Moderators' Note

Birders are encouraged to post lists to eBird Australia, where sightings are incorporated into the atlas. To do this you need to register with eBird Australia then login. Please send any White-throated Needletail or Fork-tailed Swift sightings directly to Prof. Michael Tarburton for his research: tarburton.m@optusnet.com.au. Include date, location and number of birds. 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) unless they are in unusual locations, are seen with unusual prey or have been seen performing atypical behaviour. Likewise we will not be publishing every Square-tailed Kite sighting posted to Birdline because of a significant increase in reports in recent years, particularly in coastal areas (with the exception of the far north coast).

• Reports
• Criteria

November 2018

Thu 15		Brown Songlark Ballina
		One bird heard calling yesterday and this morning from the grassy paddock between Corks Lane and Ballina Airport. Another refugee to the coast this season.
		June Harris 15/11 #236123
Tue 13		Masked Woodswallow Windellama (Chain of Ponds TSR)
		500+ woodswallows, Masked and White-browed. Perhaps two thirds were Masked. Also present breeding Fairy Martins and Tree Martins. Corner of Miller Road and Sandy Point Road.
		Ian McAllan and David James 14/11 #236113
		Painted Honeyeater Yarrie Lake
		Just checking the swamp at the inlet to Yarrie Lake, not expecting any to be present, found 2, possibly more Painted Honeyeaters around 9 am. The swamp is bone dry and the only water present is a puddle in the channel along the levee from some recent rainfall. Everything else, including the lake itself, is dry. There are no flowers in the casuarinas, no mistletoe and no mistletoe flowers of any kind to be found. eBird checklist
		Michael Dahlem and Mike Eaton 14/11 #236112
		Spotted Nightjar Pilliga Forest Way, 23.7 km from Newell Highway
		At 21:00, driving on Pilliga Forest Way, flushed a nightjar from the roadside. Played recordings of both White-throated Nightar (no response) and Spotted Nightjar, when the bird responded (audio available at ebird). The bird was found in shrubby, previously bushfire-affected habitat; eucalypts some way from the roadside but not close to the road where the bird was. This is not all too far (less than 50 km) from where I had previously found White-throated Nightjars; both species are present in the Pilliga Forest. eBird checklist
		Michael Dahlem and Mike Eaton 14/11 #236110
		Rufous Songlark Berry, NSW
		At least 3 birds heard in farm paddock. I have heard and seen them in this vicinity in the past. Calls recorded on phone.
		Carla Jackett 13/11 #236104
Mon 12		Pale-vented Bush-hen Lower Pappinbarra
		At 11:51pm two birds were heard calling one closer and one more distant to the west of the site where heard last season. The call was the monotonous piping call first heard here last November at the same time in the evening. Both calls were coming from very close to the river bank as all calls were observed previously. eBird checklist
		Ian Kerr 14/11 #236117
		Double-banded Plover Boat Harbour, Kurnell, Sydney
		Single bird non-breeding plumage, present late yesterday and reported by others over past 2 weeks or so. eBird checklist
		Chris Rehberg 13/11 #236103
		Painted Buttonquail Wollongong Botanic Gardens
		Quail sighted in wood chip close to the north side (UOW side) of the Arid lands garden. No sign of the Regent Honeyeater, the African Chestnut tree where I saw the bird a week ago, seems to be going out of bloom. Virtually no birds feeding. Unlike last week, when the tree was much redder and a hive of activity.
		Peter Johnston 12/11 #236101
Sun 11		Marbled Frogmouth Nightcap National Park--Protestors Falls
		Heard one Marbled Frogmouth calling near toilets, and at least one more deeper in the forest at about 7pm. From the edge of the forest we were able to see one bird perched and being disturbed by numerous other birds including gerygones. Photo taken with an iPhone. eBird checklist
		David Krippner and Jackson Hagley 13/11 #236105
		White-cheeked Honeyeater Merimbula
		Single bird on Marine Parade. At southern edge of range, is a state rarity just over the border in Victoria.
		Daniel Ashdown 11/11 #236093
		Great Knot, Double-banded Plover, Fairy Tern Lake Wollumboola
		Another good day as at the lake. Numbers have increased, and two Great Knots were the highlight: 14 Pied Oystercatchers 60 Black-winged Stilts 100 Red-necked Avocets 60 Bar-tailed Godwit 1 Black-tailed Godwit 2 Eastern Curlew 20 Masked Lapwing 10 Pacific Golden Plover all juveniles 1 Double-banded Plover- adult in full breeding plumage. 40 Red-capped Plover 600++ Sharp-tailed Sandpiper- conservative estimate. The vast majority again were juveniles. This species has had an amazing breeding season. 1 Curlew Sandpiper- juvenile 50 Red Knot- roughly 20 juveniles 2 Great Knot- adults 70+ Red-necked Stint- many juveniles 6 Ruddy Turnstones, 1 adult male, 5 juveniles 100 Greater Crested Terns 2 Caspian Terns 2 Australian Gull-billed Terns 2 Little Terns 2 Fairy Terns The Godwits prefer the northern section of the lake (along with a few thousand teal and 8 Hardheads, most small shorebirds are south of the enclosure. Walk around the saltmarsh to bypass the enclosure and avoid disturbance. The Broad-billed Sandpiper was not seen today, though could very well still be present.
		Demetrios Bertzeletos 11/11 #236091
		Spectacled Monarch Cheltenham (Sydney)
		An adult Spectacled Monarch was seen clearly in creekside vegetation leading from Day Road, Cheltenham, this morning.
		Nick Hodges 11/11 #236089
		Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swift, White-throated Needletail Eulah Creek
		A small flock (either two passes of 20-30 birds or ca. 50 in total) of Pacific (Fork-tailed) Swifts and White-throated Needletails was seen above Eulah Creek (near the Eulah Creek Road/Box Gully Road turn-off, 20 km E of Narrabri) at 9:15 this morning. I did not realize that there were swifts with the needletails until I had a close look at my photos. Both species are uncommon here in spring; the Pacific Swifts more so than the WTNTs. eBird checklist
		Michael Dahlem 11/11 #236085
Sat 10		Red-backed Kingfisher Horsehoe Rd Martindale
		1x Red-backed Kingfisher perched on the wires sunning itself. also 40+Rufous Songlarks. 2x Horsfield's Bushlarks (Moderator's Note: this is the first report for the Hunter Valley since the influx that occurred in 2017, when the last Red-backed Kingfisher was also reported from near Martindale 29/10/17. MR).
		David & Graeme Catt 13/11 #236107
		Australian Wood Duck Bundanoon (sewage treatment plant and Pony Club )
		A pair of Wood Ducks with 27 ducklings! I realise this is a common bird, but I've never seen so many ducklings with any species of duck. Crazy! (Moderator's Note: Wood Ducks are known to crèche their ducklngs, and often when two or three broods meet up, all the ducklings join the biggest group.If you look closely you can often seen different size ducklings in the group. Whether the other ducklings return to their real parents is not known. AKM)
		Lorne Johnson 11/11 #236084
		Pallid Cuckoo Bundanoon
		One Pallid Cuckoo heard calling from private property next to Ferndale Reserve. My second record of Pallid Cukooo for Bundanoon. They are most uncommon in the Southern Highlands.
		Lorne Johnson 11/11 #236083
		White-throated Nightjar Morton National Park (Meryla area - Sandy Creek Trail)
		Stoked to hear a White-throated Nightjar calling south-west of Meryla (close to Sandy Creek Trail). I was standing at Bonnie View in Bundanoon when I heard the bird call twice circa 8:20pm. My first record of White-throated Nightjar for Morton National Park, and the Southern Highlands. Also heard close to Bonnie View: 2 Australian Owlet-nightjars, 5 Boobook Owls and a Glossy Black-Cockatoo.
		Lorne Johnson 11/11 #236081
		White-chinned Petrel, Black Petrel, probable Cook's Petrel Offshore--Sydney Pelagic
		Wandering-type Albatross (3), Campbell Albatross (3), Black Petrel (2), White-chinned Petrel (1) were some of the highlights on today's pelagic out of Sydney. Also a very distant, possible, Cook's Petrel (yet to be confirmed). eBird checklist
		Greg McLachlan, David Mitford and all observers on the Avalon IV 10/11 #236073
		Superb Fruit-Dove Rocky Creek Dam,Nightcap National Park
		There were 3 Superb Fruit-Doves in the Nightcap National Park today. An adult male was sitting on the same branch for well over an hour for some good photo opportunities.
		Michael Ronan 10/11 #236072
Thu 8		Regent Honeyeater, White-browed/Masked Woodswallows Hunter Economic Zone (restricted access)
		Two Regent Honeyeaters found in HEZ today, feeding in Long-flowered Mistletoe (Dendropthoe vitellina) which is flowering abundantly (those that weren't incinerated in the recent couple of fires anyway). The only bird seen (a male) was giving an unusual currawong-like call. There is also a lot of ironbark flowering, which I think is E. siderophloia. There are many hundreds of White-browed/Masked Woodswallows still in HEZ, mostly feeding in the ironbark blossom. I suspect they are breeding here again, but no nests found as yet. Also present are more-than-usual White-winged Trillers, Rufous Songlarks and many dozens of Little Lorikeets.
		Mick Roderick 8/11 #236057
		Painted Honeyeater Approx 3km West of Spring Gully Campground, Goulburn River NP (restricted access)
		At least 15 Painted Honeyeaters recorded across the study area during post Noisy Miner removal surveys. Also present, several Black-eared Cuckoo, Red-capped Robin and Hooded Robin. (Moderator's Note: similar numbers on Painted Honeyeaters found along Ringwood Rd [GRNP] and in the Ulan area late October - an exceptional year for them in the Upper Hunter. MR).
		Ross Crates and George Madani 8/11 #236055
Tue 6		Whiskered Tern Lake Innes Nature Reserve
		on sand flat inside lake Innes
		Dave Whitfield and Silver Vaughn Jones 7/11 #236048
		Grey Plover Dee Why Lagoon
		With the water coming back, there are still some good sand/mudbanks for waders. Single Grey Plover spotted early in the morning in the SW corner. A few Cattle Egrets are around too. Last week, there were Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, a Bar-Tailed Godwit, a pair of Pied Oystercatchers and 3 While-Fronted Terns.
		Mike Barrow 7/11 #236046
		Australian Bushlark, Stubble Quail Swamp Rd, Dunmore (south end)
		Two birds observed in paddock at the Browns Lane end of Bike track. One was observed flying and calling. Very rare in the Illawarra region. Also seen and heard were at least 6 Stubble Quail as well as Brown Songlarks and Golden-headed Cisticola.
		Terrill Nordstrom 6/11 #236042
Mon 5		Broad-billed Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, White-winged Black Tern, Common Tern Lake Wollumboola
		Good day at Lake Wollumboola: 22 Pied Oystercatcher (Including a breeding pair) 60 Black-winged Stilt 100 Red-necked Avocet 2 Eastern Curlew- Adults 50 Bar-tailed Godwits (roughly half were juveniles) 1 Black-tailed Godwit- adult 1 Latham’s Snipe! Probably a juvenile bird in the open feeding with sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Very flighty. 310++ Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (About 70% were juveniles) 16 Red-necked Stint (not aged- some juveniles present) 30 Red Knot (about 40% were juvenile) 1 Broad-billed Sandpiper- adult 4 Ruddy Turnstone- 1 adult male, 3 juveniles 30 Red-capped Plovers 10 Pacific Golden Plover- all juveniles 20 Masked Lapwing 100 Crested Tern 1 Caspian Tern 2 Australia Gull-billed Tern 20+ Common Tern 1 Little Tern 1 White-winged Black Tern Surprisingly low numbers of Red-necked Stint and disappointingly no Curlew Sandpipers. I surveyed the northeast and south east areas of the lake, there are vast swathes of habitat and the birds are spread out across it. Be prepared to spend the better part of the day if you want to cover all easily accessible areas. The Hudsonian Godwit and Banded Stilt have not been seen since the 25.08.2018.
		Demetrios Bertzeletos 5/11 #236032
		Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, Spotted Bowerbird Goolgowi Highway Motel
		2 each of these in the carpark on our arrival this afternoon.
		Stephen Smith, Dot Machin, Joyce Vears 5/11 #236017
Sun 4		Pacific Gull Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar
		A single adult bird loafing with the Silver Gulls and Crested Terns. After perhaps 30 minutes the bird flew out to the beach and headed south
		Peter West and Sue Proust 9/11 #236063
		Barred Cuckoo-shrike Mylestom / Raleigh
		BCSs have returned to the Mylestom Raleigh area following a somewhat sporadic fruiting season of small leafed figs. Mistletoebirds (among many species) also taking advantage, chomping on the pea-sized fruit to release the flesh before discarding the skin.
		John Gale 5/11 #236035
		Regent Honeyeater Wollongong Botanic Gardens
		The Regent Honeyeater previously seen in Wollongong Botanic Gardens is still around and foraging throughout the day in the African Walnut Tree alongside Little Wattlebirds, Noisy Miners and Rainbow Lorikeets. Great viewing had today at about 1.30pm by a few birders.
		Gavin Phillips 4/11 #236003
		Blue-billed Duck Pitt Town Lagoon
		A single Blue-billed Duck (male) seen towards the eastern end of the lagoon. Been a while since I’ve seen one of these here.
		Simon Blanchflower 4/11 #236000
Sat 3		Red-capped robin juveniles Wianamatta Nature Reserver
		One adult female and two juveniles just north of Penrith in Sydney's far west. I'm not sure of age of the juveniles but would they have bred here? I saw two adult females in the same location 9 weeks ago. Have not seen an adult male here. More pictures and full species report in my ebird list (Moderator's Note: In good seasons, Red-capped Robin males can breed before they assume adult male plumage, so that one of the parents of the two juveniles could have been a male not in breeding plumage. AKM) eBird checklist
		David Ongley 4/11 #235998
		Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Fairy Terns Other migrant shorebirds Lake Brou
		The water levels at the lake have remained high despite the drought. The most significant sighting was 150 sharp-tailed sandpiper. Approximately 140 of these were juvenile birds! It was great to see so many young shorebirds. Other shorebirds included: 4 Bar-tailed Godwits- all juvenile 10 Red Knot- 5 adults, 5 juvenile 20 Red-necked Stint, ~10 juvenile, ~10 adults 1 Grey-tailed Tattler- a juvenile 2 Red-capped Plovers and two pairs of breeding Pied Oystercatcher. The Little Tern colony has at least two pairs of Fairy Tern this year.
		Demetrios Bertzeletos 3/11 #235994
		Spotted Bowerbird Mallee Cliffs National Park (restricted access)
		During annual monitoring surveys at Mallee Cliffs this morning, I came across a Spotted Bowerbird. A very exciting find, right on the south-western edge of their historic range. I note a spate of sightings from earlier this year from Mungo NP as well. eBird checklist
		Ashwin Rudder 3/11 #235987
		Aleutian Tern, White-winged Black Tern Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar
		There are now at least 6 Aleutian Terns at Farquhar Inlet. Of particular interest was also a single White-winged Black Tern loafing with the main mixed flock. There are very few records of this species on the NSW mid-north coast, however i note that one was seen here in December last year and I wonder if it is the same individual. The attached photo shows WWBT, 3x Aleutian and 2x Little Tern. As a side note, I was threatened with physical violence when I confronted a few guys about illegally having their unleashed dog roaming around inside the fenced-off breeding area (dogs are totally prohibited from the entirety of Manning Entrance State Park). I observed another 4 unleashed dogs in the few hours I was there. I urge anyone else visiting this season to report any non-compliance issues to Midcoast council, particularly dogs and vehicles inside the fenced area, taking vehicle number plates etc. if it is safe to do so. Hopefully with enough complaints some action will be taken. eBird checklist
		Liam Murphy 3/11 #235986
		Rufous Songlark & White-winged Triller Waratah Rd North, Mangrove Mountain
		Three calling Rufous Songlarks and a non calling bird were found at Waratah Rd Nth, Mangrove Mtn today. One bird first reported from there on 28/10/18 by the Which is it Team during the Twitchathon on 28/10/18. Only one other report from the Central Coast this spring at nearby Calga on 20/10/18. A calling adult male White-winged Triller was also found, first CC report this spring as well. A Pallid Cuckoo was heard close by 11/10/18 but not heard on this occasion.
		Alan Morris & Michael Scobie 3/11 #235984
Fri 2		Australian Shelduck Boyters Lane, Jerseyville
		On Friday morning a pair of Australian Shelducks were found by a Hastings Birdwatchers group in the open pond opposite the bird hide at Boyter's Lane, near South West Rocks. I managed to relocate them late the same afternoon in the pond at the very end of the lane (turn left over the wooden bridge and follow the track to the gate). eBird checklist
		Liam Murphy 3/11 #235985
Thu 1		20+ Black Honeyeater, 2 Pied Honeyeaters, 4 White-winged Thrillers, 2 Crimson Chats Barren Box Swamp - Western gate (Shaw Rd)
		20+ Black Honeyeaters, displaying males counted only and a smaller fraction of females where seen along a stretch of road with flowering Erimophila longifolia. Also present a pair of Crimson Chats, and 2 pairs of White-winged Thrillers. To our great delight, 2 female Honeyeaters that were obviously large compared to the male Black Honeyeaters sitting near it turned out to be female Pied. Despite searching hard no male Pied could be located. There was still a fair bit of blossom left so birds may stay for a while.
		Vincent Mourik, Matheo Mourik, Max O'Sullivan 11/11 #236087
		Little Eagle Off Hilltop Road near East Jindabyne
		This pair of Little Eagles are nesting on our property. We hope to see chicks soon.
		Carole Jones 10/11 #236068
		Australian Little bittern Ash Island (Hexham)
		Observed an Australian Little Bittern during routine Green and Golden Bell Frog surveys. It was observed while spotlighting for frogs in a dense Phragmites australis patch. I have posted a video of the encounter on my Instagram @berachester
		Chad Beranek 2/11 #235970
		Little Eagle Shoplands Road, Annangrove
		A pair engaging in courtship display this morning, my attention was first drawn to them when I heard their distinctive weeeer choo call. One was circling lazily and the other would 'bomb' it by plummeting down with legs downwards and wings extended straight up. I generally now see Little Eagles here once or twice a year so great to see a pair still surviving in the county. Wouldn't it be great to find their nest.
		Darryl Smedley 1/11 #235958

October 2018

Wed 31		Australasian Bittern, Eastern Ground Parrot Limeburners Creek Nature Reserve--Quarry Swamp
		At least two Australasian Bitterns heard booming just after dusk in Quarry swamp, Limeburners Creek NR near Crescent Head. Also a single ascending whistle sequence of a Ground Parrot heard at about 7:40pm. Other species of note- King Quail, Lewin's Rail, Dusky Woodswallow, White-winged Triller, Pallid Cuckoo & White-throated Nightjar. Nice to see this section of the park recovering well from the big fire last December. Xanthorrhoea and Callistemon in full flower; lots of frogs, insects, snakes and mammals observed also. eBird checklist
		Liam Murphy, Peter & Julia Hudd 1/11 #235968
		Tawny Grassbird Sydney Park
		I had terrific views of a Tawny Grassbird for several minutes late this afternoon. The bird - spotted in the north-eastern corner of the main bottom pond - was out in the open, very vocal and flying a lot (Noisy Miners were dive bombing it). Other birds of note in the Park between 5pm and 6pm: Little Grassbird (calling in reeds on western edge of main bottom pond), Latham's Snipe (feeding for 20 minutes on mudflats on eastern side of main bottom pond), Buff-banded Rail (strolling along stone and wire mesh wall on edge of the pond near the kiosk) and Olive-backed Oriole. A terrific collection of uncommon inner-west Sydney birds at Sydney Park today!
		Lorne Johnson 31/10 #235955
		Regent Honeyeater Woollongong Botanical Gardens
		This bird showed 3x mid afternoon in the red blossom tree by the King Coal sculpture
		Stephen Smith, Dorothy Machin, Joyce Vears 31/10 #235953
Tue 30		Regent Honeyeater, Painted Button-quail Wollongong Botanic Gardens
		The continuing Regent Honeyeater was observed in the usual walnut tree spot several times, as well as down near the creek in the Melaleuca's where it was doing it's unusual call. Also seen was a Painted Button-quail that walked across the track in front me (-34.408948, 150.876115) just after I arrived in the gardens at 8am.
		Timothy Paasila 30/10 #235942
		Leaden Flycatcher Yatte Yattah Nature Reserve, Milton
		Very dark specimen of yorki, first though it was a Satin but the breast band met the wing at right angles.
		Chris Brandis 30/10 #235939
Sun 28		Aleutian Tern Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar
		On the Twitchathon last Sunday, The Jaeger Jagermeister’s saw five Aleutian Terns at Farquhar Inlet at the site where they have been recorded the last two summers. Other notable records included Double-banded Plover, Greater & Lesser Sand-Plover and Sanderling. Photo: Bruce Watts. http://birdata.birdlife.org.au/survey?id=2574930&h=7bd3240a https://www.mycause.com.au/page/187206/the-jaeger-jagermeisters (Moderator's Note: Fantastic to see these birds return and a cracking bird for a Twitchathon list! Note that a single bird was seen and photographed by Bruce Wedderburn here on the 17/10/2018. Links are to Birdata list and the team's sponsorship page - you will need to copy and paste URLs. MR).
		Ian Benson, Dennis Neader & Bruce Watts (The Jaeger Jagermeister’s) 31/10 #235951
		Black-necked Stork The Mole, Willi (restricted access)
		I have lived here 25 years and its first time that I have see a Black-necked Stork on the property.
		Leanne Hall 30/10 #235945
		Black-necked Stork, Wandering Whistling Duck, Magpie-Goose Milhams Pond, Ash Island, Newcastle
		During the Twitchathon around midday we were pleased to find an adult Black-necked Stork at the Milhams pond. While watching the Stork, a Whistling Kite flew over chased by an Osprey, and Eastern Curlews were feeding near the Stork. A few hundreds metres up the Scots Pt Road was a Brahminy Kite, and a few hundreds metres back along Milhams Rd in a freshwater wetland were 8 Magpie-geese, 5 Wandering Whistling Ducks, a Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo and a Tawny Grassbird. All birds highly sort after in Twitchathons!. A great hot spot!
		Alan Morris, Steven Edwards and Mike Kuhl 30/10 #235935
		Fairy Tern Wallaga Lake entrance
		2 Sanderlings seen today in a flock with close to 50 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, around 30 Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 11 Red knot. 2 Fairy Terns resting nearby. eBird checklist
		Ash Allnutt 28/10 #235914
		Regent Honeyeater Wollongong Botanical gardens
		Single bird spotted again in the same area as previous sitings followed bird going between the Rainforest and African Walnut tree for a few hours. eBird checklist
		Paul Heath 28/10 #235911
		White-morph Southern Giant Petrel,Wandering-type Albatross. Sydney Harbour National Park,North Head
		Highlight of a sea watch from North Head was a spectacular White morph Southern Giant Petrel heading back south also a Wandering-type Albatross and an all dark Giant Petrel sp.
		Michael Ronan 28/10 #235910
Sat 27		Banded Lapwing "Glenlee" Old Junee
		60 Banded Lapwings were counted on this private property in a paddock by my brother Justin. For years 2-4 BL's have often been seen in this paddock. To our knowledge these numbers are unprecedented on this property which has been in the family for 3 generations. He phoned through this siting.
		Justin Cooper (c/o Steven Cooper) 30/10 #235944
		Ground Cuckoo-shrike Mitchell Highway, south-east of Bourke
		Two birds were observed perched in a roadside tree approximately 30-40 km SE of Bourke along the Mitchell Highway.
		Dan Williams, Darren Lyons, Craig Bagnall and Paul Donaldson 30/10 #235941
		Black-faced Woodswallow, Crimson Chat About 15km east of Lake Cargelligo
		First found by Alan Morris, Steve Edwards and Mike Kuhl on 26/10/2018, we easily found at least four Black-faced Woodswallows at a random location about 15km out of Cargy on the road to Condobolin; the first time any of us had seen this species anywhere near Lake Cargelligo after many years of visiting the area. As if this wasn't enough of a bonus for our Twitchathon list, at least eight Crimson Chats flew over our heads whilst we were looking at the woodswallows!
		Mick Roderick, Steve Roderick and Lucas Grenadier 30/10 #235931
		Glossy Black-cockatoo Myall Lakes National Park
		12 Glossy Black-cockatoos seen well, flying over Taits Mining Trail.
		Jayden Walsh, Tom Frisby and Emily Mendel 28/10 #235909
		Antipodean (Gibson's), Buller's Albatrosses, Brown Skua, Common Tern's Offshore--Kiama Pelagic (SOSSA)
		The highlights of the 27 October SOSSA pelagic were 5+ Antipodean (Gibson's) and 1 Buller's Albatrosses. We also had 5+ Black-browed, 5+ Campbell's and 10+ Shy-type Albatrosses. Other birds included a Brown Skua, several Common Tern's, 5+ Wilson's Storm-petrels, 7+ Solander's Petrels, Hutton's, Fluttering, Short-tailed and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. The sea was quite flat and there were quite a few cetaceans about mainly Humpback's and Common Dolphins.
		Brook Whylie and all aboard the MV Kato 28/10 #235901
		Glossy Ibis Pitt Town Lagoon
		Continuing 4 birds along with 34 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Water levels quite high after recent rain.
		Edwin Vella 27/10 #235897
		Horsfield,s Bushlarks Richmond Lowlands
		Continuing birds showing and singing well beside Cornwells Lane.
		Edwin Vella 27/10 #235896
		Spotted Harrier Freemans Reach
		A juvenile bird seen flying over Macquarie Park in the morning.
		Edwin Vella 27/10 #235895
		Gang Gangs Yerrinbool, Southern Hhiighlands
		pair seen in Falls Rd 23 Octo and one in backyard 22 Sierra St. sat 27 oct.
		valerie price-currer 27/10 #235894
Fri 26		Black-tailed Native-hen Bourke-Hungerford Rd Fords Bridge at -29.7605, 145.45292
		Approximately 80 birds were utilising a section of recently inundated (9 days prior) floodplain of the Warrego River Bywash, some 3 km SE of Fords Bridge.
		Dan Williams, Darren Lyons, Craig Bagnall and Paul Donaldson 30/10 #235937
		Orange Chat Bourke-Hungerford Rd at -29.89564, 145.72455
		Probably in the order of 60 birds were present foraging along the verge and in adjacent fields along around a 2 km stretch of road. This is consistent with last year when a similar number of individuals were present here.
		Dan Williams, Darren Lyons, Craig Bagnall and Paul Donaldson 30/10 #235936
		Banded Lapwing Large grazing paddock near Chat Alley, Euablong
		In a large grazing paddock close to Chat Alley we achieved a count of 42 Banded Lapwings in a loose flock. This is a large number for the one site.
		Alan Morris, Steven Edwards and Mike Kuhl 30/10 #235934
		Little Woodswallow, Black Honeyeater, Crimson Chat Intersection Mount Hope-Euabalong Road and Round Hill Road
		A single Little Woodswallow was found during our reccy for the following day's Twitchathon. This is the 3rd time we have found this species along this stretch of road. Previously we found 2 birds about 4km to the west on 29/10/2011 (which were subsequently seen by others a few days later) and one bird 27/10/2011 a few km further west (which was excavating a hollow in a dead tree). Apart from these records there are no others in the NSW mallee and other reports are much further north. It could be that there is a very small population of Little Woodswallows in this area? There were at least four Crimson Chats and a Black Honeyeater at this same spot on the Friday (26th), none of which were there the following day (nor the woodswallow).
		Mick Roderick, Steve Roderick and Lucas Grenadier 30/10 #235930
		Crimson (Yellow) Rosella, Little Crow Lake Cargelligo--Leki C Hide
		A pair of Yellow Rosellas were found inspecting a hollow in Red Gums at the bird hide 3km east of town (referred to as 'Leki C Hide' in eBird). A 3rd bird was also inspecting a hollow in another tree about 15m away. Only 2 records of this taxon in both eBird and Birdata for the Lake Cargelligo area. A pair of Little Crows had a dependant young near here as well (we recorded a Little Crow here in 2016; scarce around Cargelligo).
		Mick Roderick, Steve Roderick and Lucas Grenadier 30/10 #235929
		Hall's Babbler Bourke-Hungerford Rd at -29.78999, 145.51239
		A family of Hall's Babblers was discovered whilst investigating prospective sites for the BirdLife Australia Twitchathon and was subsequently relocated the following day. The birds were discovered at a location on the southern side of the Bourke-Hungerford Road, approximately 350 m east of the intersection with Lower Lila Road and some 100 m into the bush. The habitat is relatively open and comprises Belah, Mulga, Leopardwood and Eremophila. We have placed an old truck engine filter prominently at the edge of the road and an old road sign resting against a fallen branch behind it.
		Dan Williams, Darren Lyons, Craig Bagnall and Paul Donaldson 29/10 #235927
		White-fronted Honeyeater (6), Black Honeyeater (Pr), Crimson Chat (3prs) Western exit of Barren Box Swamp via Griffith
		On a last minute check for Saturday's Twitchathon, I went to Barren Box Swamp to check what was about. Not much extra from what could be seen elsewhere save for Brown Songlark. But on the way out via the western gate I came across a roadside patch of flowering eremophila where the above birds were plus White-winged Triller, Mallee Ringneck and Cockatiel.
		Max O'Sullivan 27/10 #235892
		Brush Turkey Green Parade, Valley Heights NSW 2777
		First sighting in Valley Heights after living here for 18 years.
		Gerry Flanagan 26/10 #235890
		Black-faced Monarch Fire trail off Waratah road Valley Heights NSW 2777
		A pair of birds seen - first time I have seen them on this walk.
		Gerry Flanagan 26/10 #235889
		Wandering-type Albatross Sydney Harbour National Park,North Head
		A Wandering-type Albatross was seen during a sea watch from North Head this afternoon.
		Michael Ronan 26/10 #235887
		Cicada Bird Lower Pappinbarra
		My first Cicada Bird for the season lay 11:22am then an hour later one was heard at the Googik track in Port Macquarie.
		Ian Kerr 26/10 #235886
Thu 25		Crimson Chat Wilga Road near Byrock at -30.70736, 146.32725
		At least 40 Crimson Chats were present with around 500 Masked Woodswallows, at the foot of a small hillside, some 9 km SW of Byrock along Wilga Road.
		Dan Williams, Darren Lyons, Craig Bagnall and Paul Donaldson 30/10 #235940
		Black-tailed Native-hen Mitchall Highway at North Bourke -29.83955, 146.01058
		Approximately 40 birds were utilising a small roadside flash, recently inundated 9 days prior, some 25 km N of North Bourke.
		Dan Williams, Darren Lyons, Craig Bagnall and Paul Donaldson 30/10 #235938
		Australian King Parrot Cleland Road, Artarmon
		Seen with female (not pictured) and a couple of Rainbow Lorikeets. Close to Artarmon Reserve.
		Mike Stuart 25/10 #235876
Wed 24		Regent Honeyeater Wollongong Botanic Gardens
		Hi I'm a visiting English birder and I've exchanged emails with Alan Morris. As the Regent Honeyeater seems not to have been reported here in the last 10 years I thought others might be interested. I was very surprised to see it but luckily got a photo to confirm. (Moderator's Note: Great record! Because of the drought, few birds have returned to the Capertee Valley so far this spring, presumably they are still hanging out in coastal areas. AKM) eBird checklist
		Chris Farman visiting from England 24/10 #235871
		Leaden Flycatcher Lane Cove National Park--Busaco Track
		Pair seen approx 7:30am about 1/2 way along the track between Browns Waterhole and Busaco Rd. Both very active and moving vertically from top foliage of trees to about 10m up). First sighting for me in the Sydney metro area this spring (and haven't seen many other reports).
		Tom Wilson 24/10 #235866
		Pied Butcherbird Kings Tableland, Wentworth Falls
		Single Bird duetting in song with an immature Grey Butcherbird. Very uncommon in the Blue Mountains LGA, only a handful of records (BMBO) including a few recent records in this area. eBird checklist
		Mark Ley 24/10 #235865
Tue 23		Satin Flycatcher Campbell Rhododendron Gardens, Blackheath
		A pair of birds in the gardens. First birds seen this season
		Mark Hocking 25/10 #235874
		Noisy Pitta Jilliby State Conservation Area Ourimbah Creek Rd
		2 Noisy Pitta were seen while another was heard along the Great North Walk. This is a regular site for Noisy Pitta and they bred here previously
		Allan Benson and Alan Morris 23/10 #235863
Mon 22		Pacific Baza Baldwin Street, Gordon
		A pair of Baza's being harassed by Noisy Miners but also feeding in Angophoras inwhich I have previously seen them hunting insects eBird checklist
		Anna Gillespie 23/10 #235862
		Wonga Pigeon, Eastern Whipbird and Satin Bowerbird Yetholme, 2795
		Wonga Pigeon was seen at around 1200 mts in eucalypt forest and the Eastern Whipbird and Satin Bowerbird both located along a creek line at around 1100 mts
		Robert Porter 22/10 #235855
		Red-winged Parrot Guerie Cemetery
		Single adult male flying down the lane next to the cemetery. Exactly the same thing happend on 12 November last year. Maybe there is a small resident population in Geurie right on the edge of the specie's range.
		Darryl Smedley 22/10 #235854
Sun 21		Barn owl Bayview Golf Course
		Waiting to tee off on the 16th hole, I saw a palm tree near the water. Having seen barn owls roosting in palms in Centennial Park, I thought I’d wander over and have a look in this one on the off chance that there’d be one here too. Sure enough, I walked over, looked up, and immediately saw this fellow looking back at me. Poor photo, taken with phone, attached.
		Gina McFarlane 23/10 #235859
		Rufous & Brown Songlarks, White-winged Triller, Pallid Cuckoo, Little Friarbird Rawdon Island, near Wauchope
		Along a 2 km stretch of open farmland on Rawdon Island, I had no fewer than 10 Rufous Songlarks, 4x Brown Songlarks (3M 1F), 2x White-winged Trillers (M&F), 2x Pallid Cuckoos and 2x Little Friarbirds. All birds very active and vocal, 1 Rufous Songlark seen carrying nesting material. These are all uncommon-rare visitors to the mid-north coast, so to have them in these numbers all concentrated in what is essentially a single paddock is quite remarkable. eBird checklist
		Liam Murphy 21/10 #235835
		Freckled Duck Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo
		Pair of Freckled Duck in non- breeding plumage feeding on the shallow swamp just outside the new lion enclosure
		Darryl Smedley 21/10 #235833
		Horsfield's Bushlark Richmond Lowlands
		A Bushlark heard calling again off Cornwells Rd during the CBOC outing. Loads of Rufous Songlark (30 plus around the Richmond Lowlands) and at least 5 Brown Songlarks, Eurasian Skylark as well as 5 White-winged Trillers along this road.
		Edwin Vella and CBOC 21/10 #235831
		Brown and Rufous Songlarks, Stubble Quail Riverstone
		A few hours birding along the back roads of Riverstone where we had at least 9 male Brown Songlarks and 3 Rufous Songlarks, Stubble Quail (calling), 4 Pallid Cuckoos, Sacred Kingfishers, a male Leaden Flycatcher, a pair of Crested Shrike-tits (female seen with nesting material and going inside a casuarina tree), White-throated Gerygones, Scarlet Honeyeaters, Olive-backed Orioles, the usual and reliable Dusky Woodswallows and Double-barred Finches amongst the 74 species recorded during that time.
		Edwin Vella and Mark Fuller 21/10 #235830
Sat 20		White-browed Woodswallow, Masked Woodswallow Kurrajong Heights
		A large tight flock of over 260 woodswallows flying west over Stanley Ave into Blue Mountains National Park, looked to be coming up from Richmond or Grose Vale. eBird checklist
		Eric Finley 22/10 #235853
		Swift Parrot, Brush Cuckoo, Black-faced Monarch Douglas Farm Rd, Kurrajong Hills
		2 possibly 3 Swift Parrots in ironbark/grey gum remnants in our garden bordering DF Rd. My 4th record here in nearly 20 years, and the latest. First Brush Cuckoo for the season. eBird checklist
		Eric Finley 22/10 #235843
		Glossy Black Cockatoo, Brush Cuckoo Wollemi National Park--Wheeny Creek Campground
		We had a returning Brush Cuckoo, 2 Common Bronzewings, Black-faced Monarch, Leaden Flycatchers, excellent views of a group of Superb Lyrebirds (probably a dispute between 2 males and a female and showing very well for the photographers) and best of all just before we left, a pair of Glossy Black-cockatoos.
		Edwin Vella and CBOC 21/10 #235832
		Marbled Frogmouth Wollumbin National Park
		A pair of Marbled Frogmouths observed along Mount Warning summit track in early hours of morning. Initially heard making ‘kooloo’ call. One bird perched quite low in Bangalow Palm close to trail & unconcerned by passing hikers. Both later observed perched together on high branch under canopy. eBird checklist
		Darryl Eggins 21/10 #235828
		Forest Kingfisher Double Bay
		Found, possibly concussed, handed into Vet. (Moderator's Note: The bird [an adult male] apparently made a rapid recovery and was planned to be released this morning near Forestville. MR).
		Gillian Dar 21/10 #235822
		A pair of blue & yellow Macaws John Street, Paddington
		Seen in the electric wires at the intersection of Queen Street on the north side of the road. (Moderator: Publishing here in case owners are looking for them!)
		Jenny Pratt 20/10 #235819
Fri 19		Topknot Pigeon Newport NSW
		Flock of up to 8 flew around my house 3 times. Two landed briefly nearby.
		Carl Weber 19/10 #235818
Thu 18		White-throated Needletail Erina Council Depot
		Mairin Ireland saw the first White-throated Needletails for the Central Coast this spring/summer when 30 were seen flying over the Council depot at East Gosford.. This observation was followed by a flock of 300+ seen over the Tuggerah STW by Greg Shaw at 1000 hrs on 20/10, Finally 40+ were seen by Graham Nelson on 23/10/18 at 1100 hrs over Wamberal Lagoon.. These are early dates for the Central Coast.
		Alan Morris for the CCGBNSW 24/10 #235868
		Barn Owl Ocean Lake Caravan Park, Regatta Point, Wallaga Lake
		A recently dead Barn Owl was found down on the waterfront of the Caravan Park by John Wallace on 18/10/18. Also on the night of 20/10/18 while returning home from the Country Club around 8.30 pm, a live Barn Owl flew across the road, close to the cars and was seen by 3 birdwatchers from the Cumberland Bird Observers Club who are familiar with this species.
		alan Morris, for CCGBNSW October Camp 24/10 #235867
		Shining Flycatcher, Torresian Kingfisher, Mangrove Honeyeater Cobaki Broadwater and estuary
		Located 5 Shining Flycatchers in the mangroves with one pair possibly nesting. Very vocal and active. Also 3 pairs of Torresian (Collared) Kingfisher with one pair nesting in a Termite nest on a dead Swamp Oak. Many Mangrove Honeyeaters and also very active.
		David Charley 18/10 #235807