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Birding NSW Newsletter

birding Newsletter
nsw
NSW
NSW Field
Field Ornithologists
Ornithologists ClubClub Inc
Inc
Issue
Issue 286
286

April
April -- May
May 2018
2018

President’s Report
Every October, Birding NSW participates in the
Twitchathon, a fund-raising event under the auspices of
BirdLife Australia. In NSW, the annual choice of recipientof the funds raised in this activity alternates between
BirdLife Australia and the association of NSW bird clubs
known as BIGnet (Bird Interest Group network), to which
Birding NSW has belonged for over 20 years.
This year, the choice for funding lies with BIGnet. Birding
NSW has put forward a proposal that Ross Crates receive themoney raised to continue his work on the Regent Honeyeaterin NSW, which I am sure that you are aware is a criticallyendangered species. Ross is doing a PhD on this species. He
has spoken to the club in the past and will talk to us again
this year. A synopsis of Ross’s proposal appeared in the lastissue of the newsletter. The next BIGnet meeting will be held
in Sydney this month at Sydney Olympic Park, at whichtime the decision regarding funding will be made.
Members will be aware that the newsletter exists in two
formats, the traditional paper copy and the online version.
About 200 members have opted to have the online
newsletter, while a similar number has elected to receive
the paper copy which is understandable.

the newsletter), find Newsletters and when you are asked
for a password type in aWeebillisasmallbird exactly as
shown here.
The Australia Day campout organised by Allan Richards
to Polblue (Horse Swamp) at Barrington Tops National
Park was successful, although there was a bit of rain andI managed to get a flat battery. Flame Robins and Redbrowed Treecreepers were highlights of the trip while anunexpected sighting was of a White-headed Pigeon. A
report of this outing is in this issue of the newsletter. The
Newcastle weekend on the 17-18 February was highly
successful, with 23 participants and lots of good birds
seen both at Stockton Spit and on Ash Island. Bird ofthat trip was a juvenile Black-necked Stork at Ash Island,
which gave good views both standing and in flight.
Allan Richards has organised another campout for Easter
2018, at Ingelba near Walcha.
I hope to see many of you there.
Tom Karplus
President, Birding NSW

There are significant disadvantages in accepting
the paper format. One is that the online, fullcolour newsletter is a beautiful publication eventhough the key feature, photographs of birds,
are the photographs chosen by the editor thatwill reproduce well enough in black and white.
Another is cost to the Club. As printing andpostage costs rise, the Committee find that, infact, for members choosing paper copies, there isa break-even or even a small loss by the end of
the year. This must relate to a serious examinationof expenditure and income by our Treasurer when
the next round of membership renewal falls due.
To all of you reading this newsletter on
paper, I encourage you to take a simple test to
check the difference. Next time you are at a
POSTwebsite
APPROVED(seePP100001080
computer, PRINT
find ourback page of

To see me in colour: aWeebillisasmallbird at www.birdingnsw.org.au
Photo: Charles Dove

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Birding NSW Newsletter

CLUB ACTIVITIESFIELD OUTINGS AND MEETINGSFIELD OUTINGS
Bring a snack, lunch and a chair. Outings to the Audley areaof the Royal National Park will not be held if the Causeway isclosed due to flooding.
NATIONAL PARK FEES
Club outings and campouts are sometimes held in National
Parks. A valid day pass or annual pass is necessary for manynational parks in NSW and that includes most in the Sydney
and Central Coast Regions. The pass must be displayed onyour vehicle at all times while you are in the park.
TOTAL FIRE BANS
Members are reminded that no Central Coast outings areheld on days when Total Fire Bans are in force.

SECURITY
Members are reminded not to leave anything of value visible
in unattended vehicles while bird watching.
CENTRAL COAST OUTINGS
Sydney Members should advise the leader in advanceif they are coming to an outing so that they don’t leave
without you!
PETS
Members are reminded that pets including dogs are notallowed on any Club activity including campouts.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
When attending field outings ensure you are wearing appropriate clothing, including wet weather gear in inclement
weather, and suitable footwear. It is advisable to bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and to carry water.
Please sign the attendance register at field outings and also at the meetings.
If you leave the outing early please let the leader know before you go.
Participants attend at their own risk and should refrain from any behaviour that might put themselves or others at risk.
That includes assessing whether they have a level of fitness required for the advertised outing. If in doubt contact theouting leader beforehand.
000 EMERGENCY NUMBER: HANDY APP FOR YOUR PHONE IF YOU ARE GOING BUSH
The Emergency + App offers callers the ability to verbally provide emergency operators with their location. It is free. It
works with only one phone tower available.
For more information see the Home Page at www.birdingnsw.org.au or download free at the itunes App Store or at Google Play.

APRIL 2018
Tuesday 3 April Club Meeting: Mitchell Theatre, Level
1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street,
Sydney at 7.30 pm. “Gould’s Petrel Research”. Speaker:
Nicholas Carlile

Saturday 14 April Club Outing: Royal National Park.
Meet 9:00 am at Wattle Forest Picnic Area near Audley.
Turn into Lady Carrington Drive at Audley, then rightover the timber bridge to the western side of the river.
Turn left and meet at the last car park. Lunch at cars.
Leader: Elisabeth Karplus 0421 665 553

Saturday 7 April Club Outing: Scheyville National
Park and Hawkesbury area. Meet at 8.30 am at the
car park for Scheyville National Park Headquarters off
Scheyville Road. Lunch at cars. Leader: Trevor Waller
0467 977 508

Tuesday 24 April Central Coast Meeting: Meet at
7.30 pm at the Tuggerah Progress Hall in Anzac Street,
Tuggerah opposite McDonalds. “Birding in the Mekong
Delta”. Speaker: Richard Cassels

Wednesday 11 April Central Coast Half Day Outing:
Bulls Quarry and Mount Penang. Meet at 8.30 am at Bulls
Quarry Road entrance, Woy Woy Road, Kariong. Lunchat cars. Leader: Christian Port. 0421 691 317

Tuesday 24 – Thursday 26 April Central CoastCampout: Wanganella and Deniliquin. Camping on
private property at Wanganella. Leader: Margaret Pointer4374 1163

Birding NSW Newsletter
MAY 2018
Tuesday 1 May Club Meeting: Mitchell Theatre, Level
1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt
Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm. “How the NPWS works now”.
Speaker: Martin Smith
Saturday 5 May Club Outing: Mill Creek and Old
Great North Road in Dharug National Park, Wiseman’s
Ferry. Meet at 9.00 am in the Mill Creek Picnic Area.
Lunch at cars. Leader: Philip Brook 9929 4818
Wednesday 9 May Central Coast Half Day Outing:
Strickland State Forest. Meet 8.30 am in Banksia Picnic
Area, off Mangrove Road, Narara. Lunch at cars. Leader:Andrew Melville 4328 1005
Saturday 12 May Club Outing: Chain of Ponds
Reserve, Stannix Park and the Hawkesbury area. Meet at
9.00 am at the reserve in Stannix Park Road, Wilberforce(it is shown in most Sydney street directories). Lunch atcars. Leader: Dick Dallimore 9953 7562; 0429 919 515
Tuesday 22 May April Central Coast Meeting: Meetat 7.30 pm at the Tuggerah Progress Hall in Anzac Street,
Tuggerah opposite McDonalds. “Bitterns in Ricefields”.
Speaker: Matthew Herring
Saturday 26 May Central Coast Outing: Gavenlock,
McPherson and Central Coast Wetlands. Meet at 8:30 amat the corner of Johnson and Gavenlock Roads, Tuggerah.
Lunch at cars. Leader: Alan Morris 0418 269 482
Wednesday 30 May Midweek Outing: Chiltern Track,Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Ingleside. Meet at 9:00
am at the end of Chiltern Road, off Mona Vale Road,
Ingleside. Lunch at cars. Gradient: Easy with bush tracks.
Leader: Allan Richards 0432 064 660

JUNE 2018
Tuesday 5 June Club Meeting: Mitchell Theatre, Level
1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street,
Sydney at 7.30 pm. “Plains-wanderer research”. Speaker:
David Parker

Page 3cars. Travel easy and facilities present. eBird lists 144
species and our members recently almost 60. We can lookforward to a good day of birdwatching. Ian Bailey 0412
251 337.
Wednesday 13 June Central Coast Half- day Outing:
Glenola Reserve and Bunning Creek. Meet at 8.30 am
at Yarramalong Church, Yarramalong. Lunch at cars.
Leader: Margaret Pointer 4374 1163
Saturday 16 June Club Outing: Warriewood Wetlands
and Irrawong Reserve B. Meet at 8.30 am at Katoa Close,
Warriewood. Lunch will be from cars. Gradient: Easy
with bush tracks. Leader: Russell Beardmore 9400 9782
mobile 0404 023 223
Tuesday 26 June April Central Coast Meeting: Meetat 7.30 pm at the Tuggerah Progress Hall in Anzac Street,
Tuggerah opposite McDonalds. “Penguins of the World...
so far”. Speaker Trevor Waller.
Saturday 30 June Central Coast Outing: Mooney
Creek and Brisbane Water National Park. Meet at 8:30 am
at Karool Road, Mooney, off the Old Pacific Highway,
just west of Mooney Bridge. Leader: Doug Hocking 0427
800 428

BIRD WATCHING ON PRIVATEPROPERTY NEAR BULLIO
An invitation has been extended to Club members
to visit and birdwatch on a private property at Bullio
on the Wombeyan Caves Road west of Moss Vale.
Visitors recently camped for two nights on the property
and record over 40 species of birds. There was a familyof Red-capped Robins at the campsite. There arelots of casuarinas and Glossy Black-Cockatoos are
regularly seen. We first saw a pair feeding in a tree at
9:30 am and they remained in the same tree continuing
to feed until late that afternoon. Owls, White-throatedNightjars and Owlet-Nightjars were heard at night. The
land is about 100 acres and is mainly forested. It backs
onto a national park. It is mostly steep, rocky country
but there are some good walking trails that are not too
steep..

Saturday 9 – Monday 11 June Long Weekend
Campout: Gloucester Holiday Park. Bird watching in
national parks and other places in the Gloucester area.
Meet at 8:30 am on Saturday and Sunday morning at theentrance to the caravan park. Return to camp for lunch on
Saturday, lunch at cars on Sunday. Leader: Allan Richards
0432 064 660.

The owner welcomes bird watchers to visit his remotepiece of paradise as a day-trip or to camp overnight.
It takes about 45 minutes to reach it from Moss Vale.
The road off Wombeyan Caves Road is very rough so
a 4WD or a vehicle with good clearance is required.
There are a couple of nice spots accessible by vehicle
for bush camping on the land but you will need to takeeverything that you will need.

Saturday 9 June Club Outing: Nurragingy Reserve
Doonside. Meet at 8.00 am inside the main entrance
gate off Knox Road Doonside (Blacktown). Lunch at

For further information, contact the Activities Officer at
activities@birdingnsw.org.au

Page 4

Bird Hides in NSW
An updated list
Hunter Wetlands Centre, Shortland
The Waterbird Refuge, Sydney Olympic Park
Gum Swamp Forbes
Lake Cargelligo Sewage Treatment Works
Narrandera Wetlands
Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton
Campbell’s Swamp, Griffith (bone dry on 6 March)
Lake Nadungamba, Mt Annan Botanic Gardens
Reed Beds, Murray Valley NPWS.
Turkey Flat NPWS
Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee
Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Fyshwick ACT
Yanga Lake Red Gum Park, near BalranaldBoyters Lagoon, Jerseyville
Pitt Town Lagoon
Dangars Lagoon Wildlife Refuge, Thunderbolts Way
Wonga Wetlands, Albury
Rankins Springs on several dams
A note to the editor please if you know of others.

Birding NSW Newsletter

LUCKY DRAW

New member Gina McFarlane was so delighted with her
lucky draw she had them framed!
Thanks again to Fiona Lumsden for the Birds of Sydney
poster. www.fionalumsden.com

Allan Richards of Birding NSW
is the man to consult!
Click or type the address below to readthe article in Australian Geographic.
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/
wildlife/2017/02/guide-to-bird-watching-in-sydney

New Members

We extend a warm welcome to our new members.
Andy Burton and family of Roseville
Kathy Church of Wyong
Riaan Cilliers and family of Cremorne
Tony Doukakis of Bateau Bay
Annie Guibert of Point Piper
Daniel McKeon of Killarney Vale
Kay Sturgess of Yarramalong
Stanley Tang of Forest Lodge
Matthew Taylor of Balgowlah Heights
Ted and Alex Wnorowski of New Auckland, Qld

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Birding NSW Newsletter

How Many birds are Killed by Cats?
On 17 March at the Australian Bird Study Association(ABSA) Conference, Dr Sarah Legge presented a detailed
overview of the predator cat problem in Australia andwhat it means to the loss of our wildlife.

• The numbers of cats varies remarkably from dry to
wet weather periods. In the dry there are 1.4 million
and the wet up to 5.6 million, a breeding pattern notunlike many bird species.

For at least three years I have been asking for detailed
figures relating to bird destruction and the only figuresavailable seemed to be exaggerated. Because of thatconcern, a serious plea to all birdlovers and catlovers
alike was difficult. Now we have figures, mostly derived
from studies as recent as 2017, of actual bird losses on themainland of Australia as well as on our islands with somecomparisons of the USA and World. If possible and spacepermits, I will publish more of the detail made available
by Dr Legge; meantime here is a summary:• There are 2.1 million feral cats, 0.7 million ferals inmodified habitats and 3.9 million domestic cats, a totalof 6.7 million.

• Introduced to Australia by the First Fleet, cats
populated the whole of the country by 1890. The
introduction of rabbits in 1879 boosted cat numbers.
• 25% of modern fauna extinctions are largely due tocats.

• From thousands of stomach samples it has been
established that a cat will kill 129 birds per year.
Therefore, the total kills, on average, will be over 1
million birds per day or 377 million per year.
• It is also shown in the study and report that there issomething like 9 to 13 billion birds in Australia or put
another way, about 3.5% of the population is killed bycats each year.
My sincere thanks go to Dr Sarah Legge and colleagues
John Woinarski, Brett Murphy, Leigh-Ann Woolley and all.
Ian Bailey 18 March 2018

Back to ‘Bungles Bird Week

26 TO 29 APRIL 2018
The Warrumbungle bird count is on again! Come and join other enthusiastic volunteers toBack
count
birds
to ‘Bungles Bird Week
at Warrumbungle National Park.
26 to 29 April 2018Park.

we’ll be
of an
013.

8–

COWRA
WOODLANDSBIRDSPROGRAM

The Warrumbungle
bird count is on again! Come and join other
After a very successful Spring 2017 survey (we saw 76 species!), we’ll be heading out again
to survey
enthusiastic volunteers to count birds at Warrumbungle National Park.
bird diversity and abundance as part of an ongoing project to monitor the Park’s recoveryAfterfrom
the Spring
fire2017 survey (we saw 76 species!), we’ll bea very successfulheading out again to survey bird diversity and abundance as part of anin 2013.
ongoing project to monitor the Park’s recovery from the fire in 2013.

Please note: Malcolm’s

We’ll go out counting birds each morning from 26 to 29 April 2018 –plenty of time for other bird-watching and exploring
We’ll go out counting birds each morning from 26 to 29 April 2018 – leaving you plentyleavingof youtime
forWarrumbungle National Park.
email address hasother bird-watching and exploring Warrumbungle National Park.
For information about the previous bird counts, see
http://bit.ly/2u6UErp

For information about the previous bird counts, see http://bit.ly/2u6UErp

Please contact Gillian Dunkerley at gilian.dunkerley@environment.nsw.gov.au for more informationand to register your interest.

d Weekis on again! Come and join othernt birds at Warrumbungle National Park.

and to017 survey (we saw 76 species!), we’ll be
d diversity and abundance as part of anPark’s recovery from the fire in 2013.

h morning from 26 to 29 April 2018 –other bird-watching and exploringchangedPlease contact Gillian Dunkerley atgilian.dunkerley@environment.nsw.gov.au for more information and toregister your interest.

The survey dates for2018 are:
10/11 February
21/22 April
21/22 July
13/15 October

If you would like totake part in the Cowra
surveys, please contact:
Malcolm Fyfe on(02) 4471-8757
malcolmfyfe85@gmail.com

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Birding NSW Newsletter

Editor’s Inbox...
Two questions I asked myself last newsletter wereabout the cost of water for irrigators in the MurrayDarling Basin and the quantity of water used to produce
one portion of each of a variety of products. As I havediscovered a great range of opinions and estimates forboth, it will be necessary to keep looking and publish
statistics as I find them. This is what I have so far:
• 241 litres of water to make 1 glass of milk. (constantirrigation of grasslands).
• 168 litres of water to make 1 cup of coffee.
• 145 litres of water to make 1 glass of wine.
• 3,400 litres of water for 1 kilo of rice.
• 3,482 litres of water to make 1 cotton T-shirt and• 13,184 litres of water to make a pair of jeans.
I have no further information about water pricing otherthan it is a complex business. More soon.
Salt was also on our mind last month. Locally a groupof bush-restorers were concerned about salinity levels
on the banks of the Georges River. We now know thatthe salt levels in our estuary can be as high as 9000 parts
per million (ppm) and that plants are struggling, withthe exception of things like mangroves and saltbush, tosurvive if salt content is higher than 1500 ppm. Levels at
points along the Murray River should be kept below 580
to 1000 ppm according to the ACCC. The problem withsalt of course is that it builds up in the soil.

“OUR” GREY BUTCHERBIRDS

Dulwich Hill Pine trees were in our special request file
as a very concerned resident fought to have a few verytall, but not mature I suspect, Norfolk Island (and 1 othersimilar) Pine trees marked for removal or at least put indanger by excavations. A number of common suburban
bird species may lose their home. In my experience, treesthat are not native to Australia or sometimes to a particulararea, may be removed by land owners without consulting
Council. That varies from place to place. The problem was
simply that the wrong species of tree had been planted ina location it would not, eventually, be suited to. On ourcommon property block here in Liverpool there were sevenmagnificent Tallowwoods. Too close to buildings so five
have now gone. We have planted a few smaller shrubs
to compensate but still 10 years ago we made the same
mistakes so more will have to go. The point is: assess trees
in your area and judge which of them will be cut down
sooner of later. Plant new species now to have them better
established when the time to remove big trees arrives.
On the 10 March I received an email emanating fromthe Nature Conservation Council (NCC) headed: ‘’Court
rules NSW land clearing laws ‘invalid’. This is the Landand Environment Court.
But I was told by two people that overnight the State
Government had signed off on the old laws, at least I
think that is the case. I am still waiting to hear from NCC
about the position we are now in.
It may be better!

BY BARRIE AYRES
I now live in Westmead, having previously enjoyed
25 summers in Chiswick. Over 23 of them, it was
lovely to note the return of “our” Grey Butcherbird,
which then sang regularly to us, especially in the earlymornings, usually perched in sight in a nearby bushor tree. Each late winter, the bird had deserted us, nodoubt to find a mate and raise a family.
In one year, however, we were gladdened by the pairraising their offspring in our vicinity. I unfortunately
saw just one fledgling with the parents.
I missed the morning song during my last year in
Chiswick... for “our” bird had returned to the area,
but had chosen neighbours’ back gardens for its
base, and its song was only heard when I went
outside, to the back, to feed the communal goldfish!
The good news is that we have a local Butcherbird
here in Westmead, so I can enjoy its delightful song. I
have tried to see it for six months, without success –but just the other morning, it came and perched, fora few minutes, on my balcony. Joy!

WHAT BIRDS ARE THESE?
BY BARRIE AYRES
I moved into my new home in Westmead during last
winter. Yuko and I, the first evening, were intrigued
to find that there were noisy, fairly large white birds,
congregating in nearby tall gum trees. It being nearlydark, we could not see them properly, but they
were so noisy, for so long. I thought the calls were
somewhat duck-like. Certainly over 50 of them hadcome in to perch.
The following evening we were able to identify themas White Ibis.
Never having seen or heard them in large numbers
before – we were quite amazed. As Parramatta Parkis just down the street, some do not have far to fly totheir feeding ground.
I am seldom awake about dawn... but on some rareoccasions have found that they are again so noisy
before setting out in the mornings!

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Birding NSW Newsletter

Homing Rosella?
I thought you might be interested in a “happening” I
have just experienced a surprising thing regarding a
Crimson Rosella...presumably the male of a small familyof rosellas where our backyard is their “home” territory.
We all know the homing ability of pigeons...but I havenever witnessed it before with rosellas. This male isvery territorial and aggressive to other birds visiting ourbalcony, whereas the other two are not. But worse, thisbird has become very destructive on all our pot plants on
the back balcony, pulling out plants and/or pruning themcontinually. We have a row of 6 metre high Photinia’s
forming a break between our border and our neighbours.
This bird continuously bites off significant numbers ofends of the five Photinias, dropping them on the ground,
has been often witnessed.
The local shopping centre in Lugarno has a plague ofCommon Myna’s..they have migrated their way down
to the bottom of the cul-de-sac where I live. Presumably
most homes have pets and leave pet food out. So I havepurchased a Myna bird trap which is quite successful.

Anyway I found this particular Rosella in the trap at sunset
last 15 March, Thursday night. As I had to go to Kogarah
for an 8.00 am appointment the next morning, I took the
Rosella with me with the intention of releasing it near the
St. George Hospital...about 17 kilometres away prettymuch in a straight line. Before releasing it I had an idea...I
had in my car a pressure pack can of fast drying brightyellow pavement marking paint so I sprayed its flightfeathers and tips of its wings with this bright yellow paint.
I had the bird covered during the trip, to keep it calm andthere is no way it could have seen anything outside the trap.
On my return home at 12.45....you guessed it...there it
was on my back deck hopping into what is left of mypot plants. There is no mistake about it..there aren’t anyother yellow painted tailed Crimson Rosellas in Sydney...
or anywhere for that matter except for this one. It wascertainly the bird I had just painted and released.
Thought you might be interested.
Mike Jordan PhD
Lugarno NSW

BIRDMANIA by Bernd Brunner
Allen and Unwin 2017
While I love books and collect books about birds, this isa book about people who were, or are, passionate aboutsome aspect of ornithology or aviculture. The index of
bird species of the world is the same length as the index
of the ‘’Bird Maniacs’’ of all recorded history. There isanother list at the back – a list of 264 illustrations – which
is just as well as many of the illustrations are not titled on
the page. It is annoying, unless you know all the speciesof the world by sight.
The people with ‘’A Remarkable Passion for Birds’’ as
the subtitle suggests, are mostly well known throughfolk-lore. St Francis is mentioned, Thoreau, Bonaparte,
Audubon, Gould, Karl Russ, Geo. Archibald are included
as well as groups such as the Mongolian eagle hunters.
Alfred Hitchcock gets a mention as he should. But there
is no mention (and I must make note here that I did notread every word in this book) of Lewin, Cayley, Leach,
McGill, North or Cooper, for example.
Quite apparent to a conservationist, are the descriptionsof the thousands, more like millions, of birds shot formuseums, caged for the pleasure of humans, eaten or
destroyed as ‘’vermin’’. So while there is much delightin reading about the joy and passion of those individuals

listed, the shame felt
knowing the killingnecessary to achieve
all that is numbing.
The book is medium
sized, printed onheavy paper andboard with someillustrations andphotographs being
outstanding. I loved
the African Grey on
page 88 and the Cerulean Warbler on page 82. There arequite a few Goulds, Audubons and Keulemans such as thecover picture of the Sclater’s Cassowary for which, alone,
you would buy this book.
I will place this book on the shelf near The Eponym
Dictionary of Birds and Latin for Birdwatchers. When
you need them, they are excellent references. The book
was illustrated on page 4 of the December issue.
Ian Bailey 18 March 2018.

Page 8Birding NSW Newsletter

SYDNEY PELAGIC
10 March 2018
Greg McLachlan
OVERVIEW
The morning began with some cloud
cover delivering patchy rain which
gradually cleared as the day progressed.
Sea water temperatures were still highat 24oC. We motored out to Brown’s
Mountain (approx. 22.5NM ESE off
the Heads), arriving there around midmorning. Good numbers of Shearwater,
with the odd Jaeger, trailed the boat
while underway with a mix of Petrel andAlbatross adding to the excitement. A
terrific day on the water.
TRIP SUMMARYWith a full list of passengers on board
the boat motored through the Heads intoa gentle ocean swell around 7:40 am.
We started the berley trail soon after. A
few disinterested Silver Gull and Crested Gould’s Petrel. Photo: Greg McLachlan
Tern were seen flying some distance fromthe boat. Soon after we came upon the odd Wedge-tailed Shearwater tracking in a southerly direction. As we passed afishing boat a trail of hungry Shearwater began forming behind our boat. They were to remain a constant throughout
the day.
The first of the Pomarine Jaegers were now starting to show some interest as well, slowly working their way into thewake well behind the boat. We added Hutton’s Shearwater along with Short-tailed Shearwater on the journey out. As
we journeyed to Brown’s Flesh-footed Shearwater were beginning to join the feeding birds along with more Shorttailed Shearwater. A few on board were fortunate to see flying fish skimming above the surface as we motored along.
They were to make an appearance periodically during the trip. Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin came in briefly to ridethe bow wave but soon left, given the speed we were travelling. Risso’s Dolphin were also seen with one specimen
showing a distinctively notched dorsal fin.

BIRD LIST(Note that the number in parentheses represents the approximate maximum number of that species in view at any one time)

Shy Albatross
Wandering Albatross (Gibson’s)
Grey-faced Petrel
WHITE-NECKED PETRELGOULD’S PETRELBlack Petrel
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Hutton’s Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater

3
1
20
1
7
1
40
200
4
8

(2)
(1)
(15)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(20)
(150)
(2)
(2)

Sooty Shearwater
Wilson’s Storm Petrel
Australasian Gannet
Pomarine Jaeger
Silver Gull
Greater Crested Tern

1
2
4
8
50
3

OTHER
Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin
False Killer Whale
Risso’s Dolphin
Flying fish

10
1
12
30

(1)
(1)
(3)
(4)
(40)
(2)

All details of our trips and contact details can be found on our website at www.sydneypelagics.info and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sydneypelagics

Page 9Birding NSW Newsletter

Just on Brown’s Steve spotted a distant WHITE-NECKED PETREL which was heading toward the boat. Fortunately,
it continued close enough on its fly-by for all on board to get a good view and a chance to photograph the bird before it
arced up revealing its underside. It didn’t hang around as it circled further behind the boat before disappearing. A Sooty
Shearwater was seen by two on board but couldn’t be located again.
Fifteen minutes later we were over Brown’s with the first slick working its magic. It seemed every fishing boat present
had a number of Shearwater buzzing around it. A banded (right, metal band) Black Petrel joined the throng of hungry
Shearwater on the water well behind our boat. The bird eventually came to the boat looking for choice bits of berley. A
GOULD’S PETREL soon appeared giving exceptional views with repeated close fly-bys as it circled the boat. This wasto be the first of seven seen during the trip. A Shy Albatross found the boat soon after, the first of three for the day. A
Wilson’s Storm Petrel put in a brief appearance too. By now the expected Grey-faced Petrel were wheeling around, as
well as landing close to the back of the boat.
We continued a slow motor further out taking our flock of hungry birds with us. A lone Wilson’s Storm Petrel skipped
past. We stopped once again where we added to the count rather than diversity. That soon changed when a Wandering
Albatross came in low from the side of the boat for a look and decided to stay with us for the entire return journey; alovely sight.
Australasian Gannet was added to the list, all immature birds. Nearing the Heads, the boat almost ran over a large
cetacean which turned out to be a False Killer Whale. The boat entered the Heads after 3:30 pm.

BIRD LIST February Sydney pelagic- for comparison
Grey-faced Petrel
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Fluttering Shearwater
Hutton’s Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater
Australasian Gannet
Pomarine Jeager

4
200
5
2
27
6
1
1
11

(2)
(150)
(2)
(1)
(15)
(3)
(1)
(1)
(6)

Silver Gull
Sooty Tern
Greater Crested Tern

7
1
6

OTHER
Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin
Melon-headed Whale
Risso’s Dolphin
Marlin

4
4
12

(4)
(1)
(3)

Australia Day Weekend Campout at Barrington Tops
26-28 January 2018
Elisabeth Karplus
Nine people joined Allan Richards at Horse Swamp Campground in the Barrington Tops State Conservation Area for
the weekend. For some of us getting there was fraught with difficulties – Robert and Clare had two punctures (luckily,
they have two spare wheels) while Tom and Elisabeth drove through a fierce hail storm. Soon we were all settled into
the small campground with several very tall trees and we weathered the thunderstorms on the next two afternoons. We
managed to spread ourselves around the campsite and successfully discouraged other large groups of campers fromjoining us! We heard rather than saw birds around the campsite, with a very vocal Superb Lyrebird and Boobooks and
Tawny Frogmouths at night. We were visited by Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas.
On one morning we were surprised to see a White-headed Pigeon in one of the eucalypts. We would expect to see thesefruit pigeons on the wetter east side of Barrington Tops.
Our first morning walk took us out of the campground and along Tubrabucca Road to Polblue Creek. There we all saw
several Rufous Fantails and the first of numerous Grey Fantails. Striated Thornbills were common, though hard to see
but we only recorded one Brown Thornbill in that area. There was a single White-eared Honeyeater, several Yellowfaced Honeyeaters but we only heard White-naped Honeyeaters. White-throated Treecreepers were heard everywhere,
and we saw two of these but later in the walk we identified two Red-browed Treecreepers. In the afternoon we walked
along Boundary Road near to the Dingo fence and the gate out of the park. The walk was very quiet, but we did see a
Wedge-tailed Eagle and a Brown Goshawk.

Page 10

Horse Swamp. Barrington Tops. Photo: Elisabeth Karplus

Polblue Swamp, Barrington Tops. Photo: Elisabeth Karplus

White-headed Pigeon. Photo: Charles Dove

Birding NSW NewsletterOn two mornings we walked
around the large Polblue Swamp on
the well laid out track. The track
goes through woodland as well as
crossing the edge of the swamp
in several places. In a woodlandarea we came upon a bird flock
apparently led by Grey Fantails – I
recorded ten Grey Fantails. Also,
there were a female Flame Robinand a rather shabby male Flame
Robin. We spent some time trying
to identify a female Flycatcher– was it a Leaden or a Satin? We
were unable to decide and there
was no male bird around to help
us. On the following morning wewent around the swamp in the
opposite direction and met probably
the same bird flock again led by
Grey Fantails – this time I counted
12 birds but since the flock wasmoving in the same direction as ourgroup, it is probable that I counted
some more than once. Again, there
was a single female flycatcher
in the flock, which we could not
identify, and a female Flame Robin.
Also in the flock were Striated andBrown Thornbills, a Fan-tailed
Cuckoo, a Golden Whistler anda Grey Shrike-thrush. We saw
Musk Lorikeets in the Polblue
Campground. Crimson Rosellas
were everywhere but we were
surprised to see a single Eastern
Rosella. Close to the parking
area for the track there were bothWhite-throated and Red-browed
Treecreepers.
Several people had to leave on
Sunday but the rest of us had a final
walk on Boundary Road – again
it was very quiet, but we did see
our first and only Eastern Yellow
Robin. On the drive back to the
campground, Allan found a Flame
Robin family of four birds – again
the male was rather shabby. Monday
morning saw us all packing up andsetting off for Sydney. We would
like to thank Allan for a good
weekend in which we saw or heard
44 species of birds.

Page 11

Birding NSW Newsletter

Camp at Coolah Tops National Park
6 to 30 December 2017
Allan Richards
Eight campers meet on Boxing Day at The Barracks
campsite in Coolah Tops National Park. As usual forour camps at Coolah Tops, we were welcomed byscreeching Sulphur-crested Cockatoos around thecampsite. While I was pitching my tent, I could hearRed-browed Treecreepers in the trees nearby. At dusk as
we were having our dinners and enjoying sundowners,
we heard a Powerful Owl call from the pine trees in the
campground. We all dropped everything and rushed
over to see it perched above Jill’s tent. The following
morning, Trevor spotted the Powerful Owl hidden highin the pine-trees above the tents. It called each evening
before heading out to hunt. One morning, it was holding
the remains of a Greater Glider. Boobook Owls could beheard calling throughout each night.

Painted Honeyeater Photo: Keir Vaughan-Taylor

We all walked around the Grasstrees Track several times and were able to get good looks of the Red-browed Treecreepers.
A young Pallid Cuckoo tested our identification skills. Other birds seen were a young Leaden Flycatcher, Crimson Rosella,
King Parrot, Buff-rumped and Yellow Thornbills, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo and Noisy Friarbird. On our first morning, we
walked as far as Coxes Creek campsite and falls. The falls were only a trickle of water. We flushed a Boobook from an acacia
and it flew to a nearby tree for excellent views and photographs. Several members walked and drove to spotlight along theroad on a couple of evenings seeing Greater Gliders and Brush-tailed Possums. There were lots of Eastern Grey Kangaroos
and Red-necked Wallabies around the camp.
Not many birds on our visits to The Pinnacles lookout but a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles slowly soared upwards frombelow our level to high in the sky. A Peregrine Falcon was later seen. Through the smoke haze, we could just make out
the Warrumbungles in the distance.
As usual, one morning we crossed over Cunninghams Gap to the Liverpool Plains. Our first stop was at a grove of
Boree Acacia pendula near Bundella. Mistletoe growing on these trees attract Painted Honeyeaters and we were
not disappointed as a number were seen. Also Common Bronzewing, Mistletoebird, Pallid Cuckoo, Spiny-cheeked
Honeyeaters, Rufous Songlark, Pallid Cuckoo and good numbers of Red-winged Parrots.
Further on, the wetlands were nearly dry but there were a lot of Straw-necked Ibis. In the park in Premer, flowering
callistemons attracted many honeyeaters including Scarlet, Brown and Blue-faced.
On our final morning, we woke to heavy rain. Although it stopped at about 8:00 am, we had to pack up sodden tents
and drive down the muddy road out of the park.

Royal National Park
31 January 2018
Judy Clark
After the recent bush fires I’m sure people were unsure if the outing would go ahead, but the ranger assured me theareas we were visiting were accessible and there should be plenty of birds with their likely relocation to areas further
north in the park. A keen knowledgeable group of six met at Wattle Forest for an enjoyable day’s bird watching.
We began the morning with three Sacred Kingfishers flying back and forth across the river, a beautiful display. Once in
Wattle Forest there were plenty of birds calling but we found them difficult to see as there had been rain overnight andthe birds were enjoying the damp foliage on the top of the canopy rather than being in the shade under the canopy with

Page 12Birding NSW Newsletter

us. We did get good views of New Holland Honeyeaters, Variegated Fairy Wrens both male and female, Large Billed
Scrubwrens and an Olive-backed Oriole. A Superb Lyrebird was spotted and we followed it through the forest.
We then spotted a group of Satin Bowerbirds, one male and three females or juveniles. The bower was rather poor
but while we watched the male brought several blue items in and placed them. He went off and one of the otherscame in and moved them. It was very interesting to watch. We joked that to witness this was like being with David
Attenborough!
Further in one of the group found an antechinus, or maybe two clambering around a low palm. We were quite close andhad good views of this too.
After morning tea we went over to Lady Carrington Drive. Once again there were many active small birds. Good views
were had of a male Golden Whistler, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Thornbills and Brown Gerygones.
Thank you to everyone who came along despite the uncertainty of the outing eventuating. Although the number of
species was not great we saw some wonderful aspects of nature.

Half-day outing: Lakes and Lagoons
14 February 2018
Frik Gautschi
A turnout of 21 attendees for this midweek outing was most pleasing, boosted by several visitors, including Tony
Doukakis, Paul Fitzgerald, Annie Guibert, Brenda Parkinson, Jennifer Watts and Rosie Wood. A sunny day was thegood news; a forecast of 30°C a worry. First stop was Wamberal Lagoon where a group of 57 Hardheads were tuckedaway in a large raft of 130 Eurasian Coots and there were the usual Grey and Chestnut Teals, Pacific Black Ducks,
Dusky Moorhens and Black Swans nearer the banks. Also spotted in the shallows were Little and Great Egrets, two
Pied Stilt, a White-faced Heron and cormorants roosting in the trees. Up to seven White-headed Pigeons showed
up on the telephone wires along Ocean View Drive, as they so often do here. Other tree dwellers included Lewin’s
Honeyeater, Figbirds and Little and Red Wattlebirds. A Sea-Eagle in the distance drew everyone’s attention and a lone
White Ibis, spotted flying off to better pastures, was the only one seen here. Still some White-throated Needletails
about, as we saw high above us, while White-breasted Woodswallows and Welcome Swallows spent more time restingup. A Crested tern and a few Silver Gulls were the only true shorebird representatives. This was the most rewarding
location, with 41 species sighted.
Terrigal Lagoon was the next stop with a somewhat slow start, but we ultimately recorded 26 species here, including
an extended view of a Striated Heron. Other highlights included a Great Egret, a juvenile Darter, and a Northern
Mallard with four ducklings. Still not much happening in the trees, but we ultimately recorded an Eastern rosella,
Lewin’s Honeyeater, Grey Butcherbird, a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Brown Thornbills and Superb Fairy-wrens. It
was starting to warm up, but the cicada-song had mercifully abated - finally! On to Bulbararing Lagoon at Avoca Beachwith time for morning tea at Heazlett Park. No less than four Nankeen Night-herons obligingly roosted directly above
our tea party; one even building a nest just under the canopy of the ficus. Yet more apparently late nesters was a pair ofRainbow Lorikeets in a natural hole in a nearby Blackbutt. We also saw a Great Egret and Little Corellas. Only a round
dozen recorded here, but always good to have that cuppa in the shade.
Copacobana had little more than a Silver Gull and a distant Crested Tern to show, so off to Captain Cook Lookout but,alas, barely anything in sight in the hazy distance. Noisy Miners, a Kookaburra and a few Welcome Swallows were also
recorded: six species in total on the seaside under the blazing sun. Should have known better! Cochrone Lagoon seems
to be the place for mallards. Of the 22 species seen here, there were three species of cormorants, a Great Egret, Royal
Spoonbill, Black Swans with four juvenile cygnets, and another White-bellied Sea-Eagle brought some life to thecloudless skies. Back to Avoca Beach for lunch, this time on Avoca Lake, where a pair of Ospreys obligingly remainedin clear view throughout, albeit at spotting scope-distance. One eventually flew past us and before long calmly returned
with an unidentified spot of lunch. A juvenile Grey Butcherbird came to have a closer look at us and a glimpse of aWhite-faced Heron heading off was the final sighting. That concluded the outing - 55 species for the day. Thanks to all
the eagle-eyed participants.

Page 13

Birding NSW Newsletter

UNUSUAL REPORTS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES, JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2018
ALAN MORRIS
Region Abbreviations: NC–North Coast; H–Hunter, CC–Central Coast; S–Sydney Region; I–Illawarra; SC–South Coast; NT–
Northern Tablelands; CT–Central Tablelands; ST–Southern Tablelands; NS–North-west Slopes; CS–Central-west Slopes; SS–
South-west Slopes; NP–North-west Plains; CP–Central-west Plains; R–Riverina; UW–Upper Western; LW–Lower Western. Other
abbreviations used include A – adult, F – female, M – male, J – juvenile, DY – dependent young, N – nest, E – Eggs, RA - rest area,rk – road kill, hw – hit window, ba – blown ashore, hc – heard calling bc – beachcast and pr – pair., Im – immature*=First Return; ** Last Date; CWBS= Cowra Woodland Bird Survey.
Bold – On the Review list of the NSW Ornithological Records Appraisal Committee – submission required.
(Bird names used and the order in which they occur are in accord with
Christidis L and W Boles ‘Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds’2008)

Coastal Emu

3+2J

10/2/18

Palmers Island , Yamba

NC

Greg Clancy

Australian Brush-turkey

1

16/1/18

Wattle Forest, Royal NP

S

Andrew PatrickAustralian Brush-turkey

1

31/1/18

Upper Bullawa Ck, Mt Kaputah NP

NP

Michael Dahlem

Brown Quail4

4/1/18Spiral Hill, Sydney Olympic ParkS

Gillian Carter

King Quail3

8/1/18

Holdsworthy STW Harris Creek

SDavid JamesKing QuailAF

11/1/18

Partridge Creek, Fernbank

NC

Liam Murphy

King Quail2

28/2/18

Bunyip Ck Wetland, GraftonNC

Darryl Eggins

Magpie Goose4

20/2/18

Lake Centenary, TemoraSS

Sandra Henderson

Cotton Pygmy-Goose1

15-28/1/18

Also 27/2, Ballina Heights Wetlands

NCPeter Higgins

Plumed Whistling-Duck11

13/1/18

Long Reef Golf Course

S

Kerry Allen

Wandering Whistling-Duck2

4/1/18Sydney Olympic ParkS

Tom Wilson

Wandering Whistling-Duck12

19/1/18

Emerald Downs GC Port Macquarie

NC

Alan Morris

Musk Duck

F5Y

16/1/18

Campbells Swp GriffithR

Max O’Sullivan

Musk DuckF

24/2/18

Old Quipolly Dam, Quirindi

NS

Michael Dahlem

Australian Shelduck2

6/1/18Eastlakes GC

S

Brain Deans

Red-tailed Tropicbird

1

13/2/18

North Head, Sydney Harbour NP

S

Michael Ronan

White-headed Pigeon

128/1/18

Horse Swamp, Barrington Tops

H

Allan Richards

White-headed Pigeon

1

11/3/18

Neilsen Park, Vaucluse

S

Marie Lister

Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove1

23/2/18

Mungo Brush, Myall Lakes NP

H

Simon Gorta

Superb Fruit-Dove3

5/1/18

Old Big Scrub FR, Nightcap NP

NC

David Charley

Wompoo Fruit-Dove20

28/1/18

Copeland Tops SCA

H

Demetrios BertzeletosWhite-throated Nightjar

1

14/1/18

Private property Moruya

SC

Demetrios BertzeletosWhite-throated Nightjar

2

18/1/19

Sphinx Memorial Kur-ing-gai C. NP

STom Wilson

White-throated Nightjar

hc

3/2/18

Private property Bullio, near Joadja

I

Allan Richards

White-throated Nightjar

1

20/1/18

Blue Gum Camp, Yengo NP

H

Vincent Mourik

Spotted Nightjar

1

18/1/18

Taleban Reserve Rankins SpringsR

Max O’Sullivan

Page 14Birding NSW Newsletter

Owlet Nightjar

1

14/1/18

Shanes Park Air Services Site

S

Edwin Vella

Marbled Frogmouth

3 pr

16/2/18

Minyon Valley, Nightcap NP

NC

David Charley

White-throated Needletail400

18/1/18

Berkeley Vale to Chittaway

CC

Daniel McKeon

White-throated Needletail1005

19/1/18

Tathra Taila HSD Mangrove Mtn

CCKaye PointerFork-tailed Swift25

4/1/18Nooraweena HSD Kulnura

CC

Steve Gibb

Fork-tailed Swift5

8/2/18Kariong

CC

Daniel McKeon

White-faced Storm-Petrel

5

11/2/18

Port Stephens pelagic

H

Mick Roderick

White-faced Storm-Petrel

1bc

12/2/18

Kiola Headland

I

Paul Lynch

Black-browed Albatross

7

14/1/18

Mistral Pt Maroubra

S

Cory Callaghan

White-capped Albatross (Shy)1

14/1 & 26/2

Mistral Pt Maroubra

S

Robert Griffin

Fairy Prion

1 bc

2/2/18South Ballina beachNC

Steve McBride

Fairy Prion1

4/2/18

Tacking Pt Light House Pt Macquarie NC

Liam Murphy

Tahiti Petrel

1

14/1/18

Off Katang NR Dunbogan

NC

Peter WestBlack Petrel

1

19/1/18

Crowdy Head pelagic

H

Mick Roderick

Black Petrel

1

11/2/18

Port Stephens pelagic

H

Mick Roderick

Grey-faced (Great-winged) P.

3

19/1/18

Crowdy Head pelagic

H

Mick Roderick

Grey-faced (Great-winged) P.

1 bc

2/2/18South Ballina beachNC

Steve McBride

Grey-faced (Great-winged) P.

7

11/2/18

Port Stephens pelagic

H

Mick Roderick

White-necked Petrel

1

11/1/18

Long Reef Aquatic Reserve

S

Michael Ronan

White-necked Petrel

1

14/1/18

Mistral point Maroubra

S

Corey Callahan

White-necked Petrel

1

28/1/18

North Head, Sydney Harbor NP

S

Michael Ronan

Black-winged petrel

1

19/1/18

Crowdy Head pelagic

H

Mick Roderick

Gould’s Petrel

1bc

19/1/18

South Ballina Beach

NC

Steve McBride

Streaked Shearwater1

6/1/18Long Reef Aquatic Reserve

S

Michael Ronan

Streaked Shearwater3

26/2/18

Mistral Pt Maroubra

SDavid Mitford

Sooty Shearwater1

3/2/18

Tacking Pt Light House Pt Macquarie NC

Liam Murphy

Sooty Shearwater1

3/2/18Sydney pelagic

S

Greg McLachlan

Sooty Shearwater1

11/2/18

Port Stephens pelagic

H

Mick Roderick

Little Shearwater1

3/1 & 14/1

Mistral Point, Maroubra

SDavid Mitford

Buller’s Shearwater

1 bc

2/2/18South Ballina Beach

NC

Steve McBride

Buller’s Shearwater1

15/2/18

North Head, Sydney Harbour NP

S

Michael Ronan

Little Penguin

1

21/1/18

Northshore Bch Port Macquarie

NC

Hastings BOC

Brown Booby

AM

3/1/18

Mistral Point, Maroubra

SDavid Mitford

Page 15

Birding NSW Newsletter
Black-necked Stork

2A+J

Jan-Feb

Hexham Swamp NR

H

HBOC

Black-necked StorkIm

11/1/18

Colleambally

R

Mark Robb

Black-necked Stork3

20/1/18

Seale Rd Swamp Belmore River

NC

Louise Earnshaw

Black-necked Stork

2A+J

28/1/18

Mungo Brush, Myall Lakes

H

Lyn Karpiel

Australasian Bittern1

3/2/18

Kiagarthar Cotton Swp, Condobolin

CP

Warren Chad

Australian Little Bittern1

1/1/18Jabiru Wetlands Casino

NC

David Charley

Australian Little Bittern1

14/1/18

Campbell’s Swamp, Griffith

R

Warren Chad

Australian Little Bittern

1hc

3/2/18

Kiagarthar Cotton Swp, Condobolin

CP

Warren ChadBlack Bittern1

5/1/18Fernbank Ck Rd Port MacquarieNC

Ian Kerr

Black Bittern1

23/1/18

Tuggerah Ck Central Coast Wetlands CC

Alan Morris

Cattle Egret

68N

4/1/18

Greendale Lagoon, DooralongCC

Alan Morris

Cattle Egret

500N

18/1/18

Prince St wetland GraftonNC

Warren Thompson

Intermediate Egret

10 N

18/1/18

Prince St wetland GraftonNC

Warren Thompson

Great Egret

4N

18/1/18

Prince St Wetland GraftonNC

Warren Thompson

Eastern Osprey

2A+J

17/2/18

Yallah Bay Lake Illawarra

I

Biggles Scolander

Eastern Osprey

2

3/2/18Georges River OatleyS

Jesse Gibson

Eastern Osprey

3

24/2/18

Shelley Bch/Manly Beach

S

Paul Rossington

Pacific Baza

2A+J

26/1/18

Blackbutt Creek Reserve Gordon

S

David Vickers

Pacific Baza

1

5-18/2/18

Ulana Ave Budgewoi

CC

Rebecca Citroni

Square-tailed Kite

N+1J

13/01/18

HolmsvilleH

M.Simpson

Square-tailed Kite1

18/1/18

Been Ball Rd Gilletts Ridge, Tucabia NC

Greg Clancy

Square-tailed Kite1

24/1/18

Narraweena

S

Coleen Southall

Black Kite1

7/1/18Tomerong, Jervis Bay

I

Andy Wood

Black Kite1

14/1/18

Lennox St Glenbrook

CT

Graeme Middleton

Brahminy Kite1

13/1/18

Stockton Sandspit

1

Jenny Stiles

Grey Goshawk (WM)1

8/2/18

BalmainS

Robert Griffith

Spotted Harrier1

12/1/18

Bullarah, 70 km W of MoreeNP

Pat Johnston

Brown Falcon

1

22/1/18

Yallah Bay Rd Yallah

I

Carla JackettBlack Falcon

1

3/2/18Dungarubba, Lismore

NC

June Harris

Black Falcon

1

13/2/18

Fivebough Wetalnds, Leeton

R

Max O’Sullivan

Little Eagle

1

15/1/18

Bullarah, 70 km W of MoreeNP

Pat Johnston

Little Eagle

1

16/1/18

CanyonleighI

Lorne Johnson

Brolga2

24/2/18

Wetland north of Coraki

NC

David CharleyPage 16

Birding NSW Newsletter

Brolga524-25/2/18

Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton

R

Max O’Sullivan

Buff-banded Rail

2A2Y

13/1/18

Sydney Park, St Peters

S

Brian Deans

Baillon’s Crake1

5/1/18Sydney Park, St Peters

S

Brian Deans

Baillon’s Crake2

1/1-23/2/18

Greendale Swamp, Dooralong

CC

Graeme Catt

Spotless Crake

2+2Y

3/1/18Eastlakes Golf Course

S

Robert Griffin

Spotless Crake

2+2Y

27/1/18

Pitt Town Lagoon Reserve

S

Tom Wilson

Spotless Crake1

6/3/18Sydney Park, St Peters

S

Brian Deans

Bush Stone-curlew

2,2Y

12/1/18

Palmers Lane BensvilleCC

Julie McTaggart

Beach Stone-curlew

2

2/1/18Mogareeka Inlet, TathraSC

Leo Berzins

Beach Stone-curlew

3

12/1/18

Foreshore Walk, Nambucca Heads

NC

Bashir Khan

Beach Stone-curlew

1

31/1 & 3/2

Farqhuar Inlet, Old Bar

H

Alan Morris

Pied Oystercatcher

82

10/1/18

Stockton Beach

H

Mick Roderick

Sooty Oystercatcher

15

14/1/18

Long Reef Aquatic Reserve

S

Tom Wilson

Red-necked Avocet

16

20/1/18

Micalo Island Prawn farm, Yamba

NC

Russel Jago

Red-necked Avocet

300

20/2/18

Waterbird Refuge, S. Bicentennial Pk S

Tom Wilson

Red-necked Avocet

2500

Jan-Feb

Stockton Sandspit

H

HBOC

Large Sand Plover1

31/1/18

Farqhuar Inlet, Old Bar

H

Rex Schmidt

Lesser Sand Plover2

2 & 31/1

Farqhuar Inlet, Old Bar

H

Doug Hocking

Double-banded Plover *1

27/1/18

Lake Wollumboola, Culburra

I

Martin Potter

Double-banded Plover *5

28/2/18

Boat Harbour, Kurnell

S

Michael Ellison

Double-banded Plover *1

28/2/18

Pelican point, Norah headCC

Alan Morris

Red-kneed Dotterel

323-26/2/18

Ansells Pt Chittaway

CC

Graeme Catt

Australian Painted Snipe

3

January

Toogali rice crop, Griffith

R

Matthew Heron

Australian Painted Snipe2

20/1/18

Kiagarthur Cotton Dam, Condobolin

CP

Warren Chad

Australian Painted Snipe

2F

22/1-10/2

James Ck Rd Harwood

NC

Greg Clancy

Latham’s Snipe1

20/2/18

Lake Centenary, TemoraSS

Sandra Henderson

Black-tailed Godwit

63

20/1/18

Micalo Island Prawn Farm,Yamba

NC

Greg Clancy

Black-tailed Godwit

121-31/1/18

Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton

R

Keith Hutton

Common Greenshank44

25/1/18

Smith Island, Fullarton CoveH

Tom Clarke

Common Sandpiper

2

12/1/18

Foreshore Dve Res St Huberts Island CC

John Carpenter

Common Sandpiper

1

16/1/18

JerseyvilleNC

Liam Murphy

Common Sandpiper

2

1/2/18Terilba Island, North Entrance

CC

Margaret PointerWood Sandpiper

2

27/1/18

Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton

R

Keith Hutton

Page 17

Birding NSW Newsletter
Marsh Sandpiper

2

1-14/1/18

Pitt Town lagoon

S

Peter Johnston

Marsh Sandpiper

1021-31/1/18

Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton

R

Keith Hutton

Marsh Sandpiper

1

14/2/18

Micalo Island Yamba

NC

Greg Clancy

Wandering Tattler

1

2/1/2018

Reef below Windmill Hill PtMacq

NC

Liam Murphy

Wandering Tattler

3

31/1/18

Flynns Beach, Port MacquarieNC

Liam Murphy

Wandering Tattler

1,1

14 & 28/2

Soldiers & Pelican Pts Norah HeadCC

F.Ullrick/A.Morris

Red Knot1

11/1/18

Long Reef Aquatic Reserve

S

Dean Purcell

Sanderling7

31/1-3/2

Farqhuar Inlet, Old Bar

H

Michael Scobie

Pectoral Sandpiper

2

12/2/18

Copi Hollow, Menindee

LW

Geoff Looney

Curlew Sandpiper

11

2/1/18Menindee Lake

LW

Geoff Looney

Ruff

1

13/1/18

Stockton Sandspit

H

Edwin Vella

Painted Buttonquail

2A4Y

1/1-25/2/18

Mogo Camp, Yengo NP Bucketty

CC

John Carpenter

Red-chested ButtonquailAF

14/1/18

Tempus Two Winery Pokolbin

H

Alwyn Simple

Long-tailed Jaeger

15

1-14/1/18

8 on 26/2, Mistral Pt Maroubra

SDavid Mitford

Long-tailed Jaeger

13

19/1/18

Crowdy Head pelagic

H

Mick RoderickCommon Noddy

1

12/1/18

Tacking Pt Port MacquarieNC

Sue ProustBlack Noddy

1

11/1/18

Lake Cathie EstuaryNC

Liam Murphy

Grey Ternlet

1

11/1/18

Nobbys Breakwater, Newcastle

H

Gillian Carter

Grey Ternlet

1

12/1/18

Long Reef Aquatic Reserve

S

Michael Ronan

Grey Ternlet

1

3/3/18Flat Rock, Ballina

NC

Steve McBride

Common Gull-billed Tern

1

12-21/1/18

Stockton Sandspit

H

Mick RoderickCommon Gull-billed Tern1

14/2/18

Micalo Island, Yamba

NC

Greg Clancy

White-winged Black Tern1

3/2/18Flat Rock, Ballina

NC

Steve McBride

Aleutian Tern19

2/1-28/2/18

Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar

H

Liam Murphy

Little Tern

2A2Y

15/1/18

Deeban Spit, Port Hacking

S

Julie Keeting

Little Tern200

3/2/18Farquar Inlet, Old Bar

H

Alan Stuart

Sooty Tern1

14/1 & 26/2

2 on 26/2, Mistral Point, Maroubra

S

Robert Griffin

Sooty Tern1

10/2/18

Sydney pelagic

S

Greg McLachlan

Common Tern

165

3/2/18Farquar Inlet, Old Bar

H

Alan Stuart

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo

175

27/2/18

Wallumarra Track, Royal NP

S

Ted Nixon

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

14

15/1/18

Grassy Head

NC

Bruce Caldwell

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

7

27/1/18

Myall View, Myall Lakes NP

H

Rob Palazzi

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

2

31/1/18

Eulah Creek, Narrabri

NP

Michael Dahlem

Page 18

Birding NSW Newsletter

Gang-gang Cockatoo

99

January

At 15 sites in the Blue Mountains

CT

BMBOC

Long-billed Corella

4

16/1/18

Lake Curalo, Eden

SC

Michael Fuhrer

Little Lorikeet

412-24/1/18

Mogo Camp, Yengo NP Bucketty

CC

Christina Port

Regent Parrot

12

8-9/10/17

3 small flocks at Euston-

LW

Dorothy Price

Turquoise Parrot

17

11-29/1

Mungo Brush, Myall Lakes NP

H

Tom Clarke

Turquoise Parrot

2

15/1-9/2

Mogo Camp, Yengo NP Bucketty

CC

Michael Rutowski

Turquoise Parrot

1

15/2/18

Werstleigh garden

S

John Reidy

Ground Parrot

2hc

11/1/18

Partridge Ck Fernbank

NC

Liam Murphy

Pheasant Coucal

1

7/2/18Maddens Plains

I

Brian DeansBlack-eared Cuckoo

1

1/2/18Wattle Dam, Binya SF

R

Nella Smith

Black-eared Cuckoo

1

27/2/18

Cumberland Range Kosciuszko NP

1

Les Main

Oriental Cuckoo

1

21/12/18

Cattai Wetlands, Coopernook

H

Paul Lynch

Oriental Cuckoo

1

18/2/18

Koala Bch Hastings PointNC

Anneliese Simke

Powerful Owl

1

8/1/18

Coolah Tops NP, Coolah

H

R.Druce

Powerful Owl

1

15/1/18

Wollongong Bot. Gardens

I

Terrill Nordstrom

Powerful Owl

1

20/2/18

Kalindra Rd Invergowrie, Armidale

NT

Rosemarie Glover

Barking Owl

hc

20-22/2/18

Mogo Camp, Yengo NP Bucketty

CC

Graham Nelson

Barking Owl

hc

8/2/18Henry Kendall Village, WyomingCC

Robert Montgomery

Masked Owl

1

14/1/18

Private property Moruya

SC

Julie Morgan

Masked Owl

1

20/1/18

Westhaven, Port Macquarie

NCPeter WestGreater Sooty Owl

8hc

27/1/18

Copeland Tops SCA

H

Demetrios Bertzeletos

Greater Sooty Owl

1

22-26/1/18

Hazelbrook

CT

Jill Dark

Greater Sooty Owl

1hc

16/2/18

Minyon Valley, Nightcap NP

NC

David Charley

Eastern Grass Owl

1

11/1/18

Partridge Ck Fernbank

NC

Tony Bischoff

Rainbow Bee-eater10

9/2/18

Mogo Camp, Yengo NP Bucketty

CC

Christina Port

Rainbow Bee-eater

12

February

Cedar Brush Ck & Ravensdale

CCLouise SalterRock Warbler

1

4/2/18Wombeyan Caves

I

Allan Richards

Chestnut-rumped Heathwren2

6/1/18

North Lawson Swamp

CT

Mark Ley

Shy Heathwren

2

18/1/18

Taleban Res Rankins SpringsR

Max O’Sullivan

Yellow-tufted Honeyeater

1

11/3/18

Shoplands Rd Annangrove

S

Darryl Smedley

Regent Honeyeater

2

23/01/18

Tanilba Bay, Lemon Tree Passage

H

Per M. Roderick

Crimson Chat

AM

18/1/18

Taleban Res Rankins SpringsR

Max O’Sullivan

Black HoneyeaterAM

18/1/18

Taleban Res Rankins SpringsR

Max O’Sullivan

Page 19

Birding NSW Newsletter
Painted Honeyeater

1

25/1/18

Pucca Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee

CT

Thomas Watts

Painted Honeyeater1

11/2/18

Windsor Downs NR RichmondS

Tony Hunt

Painted Honeyeater

1

23/2/18

Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside

S

Mark Fuller

Pied HoneyeaterAM

25/1/18

Bullarah, 70 Km W of MoreeNP

Pat Johnston

Pied Honeyeater1

9/2/18Wattle Dam, Binya SF

R

Max O’Sullivan

Crescent Honeyeater

1

26/2/18

Bellawongarah, Kangaroo Valley

I

Carla Jackett

Spotted Quail-thrush

4

Jan-Feb

Mogo Camp & Bucketty Waterhole

CC

CCGBNSW

Crested Bellbird

1

18/1/18

Taleban Reserve Rankins SpringsR

Max O’Sullivan

Barred Cuckoo-shrike

7

4/3/18Rocky Ck Dam, Nightcap NP

NC

Tom Petty

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike

2

25/1/18

Hawkesbury Lookout Winmalee

S

Neil Kirby

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike

1

25/1/18

Glenbrook Lagoon

S

Debbie Harris

Pied Butcherbird

1

19/1/18

Warriewood Wetlands

S

Alex Moffat

Satin Flycatcher

AM

13/1/18

Eurobodalla Botanical Gardens

SC

Demetrios Bertzeletos

Satin FlycatcherAM

25/2/18

Crosslands Reserve, Berowra Valley

S

Michael Ronan

Spectacled Monarch1

22/1-25/2

Ourimbah Ck RTA Res Ourimbah

CC

Luke Ullrich

Spangled Drongo *1

22/1/18

Kariong

CC

Christina Port

Spangled Drongo *1

22/2/18

Sydney Park, St Peters

S

Brian Deans

Red-capped Robin

M,F,J

2-3/2/18

Private property Bullio, Joadja

I

Allan Richards

Pale-yellow Robin1

11/1/18

Wingam Brush NR, Taree

H

Frank Antram

Golden-headed Cisticola

1

3/2/18

Kiagarthar Cotton Swp, Condoboilin

CP

Warren Chad

Diamond Firetail1

31/1/18

Ulladulla Sportsground

I

Charles DoveCOMMENTGood rains have fallen in eastern NSW, alleviating the dry conditions over summer, but generally across inland NSW things arestill pretty dry. Rarities reported this month included two carried over from last month, as the Aleutian Terns are still at Farquar
Inlet, Old Bar while two further reports have been received for the Common Gull-billed Terns, at the Hunter Estuary & Clarence
Estuary. A Little Shearwater was seen off Mistral Pt Maroubra, and a Black-winged Petrel off Crowdy Head. Brush Turkeys
are now expanding their range into the Blue Mountains including returning to Mount Wilson 30 years after the last one was seen
there! In the past 3 years they have been found breeding at Katoomba and seen at Blackheath; Buller’s Shearwater: 1 Long Reef
Aquatic Res 23/2; Little Bittern: 1 Fivebough Wetlands 19/1 & 13/2, Square-tailed Kite: 1 Bobbin Hd Rd Turramurra 3/12, 1
Berowra 6/1, 1 Allambie Hgts 10/1, 1 Wilberforce 1/2, 1 Lake Talbot Narranderra 4/2, 20 reports from the Central Coast Jan-Feb(AM);; Pacific Baza: 4 Bundeena 12/2; Grey Goshawk: 1 WM Hyams Bch Jervis Bay 8/3; Spotted Crake: 1 Pitt Town Lgn 27/1,
Baillon’s Crake: 1 Pitt Town Lgn 27/1; Bush Stone-curlew: 35 nesting attempts this summer in the Tweed Shire & 20 in Ballina
Shire, 8 pairs produce 5 fledged young in Brisbane Water Oct-Feb; Pied Oystercatcher: Dec-Jan, 2 nests I chick fledged but at
Farqhuar Inlet, 4 Nests, 8 chicks fledged; Hooded Plover: Very few chicks & eggs survived this summer due to the large storms
on the South Coast in January; Painted Snipe: There was a movement to eastern NSW during Jan-Feb, other reports include 1
Pitt Town Lgn 27/1 & 1 Emigrant Ck Grafton 31/1; Little Tern: Dec-Jan, Windawoppa, Hawkes Nest, 56 prs fledged 31 young, at
Farquar Inlet 50 prs, only 1 chick fledged, only 15 chicks fledged from the 7 South Coast colonies which is a bad situation; Glossy
Black-Cockatoo: 3 Bullio nr Joadja 3/2, 2A+J Wentworth Falls 27/1, annual counts at Rankins Springs found 96 and 38 in the
Leeton-Brobenah Hills area; Turquoise Parrot: 1 Katang NR Camden Head 14/1, 1 Wattle Dam Binya SF 9/2; Powerful Owl:
Reported from 10 sites Jan-Feb on Central Coast; Painted Honeyeater: 2 Yanco Res 19/1; Spangled Drongo: Other first returns 1
Lakes Bch Budgewoi 28/1, 2 Pipers Bay, Wallis Lake 14/2, Good Birding!

Page 20

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Birding NSW Newsletter

CLUB COMMITTEEPRESIDENT: Dr Tom Karplus
Thomas.Karplus@health.nsw.gov.au | 9816 2285
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9816 2285
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