| Mon 31 |  | White Terns & Grey-faced Petrels
Mistral Point, Maroubra |
| 3 White Terns today seen about 2 hours apart from each other. Other birds included, 44 Grey-faced Petrels, 1Shy Albatross, 24 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, 2 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Fluttering Shearwater, 2 Flesh-footed Shearwater and a Caspian Tern. Virtually perfect conditions this afternoon with gale force southerlies and continuous showers, nudging the birds close to shore as they avoid the rain. |
| David Mitford 31/3 #272416 |
| Sun 30 | | White Tern and Grey-faced Petrel
Mistral Point, Maroubra |
| The highlight of an otherwise fairly quiet sea watch, was a co-operative White Tern, which even tried feeding with Silver Gulls until one decided to bully him away, it drifted south east and eventually I lost it, but not before it racked up 9 minutes of view time. Also approximately 9 Grey-faced Petrels, 6 Flesh-footed Shearwaters, 28 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, 2 Short-tailed Shearwaters, 2 Gannets, 1 Pomarine Jaeger & 1 Arctic Jaeger. |
| David Mitford 30/3 #272415 |
| Fri 28 | | Kermadec Petrel (2), Gould’s Petrel
Terrigal Pelagic |
|
| Highlights from a solid trip included 2 Kermadec Petrel with an intermediate and dark (image provided) morph, a Gould’s Petrel and an aberrant / partially leucistic Grey-faced Petrel. Also observed were Providence Petrel, Wilson’s Storm Petrel (high count of 25), Shy Albatross and expected Shearwater species. 12 taxa seen in total with 10 of those tubenoses, including 4 Pterodroma. A large Smooth Hammerhead Shark that provided excellent views and remained with the boat for over an hour was a real highlight. |
| Central Coast Pelagics (Andrew Robinson and 15 others on board) 29/3 #272413 |
| Thu 27 | | Gould's Petrel (rescue)
Offshore--Port Stephens pelagic |
|
| The highlight of what was otherwise an extremely quiet day off Port Stephens was rescuing a Gould's Petrel that was found on the water, feathers matted by Pisonia umbellifera fruit and seeds. The bird could not fly and was waterlogged and probably wouldn't have made it through the night. It was fished out of the water and taken to a wildlife carer. Photo by James Bennett. |
| Mick Roderick and others aboard M.V. Imagine 28/3 #272412 |
| | Little Eagle breeding record
Kellyville |
|
| A friend of ours messaged me yesterday with this image, and an accompanying video of a begging Little Eagle, juvenile bird.
Considering, we had an active breeding pair barely 6km in a straight line from this sighting (at Rouse Hill) only two years ago, it's quite possible the same pair of eagles raised a chick in a new nest in the general area, since their previous nest tree was cut down by developers straight after the eaglet fledged around mid-January in 2023.
A good record for NW Sydney.
And the eaglet is quite mobile, as our friend says it's been around about once a week in the same tree for at least the past month.
Image from our friend Jade J. |
| Ákos Lumnitzer 28/3 #272411 |
| | Black-tailed Native Hen
Central Coast Wetlands (Tuggerah) |
|
| Individual showing well around 9am this morning and foraging along edge of main water body. Less than 5 records for the Central Coast LGA. Also 2 x long-staying Wood Sandpiper present. |
| Andrew Robinson 27/3 #272408 |
| Tue 25 | | Blue-winged Parrot
Living Desert Reserve and Menindee Lakes |
| Sightings of two seperate individual Blue-winged Parrots in inland NSW.
Submitting due to lack of regular records.
Single bird at Living desert Reserve 23/03/25
Single bird at lake Pamamaroo 25/03/25
(Moderator's Note: It is of interest to note that a small group of 4 immature Blue-winged Parrots were sighted at Moulamein on 25/3/2025 by Nickolas Mackinlay. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Theo Kemp 27/3 #272409 |
| | Barred Cuckoo-shrike
Tyagarah Nature Reserve |
|
| Flock of 15 to 20, mainly immature birds circling and interacting with flock of Figbirds around eucalypts, only one adult bird sighted and one possible juvenile? per the second photo attached. Unusual sighting. |
| Geoff Ball 26/3 #272407 |
| Sun 23 | | King Parrot
Condobolin |
| Starting to see more and more of these birds in this area. Two birds flew over my house this morning and the female stopped briefly in my yard before following its mate. This is very unusual considering I had never seen a King Parrot here until about twelve months ago |
| Warren Chad 23/3 #272405 |
| | Spangled Drongo
Mona Vale Rd, Terrey Hills |
| 2 Drongos flew across the road just before the Baha’i temple distinctive. Although the birds were only seen briefly the distinctive tail was very obvious. |
| Tom Wilson 23/3 #272404 |
| Fri 21 | | Australian Bustard
Barrier Highway, west of Dolo Hill, Wilcannia |
| Single bird seen flying over the Barrier highway. Large unmistakable bird heading south. (Moderator's Note: Following some good rains in western Qld and north-west NSW, there have been several recent reports including 3 near Cumbora seen by Tamara Jeffries on 28/2/25 and 1 at Narran Lake NR on 8/3/2025 seen by Patrick Johnson. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Theo Kemp 22/3 #272403 |
| | Glossy Ibis, Pink-eared Duck, Plumed Whistling Duck
Floodpains near East Coraki |
| Thanks to directions from Northern NSW Birding group, I counted 30 Glossy Ibis on East Coraki floodplain on Friday morning. Two Pink-eared Ducks sighted at a distance. Also Plumed Whistling-Ducks, Red-kneed Dotterel, etc. eBird checklist |
| Henry Coleman 22/3 #272402 |
| | Pacific Swift
Narara Ecovillage |
| It's Pacific Swift time! Flocks passing through ahead of a rain front; max 760 together eBird checklist |
| Guy Dutson 21/3 #272401 |
| Wed 19 | | Marsh Sandpiper
Greenwell Point, Nowra, NSW |
| A visit to Greenwell Point sometimes showed a single Marsh Sandpiper, over last ten years or so. Today's visit showed four of the ssp. in a group actively working the swampy and shrubby wetland. A rare number for my 'logs'!
Maybe 'prepping' for a long flight?. eBird checklist |
| Harry Roberts 19/3 #272399 |
| Tue 18 | | Black Noddy
North Curl Curl |
|
| Single bird been on site since Sunday(?). Seen loafing on the railings and then fishing just off the rocks. Easily observed without getting into the edge with the railings (to reduce disturbance). |
| Tom Wilson 18/3 #272398 |
| Mon 17 | | Black Noddy
Norah Head |
|
| A Black Noddy was feeding in the breakers at the end of the rock shelf directly down from Norah Head Lighthouse today for three hours between 3:30pm and 6:30 pm. The same bird was seen briefly on the 15th of March at the end of the rock shelf at Soldiers Point (Norah Head) eBird checklist |
| Nick Giles 17/3 #272397 |
| Sun 16 | | Channel Billed Cuckoo
Lismore Heights NSW |
|
| First sighted with a crow. The crow is raising the young bird as it's own. The crow is feeding the young cuckoo. Over the last 2 weeks the young cuckoo is getting noisier and is flying more. (Moderator's Note: interesting late breeding record for a Channel-billed Cuckoo, in much of NSW, the Pied Currawong is the host nowadays. AKM) |
| L. Kelly 1/4 #272417 |
| | Oriental Cuckoo
Cuppitt's Lane, Richmond lowlands |
| Flew over Cuppitt's Lane from Windsor direction and appeared to land in the line of casuarinas towards Baker's Lagoon but we could not relocate it. Immediately drawn to the long-tailed, sharp-winged flight profile and glimpse of banded underparts. eBird checklist |
| Eric Finley 17/3 #272396 |
| | Fork-tailed (Pacific) Swift
Little Bay, The Coast golf club |
| Whilst having a cleansing ale at The Coast golf club bar on a hot early evening C.300 Fork-tailed (Pacific) Swifts passed north along the coast and partially out to sea - presumed feeding on a pressure wave before a change in the weather. Sure enough C.5 minutes later a cool southerly change came through! |
| Michael Ellison 16/3 #272391 |
| Sat 15 | | Glossy Ibis, Brolga
Flooded paddock at Cowper |
|
| 50+ Ibis foraging at edge of water, 3 Brolgas nearby |
| Greg Clancy 16/3 #272393 |
| | Square-tailed Kite
Brushgrove |
|
| Adult Kite in heavy moult forging on the wing low over the park |
| Greg Clancy 16/3 #272392 |
| | Red-footed Booby, White Tern, Streaked Shearwater, Sooty Tern
Offshore--Sydney Pelagic |
|
| Highlights from a terrific day on the ocean included a Streaked Shearwater, seen in ~120m before 12 mile, a White Tern seen in 400m around 1NM from our drift. At the drift we had the forty or so Flesh-footed Shearwaters we'd picked up well offshore on the trip out along with a handful of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. A Red-footed Booby made a single pass near the boat when we were in 670m. We also added a Sooty Tern and a Grey-faced Petrel before leaving +700m. Three Shy Albatrosses were encountered on the return leg as were a pod of Pygmy killer whales. See eBird checklist for other species. Photograph: Greg McLachlan eBird checklist |
| Sydney Pelagics and all onboard 16/3 #272390 |
| | Blue-faced Honeyeater
Gwandalan Street Emu Plains NSW 2750 |
| Very exciting. I’ve never seen this bird before. It had a drink and a bath in my backyard birdbath. |
| Greg Davidson 15/3 #272389 |
| | Painted Honeyeater
Ephemeral wetland 11 km east of Pilliga |
|
| Two juveniles in this wetland that still has a bit of water in it, where a creek crosses the Wee Waa to Pilliga Road, at 9:30 this morning. No accompanying adults found. |
| Michael Dahlem 15/3 #272388 |
| Thu 13 | | Brown Booby
Terrigal Pelagic |
|
| The highlight of an impromptu Terrigal trip was a female adult Brown Booby which was only the fourth record for the Central Coast LGA and first for a Terrigal Pelagic. Also seen was a Buller’s Albatross along with several Shy Albatross, Providence Petrel (1), Grey-faced Petrel (2) and Wilson’s Storm Petrel (1). Photo by Stephanie Owen. |
| Central Coast Pelagics (Andrew Robinson with 15 others on board) 14/3 #272386 |
| Sun 9 | | Australian King Parrot
16 Charles st Balldale NSW 2646 |
| A large King Parrot, that looked like a young male, was seen around midday feeding on a tree beside the house. Only one parrot was sited. Video was recorded. (Moderator's Note: Balldale is on the edge of the range for King Parrots in NSW, they occur in reasonable numbers further south along the Murray River, in towns like nearby Corowa, but rarely further north into the pastoral country, there is only one previous eBird record for Balldale in 2024. AKM) |
| Dani Kerr 11/3 #272381 |
| | Great Frigatebird
Evans Head |
|
| Adult Male & Female Great Frigatebird - seen 09/03/25 near dusk at Razorback lookout, relocated again at end of Chinamans Beach Rd, before last seen heading south along the coast toward Illuka.
TC Alfred has pushed lots of different birds inshore to Evans Head, 100 + Sooty Tern, Long-tailed Jaegers, Lesser Frigate, numerous Grey Ternlets and Common Noddy all spotted in Evans River & nearby beach during past week. (Moderator's Note: It is good to get such a comprehensive report on seabirds affected by TC Alfred. The Greater Frigatebird sightings are subject to NSWORAC Review. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Jacob Crisp 9/3 #272380 |
| Sat 8 | | Grey Ternlet (probable); Streaked Shearwater
Robert Dunn Reserve, Mona Vale |
| 75 minute sea watching session (reserve is on the cliffs between Mona Vale and Warriewood beaches). Small pale tern with fast, fluttery flying style and occasional check and glide before resuming flight. Seen approx 350-400m offshore heading south approx 4:20pm). Scope views showed pale grey, not white, plumage and black bill/eye.
Streaked Shearwater in with big group of all brown shearwaters following a commercial fishing boat. Obviously brown above/white below combo and even at distance clearly bigger than the all brown shearwaters. |
| Tom Wilson 8/3 #272377 |
| Thu 6 | | Grey Ternlet & Shy Albatross
Mistral Point, Maroubra |
| A Grey Ternlet spent 40 minutes feeding like a storm petrel, very close to the shore. It was with Silver Gulls which were also feeding. Single Shy Albatross, Caspian Tern, and Arctic Jaegers were also seen. |
| David Mitford 6/3 #272375 |
| Wed 5 | | Oriental Cuckoo
Lane Cove National Park |
| One young bird flew over the river near boat shed north-west direction |
| Fatih Sam 5/3 #272371 |