking a bit disorientated in the cold snap. It was in a high traffic area. Taken overnight and returned the next day. It ate leaf litter insects in captivity but not interested in quail starter mix. Was unhappy in cage. Returned the next day to the same location. On campus but returned to a patch where “quails’ have been reported amongst tussock grass on a creek line. I have several excellent videos for ID. Possibly dumped because sadly a lot of pets are dumped on campus. Usually ducks. (Moderator's Note: Most unlikely to be "dumped". Button-quails migrate at night, and often become disorientated, perhaps by lights, and hit windows in urban areas.AKM) |
| Johanna Turnbull 29/9 #271795 |
| | Rose-crowned Fruit-dove.
Denistone Park. |
| Sitting on the seat overlooking roly poly Hill I was surprised to see a Rose-crowned Fruit-dove fly across in front of me being chased by 2 Noisy Mineres which disappeared over the road and eventually lost sight of it. |
| Michael Ronan 25/9 #271782 |
| Tue 24 | | Straw-necked Ibis
Sydney Olympic Park mown grass adjacent to Jamieson St |
| One bird foraging over a green mown area. Not unusual in the west of Sydney in open grasslands but have not seen one this close to the city. |
| Ian Bailey. Barbara Dundas. 24/9 #271781 |
| Mon 23 | | Pacific Bazas
Grays point NSW |
| Had a pair of Pacific Baszas in my yard today, about 10 metres up in angophoras, they were mating at one stage, Very unusual and rare bird, (I think) I've never seen them here before in 25 years, very cool to see.
I didn't get a photo, they were too high up for my iPhone 6. |
| Brad and Rita Butler 23/9 #271780 |
| | Eastern Yellow Robin
Pinecliffe, 10kms SW of Molong |
| In the garden, in bright plumage (breeding?
This species has bred here before, but I have not detected it for some years in Spring,, although a pair regularly visit the garden in winter, to use a birdbath at twilight,
I thought it was worth mentioning, considering that I have lost other Robins (Flame, Rose Scarlet and Hooded). Moderator's Note: while I can understand that Hooded Robin's may have disappeared, the other Robins are only very rare winter visitors to the Molong District, because Molong is at the end of their winter range. AKM) |
| Bruce Tinsey 23/9 #271776 |
| Sun 22 | | White-necked Herons (6)
Randwick Environment Park |
|
| A siege of 6 White-necked Herons taking up position in the shallows is very unusual here, or anywhere in inner-city Sydney. Counted 6 birds in view at the same time. There's an abundance of frogs and insects now in this ephemeral wetland, so these nomadic birds have come to the right place. |
| Richard Murray 22/9 #271774 |
| Sat 21 | | Black faced Monarch
Jack Gear Reserve, Yarramalong |
| Heard distinct call of BFM along the creek edge at Jack Gear Reserve. First BFM for the season. |
| Luke Shelley 22/9 #271773 |
| | Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
Terrigal Pelagic |
|
| Unbelievably, today’s Terrigal Pelagic had yet another Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross sighting from off the Sydney coastline. Observed on the water at the start of the shelf slope (33.64674 S, 151.89053 E) just after commencing our first drift. Presumably the same bird that has been seen out of Sydney twice in the last 3 weeks, and looks reasonable for it, but hard to say with certainty when comparing photos. A Southern Giant Petrel was also seen. (Moderator's Note: Terrigal not to be outdone! Great record of a bird that seems to be wandering around the shelf off the Greater Sydney region at the moment. MR). |
| Central Coast Pelagics - 16 on board 21/9 #271772 |
| | Eastern Koel
Mollymook Beach |
| Heard first Eastern Koel for the season calling near Mollymook Bowling club. |
| Sean Grogan 21/9 #271771 |
| Fri 20 | | Little Bronze-Cuckoo
Coutts Crossing Village |
| Cuckoo heard calling with both the trill and the 4-6 note call. First confirmed with trill call on 19 September and a trill call suspected to be this species heard a few days earlier but not confirmed. |
| Greg Clancy 20/9 #271770 |
| | Grey Plover
Harrington Beach State Park |
|
| Grey Plover sighted several times in the last few days I was lucky enough to see it today and with the black armpit no doubting it.. (Moderator's Note: First seen by James Bennett on 18/9, subsequently seen by a number of observers. AKM) |
| Tony Morton 20/9 #271768 |
| Thu 19 | | Budgerigar
Sanson Hill, Lake Cargelligo - Condobolin Road. |
| Small flock of budgies seen along the road. Also worth noting, a pair were photographed on a friends property further west of Chat Alley on 16/9
Not noted in eBird listing, but Crimson Chat have also arrived to the area with recordings on our farm east of Lake Cargelligo as well as private properties west of Lake Cargelligo and also Chat Alley. (Moderator's Note: I was along the Tipping Way on Monday (16/09) and found numerous Crimson Chats, Black Honeyeaters and White-winged Trillers at a few sites. No budgies though - or woodswallows! MR) eBird checklist |
| Rebecca Van Dyk 19/9 #271765 |
| Tue 17 | | Figbird
Baradine |
|
| After giving me a good look while happily singing, he flew into a large Mulberry tree. (Moderator's Note: This is a good extension west of the NSW range! AKM) |
| Bruce Thew 18/9 #271764 |
| | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Coutts Crossing |
| Cuckoo heard calling near local park. First record for the season. |
| Greg Clancy 17/9 #271762 |
| | Glossy Black Cockatoo
Morisset Park |
| One of my fellow bus drivers grabbed me this morning to tell me he'd seen a pair of a new (to him) type of Black Cockatoo at a roadside puddle yesterday around 4:40. He described one of the birds being speckled and not like the Red-tails he was familiar with in Queensland. It's been a while since I've seen any in the area except for the one male that is often around my place.
He also saw a Bee-eater last week at Mirrabooka but thought it was a honeyeater due to the beak shape. We eventually got it down to a female passing through - seldom see them close to the lake here. |
| Paul Schofield 17/9 #271760 |
| Mon 16 | | Freckled Duck (2), Red-necked Avocet (breeding)
Lake Goran, south of Gunnedah |
| Two Freckled Duck amongst a large flock of roosting Grey Teal. Also seen were six downy Red-necked Avocet runners. All still covered in down. Black upper wing coverts and tips to flight feathers prominent. (Moderator's Note: A fantastic breeding record! I can't find evidence of avocets having been recorded breeding on the Liverpool Plains before, admittedly in a quick search. MR). |
| David Charley 23/9 #271778 |
| Sun 15 | | Grey-faced Petrel,Albatrosses.
Long Reef Aquatic Reserve. |
| Highlights of a four and a half hour seawatch from Long Reef this afternoon were 5 to 600 Grey-faced Petrels,also large numbers of Albatross including about 50 Shy Albatross,and 60 +Black-browed Albatross and 6 Giant Petrels. |
| Michael Ronan 15/9 #271754 |
| | Bar-tailed Godwit (80+)
The Entrance |
| A solid count of Bar-tailed Godwits for the Central Coast. |
| Andrew Robinson 15/9 #271753 |
| Sat 14 | | White-headed Petrel, Cape Petrel
Offshore--Sydney Pelagic |
|
| Saturday's pelagic, sans IYNA, was a repeat of Friday's. Highlights included a White-headed Petrel and two Cape Petrels, both seen in >500m. Cape Petrels have been declining off Sydney. Other species were more typical for this time of year. They included Shy, Black-browed and Buller's albatrosses. Disappointingly a distant 'wanderer' was seen flying out wide, ditto for a Giant-Petrel. Neither birds approached the boat. Other species encountered were Grey-faced and Providence Petrels (both in decent numbers) and a lone Wilson's Storm-Petrel. Good numbers of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were with us throughout. Fluttering and Hutton's Shearwaters were seen both inshore and offshore. Midway back to the heads a Flesh-footed Shearwater began to follow us for some time. Brown Skuas also seen during the trip along with the usual mix of Australasian Gannets, Crested Terns and Silver Gulls. Photograph: Greg McLachlan eBird checklist |
| Sydney pelagics and all onboard 16/9 #271756 |
| | Large-billed Scrubwren
Lower Devlins Creek near lane Cove River |
|
| Family party of Large-billed Scrubwrens. Still a rare species in the Lane Cove Valley |
| Ian McAllan 15/9 #271752 |
| | Leaden Flycatcher
North Epping - near Whale Rock |
|
| Male, First for the season. (Moderator;s Note: Leaden Flycatchers have turned up early this year, the first birds on 23/8/2024 at Stuarts Point & Woolgoolga, at Ballina 26/8 and Smiths Lake 28/8, and finally at Kuring-Gai Cjase NP on 31/8. On the Central Coast the first one was 5/9 at Mardi, and on the Mid North Coast at Sea-Acres NR on 2/9 and Fernbank, Port Macquarie 5/9, so this one on 14/9, was a bit of a late date! AKM). |
| Ian McAllan 15/9 #271751 |
| Thu 12 | | Northern Giant Petrel & Grey-faced Petrel
Mistral Point, Maroubra |
| A distinctly winter feel to this sea watch, with cold gale force southerlies.
Highlights were:
1 Northern Giant Petrel, 4 Giant Petrel sp., 4 Black-browed Albatross, 2 Shy Albatross, 1 Brown Skua, 5 White-fronted Terns and 3 Grey-faced Petrels. |
| David Mitford and Robert Griffin 13/9 #271749 |
| | Providence Petrel.
Sydney Harbour National Park,North Head Manly. |
| Highlight of a seawatch from North Head this afternoon was a Providence Petrel flying south close in into the strong southerly,other birds of note were 3 Giant Petrel species,3 Brown Skuas,25 Black-browed Albatross and 4 Shy Albatross. |
| Michael Ronan 12/9 #271747 |
| Wed 11 | | Inland Dotterel, Flock Bronzewing
Cameron Corner Rd, about 30km from Tibooburra |
|
| Family party of Inland Dotterels seen along Cameron Corner Road, comprised of two adults, two runners and an immature bird. Birds were very confiding, walking past us as we sat quietly on the gibber. A bit further south we were near dam and watched numerous flocks of up to 50 Flock Bronzewings coming into (presumably) roost for the night in the paddock. A total of 250 birds is a very conservative estimate. |
| Mick Roderick, James Bennett and Jon Spicer-Bell 16/9 #271759 |
| | Grey Falcon
Near Wild Deserts HQ, Cameron Corner Road |
|
| Single bird first seen perched on a tall shrub on the side of Cameron Corner Road, a few km south of the Wild Deserts HQ. Took off and was mobbed by Black-faced Woodswallows as it flew in an easterly direction.
We also tried for the Eyrean Grasswren and Banded Whiteface at known sites for several hours without a hint of either bird.
Photo by James Bennett |
| Mick Roderick, James Bennett and Jon-Spicer Bell 16/9 #271755 |
| | Common Sandpiper
Koona Bay, Albion Park Rail |
|
| Observed along the northwest shoreline. Small wader with quick, tail bobbing action while foraging. Brown above and white below with white eye-ring and shoulder patch. Unfortunately it was harassed by a Masked Lapwing and it flew across the bay to the NE side. It's white wingbar and brown, white edged tail were observed in flight. The only previous record on Ebird for the Shellharbour LGA was one by Chris Chafer on the 27/12/1989. eBird checklist |
| Paul Lynch 12/9 #271746 |
| | Female King Parrot
Chipping Norton NSW |
| Have never seen a King Parrot in this area.
Lots of Rainbow Lorikeets.
Very Unit dense area not far from the Lake however in 25 years have never seen one in the area and I walk and watch for birds weekly |
| Robyn Walton 11/9 #271743 |
| Tue 10 | | Bailon's Crake
Batemans Bay Water Gardens |
| Single Bailon's Crake yesterday at the locale. Also one Little Egret which is rare there.
If the spring continues to be dry we might get another influx of crakes along the coast like we did last year. |
| Demetrios Bertzeletos 11/9 #271745 |
| | Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
Offshore--Sydney Pelagic |
|
| The obvious highlight on a private charter today was an Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross. The bird approached the boat just as we were starting to motor back to shore. Fortunately it made a number of passes a well as circling the boat giving us the opportunity to photograph it before disappearing out of view. It's possibly the same bird as seen on 31 August - I don't have time to check photos just now. If it is then this sighting will be added to the 31 August BARC submission, otherwise a separate report will be made. Other species included Gibson's, Indian Yellow-nosed, Shy and Black-browed albatrosses, a Fairy Prion, a Wilson's and a White-faced Storm-petrel. As expected Providence Petrels were encountered past the shelf. Shearwaters included many Wedge-taileds (all following various current lines), a couple of Flesh-foots as well as Hutton's and Fluttering. Photograph: Greg McLachlan. eBird checklist |
| Sydney Pelagics and all onboard 10/9 #271741 |
| Mon 9 | | Bush Stone-curlew
Karuah Jetty Caravan Park |
| I recently led a Camp for the Central Coast Birders at Karuah for four nights with eighteen people. Every night starting about 8.30pm we would hear the Bush Stone-curlew shriek. One night I woke up and could hear them in the camp grounds. I did search for them a few times but to no avail. I would guess there was 3 or 4 of them.(Moderator's Note: There are some older records for Karuah in eBird, but nothing recent. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Graham Nelson 17/9 #271763 |
| | Inland Dotterel
Karagi Point, The Entrance North |
|
| Remarkable record of an adult Inland Dotterel today - a first for the Central Coast LGA. The bird appeared healthy, although a little clumsy on the sand and was seen foraging, roosting and in flight. (Moderator's Note: First Coastal record since 2017 when seen at Shoalhaven Heads. 3 other reports at Long Reef 1969, Boatharbour Kurnell1987, and Sydney Airport runway 2010. AKM). |
| Andrew Robinson 9/9 #271739 |
| Sun 8 | | Hudsonian Godwit, Pink-eared Duck.
Boyters Lane, Jerseyville |
| One Hudsonian Godwit feeding amongst Chestnut and Grey Teal on the edge of a small island in the first large body of water on the left. This bird has been reported in other media and is likely the same bird that was located here last year. There were also two Pink-eared Ducks hidden amongst all the roosting Chestnut Teal. (Moderator's Note: The Hudsonian Godwit was first found on 1/9/2024 at this location by James Bennett, and has been present most days since. AKM). |
| Clive Meadows 8/9 #271736 |
| | Brown Songlark, Rufous Songlark
Mount Penang Parklands |
|
| Male Brown Songlark now in the company of continuing Rufous Songlark. |
| Andrew Robinson 8/9 #271735 |