| Thu 21 | | Common Terns (26)
Ramsgate Beach Baths, Botany Bay |
|
| The summer flock of Common Terns in Botany Bay has returned to their favourite daytime gathering spot, on the swim nets at Ramsgate Beach. |
| Richard Murray 21/11 #271950 |
| Tue 19 | | Red-kneed Dotterel
Central Coast Wetlands (Tuggerah) |
|
| Single bird foraging along waters edge. (Moderators Note: Red-kneed Dotterels are uncommon visitors to the Central Coast LGA. AKM) eBird checklist |
| David Schuemaker 19/11 #271947 |
| Mon 18 | | Red-backed Kingfisher
Bureen Rd at Martindale Creek |
|
| One, possibly two Red-backed Kingfishers at Bureen Bridge today. This is where Martindale Creek flows into the Hunter River and is a past site for this species. Rainbow Bee-eaters and White-backed Swallows breed here, so it's no surprise that RBKI gravitate back here. But it is the first time since the irruption of spring 2017 that a RBKI has shown up here. |
| Mick Roderick 18/11 #271946 |
| Sun 17 | | Square-tailed Kite
Mosman |
| A single Square-tailed Kite seen very low over my house this morning in Mosman which close to Reid Park. This is my first ever sighting of this species in Mosman after living here for about 30 years. Great to see this species continuing to do well in the Sydney area where it is becoming more widespread. |
| Simon Blanchflower 17/11 #271943 |
| | White-throated Needletail
Crawford Rd., Cooranbong |
| First sighting of Needletails this season - probably about 100 as they were flying very low to start with (around 7:30) and unusually still around 30 minutes later. Could see the flock stretching across the paddocks on either side at times less than 5 metres about the ground. |
| Paul Schofield 17/11 #271942 |
| Sat 16 | | Turquoise Parrot
Tumbarumba |
| 2 sighted around Wolesly Park on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood rail trail . (Moderator's note: I had assumed that there would be plenty of eBird records of Turquoise Parrots in this Region, but that is not the case. AKM). |
| Christine Matthews 16/11 #271940 |
| Fri 15 |  | Mottled Petrel, Black-bellied Storm Petrel, Gould’s Petrel, Black Petrel
Terrigal Pelagic |
| A really solid and enjoyable trip that included Mottled Petrel, Black-bellied Storm Petrel (2), Gould’s Petrel (5), Black Petrel, Antipodean Albatross, Sooty Tern (5) and large numbers of Grey-faced Petrel (125 / 65 max count). The Mottled Petrel was a first for the Central Coast (LGA) while the Black-bellied Storm Petrels were apparently only the third record. |
| Central Coast Pelagics (Andrew Robinson and 15 others on board) 16/11 #271941 |
| | Grey Plover
Evans RIver estuary, Evans Head |
| Two Grey Plover feeding on tidal sand flats. Seperate from a foraging group of Pacific Golden Plover (181), Bar-tailed Godwit (35) and other shorebirds. Grey Plover uncommon on NSW far north coast. |
| David Charley 15/11 #271939 |
| Thu 14 | | Australian Spotted Crake
Llewella Davies Walk Camden |
|
| Australian Spotted Crake first seen by Keith Atterton and two other birders, also photographed. Despite ephemeral wetlands in this immediate area this species has not been recorded here previously. eBird checklist |
| Brett Mezen 14/11 #271937 |
| Wed 13 | | Australian King Parrot
Murray St, Pyrmont in front of Maritime Museum |
| Possible juvenile King Parrot calling loudly in trees in front of Maritime Museum and opposite Light Rail stop. About 2pm |
| Judy Christie 13/11 #271935 |
| | Australian Little Bittern
Lake Wallace |
|
| Single male Little Bittern seen briefly perched in a shrub at (-33.4168861, 150.0724496) before it flew into the reeds, very poor record shot in flight attached. Scarce in the Lithgow region. eBird checklist |
| Max Weatherall and Paul Rowan 13/11 #271934 |
| | Pallid Cuckoo
Jennings lane Bolong, east of Bomaderry. |
| One bird observed sitting on fence post. Uncommon on the Illawarra & South Coast with only a few records each year. |
| Terrill Nordstrom, Michelle and David Rower 13/11 #271933 |
| | Dollarbird
Balmoral Beach |
| A single Dollarbird seen at the back of Balmoral Oval (nr the steps), Mosman early this morning making plenty of noise flying around and being mobbed by noisy miners. Whilst there are plenty of these migrants around greater Sydney now, Dollarbird sightings are not common in Mosman. |
| Simon Blanchflower 13/11 #271932 |
| Mon 11 | | White Ibis
Freemans Drive Morisset |
|
| Saw an Ibis with a feathered head and neck. Got a few points quality photos after a Harley came past and flushed the bird that were 10 metres from me. |
| Paul Schofield 11/11 #271927 |
| Sat 9 | | Terek Sandpiper
Lake Innes, Lake Innes Nature Reserve, Port Macquarie |
| Lake Innes is currently tidal due to Lake Cathie being open to the sea resulting in some exposed sand flats where a Terek Sandpiper was present which is uncommon on the Mid North Coast. Also present were at least 24 Red Knot and 85 Sharp Tailed Sandpipers. (Moderator's Note: subsequently Ed Loey kayaked up to Lake Innes from Lake Cathie today (10/11) and was able to photograph a pair of Terek Sandpipers at the same location. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Tim Morris 10/11 #271922 |
| Fri 8 | | White-throated Nightjar and Australian Owlet-nightjar
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park--Bobbin Head |
| Birding from 7-9pm in BH. Great views of circling White-throated Nightjar from bridge near mangroves. 2 Australian Owlet-nightjars heard in vicinity. One seen well. Another AON was heard at Apple Tree Bay a bit later. |
| Lorne Johnson and Steve Edwards 11/11 #271923 |
| | White-throated Needletail, Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Beach Stone-curlew
Cudgera Creek Bridge (Hastings Point) |
|
| Hundreds of Needletails flocking with 100+ in a flock moderately low and numerous birds scattered in the distance. Estimated 300-500 birds but maybe more. Adult flagged and banded Pied Oystercatcher with two juveniles in tow and a pair of Beach Stone-curlews, one with a band and flag, near fenced off nesting site. |
| Greg Clancy, Russell Jago and members of Wildlife Tourism Australia 9/11 #271921 |
| Thu 7 | | Glossy Black Cockatoo
Raspberry Rd West Kunderang recreation retreat |
| Three birds sighted on Raspberry Rd at Boundary of Cunnawarra National Park and West Kunderang Recreation Retreat. Two adults and maybe one immature bird. (Moderator's Note. There are few recent records for this location although the remoteness of the site means that there are few observers. AKM) |
| Douglas Hocking 12/11 #271928 |
| | Black-tailed nativehen
Capertee Valley |
| Single bird seen alongside the road near a pool of water. |
| Robert Hynson 7/11 #271918 |
| Sun 3 | | Pum-headed Finch (possible nesting)
Capertee Valley |
|
| Despite what looks like a bit of pre-copulation courtship in the photograph the bird appeared to be collecting material for a possible nest. The finch was observed making repeated trips out into the surrounding grassy areas each time returning with fine grass or seed heads before disappearing into a patch of mixed weeds of thistle, brambles etc.. We obviously kept our distance and didn't poke around the thicket to confirm a nest. Only one bird was observed during the short time we were present. Hopefully this is a sign that the finches are returning to the valley area. Zebra Finches have also been absent for some time. eBird checklist |
| Greg McLachlan and Paul Goessinger 5/11 #271909 |
| | Pacific Golden Plover
The Lagoon, south of Bathurst |
|
| 3 birds sighted, standing at water’s edge on eastern shore (Crown Reserve). Birds took flight after a few minutes’ observation and flew north. Other species within 100 m included Red-kneed Dotterels, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Pied Stilt. eBird checklist |
| Tiffany Mason with Nick Giles (who took the photo) 3/11 #271908 |
| Sat 2 | | White-chinned Petrel, Gould’s Petrel, Sooty Tern (4), Long-tailed Jaeger
Terrigal Pelagic |
|
| An excellent trip that saw the above mentioned species, along with small numbers of Black-Browed and Shy Albatross, Campbell Albatross (1), Wilson’s and White-faced Storm Petrel, Providence and Grey-faced Petrel, Sooty, Fluttering and Hutton’s Shearwater, along with 3 other expected Shearwater sp. and Pomarine Jaeger (7). 22 taxa seen beyond The Haven, with 15 of those Tubenoses. The White-chinned Petrel was apparently only the second record for the Central Coast (LGA). |
| Central Coast Pelagics (Andrew Robinson, Dean Purcell and 14 others on board) 3/11 #271907 |
| | Short tail shearwater
Forsythe Pde Blackhill NSW |
|
| Shearwater found sitting calmly on grassy verge at 4.30 p.m. at Forsythe Pde Blackhill NSW. (Moderator's Note: Currently the Short-tailed Shearwaters are undertaking their regular migration down the coast of NSW from the Bering Sea near Alaska to their breeding islands in southern Australia, and in some years many immature or very old birds starve to death because of lack of food in the tropical seas, this is one of those years. This bird has been blown inland during strong southerly winds but others are just blown ashore where they die. It is very unusual for Short-tailed Shearwaters to be blown inland. AKM) |
| Margaret McLauchlan and Peter McLauchlan 3/11 #271906 |
| | Orange Chat
Brick Pit Wetlands, Edgell Lane, Bathurst |
| Pair of Orange Chat have been on site for about 2 weeks, Male seen well this morning sitting on top of a bramble bush on the island; female made a brief appearance. Also here 2 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (only present briefly) and a big flock of Zebra Finch (50+) which may be harbouring a Plum-headed Finch (I wasn't aware of this so didn't check as thoroughly as I would have done had I known) eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 2/11 #271899 |
| Fri 1 | | Little Eagle, Brush Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Varied Sittella
Gibraltar House, Gibraltar Range National Park |
|
| Adult dark morph Little Eagle with pale underparts observed firstly by Keith Fisher over Gwydir Highway at Gibraltar House and adjacent forest. Brush Cuckoo, two Fan-tailed Cuckoos and a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo heard calling. One Varied Sittella observed at Pidcock's Trail to N of Gibraltar House. |
| Greg Clancy, Keith Fisher and Brian Hawkins 1/11 #271897 |
| Thu 31 | | Pacific Golden Plover
Bicentennial Park (Sydney Olympic Park)--Waterbird Refuge |
|
| a Pacific Golden Plover in molting breeding plumage was seen at the Waterbird Refuge Bird Hide, Olympic Park. The bird is difficult to see because the vegetation on the waterline is a little taller than the bird. However, it is only 50 meters from the bird hide and when it appears it is giving superb views. eBird checklist |
| Gerard Duane 1/11 #271895 |
| | White-throated Needletails
Kahlua Crescent, Bomaderry |
| 11am, just three seen, very high, from backyard while hanging washing. Ran in for bino's, but no more seen.
They were heading SE.. My first for this area in 2024. |
| Harry Roberts. 31/10 #271892 |
| | Baillons Crake; Australian Spotted Crake
Sydney Olympic Park--Brickpit Ring Walk |
| 1 Baillons and 2 Spotted Crakes seen foraging on muddy margins of the reedy ponds to the SE of the main body of water. Good views with a scope from the ringwalk itself allowing birds to forage undisturbed. eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 31/10 #271891 |
| Wed 30 | | Superb Parrot
Cnr Hume highway and Olympic way |
| 3 birds seen flying across highway from lake Hume direction heading west |
| Janet chapman 31/10 #271893 |
| | Brown Songlark
Freemans Road, Rawdon Island, near Wauchope |
| A single adult male Brown Songlark was first seen on Rawdon Island by Matthew Hinze, on Sunday 28/10/2024. Subsequently seen my other members of the Hastings Birdwatchers since 29/10/24 including myself today. The bird has been observed singing from the top of a small dead tree in an open paddock. So far as I am aware, this is the first Brown Songlark recorded this spring on the Mid North Coast, at least in the Hastings, Kempsey and former Greater Taree LGAs which are the areas of interest for the Hastings Birdwatchers. eBird checklist |
| Alan Morris 30/10 #271890 |
| Tue 29 | | Dollarbird and Fan-tailed Cuckoo
E 149.92264, S 35.27714 Mongarlowe River |
| Initially heard Dollarbird calls and with some searching got a clear sighting of 2 birds over the Mongarlowe River. Fan-tailed Cuckoo was also initially heard and then sighted in open forest near the Mongarlowe R. First sighting of both species at this location for this season. |
| Nick Charley 29/10 #271887 |
| Mon 28 | | White-throated Needletail, Cicadabird, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Spectacled Monarch
Iluka Nature Reserve and Village |
|
| 25+ Needletails first observed by Pierre Charbonneau and also observed by Russell Jago. First season record for observer. Cicadabird and Bronze-Cuckoo heard calling. Two Monarchs caught and banded on Oct 27 and 2 on Oct 28. |
| Greg Clancy, Pierre Charbonneau, Russell Jago, Richard Harris 30/10 #271889 |
| Fri 25 | | Dollarbird
Ferdinand Street, Hunters Hill, NSW |
| Single Dollarbird seen flying over Ferdinand Street, Hunters Hill. Unusual bird for this area though they used to be seen regularly about 20 years ago. |
| Elisabeth Hodson 25/10 #271881 |
| | Red Knot (19), Bar-tailed Godwit (105)
Tuggerah Lakes |
| Solid counts for the Central Coast of both species. |
| Andrew Robinson 25/10 #271880 |
| Wed 23 | | Superb Parrot
63k's west of Cowra on Forbes Rd. |
| First siting for the season of 2 separate pairs.
A good season this Spring should make for a good breeding for the Superb's this year. |
| Chris. Catt 23/10 #271874 |
| | White-throated Needletails.
Denistone Park |
| My first Needletails flew over Denistone Park this morning counted 30 birds flying south. |
| Michael Ronan 23/10 #271872 |
| Tue 22 | | Blue-billed Duck
Blayney Sewage Treatment Plant |
| One male observed on ponds with variety other ducks including Pink-ears, Shovellers and Hardheads |
| Deryk and Harry Engel 23/10 #271871 |