Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 1birding Newsletternsw
NSW Field Ornithologists Club Inc
Issue 261

February 2014

President’s Report
For the first time, the December meeting last year combined
the Arnold McGill Memorial Lecture, the Club Christmas
party and the Club Annual General Meeting. Everyone present
agreed that this format worked well. The attendance at themeeting was excellent. The committee will consider whether
to hold all three events in December on a regular basis.
Our Arnold McGill Memorial speaker, Alan Rogers, hasbeen a past President of the NSW Field Ornithologists Club(1980–4) and he has been a member of both the NSW FOC
and the Cumberland Bird Observers Club since the inceptionof both clubs. He reminisced about his personal encounterswith Arnold McGill. He remembered Arnold fondly as a very
generous birder and as an entertaining companion. Alan gave
a captivating address about his birding experiences in Russia.
Tantalisingly, he said that he had a second talk about the latter
half of his Russian odyssey with even better bird pictures, andwe are hopeful that we can draw him back sometime this year.
Over 50 people attended the Annual General Meeting.
The committee, including your President, was re-elected
unopposed for a further year. I am grateful for the Club’s
support. As always, I thank all of the numerous volunteers
who sustain the Club. We owe a debt not only to thecommittee members, but also to all the leaders of field
activities, the helpers at Club meetings, and to all the others
who contribute their time and effort to keep the Club running.
I must particularly acknowledge the valuable work of Barrie
Ayres, who stood down from the committee in 2013. As well
as being our Treasurer for many years, Barrie provided great
guidance to the committee. Our present Treasurer, Leigh
Hall, presented the financial report, and commented that
our financial position was sound. He noted that our financial
records would now be available on our website.
The Christmas bring-a-plate party worked a treat once again,
and I think that this will be the formula for future years.
The 2014 Grenfell surveys dates are 29–30 March and 27–
28 September. The committee has worked hard to ensurethat these dates do not clash with other birding events in2014. Information for the first survey is available with theClub Activities.

We have had communication with both of our twinned
clubs, in Nagoya, Japan, and in Portsmouth, UK recently.
A contingent from the Nagoya chapter of the Wild Bird
Club of Japan will be visiting Sydney in October. I am surethat Allan will be looking for volunteer guides closer to thetime. The Portsmouth RSPB group has sent us a copy of
their latest newsletter, and also a list of their outings for the
next six months. If any of you will be in the Portsmouth
area during this period and would like to participate in theiroutings, please let a member of the committee know.
The number of entries for the annual Photographic
Competition in November was up there with the record,
and as usual Charlie Andrews did a great job as Master ofCeremonies, as did he, Adrian O’Neill and David Stowein the judging. Outback Track Tours continues to support
this event. We are thinking of changing some aspects of thecompetition in 2014.
The website is becoming more and more important as a portal
for access to the Club. Over 60% of members renew fromthe site (vs. 21% two years ago), and most new members join
through the website. There will be more frequent updates ofClub activities on the website in 2014. The committee has
decided that access to the newsletter from the website willremain password-protected for the time being.
Tom Karplus

New Members

A warm welcome is extended to thefollowing new members:

J & E Bastick
Christopher Pappas
Tony Smith

PRINT POST APPROVED PP100001080

Howrah Tasmania
Cambridge Park NSW
Saratoga NSW

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Birding NSW Newsletter

CLUB ACTIVITIESFIELD OUTINGS AND MEETINGSNATIONAL PARK USE FEES AND ON-THE-SPOT FINES
A valid day pass or annual pass is necessary for 47 parks in NSW and that includes most in the Sydney and Central Coast Regions.
The pass must be displayed on your vehicle at all times while you are in the park. In many parks failure to display a valid pass will incur
an on-the-spot $100 fine. Day passes can be purchased from the Entrance Station when open, or the pay and display machines thattake exact money ($11 or $7 for most Birding NSW outings), or a credit card.
A safer alternative if you visit national parks regularly is to obtain an Annual Pass. When you pay online for an annual pass ask for areminder when it is due for renewal.
Members in doubt are encouraged to make their own enquiries and arrangements when visiting a national park.
FEES AT CAMPOUTS
A camping fee may be applicable at some campsites.
TOTAL FIRE BANS
Members are reminded that no Central Coast outings are held on days when Total Fire Bans are in force. For Sydney outings in timesof a Total Fire Ban, check with the outing leader.
SAFETY
It is a condition of attendance at Club outings or Club campouts that those wishing to leave early should ensure that the leader is awareof their intention.
PETS
Members are reminded that pets including dogs are not allowed on any Club outing including campouts.
SECURITY
Members are reminded not to leave anything of value visible in unattended vehicles while bird watching.
NESTLINGS’ OUTINGS
These half-day outings are a combined enterprise of Birding NSW and the Cumberland Bird Observers’ Club. They are speciallydesigned to introduce children from 5 to12 years of age to bird watching. An adult must accompany the children.
CENTRAL COAST OUTINGS
Sydney Members should advise the leader in advance if they are coming to an outing so that we don’t leave without you!
HEALTH AND SAFETY
As from New Year’s Day 2012, The New South Wales State Government has spread the requirement for formal Health and Safety
procedures, designed for employers, to social and voluntary societies, which have ANY paid employees. Our Insurers, in this vein,require us to record policy for our officers and members – even though we are currently outside the scope of the Work Health and
Safety Act 2011 (WHS).
Birding NSW resists introducing very formal procedures into its activities, except to continue our practice of asking all participants
to sign the attendance register at each meeting and outing, to signify that one attends at one’s own risk and will refrain from any
behaviour which might put oneself or others at risk.

For new Club members–bring morning tea, lunch and a chair.

FEBRUARY
Saturday 1 February Central Coast Outing: ‘Breakfast
with the Birds’ at Pioneer Dairy, Central Coast Wetlands,
Tuggerah at 7.30 am. Cost $5 per person. Birding in
the Tuggerah/Chittaway area afterwards. Lunch at cars.
Contact: Alan Morris 02 4334 2776
Tuesday 4 February Club Meeting: The Mitchell
Theatre, Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts,
280 Pitt Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm, ‘The Vocalisations of
the Australian Pied Butcherbird’, speaker: Hollis Taylor.
Saturday 8 February Club Outing: Colo River andSwallow Reach, Ebenezer. Meet 9.00 am at the south
side of the Colo River Bridge on the Putty Road north ofWilberforce. Lunch at cars. Leader: Philip Brook 9929 4818

Saturday 15 February Club Outing: Bicentennial
Park and Sydney Olympic Park. Meet 8.00 am at Lake
Belvedere, Bicentennial Park, parking area P10D. Proceed
through the main gates, along the road past the ConferenceCentre until the lake is on your left-hand side. The parking
area is on the right, just after crossing the bridge. Leader:
Judy Harrington 9712 5904 or 0403 026 660
Tuesday 25 February Central Coast Meeting: Meetat the Progress Hall in Anzac Street Tuggerah opposite
McDonalds at 7.30 pm. ‘Birding in the Northern Territory’,speakers: John and Carole Carpenter.
Wednesday 26 February Midweek Outing: Narrabeen
and Long Reef. Meet 9.00 am at Jamieson Park at theend of Mactier Street (becomes The Esplanade). The

Birding NSW Newsletter
actual time of the visit to Long Reef will be determinedby tides and conditions on the day. Lunch at cars.
Leader: Elisabeth Karplus 9816 2285 or 0421 665 553

MARCH
Saturday 1 March Central Coast Outing: Ash Islandand Stockton. Meet 8.30 am at the Recreation Ground,
Woodford Street, Minmi. Lunch at cars. Leader: Alan
Morris 02 4334 2776 or 0418 269 482
Tuesday 4 March Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre,
Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt
Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm, ‘Lord Howe Island’s Masked
Owls–an introduced apex predator on an oceanic island’,
speaker: David Milledge.
Saturday 8 March Club Outing: Botany Bay area. Meet
8.30 am at Sir Joseph Banks Park, Fremlin Street, Botany.
Includes a long, level walk to the Penrhyn Estuary. Lunchat cars. Leader: Allan Richards 9660 8062 or 0432 064 660
Wednesday 12 March Central Coast Half-day Outing:
Dubbo Gully. Meet 8.30 am at the corner of Wisemans
Ferry and Waratah Roads, Mangrove Mountain. Lunch atcars. Leader: Margaret Pointer 4374 1163
Saturday 15 March Club Outing: Budderoo National
Park. Meet at 8.30 am for birding around the car park before
a 9.00 am start. Travel along Jamberoo Mountain Road
past the Barren Grounds turn-off towards Carrington Falls/
Robertson. Continue for approximately 2.9 km until you
reach a dirt road on the left. There is a sign at the turn-off
for Budderoo National Park. This dirt road leads to a gate
(approx 300 metres from the turn-off) where there is parking
for about 4 to 5 cars. The turn-off area also has room for cars
to be parked. Bring a jacket, as some parts of this track areexposed and very cold if there is any wind. Carry morningtea; lunch at cars. Leader: Jill Molan 0439 134 827
Weekend Central Coast Campout 21–23 March.
Boomerang Way Tourist Park, Tocumwal. Tel: 03 5874
2313. Meet at the caravan park. Visiting the Murray Riverregion. Leaders: Alan and Anne Morris 02 4334 2776 or
0418 269 482
Tuesday 25 March Central Coast Meeting: Meetat the Progress Hall in Anzac Street Tuggerah opposite
McDonalds at 7.30 pm. ‘Atacama, Altiplano and Santiago,
Chile’, speaker: Trevor Waller.
Wednesday 26 March Midweek Outing: Mitchell Park.
Meet at 8.00 am outside the entrance to Mitchell Park, justbefore the pay station. Lunch at cars. Leader: Elisabeth
Karplus 9816 2285 or 0421 665 553
Saturday 29 March Central Coast Outing: Ourimbah
Reserve and Chittaway. Meet 8.30 am at the M1 Motorway
Roundabout and Rest Area at Ourimbah. Lunch at cars.
Leader: Christina Port 02 4340 4767
Saturday and Sunday 29–30 March IBA Survey:
Grenfell. More information below.

Page 3APRIL

Tuesday 1 April Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre,
Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt
Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm, ‘Stopping and reversing thedecline of Australia’s birdlife’, speaker: Shauna Chadlowe.
Saturday 5 April Club Outing: Royal National Park.
Meet 8.30 am at Wattle Forest Picnic Area near Audley.
Turn into Lady Carrington Drive at Audley, then right over
the timber bridge to the western side of the river. Turnleft and meet at the last car park. Lunch at cars. Leader:
Elisabeth Karplus 9816 2285; 0421 665 553
Wednesday 9 April Central Coast Half-day Outing:
Dog Trap Road, Somersby. Meet 8.30 am at Somersby
Store, Junction of Wisemans Ferry Road and Peats Ridge
Road, Somersby. Lunch at cars. Leader: Wendy Gillespie
per Alan Morris 02 4334 2776
Saturday 12 April Club Outing: Chiltern Road andvarious other sites along the Northern Beaches. Meet 9.00
am at the end of Chiltern Road, Ingleside. Lunch at cars.
Leader: Coleen Southall 9982 5453 or 0410 549 321
Tuesday 22 April Central Coast Meeting: Meet in
the Progress Hall in Anzac Street, Tuggerah opposite
McDonalds at 7.30 pm. ‘Birding on Norfolk Island’,
speaker: Michael Scobie.
Saturday 26 April Central Coast Outing: Glenola
Reserve, Bunning Creek. Meet at 8.30 am opposite the
Yarramalong Church, 800 metres west of Yarramalong.
Lunch at cars. Leader: Margaret Pointer 4374 1163
Wednesday 30 April Midweek Outing: Warriewood
Wetlands. Meet 8.00 am at Katoa Close, Warriewood.
Lunch at cars. Leader: Coleen Southall 9982 5453 or 0410
549 321
IBA SURVEY AT GRENFELL
Weekend 29-30 March 2014
Grenfell is part of the South-west Slopes Important Bird
Area, the largest in Australia. Grenfell was chosen by theClub to monitor because it is a manageable distance from
Sydney and has some threatened species such as the Superb
Parrot. The Club is organising its fifth survey on Saturday and
Sunday 29-30 March 2014. The survey will be conducted on
Saturday morning allowing time to relax and bird watch in theafternoon. Teams of three or four people will survey three orfour sites for twenty minutes at each site. It may be necessary
to survey some of the sites on Sunday morning, if not we will
have time for bird watching at leisure. You are most welcome
to join us regardless of your bird-watching skills. Members
will have to make their own arrangements regarding
accommodation as soon as possible as accommodation islimited in Grenfell. There are three cabins and both powered
and unpowered campsites at the local Caravan Park. It will
also be possible to camp on private property. There are four
hotels, a motel and several B&Bs in town. If you are able tojoin the group please advise the Club Activities Officer on
9660 8062 or by email at activities@birdingnsw.org.au

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Birding NSW Newsletter

THE RED-NECKED STINT
Eduardo Gallo–Cajiao
Long Reef Waders Coordinator
Honorary Associate, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University

Natural History
The Red necked-Stint
Calidris ruficollis belongs toa group of birds collectively
known
asshorebirds(Charadriiformes), whose
ecology is strongly associated with intertidal areas
on the coast and inland
wetlands. Along the former,
their lives are dictated by
the tides, feeding on marine
invertebrates that get exposed on rocky shores andmud flats when the tiderecedes, then roosting on
rocky outcrops and sandy
beaches when the tide rises.
By far the most amazing
feature of this tiny bird,with a weight of just 30g, Red-necked Stint. Photo: Michael Hanvey
is the intercontinental
flights undertaken every year between the northern and Conservation Status
the southern hemisphere. This species breeds in the The Red-necked Stint is not considered endangered andtundra of Siberia and Alaska, the treeless vegetation its global population may not be declining. However,that dominates the northernmost part of the world, habitat destruction in critical stopover areas along theiran inhospitable environment with unbearable frozen migration route, as well as in estuaries in Australia,
winters. Adult Red-necked Stints arrive there by the end should be considered cautiously. Even though the speciesof the northern hemisphere spring with a tight schedule to is listed as Least Concern by the International Union
mate and nest. Their chicks are highly precocial, hatching for the Conservation of Nature, the Commonwealthwell developed and growing quickly. As parents conclude Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
their duties and chicks reach full size, they take off, Act and the NSW Threatened Species Act; several Bilateralleaving their offspring behind, returning to the southern Migratory Bird Agreements between Australia, China,
hemisphere non-breeding grounds on coastal areas and Japan and South Korea have granted it protection.
inland wetlands across Southeast Asia, Australia andRed-necked Stint Watching
New Zealand.
Red-necked Stints can be easily seen along the NSW
Subsequently, it is up to the newly fledged Red-necked coast. Some reliable locations include the estuaries of the
Stints to find their own way south, leaving their breeding Richmond, Clarence and Shoalhaven Rivers, as well as
grounds before the snow blankets the tundra again, thus Long Reef and Boat Harbour within the Sydney region.
commencing their independent lives. Juvenile birds will As these birds are small, the use of binoculars and spotting
then start replicating their parents’ migratory pattern, scopes is recommended.
travelling between the northern and southern hemisphere
Further Information
every year. Red-necked Stints arrive in Australia in springand depart in autumn, completing an annual migration Geering, A., Agnew, L. and S. Harding. 2007. Shorebirds ofcycle of thousands of kilometres covered by long-haul Australia. Canberra, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. 256 pp.
flights, with stopovers, along the east coast of Asia. (see www.longreefwaders.org
www.shorebirds.org.au
text box on page 5).

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 5

THE RED-NECKED STINT IS A FASCINATING BIRD TELLING US A STORY OF ENDURANCE,TRAVELLING THOUSANDS OF KILOMETERS IN ORDER TO COMPLETE ITS LIFE CYCLE
The migratory path of the Red-necked Stint has been unveiledby coordinated and continuous monitoring. This process has
involved the deployment of uniquely numbered bands andregion –coded colour leg flags that can be then used to track
individuals along their way (see photo). Amateur birdwatchersand scientists have reported many of these marked birds acrossthe Asia Pacific region over the years enabling the mapping of
their migratory route (see map). This information has allowed
the identification of critical areas for their conservation.

This red-necked Stint was recorded at Long Reef in Sydney’s
northern beaches. The displayed colour leg flag combination
indicates that this individual was initially caught at Bohai Bay inthe northwestern section of the Yellow Sea of China, over 8000 km
away. Photo: Alfred Schulte.

Distribution of Red-necked Stint: non-breeding grounds include
Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand; breeding grounds(green areas) encompass the tundra across Siberia and Alaska.
Yellow dots and black triangles represent places where banding andband recoveries have occurred. Map  2004 Australasian Wader
Studies Group.
This article was first printed in Nature New South Wales, Journal of National
Parks Association of New South Wales, Volume 56, No 4 Summer 2012 andis reprinted with permission.

OUTBACK TRACK TOURS
7–DAY COACH ACCOMMODATEDAND CAMPING TOUR
16–22 April 2014
Join us on a group tour for Easter to Comeroo Station on
the banks of the Maranoa Waterhole, 150 km northwest of
Bourke. This cattle and sheep property covers 100 000 acresof red and black soil plains. It has been in the Sharpe family
since 1919. The varying habitat provides the opportunity to
see a wide range of inland species. The station has a vast
wetland area, which plays home to a multitude of different
waterbirds and parrots, a real treat! The rare Halls Babbler
and Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush have been seen on
Comeroo by birders recently. There is also the opportunity
for some stargazing where the skies come alive – excellent
for both novices and experienced stargazers. Inexperienced
birdwatchers and those who have not camped before areparticularly welcome. This tour is ideal to try before booking
on a longer tour. Judy Harrington, an experienced leader willassist with the identification of birds. Available as a camping
tour or as an accommodated tour; we always enjoy the Eastertour for its camp oven cooking and easy outback style. Check
the website for more details www.outbacktracktours.com<http://www.outbacktracktours.com> or email us at res@outbacktracktours.com for more information.

January 11

FebruaryAlpine
2014 Fauna & Flora 26-30th$ 2493

Guide Carol Probets$3020

Lord Howe Birds & Coral Spawning$ 3300Wader Deluge in Newcastle 5-6th$ 980

South Coast NSW
February
11 Bob Ashford
12-16thGuide

26 Feb- 2&
MarMaiGuide
Ian Marshes
Hutton (excludes airfares) $3365
Hong KongPo
27th-3 March
March
11 Guide Locals
Guide Alan Morris
March 2014

Kangaroo Valley & Jervis Bay 25-27
Bird Photography
Weekend
Guide Bob Ashford
15-16th Guide Christina Portth

$ 1935$1190

April 11

April 2014
Bhutan – Thunder Dragon Birding 1-14th
Guide Dion Hobcroft (excludes airfares)
Bhutan– Thunder Dragon Birding$12350$14330

Arizona Desert & Seattle Puffins 28-10 May $ 7560
Local Guides (excludes airfares)

Monthly Scheduled Day Trips
Birds & Camaraderie

June 11Top End Birding - Darwin & Kakadu 8-16th TBA

Follow That Bird - sydney’s birding company(excludes airfares)
July 11

Tel 02 Borneo
9973 1865
www.followthatbird.com.au
withWebsite
Dion Hobcroft
6-17th$ 8300(excludes airfares)
Day trips once a month on Saturday,
check our website or ring for more Information

Follow That Bird - sydney’s birding company
Tel 02 9973 1865 email tours@followthatbird.com.au
website www.followthatbird.com.au

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Birding NSW Newsletter

MARCH TALKAPRIL TALK

Lord Howe Island’s Masked Owls An Introduced Apex Predator
on an Oceanic Island

Stopping and Reversing the
Decline of Australia’s Birdlife

Speaker: David Milledge

Development Executive,
Australian Wildlife Conservancy

During the 1920’s five species of owls wereintroduced to Lord Howe Island in an attempt tocombat a population explosion of the Black Rat.
Only the Masked Owl successfully establishedand now maintains a viable population of between
20 and 30 pairs. David will talk about how
they have adapted and thrived and some of the
known impacts of the introduction as well as aproposed removal of them as part of a biodiversity
management plan.

BIRD-WATCHINGPELAGIC TRIPS
Sydney Pelagic Trips A two-level medium-speed
catamaran suitable for pelagic trips out of Sydney has
been sourced. The first pelagic trip is scheduled (subject toweather of course) for SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2014
and will depart from Mosman Wharf at 6.45 am and Rose
Bay Public Wharf at 7.00 am–return to Mosman will be
by 4.00 pm. The tour costs will be the same as they were
on Halicat, ie $120 and $110 for seniors/students. As an
incentive for regulars prepared to commit to a minimumof 5 tours each season we are considering offering a $100
concessional fare. Again please advise of your interestby contacting Roger or Hal to make a booking. Roger
roglou@bigpond.net.au or Hal hepstein@bigpond.net.au
At this stage future trips are tentatively planned forApril, June, July, August, September, October andpossibly November. Call Hal on 0411 311 236 or email
hepstein@bigpond.net.au
Wollongong Pelagic Trips depart on the 4th Saturday ofeach month. To make a booking on a SOSSA Wollongong
pelagic trip, contact Lindsay or Janice of SOSSA byphone: 02 4272 4626 or email: sossa@tpg.com.au or visit
the website: www.sossa-international.org <http://www.
sossa-international.org>
Port Stephens Pelagic Trips are arranged sporadicallythroughout the year, with usually about ten trips including
two trips held in the peak months of March, April andOctober. Additionally occasional trips out of Swansea,
south of Newcastle, are also being organised. For enquiries
or bookings contact Mick Roderick by mobile: 0421 761
237 or email: mickhhb@yahoo.com.au

Speaker: Shauna Chadlowe

An alarming number of Australian birds are currently
threatened with extinction: the Malleefowl, theBush-stone Curlew, the Gouldian Finch, thePurple-crowned Fairy-wren. These are just a few
of our unique birds whose future is uncertain.
Across northern Australia, populations of seedeating birds are crashing. In the southern part ofthe continent many of our uniquely Australian birds
have all but disappeared. Find out what is driving
this decline and be inspired by the latest innovative
strategies Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)
is deploying to successfully stop and reverse thedecline in Australia’s birdlife.

Subscription to the Handbookof the Birds of the World Alive
The Birding NSW Committee approved the purchaseof a ‘Supporting Subscription’ to the Handbook of the
Birds of the World Alive (HBW Alive) for 2014.
Many members may already have a subscription to
HBW Alive but this will give those members who don’ta chance look at it and find out whether they find it
useful.
To have a look at the site go to: http://www.hbw.com
To fully access the site you need to sign in with ausername and a password.
I will send that information to the online members
when I notify them that the February 2014 Newsletteris on the website.
We will also pass on the username and password in the
February Birding Bulletin.
If you don’t receive the Birding Bulletin and are not an
online member and you would like to access the site
use the newsletter email to request the username andpassword. newsletter@birdingnsw.org.au

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 7

CAMPOUT AT BINGARA
18–20 October 2013
Alan Morris
The October Camp was held at Bingara
located on the western edge of theNorthern Tablelands and the easternedge of the north-west Slopes of NSW.
Twenty-one members and friends joined
the Camp at the Bingara Caravan Parkand it turned out to be a great birding
adventure with 149 species seen over thefour days. Even though the Camp wasonly three days, (18-20/10/13) at least
half the participants arrived early so we
had a birdcall on the Thursday evening
and we started with a list of 93 species.
Not bad eh, shows you just what a goodbirding place Bingara is! The caravanpark is located between Halls Creek and
the Gwydir River, which was runninga banker because of good seasonal
conditions and because of a water releasefrom Copeton Dam. It had been decided
to bird around the two water courses
on the first morning while waiting fora number of late arrivals. In those firsttwo hours we managed to see 52 species
before morning tea as the birds were justso busy and there were so many to see.
These included nesting Jacky Winter,Restless Flycatcher, Noisy and Little
Friarbirds, Australian Magpie, Whitewinged Chough, Rainbow Bee-eater,
Lewin’s and Striped Honeyeaters. Other
birds present included Dollarbird, Sacred
Kingfisher, White-browed Woodswallow,
Little Lorikeet, Red-winged and Australian King-Parrots, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-winged Triller and Whitethroated Gerygone.

Sacred Kingfisher. Photo: Carole Carpenter

White-browed Woodswallow. Photo: Carole Carpenter

After morning tea we headed off to Upper Bingara (BirdRoute No 1) with stops at Serpentine Ridge National Park(NP), the Upper Bingara Village and a grove of flowering
Grass Trees. Highlights on this trip were three sightingsof Diamond Firetails also Double-barred Finches, Rufous
Songlark, Hooded Robin, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Muskand Little Lorikeets and Leaden Flycatcher. We checked out
The Ponds site north of Cobbadah and the Travelling Stock
Route (TSR) at Andersons Bridge on our way home andadded Australian Pelican, White-necked Heron, Yellowbilled Spoonbill, Hardhead, Brown Treecreeper, Cockatiel,
Dusky Woodswallow and White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike.

We returned to Camp where we were joined by the six last
arrivals and replete with lunch we were off to check out
Bird Route No 4 on the Whitlow Road. At the southernend of the former Bingara State Forest (SF) we added apair of Wedge-tailed Eagles (the first of many), Scarlet
Honeyeater and Eastern Yellow Robin. Further along theroad in the woodland and grazing paddocks we chanced
upon a juvenile Pallid Cuckoo, Singing Bushlark, five
more Diamond Firetails, two Emus and a flock of about
60 Plum-headed Finches! Our final stop for the day was at
the Myall Creek Massacre Site where we learned about thesad event that took place there and checked out the birds

Page 8Birding NSW Newsletter
Returning to camp we stopped
off at two Barraba Bird Routesites viz Fagan Mountainand Dunnee TSRs between
Upper Horton and Cobbadah.
Highlights included more Dusky Woodswallows, Rufous
Songlarks, Little Lorikeets
and White-bellied Cuckooshrikes at the former and Little
Lorikeets, Jacky Winters andLeaden Flycatchers at the latter.
Our total at the end of day two
was 139. As is our usual custom
we all dined at the local RSL
Club for dinner that night.

Flowering Grass Trees. Photo: Carole Carpenter

that included Brown Honeyeater, Weebill, Tree Martin,
Nankeen Kestrel and Black-shouldered Kite. Spotlighting
near Myall Creek that evening found Barn Owl and a
Tawny Frogmouth, while Southern Boobooks were callingin the camp. At the end of the first full day our bird list had
grown to 127.
On the Saturday we ventured west on Bird Route No 2
where we first checked out the Eaglehawk and Horseshoe
Bend TSRs on the Gravesend Road. The common
birds of the day were the White-browed and Masked
Woodswallows, which were everywhere. Nesting Leaden
Flycatchers, and Olive-backed Orioles, Little Eagle andWhistling Kite were the highlights at the former site, andnesting Diamond Firetail and nesting Weebill, and bothWestern and White-throated Gerygone, Brown Falcon,
Brown-headed Honeyeater, Yellow-throated Miner,
Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo and Inland Thornbill were thehighlights at the latter site. Morning tea was on the banksof the Horton River at the Gravesend Road Crossing where
there were nesting Nankeen Kestrels and Rainbow Beeeaters, as well as Red-browed and Double-barred Finches.
We crossed the river and followed it upstream, travellingby way of Caroda, to the village of Upper Horton forlunch. Emus, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, another Horsfield’s
Bronze-Cuckoo, Golden-headed Cisticola, Australasian
Pipit and nesting Fairy Martins were seen there. At ourlunch stop we found Apostlebirds, Diamond Dove, Spotted
Bowerbird, more Australian King-Parrots and Red-winged
Parrots and Wedge-tailed Eagle as well as House Sparrows
and Rufous Whistlers in the village trees and gardens.

Our final day was set aside
to visit the Gwydir River
upstream of Bingara and
Copeton Dam. At Borah
Creek/Bingara SF we locatedthe first Fan-tailed Cuckoo
and Golden Whistlers for ourCamp, a stop near Coonagoora Homestead found Paleheaded Rosellas, Brown Treecreeper, Brown Falcon andCockatiel. Near the former Munro SF we had our first
Shining Bronze-cuckoo while at a brief stop near theproperty Ravens Craig, there were Fuscous Honeyeaters
and Crimson Rosellas (the next morning a pair of Painted
Button-quail were flushed from the side of the road at thislocation). We spent some time at Burree Point on the shoresof Copeton Dam where a pair of Red-capped Plovers was
nesting, and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Black-fronted
Dotterels were feeding on the water’s edge while Eurasian
Coots, Whiskered Terns and Silver Gulls were seen on
the Lake. Grey-crowned Babblers and Apostlebirds were
found at Sepoy Point. We returned to camp after lunch andspent the rest of the afternoon checking out the Bingara
Sewage Treatment Works where Pale-headed Rosellas,
Australasian Pipits, Rufous Songlarks, Golden-headed
Cisticolas, Tawny Grassbirds, White-winged Trillers, anAustralian Hobby and two flocks of Plum-headed Finches
were some of the highlights.
At the end of the day our camp bird list had grown to
149. Two weeks prior to our camp, Birdlife Australia held
their Annual Camp at Bingara, and the 70 participants
saw 164 species, but they did range much further than wedid! Birds seen by us but not the BirdLife Bingara Camp
included Diamond Firetails, Hooded Robin, Jacky Winterand Plum-headed Finches. Thanks to all the participants
who helped to make this camp a great birding and social
experience.

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 9

HALF-DAY OUTING PEARL BEACH AND PATONGA
6 November 2013
Graeme Catt
Fourteen Birders arrived at the Pearl
Beach Arboretum on a bright and sunnymorning; amongst them were our friends
from England Jay and Di Nicholson whoare back in Australia for a short stay. An
inspection revealed that the resident Satin
Bowerbird’s bower was well adorned withthe usual blue everything, while along the
track, three baby Australian Brush-turkeys
were busy feeding, two different sizes
indicated different batches of eggs. Other
species seen included Olive-backed Orioles,
Little Corellas, Golden Whistlers, Sacred
Kingfisher, Variegated Fairy-wren and there
were great views of a pair of Cicadabirds,
while Yellow-tailed Black- Cockatoos were
heard.

Satin Bowerbird bower. Photo: Carole CarpenterWe went down to Pearl Beach for morning tea but there
were only a few Cormorants and a Pelican to be seen. We
then relocated to Warrah Trig, in Brisbane Water National
Park and down to the lookout, overlooking Broken Bay.
Here, much to our surprise, three Rock Warblers gave us
good views especially when there were not many otherbirds around. We then proceeded to Patonga for lunch.

Highlights there were Brown Goshawk, Whistling Kites
and a White-bellied Sea-Eagle. In the mangroves there
was a pair of Royal Spoonbills waiting for the tide to
drop. After a short walk along the waters edge we spotteda Nankeen Night Heron in a tall pine tree. It was a greatmorning birding with a total of 53 birds sighted and heard.

THAT REGULAR PROBLEM!
Barrie Ayres
On Saturday 9 November the field outing
was in Centennial Park. Now walking rather
slowly, several companions and I became
separated from the rest, when we had an
excellent close view of the egret pictured.
Hopefully the majority of readers will see thephoto online, and so in colour –an orangey/
reddish bill and all black legs. I was confident
that we were seeing an Intermediate . . . but
there was disagreement, with others seeing
yellow extending behind the eye, and being
sure it was a Great!
My (old) Simpson and Day tells me that, if
an Intermediate is in breeding plumage, there
should be red upper legs (tibia); if not, black- but few or no plumes! My Photographic Field Guide makes no mention of red tibia whilst in breeding plumage.
Pizzey and Knight state that an Intermediate’s legs should be yellow, grey or reddish above the knee, but helpfully saythat there are plumes on the breast (which the pictured bird has), which are not found on the Great.
Will you forgive me for being a bit confused?

Page 10Birding NSW Newsletter

SYDNEY PELAGIC TRIP SUMMARY
9 November 2013
Roger McGovern
We left the harbour on the MV Lormar with a fullcomplement of 24 passengers with several visiting fromoverseas and the remainder from around Sydney and theCentral Coast. While still in the harbour, we encountered
our first cetaceans of the day with views of the resident
pod of Inshore Bottlenose Dolphins lounging around near
Watson's Bay. David had the berley going straightaway
and, although we saw a few moribund Short-tailed
Shearwaters just inside the harbour, it was immediately
obvious that the hoards of starving birds, which
descended on us in recent trips, were no longer there.
We quickly attracted a following of shearwaters but theWedge-taileds easily outnumbered the Short-taileds. As isusually the case at this time of the year, there were fewer
Australasian Gannets in evidence and we had a coupleof Greater Crested Terns follow the boat and a few wellseen Hutton's and Fluttering Shearwaters pass by. It was
not long before we were joined by our first albatrosses,
immature Black-browed and both juvenile and adult Shy.
The usual discussions regarding the separation of the NZ
White-capped from the Tasmanian nominate race took
place and I always think that many of our hypotheses need
to be backed up with a lot more research. A Pomarine
Jaeger began to follow the boat as did an Arctic Jaeger
shortly afterwards thereby allowing those on board to
study the difference in structure between the two species.
At about the 10-mile mark, we had a brief visit from acouple of Pantropical Spotted Dolphins and, then, a few
minutes later a larger pod of these cetaceans came to theboat and rode on our bow for a while. Just before reaching

our berley location, a Common Tern approached the boat
for a close look at us and quickly disappeared and we thencame across the only Southern Ocean Sunfish of the day.
With our concerns for deteriorating weather, we decided
to make our berley stop about 5 NM short of Brown's
Mountain, just over the beginning of the continental shelf
break. With David laying down a good slick, new species
began to appear on a regular basis. The first of these wasa handsome adult Campbell Albatross, which was joined
later by two more. David and I were wondering why, atthis time of the year, all the Black-browed Albatross are
immature birds and the Campbells are all adults. A verylate immature Yellow-nosed Albatross was the next new
species to appear followed by the first of several Wilson's
Storm Petrels, a couple of Providence and Great-winged
Petrels, and the only Wandering-type Albatross of theday, an Antipodean Albatross ssp gibsoni. The principal
excitement of the day came with the arrival of two Black
Petrels, which came and fed on the berley close to theboat giving great views to everyone. The journey back to
Sydney did not bring any new species, although some on
board at about 8 NM saw a third Black Petrel from theheads. We also had our third cetacean species of the day
when a group of Short-beaked Common Dolphins cameby close to the boat and kept on going. With the excellent
weather conditions, the good numbers of birds present
and the species count of 20, all on board had a great time
and we finished off in the harbour with drinks and snacks
to celebrate the end of an era.

BIRD LIST SYDNEY PELAGIC TRIP
Note that the numbers in parentheses represent the maximum number of that species in view at one time.
Antipodean Albatross
Black-browed Albatross
Campbell Albatross
Shy Albatross
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
Great-winged Petrel
Providence Petrel
Black Petrel
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Fluttering Shearwater
Hutton’s Shearwater

1
15
3
10
1
4
2
3
360
130
20
11
14

(1) adult gibsoni
(7)
(3)
(5)
(1)
(2)
(1)
(2)
(200)
(100)
(10)
(2)
(3)

Wilson’s Storm Petrel
Australasian Gannet
Silver Gull
Greater Crested Tern
Common Tern
Pomarine Skua
Arctic Jaeger

9
3
250
8
1
3
2

OTHER
Inshore Bottlenose Dolphin
Short-beaked Common Dolphin
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
Southern Ocean Sunfish

10
25
20
1

(6)
(1)
(200)
(3)
(1)
(2)
(1)

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 11

BIRDING DOWN UNDER
November 2013
Colette Livermore
A poster of a Macquarie Island beach, tightly packed withKing Penguins, which stretched out to a steep mountainon the horizon, had hung on my wall for many years. I had
always wanted to go there.
In November 2013 I set sail, with 48 other passengers,from Invercargill in New Zealand to Macquarie Island on
the Heritage Expedition’s vessel the Spirit of Enderby. En
route we visited the Snares, Enderby and Auckland Islands
where we were able to see the Snares Penguins on their
rocky outcrops and Yellow-eyed Penguins hiding in the Rata
Forests as well as Banded Dotterels, Tomtits, Tui, Antarctic
Terns and the Enderby Flightless Teal and Snipe. The New
Zealand fur seals were surprisingly swift on land. At sea
many species of Albatross and Petrel followed the ship andwe saw the black and white hourglass dolphins and a pod of
killer whales.
The trip was rough at times and not for those prone toseasickness but waking up to see Macquarie Island covered insnow outside the portal window was wonderful. Wandering,
Light-mantled Sooty and Grey-headed Albatross wheeledaround the ship as well as a white morph Southern GiantPetrel. The King, Royal, Gentoo and Rockhooper Penguins
breed on Macquarie Island and King and Royal Penguins
were seen swimming dolphin-like around the boat.

King, Royal and Chinstrap Penguins. Photo: Colette Livermore

After picking up Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife
Officers from the Australian National Antarctic Research
Expeditions (ANARE) Base at Macquarie Island we set sailfor Sandy Beach. On the way, we passed beaches crammedwith thousands of King Penguins surrounding the rustingremains of digesters once used in the 19th Century to boil
them down for oil. I was very happy to witness the revengeof the penguins. They were nearly wiped out, but have now
recovered to number around 200 000 pairs.
Macquarie Island is recovering from more than a century ofhuman activity in the form of sealers, hunters and introduced
pests: rodents, cats and rabbits. It is two years since the aerial
baiting program on the island set out to eradicate feral pests
and no rabbits have been sighted since December 2011.
The rats wrought devastation on the bird population but
now landing by zodiac on Sandy Bay the native wildlife isflourishing. At first the numerous sea lions strewn around thebeach seemed like giant boulders. Inquisitive King Penguins
came up to check out these visitors and their gear. Royal
Penguins with their bright yellow crests and solid orange
beaks mix freely with the sleek Kings Penguins but a lone,
lost Chinstrap Penguin seemed to be the object of stranger
hostility from its Royal cousins!
Up the hill at the Royal Penguin colony thousands ofpenguins were sitting on eggs and defending them from

Gentoo Penguin and chick. Photo: Colette Livermore

the circling Subantarctic Skuas. In a month the population
will double. Macquarie Island is the only place the Royal
Penguins breed and there are thought to be 800 000 pairs. At
the King Penguin colony at the other end of the beach young
penguins were moulting, shedding their brown fluffy wintercoat for the sleek black of their ocean going parents.
It is too cold for trees and woody shrubs to grow but plants
such as the silver- leafed mega herb with daisy-like flowers(Pleurophyllum hookeri), the Macquarie Island cabbage,

Page 12Birding NSW Newsletter

ferns and tussock grasses are now recovering from rabbit
infestation.
The day following our visit to Sandy beach we visited the
ANARE base on Macquarie Island where the animals remain
king. Sea lions loll about around the base wrecking havoc insome of the sheds and Gentoo Penguins raise their chicks
among the tussocks.
We had an excellent morning tea at the base and thencontinued exploring along the beach seeing Giant petrels,
Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Macquarie Island or King
Shags with their stunning blue eyes, Redpoll, Great Skuas,
Antarctic Terns, Kelp Gulls and the Royal and King Penguins.
On the way back to the ship via zodiac we passed by a
Rockhopper colony. Like the Royal Penguins they leave theisland in winter but return in summer to breed and moult.
On the return trip to New Zealand we stopped at Campbell
Island, which has also been transformed by rat and feral
animal eradication. The flightless Campbell Island Teal had
become extinct on the island but our tour leader Rodney Ross
found Teal surviving on Dent Island some years back when
he was working for the NZ Parks and Wildlife Service. Fromthese birds Campbell Island has been repopulated with thisbeautiful Teal. We also walked up to the Southern Royal
Albatross colony and saw their beautiful mating rituals.
The Antipodean Islands are formed from an extinct volcano
with impressive columnar basalt cliffs. Travelling by Zodiac
we saw the Antipodean Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolour)

Campbell Island Teal. Photo: Colette Livermore

Reischek’s Parakeet high up in the tussock grass and Erectcrested Penguin on the cliffs. The Antipodes Island Pipit, and
the Antipodes, Light-mantled Sooty and Royal Albatross
circled the island.
We could not go out on the zodiac around Bounty Island due
to rough seas but hundreds of Salvin’s Albatross and several
Bounty Islands Shags came around the ship. Erect-crested
Penguins could be seen high up on the rocky cliffs as well as
roosting albatross.
We returned via the Pyramid, the breeding site for Chatham
Island Albatross. It was a wonderful trip covering 2630
nautical miles during which we saw 14 species of albatross,9 species of penguin and 49 species of tubenoses as well as
numerous other birds.

CHRISTMAS OUTING TO SCHEYVILLE NP AND MITCHELL PARK
7 December 2013
Elisabeth Karplus
Fifteen people met on Pitt Town Dural Road including
Morven from the UK and Bruce and Jill from the USA.
Bruce and Jill, keen birders from Vermont, were alreadybirding in the area when Judy invited them to join us. It isalways fun to show off our birds to people from overseas.
Now that much of Scheyville forest is overrun with Bell
Miners, the best birding occurs along the roadside and on
the edge of the forest. White-winged Trillers were feeding in
the paddock while a pair of White-browed Woodswallows
fed a well-grown chick. Rufous Whistlers called nearby
and eventually we saw them well. Jill found a Crested
Shrike-tit, which we had all heard calling. Also seen were
Jacky Winters (there is usually a pair in the area), Dusky
Woodswallow, Eastern Yellow Robins, Grey Fantail, Redbrowed Finch and Eastern Rosella. We walked along thestock route beside the forest where Morven found a Scarlet
Honeyeater, which we heard calling, and we also saw Whitethroated Gerygones and Leaden Flycatchers. Above us werea juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle, a Brown Goshawk anda flock of White-throated Needletails. By then we wereready for morning tea in Mitchell Park, where Christmas

goodies were shared. From the picnic area we birded along
the main road. Two Brown Cuckoo-Doves were feeding
on berries in a low bush while pairs of Leaden Flycatchers
and Crested Shrike-tits were seen in the trees above. The
expected Dollarbirds and Sacred Kingfishers were easily
seen. Variegated Fairy-wrens were in the undergrowth along
the river with a female Satin Bowerbird. A Brush Cuckoo
called from shrubs along the creek, where there were Brown
Gerygones, Silvereyes and Red-browed Finches. Just before
lunch we were able to show our visitors a pair of Common
Bronzewings. While we ate lunch, our visitors set off for the
Hawkesbury Swamps – there Allan showed Morven Banded
Lapwings and a Rufous Songlark. The rest of us finished the
day with a walk along the track by the swamp in which we
saw a White-necked Heron. In the forest we were deafenedby the sound of cicadas and could see many of them on tree
trunks. Birds were very scarce here – presumably they were
troubled by the noise also – so we gave up and set off forhome. Thank you to everyone who brought lovely food for
us to share to celebrate Christmas, the New Year and the endof another year of great birding.

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 13

BIRDING AT IRON RANGE
6-11 December 2013
Dougald Frederick
In early December together with four other birdwatchers
I had the opportunity to revisit the avian delights of Iron
Range. The trip, which was fly in/fly out to Lockhart River,encompassed five nights and was led by Klaus Uhlenhut of
Kirrama Wildlife Tours. From a personal view point the aimof the trip was to finally see the Black-winged Monarch andSpotted Whistling-Duck, get better views of the Red-bellied
Pitta and Northern Scrub-robin and generally experience
Iron Range in the wet (my previous visit was in August).
All objectives were admirably met except for the whistling
duck, which disappointingly was last seen at the sewage
ponds on the day before our arrival.
The trip was enhanced by great weather, good company
and accommodation and excellent meals, which belied theremote location. Only limited travel was necessary as wewere based at a private house in Portland Roads for theduration of the trip. We covered all habitats in the Iron range
region. Waterbirds were generally scarce due to heavy rains
the week before our arrival (and shooting on the farm dam
by locals).

Female Eclectus Parrot at the nesting hole. Photo: Alfred Schulte

Iron Range is not a destination where you go to see large
numbers of species (105 species were sighted)–you visit forendemics and other special birds. The birding can be difficult
without local knowledge and the Savannah was generally
lacking in diversity (principally due to unsustainable annual
burning) and was dominated by Rainbow Lorikeets.
Avian highlights were many with the underrated Blackwinged Monarch (a lifer) way up there. Others in noparticular order included prolonged views of the stunning
Red-bellied Pitta and Palm Cockatoo, good views of the
difficult Northern Scrub-robin, Eclectus Parrots and Redcheeked Parrots, Marbled Frogmouth, Yellow-billed andBuff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers, Lovely Fairy-wren,
Green-backed, Brown-backed and White-streaked Honeyeaters, Yellow-legged Flycatcher, White-faced Robin,
Magnificent Riflebird, Trumpet Manucode and Fawnbreasted Bowerbird.

Collared Kingfisher. Photo: Robin Ashford

The non-avian highlight was undoubtedly the intriguing
fatal encounter between a water python and a Pacific Black
Duck, which we witnessed at the sewage ponds. A numberof other reptiles and mammals were sighted.
After the main trip I set aside a couple of days to search forLesser Sooty and Grass Owls in the Atherton Tablelands. My
low expectations of success were realised with a very distant
Tyto call the only evidence of their existence. A couple ofdays of non targeted and laid back general birding produced
an additional 80 species of which the clear highlights wereprolonged views of a pair of Pale-vented Bush-hens on an

Northern Scrub-robin. Photo: Alfred SchultePage 14Birding NSW Newsletter
open road, a male Tooth-billed Bowerbird on his lek and a
covey of 10 Brown Quail openly feeding and interacting justmetres from the car. Great views of a platypus feeding undera bridge were a nice bonus.
All in all it was a very satisfactory trip with ‘ something
still left for tomorrow,’ which means that further trips to Far
North Queensland will be beckoning in the future.

Palm Cockatoo. Photo: Alfred Schulte

Marbled Frogmouth. Photo: Robin Ashford

MY FIRST TWITCH
Rae Lister
I have just returned from my first twitch. I was sitting aroundexpecting items for the newsletter to come in as I planned
to work on them over the Christmas period and nothing was
happening so I was getting pretty restless. I left early on
Boxing Day for Leeton arriving around 2.30 pm and was
eventually able to raise someone to check into the motel I
had booked on the Internet. After I had paid and drove to myroom the reason for the delay became apparent as I saw him
join the group of drinkers clustered outside a couple of rooms
opposite mine! After a break with the mercifully loud aircon
shutting out some of the noise I turned on my phone to find amessage from Max, the President of the Murrumbidgee Field
Naturalists Inc. Max had kindly agreed to take me out to therice farm at Wilbriggie south of Griffith where Australasian
Bitterns had been found and seen regularly since about 17
November by rice farmer Andrew on his farm. Max suggested
we leave as soon as I was ready and we could bird on the way
to the farm.
I found Max’s house and I was grateful that he offered to drive.
Our first stop was the ‘winery site’ on Whitton Stock RouteRoad opposite the southern section of Binya State Forest
where we startled 30+ calling Superb Parrots with young
who had been feeding on acacia pods. They didn’t fly far andsome soon returned to the trees near us. Max next heard a
Painted Honeyeater calling which we eventually got to see

well. In the meantime we were chided by a group of Whitebrowed Babblers. I was delighted to hear a favoured call of
the Striped Honeyeaters and we saw quite a few along with
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters and Common Bronzewings. We
found the spectacular Splendid Fairy-wren (like the Superb
Parrots, too many superlatives are not enough) in a degradedsection of the bush. Along the road we saw emus far off in afield.
Ten minutes drive from the farm for our 7 pm rendezvous
Andrew rang Max to say he had just seen an Australasian
Bittern fly to a bay near him and he was looking at two in
another bay. I tried to stay contained. Other friends of Max’s
from Griffith pulled up soon after us and in no time Max had
the scope on the first Australasian Bittern craning its long neckabove the rice. This was my first glimpse of this bird. I had
only heard them calling before, booming out into the night
to be heard above the cacophony of many frogs in Cheynes
Swamp, south-west Western Australia. The excitement washigh and remained so for quite a while as we eventually
saw three birds craning high to look around them and I wascontent with that. Then one flew and I watched its flight withbinoculars–a whole AB! As we stood taking in our last views
two flew coming from separate directions and joined together
wings outstretched facing each other and dropped silently
below the rice. What a finale!

Birding NSW Newsletter
We headed out slowly in convoy with Max stopping to show
us a flock of Banded Lapwings in a field of dried mud andon the other side of the road were three adult Australian
Pratincoles with one juvenile that we could see; a ball of fluff
on pins in the fast fading light. White-browed Woodswallows,Black-shoulder Kites and a dark phase Brown Falcon wereseen on the wires along the road back while Nankeen Kestrels
hunted over the fields.
I returned to the motel at 9.30 pm to find that the group of
drinkers had swelled to a mini crowd and a car with doors open
was blaring out unspeakably loud music. There was a small
concession upon my arrival, they closed the car doors but I
could still hear it. This was not going to put me off birding. I
was going to make the most of my visit to Leeton by spending
another day around the area so the next day after very little
sleep I picked up Max at 7 am and we drove out to Wattle
Dam at Binya State Forest where we set up our chairs andwaited for the array of birds that would come in to drink. The
highlight was the variety of parrots with Superb, Turquoise,
Mulga, Red-rumped, Mallee Ringnecks, Cockatiels andGalahs coming in as Max tutored me on what to look for
to recognise males, females and juveniles of those parrots I
rarely see. Ever present were Bar-shouldered and Peaceful
Doves with the odd Diamond amongst them plus Common
Bronzewings. While Striped, Spiny-cheeked, Brown-headed,
White-eared and White-plumed Honeyeaters came to drink
along with one Black-eared Cuckoo. Max got a glimpse of a
Diamond Firetail having a brief sip.
We then walked around beyond the dam seeing Red-capped
Robins, Jacky Winter, Speckled Warblers, Leaden Flycatchers,
Yellow-throated Miners, Rufous Whistler, Chestnut-rumped
Thornbills, Yellow Thornbills, Silvereyes, Black-faced
Cuckoo-shrike, a Brown Treecreeper, Splendid Fairy-wrens
and the ubiquitous Willy Wagtails and Crested Pigeons.
From there Max directed me to Campbell’s Swamp near
Griffith. It was very hot by then so we were glad of the hide
where we watched a couple of Swamp Harriers making
sweeps over the water putting the bulk of the ducks, many
Grey Teal, to flight. We managed to find a couple of Pinkeared and Australasian Shovelers amongst them. To the farleft side were Black-winged Stilts, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers,
Marsh Sandpipers and Red-kneed Dotterel and towards thefar bank in front was a Great Egret, Yellow-billed Spoonbills,
Black Swans, Australian White Ibis and Australian Pelicans
while White and Straw-necked Ibis festooned the dead trees
along with Little Black Cormorants. I saw one European
Goldfinch and an Australian Reed-Warbler in the reeds.
That evening I went alone to Fivebough Wetlands. It was dry
and very hot even at 7 pm and I didn’t persist for too long but
it is a good place to see heaps of Yellow-rumped Thornbills!
Yes the party was still going when I got back to the motel but
not with the same gusto as the night before and I was able toget some sleep with the aid of the noisy aircon.
I decided that since I had come this far I would attempt
to twitch another bird that I have longed to see and that is
the Malleefowl. There had been a report of Malleefowl

Page 15
again being seen on Patchewollock Road in Victoria. Max
encouraged me in this venture, saying don’t bother checking
whether they have been seen around in the last few days, justgo. I left at 7.30 am for Ouyen. Oh that desolate Hay Plain!
It goes on forever just straight driving. I did see one Wedgetailed Eagle perched on a pole close to the road but at the
speed I was going there was not much chance of it being thereby the time I turned around.
I arrived at the Ouyen Caravan Park early afternoon inblistering heat with a strong wind blowing the dust aroundthe place. The sign on the door said open 9 to 5 but I couldn’t
enter. I sat in the car melting, fiddling with my phone trying
to Google Ouyen motel numbers when a lady emerged asking
had I been there long. I booked in and told her why I had
come and she expressed no confidence in my chances withthe temperature at 41° and the wind expected to increase. I
took refuge in the small room with the aircon on full and readfor a bit. It was so confining I decided to drive out to HattahKulkyne National Park in the vain hope that the weather
would be different out there. It wasn’t and the sign at theentrance of ‘Fire Danger Extreme’ was enough to dissuade
me from venturing into the park alone. Instead I headed in the
opposite direction to follow Max’s mud map to where I mightsee Malleefowl, feeling all the while that it was a long shot.
I drove slowly along the road as the signs request drivers to do
until I had gone well past the area where the Malleefowl havebeen seen. I pulled over, reading and looking up from time totime for about one and a half hours. In all that time I had only
had about four cars pass me but they were low flying—somuch for the signs.
As it was a bit cooler I drove back slowly almost the lengthof Patchewollock Road with no glimpses even of Malleefowl.
I was nearly back to the turn-off when I got a strong feelingto go back. Max had said I reckon you will see them around
7 pm. As I approached the area the first one stepped downfrom the bank at the side of the road on cue at 7.05! Joy ofjoys I was more excited I think than when I saw the bitterns. I
pulled off the bitumen and drove slowly on the dirt until I was
fairly close and then got out and moved towards it. It saw me
and moved back somewhat but into the sunlight, which was
perfect for me to see the pattern on the feathers.
Continuing to drive very slowly I came up on the next two
in the middle of the road—no wonder they become road kill.
I followed the same pattern as before and I was reasonably
close before they looked in my direction. I turned around at
the end of the Mallee Woodland section and saw a group of
three, one crossed the road straight away and disappeared but
the other two stayed feeding for quite a while before realising
I was creeping towards them.
It was a fair drive of 2000-odd kilometres in a few days but
worth it for two spectacularly successful twitches and although
not a planned trip by a stroke of serendipity I found it is a goodtime to travel. A vast majority of the population is tied up at
home with turkey and tinsel and there are no road works!

Page 16

Birding NSW Newsletter

THE BEST UNUSUAL RECORDS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES, OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2013
ALAN MORRIS, NIKOLAS HAASS & SIMON BLANCHFLOWER
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
Common Pheasant
Magpie Geese
Magpie Geese
Freckled Duck
Freckled Duck
Freckled Duck
Plumed Whistling-Duck
Plumed Whistling-Duck
Wandering Whistling-Duck
Wandering Whistling-Duck
Australian Shelduck
Emerald Dove
Brush Bronzewing
Brush Bronzewing
Flock Bronzewing
Diamond Dove
Diamond Dove
Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
Superb Fruit-Dove
White-throated Nightjar
White-throated Nightjar
White-throated Nightjar
Marbled Nightjar
White-throated Needletail *White-throated NeedletailWhite-throated NeedletailFork-tailed Swift
Fork-tailed SwiftBlack-bellied Storm-Petrel
Wandering Albatross
Campbell’s Albatross
Black-browed Albatross
Northern Giant-Petrel
White-chinned Petrel
Streaked ShearwaterBlack Petrel
Short-tailed Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
White-headed Petrel
Gould’s Petrel
Common Diving-Petrel
Masked Booby
Masked Booby
Black-necked Stork
Black-necked Stork
Black-necked Stork
Australasian Bittern
Australasian BitternLittle BitternBlack BitternBlack Bittern
Glossy Ibis
Eastern Osprey
Pacific Baza
Pacific Baza
Square-tailed Kite
Square-tailed kite
Grey Goshawk (White)
Spotted Harrier

A,2Y
10
67
10
4
34
200
54
4
30
43
1
1
1
2
4
1
2
F
1
1
1
2
6
30+
200+
10
8
1bc
15
2
45
1
1
1
5
4700
1 inj
1
2
5 bc
Im
Im
10+
1
1
9+
2
1
1
1
16
3
N+Y
1
1
1
1
1

25/11/13
26/10/13
02/12/13
16/10/13
02–24/11/13
24/11/13
23/11/13
24/11/13
26/10/13
29/10/13
26/10/13
21/10/13
15/10/13
01/12/13
13/10/13
19/10/13
25/10/13
27/10/13
27/10/13
16/10/13
22/10/13
27/10/13
27/11/13
28/10/13
01/12/13
25/11/13
18/10/13
30/11/13
28/11/13
23/11/13
23/11/13
06/12/13
26/10/13
26 & 30/10
18/10/13
23/11/13
18/10/13
28/10/13
11/10/13
24/11/13
30/10/13
23/11/13
24/11/13
13/10/13
26-30/10/13
06/11/13
17/11–03/12
29/11/13
01/12/13
15/10/13
18/10/13
24/10/13
24/11/13
30/11/13
06/12/13
06/10/13
20/10/13
24/10/13
18/10/13

Albion Park
Monkeygar Ck Crossing
Coutts Crossing
Lawrence Egret rookery
Putta Bucca Wetlands Mudgee
Barnetts Lagoon Gladstone
Condobolin STW
Barnetts Lagoon Gladstone
Lake Cargelligo STWWest Byron STW
Monkeygar Ck Crossing
Browns Dve Wahroonga
Cowan (nr railway tracks)
Popran Ck Spencer
Sth Myers Tank Sturt NP
Warriapendi Koorawatha
Leard SF Boggabri
Sea Acres NR Pt Macquarie
Pelican Pt Res Pt Macquarie
Dunns Swamp Rylstone
WestleighSphinx Tk Ku-ring-gai Chase NP
Whian Whian Nightcap NP
Sextons Hill Banora Point
Pilliga NR NE Baradine (3 sites)
Woolgoolga
Brooms HeadM1 Motorway Warnervale exit
Birdie Bch Nth Munmorah SCA
Wollongong pelagic
Wollongong pelagic
North Head Sydney Harbour NP
Wollongong pelagic
Wollongong pelagic
Woody Hd Bundjalung NP
Wollongong pelagic
Sth West Rocks & Back Bch (bc)
Anzac Pde Kensington
North Head Sydney Harbour NP
Port Stephens pelagic
Mystery Bay Beach Bodalla
Wollongong pelagic
Port Stephens pelagic
Moree & Whittakers Lgn area
Pambalong NR Minmi
Maryland Newcastle
Wilbriggie & Coleambally
Pitt Town Lagoon
Byron Bay STW
Lane Cove NP Fullers Bridge
Field of Mars Res Ryde
Pitt Town Lagoon
Middle Ck Narrabeen
Spencer Wharf
Narrabri
Forbes Ck Woronora
Burke St Oatley
Cowan Railway Stn (south)
Albion Park

I
CP
NC
NC
CT
NC
CP
NC
R
NC
CP
S
S
CC
UW
CT
NP
NC
NC
CT
S
S
NC
NC
NP
NC
NC
CC
CC
I
I
S
I
I
NC
I
NC
S
S
H
SC
I
H
NP
H
H
R
S
NC
S
S
S
S
CC
NP
S
S
S
I

Ted Wnorowski
Nick Carson
Greg Clancy
Greg Roberts
Kurtis Lindsay
Allen Hamilton
Warren Chad
Allen Hamilton
Craig Anderson
Duncan Fowler
Nick Carson
Nick Billington
Andrew Walker
Alan MorrisPeter Waanders
Per M Vesk
Grant Brosie
Tim MorrisPeter West
Marc AndersonPeter Abbott
Max de Beer
Ashwin Rudder
Rob Morrow
Michael Dahlem
B CookGreg Roberts
Nick Carson
Alan Morris
Brook Wylie
Brook Wylie
Michael Ronan
Frank Valckenborgh
Frank Valckenborgh
Greg Roberts
Brook Wylie
Ken Shingleton
Greg Smith
Michael Ronan
Mick Roderick
G Santos
Brook Wylie
Mick Roderick
Curtis Hayne
Jack Adams
Andrew Walker
Matt Herring
David James
Russ lamb
Fatih SanMax Breckenridge
Tom Wilson
Nathan Ruser
Christina Port
Kurtis Lindsay
Paul Freeman
Shaun Keyes-Byrne
Andrew Walker
Lorne Johnson

Birding NSW Newsletter
Spotted Harrier
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Little Eagle
Black Falcon
Black Falcon
Black Falcon
Australian Bustard
BrolgaBuff-banded Rail
Pale-vented Bush-hen
Baillon’s Crake
Baillon’s Crake
Australian Spotted Crake
Spotless Crake
Beach Stone-curlew
Beach Stone-curlew
Beach Stone-curlew
Bush Stone-curlew
Bush Stone-curlew
Banded Lapwing
Grey Plover
Grey Plover
Grey Plover
Pacific Golden Plover
Pacific Golden Plover
Oriental Plover
Oriental Plover
Oriental Plover
Oriental Plover
Double-banded Plover
Red-necked Avocet
Little Curlew
Little Curlew
Asian Dowitcher
Black-tailed Godwit
Marsh Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Terek Sandpiper
Wandering Tattler
Great Knot
Great Knot
Red Knot *Red Knot *Pectoral Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Sanderling
Sanderling
Sanderling
Ruff
Ruff
Plains Wanderer
Australian Pratincole
Australian Pratincole
Australian Pratincole
Black-breasted Button-quail

1
12
7
1
1
2
1
4+N
2
3
2
1
3
2
2
1
1
1
3pr
6pr
12,4Y
1
1
1
3
120
2
6
1
2
1
1000
1
1
1
20
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
9
1
1
1
62
3
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
9
2
2
5
1

Page 17
01/11/13
18/09/13
25/10/13
23/10/13
24/10/13
26/07/13
27/10/13
September
15–29/10/13
04/11/13
09/12/13
04/11/13
13/10/13
29/11/13
13–27/10/13
12/10/13
16/11/13
01/12/13
Sep–Oct
Sep–Oct
27/10–25/11
03/11/13
04–25/11/13
07/12/13
01/11/13
20/11/13
06–12/10/13
15/10–09/11
11/10/13
05/12/13
26/10/13
07/10/13
12/10–14/11
06/12/13
16/11–01/12
28/10/13
15/10/13
25/10–03/11
29/10/13
15/10/13
13/10/13
26–27/10/13
19/11/13
14/11/13
20/10/13
31/10/13
01/12/13
07/10/13
07/10/13
15/10/13
20/10–01/11
01/11/13
28/10/13
28/10/13
28/11/13
19/11/13
14/10 & 11/11
01/11/13
08/12/13
25/10–03/11
26/11/13
11–12/12/13
26/10/13
29/10/13
20/11/13
25/11/13

Cape Banks Botany Bay NP
Pine View (150 km N Broken Hill)
Merriwa (10 km W)
Kendall
Cecil Hills
Butlers Falls Reserve Dubbo
Teven Rd Swamp
Pine View (150 km N Broken Hill)
Boyters Lane Jerseyville
Haslems Pier SOP
Terania Creek
Haslems Pier SOP
Pitt Town Lagoon
Pitt Town Lagoon
Pitt Town Lagoon
Picnic Pt The Entrance (+ 23/11)
Nullica River Mouth Eden
Shoalhaven Heads
Brisbane Water (nesting)
Ballina-Tweed Heads (nesting)Cornwallis Rd Windsor
South Ballina
Red Rock Estuary Corindi
Toowoon Bay Reefs
Pitt Town Lagoon
Shoalhaven Heads
Long Reef Golf Course
Sydney Airport
Moruya Bch Moruya Heads
Wanganella
Breeza Cotton Dam
Lake Goran Quirindi
Fivebough Swamp Leeton
Wanganella
Shoalhaven Heads
Stockton Sandspit
Barnetts Lagoon Gladstone
Pitt Town lagoon
West Byron STW
Barnetts Lagoon Gladstone
Narrabri Lake
Lake Cargelligo STW
Fivebough Wetlands Leeton
Red Rock Estuary Corindi
Soldiers Point Norah Head
Red Rock Estuary Corindi
Shoalhaven Heads
Earthcare Pk Tenambit
Long Reef Marine Reserve
Barnetts Lagoon Gladstone
Pitt Town Bushells & Bakers Lgn
Cockle Bay Lgn Empire Bay
Bakers Lagoon RichmondBushells Lagoon Wilberforce
Spring Ck Res Orange
Fivebough Wetlands Leeton
Red Rock Estuary Corindi
Boat Harbour Kurnell
Comerong Is NR Shoalhaven Hds
Pitt Town Lagoon
Jetty Beach Coffs Harbour
Wanganella
Lake Cargelligo (1 km N)
Bellata (5 km SE)
WhittonMallanganee NP Casino

S
UW
H
NC
S
CS
NC
UW
NC
S
NC
S
S
S
S
CC
SC
I
CC
NC
S
NC
NC
CC
S
I
S
S
SC
R
NS
NS
R
R
I
H
NC
S
NC
NC
NP
R
R
NC
CC
NC
I
H
S
NC
S
CC
S
S
CT
R
NC
S
I
S
NC
R
R
NP
R
NC

Bas Hensen
Leigh Schmidt
Mike Kuhl
Tim Morris
Jim Dixon
Craig Arms
Steve McBride
Per Leigh Schmidt
Lynn Roubin
Allan Richards
Gus Daley
Allan Richards
Michael Ronan
David James
Michael Ronan
Tim Faulkner
R MillerCharles Dove
Alan Morris
Bob Moffat
Elisabeth Karplus
Kathy Wilks
Russell Jago
Steve Merrett
Mark Young
Martin Potter
Bob Way
Nigel Coghlan
Julie Morgan
Philip Maher
Robert Hynson
Michael Dahlem
Max O’Sullivan
John Nevinson
Charles Dove
Andrew Walker
Ken Shingleton
Max Breckenbridge
Duncan Fowler
Ken Shingleton
Sue Proust
Steve Roderick
Keith Hutton
Russell Jago
Steve Merrett
Russell Jago
Ron Imisides
Grant Brosie
Tom Wilson
Ken Shingleton
Edwin Vella
Andrew Walker
Ted Wnorowski
Ted Wnorowski
Neville Schrader
Keith Hutton
Russell Jago
Lynn Roubin
Carla Jackett
Joshua Bergmark
Garth McGilvray
John Nevinson
Ben Warmsley
Michael Dahlem
Keith Hutton
Michael RonanPage 18
Long-tailed Jaeger
Gull-billed Tern
White-winged Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern
White-fronted Tern **Little Tern *Little Tern
Sooty Tern
Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Superb Parrot
Superb Parrot
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Musk Lorikeet
Musk Lorikeet
Little Lorikeet
Little Lorikeet
Budgerigar
Budgerigar
Budgerigar
Turquoise Parrot
Turquoise Parrot
Bourke’s Parrot
Pheasant Coucal
Eastern Koel
Eastern Koel
Eastern Koel
Brush Cuckoo *Pallid Cuckoo
Black-eared Cuckoo
Little Bronze-Cuckoo
Powerful Owl
Powerful Owl
Powerful Owl
Southern Boobook
Eastern Grass Owl
Azure Kingfisher
Red-backed Kingfisher
Noisy Pitta
White-browed Treecreeper
Southern Emu-wren
Scarlet Honeyeater
White-eared Honeyeater
Crimson Chat
Crimson Chat
Crimson ChatBlack HoneyeaterBlack HoneyeaterBlack-chinned HoneyeaterBlack-chinned Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
Little Friarbird
Pied Honeyeater
Pied Honeyeater
Painted Honeyeater
Painted Honeyeater
Painted Honeyeater
Regent Honeyeater
Regent Honeyeater
Regent Honeyeater
Speckled Warbler
Spotted Quail-thrush
Olive Whistler
Ground Cuckoo-shrike

Birding NSW Newsletter
2
5
1
1
1
1
2
20
8+N
2
3
8
AM
2
2
12+
8
3
2
6
200
60+
6
20
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
HC
HC
A+J
2A2J
1
2
2
1
1
2
3
1
1
6
4
6+
4+
6+
12
3
3
4
2
4
20
2
2
3+
44
1
2
2
2
1

24/11/13
04/12/13
13/10/13
26-27/10/13
04/12/13
07/12/13
26/10/13
11/10/13
30/11/13
24/11/13
06/11/13
11/11/13
25/11/13
12/10/13
29/11/13
05/11/13
02/11/13
25/10/13
26/10/13
19/10/13
20–31/10/13
27/10/13
13/10/13
01/12/13
21–25/09/13
30/11/13
31/10/13
01/11/13
25/11/13
24–25/10/13
24/11/13
25/10/13
24/10/13
16/10/13
25/10/13
27/10/13
04/11/13
31/10–01/11
24/11/13
22/10/13
25/11/13
25-26/09/13
29/10/13
25/11/13
27/10/13
26/10/13
09/12/13
23/11/13
12/10/13
26/10/13
16/10/13
19/10/13
28/11/13
30/11/13
18/09/13
18/09/13
12–29/10/13
20–28/10/13
01/11/13
16–18/10/13
01/11–09/12
31/10/13
27/10/13
19/10/13
10/11/13
25/10/13

Port Stephens pelagic
Lake Cathie Entrance
Pitt Town Lagoon
Lake Cargelligo STW
Lake Rosendahl Reservoir
Hexham Swamp NR
Wollongong pelagic
Boat Harbour Kurnell
Burrill Lake estuary
Port Stephens pelagic
Fearnly Tk Dudley
Yarrabimbi Leeton
Forest Rd Orange
Yarrie Lake Narrabri
Narrabri
Smoothy Pk Wollstonecraft
Myahgah Rd Mosman
Bicentennial Pk Glebe
Pallamallawa
Whittakers Lagoon Moree
Narrabri Lake Narrabri
Terry Hie HieUpper Bullawa Ck Mt Kaputah
Backyamma SF Forbes
Spring Ck (80 km E Broken Hill)
Mehi River Moree
Nail Can Hill Albury
Eden
Hill St Parkes
Eastlakes Golf Course
Riverstone
Leard SF BoggabriKing Ck Wauchope
Dunns Swamp Rylstone
Redbank Ck Picton
Cherrybrook
Cumberland SF Pennant Hills
Bellata (5 km SE)
Tycannah Ck Terry Hie Hie
Capertee R Glen Davis
Mallanangee NP Casino
Churinga HSD (E of Broken Hill)
Voyager Pt Wetlands Liverpool
River Rd Bathurst
Terry Hie Hie
Lake Cargelligo STW
Belougery Flt Warrumbungle NP
Barren Box Swamp Griffith
Cobar Louth Rd (7 km NW)
Willie (7 km W)
Glen Alice
Warripendi & Koorawatha (2 sites)
Junee Wetlands
Sackville Reach
Pine View (150 km N Broken Hill)
Springs Ck (80 km E Broken Hill)
Yarrie Lake Narrabri
Pitt Town Lagoon
Mt Panorama Bathurst
Glenrowan Bridge Glen AliceCapertee Valley (19A 25J 4 sites)
Thurgoona (banded bird)
Moree (20 km SE)
Spring Forest HSD Koorawatha
Kalaru Bega
Kelvin SF Gunnedah

H
NC
S
R
NC
H
I
S
I
H
H
R
CT
NP
NP
S
S
S
NP
NP
NP
NP
NP
CP
UW
NP
SS
SC
CS
S
S
NP
NC
CT
I
S
S
NP
NP
CT
NC
UW
S
CT
NP
R
CP
R
UW
CP
CT
CT
SS
S
UW
UW
NP
S
CT
CT
CT
SS
NP
CT
SC
NS

Mick Roderick
Alan Morris
Michael Ronan
Steve Edwards
Alan Morris
Allan Richardson
Frank Valckenborgh
Aaron Payne
Bob Rusk
Mick Roderick
Rebecca Citroni
Andrew Thompson
Rae Lister
Michael Dahlem
Michael Dahlem
Ted Nixon
Anita Smegberg
Simon Gorta
Curtis Haynes
Curtis Haynes
Michael Dahlem
Curtis Hayne
Michael Dahlem
Lorand Szucs
Leigh Schmidt
Curtis Hayne
Janet Chapman
Len Axen
Warren Chad
Bas Hensen
Edwin Vella
Grant Brosie
Clive Meadows
Marc Anderson
Gerard Proust
Carol Abbott
Colleen Southall
Michael Dahlem
Curtis Hayne
Mick RoderickMichael Ronan
Leigh Schmidt
David James
Tiffany Mason
Curtis Hayne
Mick Roderick
Sue Brookhouse
Tony DymondJohn van der Woude
Alan MorrisMark Anderson
Per M Vesk
Tim Dolby
David James
Leigh Schmidt
Leigh Schmidt
Michael Dahlem
Jenny Stiles
Tiffany Mason
Marc Anderson
Mick Roderick
Ian Davidson
Curtis Hayne
Per M Vesk
D Jones
Grant Brosie

Birding NSW Newsletter
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
Cicadabird
White-winged Triller
White-winged Triller
White-winged Triller
White-browed Woodswallow
White-browed Woodswallow
White-browed Woodswallow
Masked Woodswallow
Little Woodswallow
Grey Currawong
White-eared Monarch
Spangled Drongo
Satin Flycatcher
Flame Robin **Tawny Grassbird
Tawny Grassbird
Rufous Songlark
Rufous Songlark
Beautiful FiretailDiamond FiretailDiamond Firetail
Plum-headed Finch
Plum-headed Finch
Plum-headed Finch
Plum-headed Finch
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Eastern Yellow Wagtail

3
1
2M
2
2
30
50
30
4+
2
1
1
1
Pr
2
1
1
1
1
A+N
2+N
1
60+
4
6+
10+
10
1

Page 19
27/10/13
30/11/13
15/10/13
21/10/13
10–12/10/13
14/10/13
14/10/13
26/10/13
14/10/13
01/12/13
27/10/13
25/11/13
08/10/13
12/10/13
19/10/13
19/10/13
20/10/13
13/10/13
25/10/13
28/11/13
19/10/13
02/11/13
18/10/13
26/10/13
27/10–29/11
01/12/13
30/11/13
27/10/13

Terry Hie Hie
Bundanoon
Nepean River Penrith
Terry Reserve Albion Park
Picnic Pt Res The Entrance
Shoplands Rd Annangrove
Scheyville NP Hdqtrs Windsor
Blacktown Rd Freemans Reach
Shoplands Rd Annangrove
Salt Caves Dam Timmallallee NP
Helensburg
Mallanganee NP Casino
Eastlakes Golf Course
Sun Valley Winmallee
Spring Forest HSD Koorawatha
Lake Cargelligo STW
Bingara STW
Sydney Airport Control Tower
Eastlakes Golf Course
Lady Carrington Dve Royal NP
Horseshoe Bend SF Bingara
Rollands Plns Rd Telegraph Pt
Whitlow Rd Bingara
Pitt Town Lagoon
Lake Cargelligo STW
Backyamma SF Forbes
Mehi River Moree
Byron Bay STW

NP
I
S
I
CC
S
S
S
S
NP
S
NC
S
S
CT
R
NS
S
S
S
NS
NC
NS
S
CP
CP
NP
NC

Curtis Hayne
Lorne Johnson
Bob SinclairDavid Bourne
Steve Merrett
Daryl Smedley
Keith Brandwood
Edwin Vella
Daryl Smedley
Michael Dahlem
Paul Freeman
Michael Ronan
Bas Hensen
Gerry Flannagan
Per M Vesk
Graeme Stevens
Alan Morris
Nigel Coghlan
David Mitford
David James
Alan Morris
Phil Shelley
Alan Morris
Tony Dawe
Warren Chad
Lorand Szucs
Curtis Hayne
Debra Pearce*=First Return ** Last Date hw= hit window rk = road kill bc= beach cast, 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 ‘Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds’2008)
COMMENT
Both migratory shorebirds and other migrants have all been heading south into NSW in the past two months, bringing with them some unusual species
like Oriental Plovers to 4 sites, Grey Plovers to 3 sites, Little Curlews to 2 sites and an Asian Dowitcher to the Shoalhaven area. Large wrecks of
Short-tailed Shearwaters were recorded on the beaches of South-east Queensland, NSW, Victorian and South-Australian in late November in numbers
larger than previously reported in recent times. The drought in South-west Queensland with the accompanying drying up of wetlands in the Paroo, Bulloo
and Lake Eyre Basin continues to drive large numbers of Freckled Ducks, Grey Teal, Pink-ears, Yellow-billed Spoonbills, White-necked Herons,
Spotted Harriers and Budgerigars into north-eastern and eastern NSW with extraordinary numbers of each species being seen in places not previously
reported, however Black Kite records appear to have peaked and are now declining. The numbers of Freckled Ducks continue to rise in NSW, otherrecords include: 2 Pitt Town Lgn 30/10–28/11 (S), 2 Lake Cargelligo STW 26/10 (R), 3 Gunnedah STW 26/10 (NS), 12 West Byron STW 29/10 (NC),
1 Cut Hill Res Cobbitty 02/11 (S), 2 Condobolin STW 23/11 (CP), 7 Lower Kangaroo Ck 24/11 (NC), 2 Eastlakes GC 21–27/11 (S), 18 McPhersons Rd
Swamp, Tuggerah 07/12 (CC); other Plumed Whistling-Duck records include: 8 Coutts Crossing 02/12 (NC); White-throated Nightjar: HC Tanja,
Wallagoot Bermagui and Merimbula 14/10–22/11 (SC), 1 Mill Ck Dharug NP 23/10 & 10/12 (CC); Australasian Bittern: Neil Bull, Coordinator of the
Bitterns in Rice Project in the Riverina reports that Bitterns have been found in many rice fields this season (R); Black Bittern: 1 Tuggerah Ck Central
Coast Wtlds 07–10/12 (CC); Glossy Ibis records include: 800+ Fivebough Wetlands 03/12 (R), 5 McPherson Rd Swp Tuggerah Nov-Dec (CC); Eastern
Ospreys, the birds on the Georges River at Illawong, would appear to be the most southern nesting pair at present in NSW, other southern records include:
singles at Merimbula Lake 20/10 & 24/11, Womboyn Lake entrance 17/11 (SC), 1 Long Reef Marine Res 24/11, 2 Riverview 27/11 (S); Pacific Baza: 1
Glenbrook Lgn Glenbrook 26–27/11, N+2Y Holgate Nov, 1 Irrawong Res Warriewood 01/12 (S); Square-tailed Kites reported include: Eastern Valley
Way Killarney Vale 07/12 (CC), 1 Acacia Gardens 08/12 (S) & 4 reports from Tura, Bermagui & Mandini 02/10–24/11 (SC). Coastal Spotted Harriers
remain in many locations including 1 Yurammie 01/10 (SC); Grey Goshawk: 1 Fitzroy Falls, Morton NP 25/11 (I); The surge in Black Falcon numbers
continues, other records include 1 Macquarie Marshes 26/10 (CP); Australian Spotted Crake: Curalo Lake Eden 25/10 (SC); Spotless Crake: 1
Bermagui 28/10 (SC), Byron Bay STW 01/12 (NC); Other Brolgas were in a rice crop at Koonadan 01/12 (R); During Jul–Aug Bush Stone-curlews 3
prs nesting East Ballina, 1 pr Pottsville, 1 pr Fingal Head, Boys Hay & Hastings Pt (NC); Single unattached Beach Stone-curlews, because of the upsurge
in the population’s breeding success, have been wandering around the Central, Illawarra and South Coasts recently including: Orient Point Culburra 03/10(I) & Toadgy Pt Moruya Hds 15/12 (SC); Hooded Plover: 2A+3Y Tura Bch Tanja 07/11 (SC); Common Greenshank: 1 Fivebough Swamp 01/11 (R);Marsh Sandpiper: Fivebough Swamp Leeton 01/11 (R), 1 Whyjuck Bay, Lake Illawarra 09/10 (I); Sharp-tailed Sandpiper: 250 Fivebough Swamp
03/12 (R); Whiskered Tern: 400+ Fivebough Swamp 03/12 (R); Superb Parrot: 189 birds seen at 33 sites Cowra District 19–20/10 (CT), 16 Canal St
Leeton 02/12 (R); The movement of Budgerigars in eastern NSW continues viz; Narrabri area Nov–Dec, 10+ Barren Box Swamp Griffith 23/11 (R);
There are more Powerful Owl records 1 Dunns Swp Rylstone 16/10 (CT) & Mill Ck Dharug NP (CC), 2J Eastern Arterial Rd Lindfield 21/10, HC Park
Ave Roseville 24/10 (S), HC Tanja 28/10 (SC), 1 Sheldon Forest Turramurra 03/11 (S), Whian Whian, Nightcap NP 28/11 (NC); Eastern Bristlebird:
2+ Border Ranges NP 16/10 (NC); White-fronted Honeyeater: 3+ 17 km SW Rankins Springs 12/10 (R); Black Honeyeater: 3 Spring Ck, Broken Hill
24/09 (UW), 2+ 17 km SW Rankins Springs 12/10, 6 The Basin Dam, Koonadan 18/11 (R); Painted Honeyeater: Other reports include 3+ 17 km SW
Rankins Springs 12/10 (R), 2+ Glen Alice 16-18/10 & 09/12, 1 Badgery TSR Cowra 19/10 (CT), Kelvin St Gunnedah 25/10 (NS), Willie 26/10 (CP),4+ 7 km W of 2 Gibbs Rd Fivebough 03/12 (R); White-browed Woodswallows: other coastal records include 30 Blacktown Rd Freemans Reach 26/10(S), 150+ Bellawongarah 02/11 (I) while they were very abundant in the Cowra District when during the October surveys 749 birds were seen at 34 sites(CT); Plum-headed Finches were seen in the past 2 months at locations not previously reported viz Backyamma SF and Lake Cargelligo, but also 20+
at Bingara STW 20/10, 20 Leard SF Boggabri 25/10 (NS) & 50+ Narrabri Lake 04/10 (NP). Good Birding!

Page 20

Birding NSW Newsletter

BIRDING NSW DIRECTORY
Postal address:
Birding NSW, PO Box Q277,
QVB Post Shop, NSW 1230
Email: info@birdingnsw.org.au
Website: www.birdingnsw.org.au

Sydney Club Meetings:
The Club meets on the first Tuesday of themonth, February to December at 7.30 pm
on Level 1, Sydney Mechanics School ofArts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney. There is an
illustrated talk followed by Club businessand unusual sighting reports. Visitors arewelcome.

Central Coast Club Meetings
Meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday ofthe month at Anzac Street, Tuggerah at 7.30
pm. Convenor: Alan Morris 4334 2776

Annual membership fee:Single adult $35.00
Family $40.00

Junior (under 18 years) $15.00

Fees are due on 1 October. Membership
includes subscription to the Newsletter andthe Club’s Annual Bird Report.

Email for Club Activities:
activities@birdingnsw.org.au

CLUB COMMITTEEPRESIDENT:Dr Tom Karplus
9816 2285

VICE-PRESIDENT:

Judith Nancarrow
9958 1891

SECRETARY:

Vacant

TREASURER:

Leigh Hall9449 8370

PUBLIC OFFICER:

Dick Dallimore
9953 7562

MEMBERS SECRETARY:

Adrian Nieuwenhuizen
8920 2935

NEWSLETTER EDITOR:

Rae Lister9982 1924

ACTIVITIES OFFICER:

Allan Richards
9660 8062

SPEAKERS COORDINATOR: Graham Walters
9534 3039
RECORDS OFFICER:

Alan K. Morris4334 2776

CONSERVATIONSUBCOMMITTEE:

Judith Nancarrow
Chair 9958 1891
Barry & Carlotta Payne
Carol Bye

PUBLICITY OFFICER:

VacantWEBSITE COORDINATOR:Peter Diegutis
04 0535 4450

CLUB EMAIL MANAGER:

Marlene Henderson

COMMITTEE MEMBER:

VacantCLUB OFFICERS
BIRDING BULLETIN:

Keith Morris &Elisabeth Karplus

Email articles, trip reports etc to
newsletter@birdingnsw.org.au

SALES TABLE,
STOCK & ASSETS:

Coleen Southall

RHERP PROGRAM:

Douglas Bateman

APRIL Newsletter Deadline:

NAME TAGS &HAT/LAPEL BADGES:

Norma Ikin

Newsletter contributions:

21 February 2014

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contact Rae Lister:
Email: newsletter@birdingnsw.org.au

Visit Birdline NSW online:
www.eremaea.com
This site is for the reporting of rare or unusual birds outside
their normal range, unusually high or low numbers, earlyor late arrivals or departures for migrant species andinteresting behaviour or unusual habitat usage.