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Birding NSW Newsletter

birding Newsletter
nsw
NSW
NSW Field
Field Ornithologists
Ornithologists ClubClub Inc
Inc
Issue
Issue 281
281

June
June -- July
July 2017
2017

President’s Report
At a Special General Meeting of the club on 2 May 2017,
the new club Constitution was adopted without dissent.
This document will be submitted to the Office of Fair
Trading for approval in the near future.

at the BIGnet Saturday seminar have agreed to talk at ourclub meetings early next year, and I am sure that you will
enjoy their presentations. The next BIGnet meeting will
be held at Urunga (Coffs Harbour area) in September.

Members will recall that the club has supported Matt
Herring in his research project “Bitterns in Rice”, centredin the Riverina. We were offered the privilege of naming
one of the radio-tracked bitterns this year, and we chosethe name Arnold in memory of our late patron, Arnold
McGill. Matt has recently tagged a bittern who now bears
the name “Arnold”. We look forward to hearing more
about Arnold the bittern in coming months.

Our Activities Officer, Allan Richards has organised acampout in the Tuncurry area for the June Long Weekend.
This is modelled on the successful campout that Alan
Morris has run in the past. It is based in a caravan park,so if you wish to attend, book a cabin early! For further
details, look at this issue of the newsletter or the Birding
Bulletin.

The South-West Slopes Key Biodiversity Area (KBA)
survey in March at Grenfell went very well, with arecord 36 surveyors and major interaction with the local
community. The club had almost a full page spread in
the local paper, and landowners in the Grenfell area weregenerous with their time in supporting the project. Thanks
to Elisabeth Karplus for organising the surveys, and to
Michael Edwards for preparing thedata.

Club members Camila de Gregorio and Chris Macaluso
were successful in a City of Sydney art competition
to decorate the city. Their bird art can be seen at aconstruction site hoarding in Kent Street, Sydney. It shouldbe there for a while, since the site will host a 20-storey
building. An example of their work is shown below.
Tom Karplus
President, Birding NSW

Elisabeth, who is the NSW KBA
co-ordinator, will attend KBA eventsin Melbourne in May and in the
Shoalhaven in August.
Our speaker list for 2017 is now
complete, with Tim Low talking
about bird song in October andProfessor Penny Olsen giving theArnold McGill Memorial Address onher current project, the Night Parrot,
at the December club meeting.
The recent BIGnet meeting at
Mt Keira was well attended,
and BirdLife Australia Head ofConservation Sam Vine chaired
a productive Conservation
Forum. There was a change in thesignatories of the BIGnet account at
PRINT POSTSome
APPROVED
PP100001080
this meeting.
of thespeakers

Street Art with a Difference! A hoarding decoration in Kent Street between Erskine andKing St. By Camila de Gregorio and Chris Macaluso.

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Birding NSW Newsletter

CLUB ACTIVITIESFIELD OUTINGS AND MEETINGSFIELD OUTINGS
Bring a snack, lunch and a chair. Please check the websites on the evening proceeding the activity to ensure that there are not any changes.
NATIONAL PARK USE FEES
Club Outings are sometimes held in National Parks. A valid day pass or annual pass is necessary for 46 national 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.
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.
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 advance if they are coming to an outing so that they don’t leave without you!
FEES AT CAMPOUTS
A camping fee may be applicable at some campsites.
PETS
Members are reminded that pets including dogs are not allowed 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 the outing 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.

JUNE 2017
Tuesday 6 June Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre,
Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280
Pitt Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm. “Yellow-tailed BlackCockatoos Research Project”. Speaker: Jessica Rooke
Saturday 10 June Club Outing: Wolli Creek andBarton Park. Meet at the end of Finlays Avenue,
Earlwood at 8.30 am. We will walk from Turrella Reserve
to Girrahween Park and back to cars for morning tea.
If time permits, we will drive across to Barton Park
wetlands. Finish about 12.00 pm. Leader: Ian Bailey 0412
251 337 or 9821 4284 priorLong Weekend Campout 10-12 June. Wallamba River
Holiday Park, 99 Aquatic Road, North Tuncurry about 14
km north of Tuncurry. Tel: 6554 3123 or 1800 268 176.
Meet at 8:30 am at entrance to the caravan park. Lunch atcars. Birding in nearby areas including Cattai Wetlands.
Leader: Allan Richards 9660 8062; 0432 064 660
Wednesday 14 June Central Coast Half Day Outing:
Saratoga and Davistown. Meet at 8:30 am at Saratoga
Wetlands, Willaroo Street, Saratoga. Lunch at cars.
Leader: Doug Hocking 0427 800 428

Saturday 17 June Club Outing: Warriewood Wetlands
and Irrawong Reserve. Meet at 8.30 am at Katoa Close,
Warriewood. Lunch at cars. Gradient: Easy with bush tracks.
Leader: Russell Beardmore 9400 9782 mobile 0404 023 223

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Birding NSW Newsletter
Tuesday 27 June Central Coast Meeting: Meet at theProgress Hall in Anzac Street Tuggerah opposite McDonalds
at 7.30 pm. “Birding in Norway”. Speaker: Greg Miles
Wednesday 28 June Midweek Outing: Chiltern Track,Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Ingleside. Meet at 8.30
am at the end of Chiltern Road, off Mona Vale Road,
Ingleside. Lunch at cars. Gradient: Easy with bush tracks.
Leader: Elisabeth Karplus 0421 665 553

AUGUST 2017
Tuesday 1 August Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre,
Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280
Pitt Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm. “The Plains-wanderer”.
Speaker: David Parker

JULY 2017

Saturday 5 August Club Outing: Chiltern Track, Kuring-gai Chase National Park, Ingleside. Meet at 8.30
am at the end of Chiltern Road, off Mona Vale Road,
Ingleside. Lunch at cars. Gradient: Easy with bush tracks.
Leader: Coleen Southall 9982 5453; 0410 549 321

Saturday 1 July Central Coast Outing: Dubbo Gully,
Mangrove Mountain. Meet at 8.30 am at the corner ofWisemans Ferry and Waratah Roads, Mangrove Mountain.
Lunch at cars. Leader: Margaret Pointer 4374 1163

Wednesday 9 August Central Coast Half-day Outing:
Meet at 8.30 am at Central Coast Wetlands Carpark,
access off South Tacoma Road Tuggerah. Lunch at cars.
Leader: Alan Morris 0418 269 482. A joint outing with
Cumberland BOC

Tuesday 4 July Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre,
Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280
Pitt Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm. “Water Management in
the Murray-Darling Basin”. Speaker: Terry Korodaj to
explain water management and a colleague to talk birds
Saturday 8 July Club Outing: Royal National Park.
Meet 8.30 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: Allan Richards 0432 064 660

Wednesday 12 July Central Coast Half Day Outing:Munmorah State Conservation Area. Meet at 8.30 am at
Elizabeth Bay boat ramp carpark. Lunch at cars. Leader:Andrew Melville 0416 162 297
Saturday 15 July Club Outing: Mistral Point,
Maroubra. Meet at 9:00 am in the furthest car park at thenorthern end of Marine Parade, Maroubra. We will takea short, but rocky walk out to a headland for a sea watch
looking for whales as well as seabirds. Bring a spotting
scope if you have one. Lunch at cars. Leader: Trevor
Waller 0467 977 508
Tuesday 25 July Central Coast Meeting: Meet atthe Progress Hall in Anzac Street Tuggerah opposite
McDonalds at 7.30 pm. “Birding in Central Chile andNorthern Argentina”. Speaker: Allan Richards
Wednesday 26 July Midweek Outing: Mistral Point,
Maroubra. Meet at 8.30 am in the furthest car park at
the northern end of Marine Parade, Maroubra. We willtake a short, but rocky walk out to a headland for a sea
watch looking for whales as well as seabirds. Bring aspotting scope if you have one. Lunch at cars. Leader:
Allan Richards 9660 8062; 0432 064 660
Saturday 29 July Central Coast Outing: Quorrobolong.
Meet at 8:30 am at the Shell Garage, Freemans Waterhole.
Lunch at cars. Leader: Alan Morris 0418 269 482

Saturday 12 August Club Outing: Scheyville National
Park and Hawkesbury area. Meet at 8.30 am at the carpark for Scheyville National Park Headquarters off
Scheyville Road. Lunch at cars. Leader: Trevor Waller
0467 977 508
Tuesday 22 August Central Coast Meeting: Meet atthe Progress Hall in Anzac Street Tuggerah opposite
McDonalds at 7.30 pm.” Birding in South Africa”.
Speaker: Mike Kuhl
Saturday 26 August Central Coast Outing: Nords
Wharf and Galgabba Point, Swansea. Meet at 8.30 am at
Cams Wharf Car Park, at the end of Cams Wharf Road.
Lunch at cars. Leader: Andrew Melville 0416 162 297

DEAR
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Birding NSW needs yourpictures of birds!
Ideally, sharp images of any
Australian bird or group of
birds showing clearly that thebirds were in the wild.

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Birding NSW Newsletter

ARNOLD THE BITTERNHi Elisabeth and Tom,
Here’s some photos of Arnold, who was caught and released at Coleambally yesterday. He’s only about
three months old and was presumably born in this rice field. He flew strongly on release, moving about 60
metres into the crop. There’s a good chance we’ll see a big movement from him in the next few weeks.
Many thanks for your support, and please pass on our appreciation to the club from the Bitterns in Rice
Project.
Kind regards, Matt.
Matt Herring
Wildlife Ecologist
mherring@murraywildlife.com.au
0428 236 563@Matt_HerringOz
www.murraywildlife.com.au
www.bitternsinrice.com.au

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Birding NSW Newsletter

SYDNEY PELAGIC TRIP REPORT
8 April 2017
Roger McGovern
Weather patterns had been fairly
benign in the days leading up to thistrip and, with light breezes and agentle sea of less than a metre all day,we were anticipating an interestingand pleasant autumn trip. It certainly
was a very pleasant day to be on
the ocean but, unfortunately, theinterest level in terms of birds andcetaceans was extremely low. Water
temperatures out at the shelf were in
the 26OC range which is very highfor April and an examination of thesea surface temperature map showedthat we were on the edge of a rapid
drop off in temperature to the southof Sydney – as much as four degrees
cooler within less than 100km.
Astoundingly, we saw no albatross at
all on the trip, the first time that thishas ever been recorded on a Sydney
pelagic in April, and we could only
assume that they had headed a little
Pomarine Skua. Photo Steve Hey BNSWJ17
south in search of cooler water.
Although we always had birds around the boat with thewe saw no rarities of any sort and our species count ofshearwaters appreciating our berley throughout the trip,
eleven for the day was disappointing.

BIRD LIST(Number in parentheses represents the approximate number of that species seen at any one time)
Wilson’s Storm Petrel
Providence Petrel
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
Flesh-footed Shearwater
Fluttering Shearwater
Hutton’s Shearwater

5
6
80
3
14
2
1

(3)
(2)
(60)
(1)
(8)
(1)

Australasian Gannet
Silver Gull
Greater Crested Tern
Pomarine Skua

12
100
3
1

OTHER
Flying fish

1

(6)
(60)
(1)

Three unidentified small whales seen by Steve at the front of the boat which could not be relocated.

The next trip will be on Saturday 10 June, 2017 and 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

New Members
A warm welcome is extended to:Sunil Kulkarni of Artarmon
Georgina McDonald of Hurlstone ParkSELLING-SELLING-SELLING!!!
Barrie Ayres, long-serving Life Member is selling:• Tent plus Camping Gear • Fishing Rods with Nets
• Cutlery, Mugs, Ornaments • Some Furniture

DOWN-DOWN-DOWN SIZING!!!
Ring Barrie 0429 121 188 | E: bazzainoz@yahoo.com
CHISWICK NSW

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Birding NSW Newsletter

A Book Review by Lindy Jones
Office of Conservation, Birding NSW
May 2017

The Australian Bird Guide
Peter Menkhorst, Danny Rogers, Rohan Clarke, Jeff Davies, Peter Marsack, Kim Franklin; CSIRO 2017
When I first heard about this book, I wasn’t sure
I would need another bird guide. But I took acopy home and spread out my Slaters, Pizzey& Knight, and Simpson & Day and started
comparing features. The Bird Guide does notfollow the usual taxonomic sequence which
ignores preferred habitats, but instead is divided
into marine/coastal, freshwater and land birds
and then follows a taxonomic structure. Text ison the left hand page, divided into two columns
with distribution maps at the foot of the page,and illustrations are on the right hand page.
The species accounts cover wing and bill measurements,
weight, description, voice and notes that cover habitat andmiscellaneous features, but the most salient identifying
features are italicised for convenience.
The illustrators take care to show any subspecies, adult,
immature and juvenile forms, or breeding plumage;and almost every bird is depicted in flight, as well as
its standard pose (on the water, standing, perched).
There are fieldmarks when necessary, or other useful
identifying features (comparisons of bill shape/length forexample, or relative size comparisons). Thereis a scale bar at the bottom of each page to help
with estimating size, and a symbol indicating
likelihood of encountering the bird.
Vagrants are identified as such over theirillustrations.
Once I got used to the layout, I found it very
easy to use. The distribution maps werea little hard to figure out at first, but readthe introductory pages and all the shadings
are explained. As with every guide I know,
sometimes the colour reproductions are at the mercy ofthe printing process, but on the whole they are fine, if
erring towards the duller edge rather than hypercoloured.
The book is properly stitched and the binding sturdy.
The major drawback is the weight - nearly 1.5 kg! That
aside, it would be a wonderful and worthwhile addition
to your collection, and if you do carry it with you whenout birding, it will be the best guide for determining thosetrickier birds. I certainly won’t be without it!
Lindyj@abbeys.com.au

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL FORM-INTERIM
Given Name..........................................................Surname........................................................................
Address.......................................................................................................................................................
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Payment: post this form with a cheque payable ‘’Birding NSW’’ to: PO Box Q277 QVB
Post Shop Sydney 1230.
Online banking to: Birding NSW BSB: 062169 A/c 10193174 with your name please.
Subscriptions are due on 1 October each year. Payments from 1 July will be accepted as 1 October for new members.

I understand that this membership fee means that I/we agree to be bound by the Club Constitution.

Page 7

Birding NSW Newsletter

Editor’s Inbox...
Dear Members,
As I draw together the copy for this newsletter, a numberof correspondents have added to the information andrecords we have. Recording the observations at any
particular place and bird life-cycles will be a key topreservation of the places where they live.
See especially the report from the Murray-Darling Basin.
Jenny Johnstone continues with her Masters ofArchitecture project and would love to hear your views
on her ideas. A key to the project is briefly described by
the question: “what do birders want when they are out andabout?’’ She asks you for comment on:• My experience would be improved if I could stop andsit when I want.
• Do I prefer local birding or travelling to different places.
• Are there enough bird-hides provided.
• What facilities do I need.
Call Jenny on 0406 802 108 or email
jejohnstone@hotmail.com
Caroline Wilson of BirdLife Australia has called us to orderwith the 2017 surveys of Regent Honeyeater and Swift
Parrot. The note I have was too late to organise the May
surveys for you (check out the website) but please checkyour diary and book for 5 and 6 August. Call Caroline on
0408 668 070 or email caroline.wilson@birdlife.org.au
Alex Wnorowski and Ted are providing all the latest
avenues for birders to obtain their new volume, AustralianGood Birding Guide: NSW-ACT. It is available onlinefrom various booksellers and now in print. I will be buying
a book to add to my library. At 530 pages it is not a bookto carry in your pocket but many places to find and checkout will be very close to home. The book and postage will
be about $90. A digital copy less. For details of how best
to access the Guide, call Alex on 0432 422 862 or email
awnorowski100@gmail.com
Mike Newman kindly answered my question about
the rights and wrongs of a waterbird hunting season ineastern states. His opinion is that:
There is no scientific reason for closing the season onsustainability grounds. 2. The conduct of the season
is a disgrace which has no place in current society
and should be banned for ethical reasons. Mike’s
conclusion was that ‘’the decisions are political’’.
Ted and Sue Ratcliff spent a memorable two weeks
in Sri Lanka during February-March 17. A few things
mentioned in the report they sent in, are extraordinary.
Each park visited was different. A great diversity of large
mammals as well as birds can be seen. The guide who
showed them around, drove the hire-car and spoke fluent
English. He was a highly experienced birder as well. We
may be able to publish the story in full later in the year.
Thinking about it: do we have a bird guide in Australia
who can speak Sinhala? Or Mandarin?
Ted and Sue are happy to talk about the experience:
ratclifffamily@aapt.net.au

Australian Good Birding Guide: NSW-ACT
by Ted and Alex Wnorowski.

A new birdwatchers site guidebook is now available:
This comprehensive book will help the reader select and navigate through theState’s best birdwatching sites, whether well-known or less frequently visited,with some newly discovered by the authors.
For each site, at the minimum, the access details, habitat description, key bird
species, and facilities are addressed. This is further augmented with personal
birding records and travel experiences of the authors. Our data has been crosschecked and supplemented with the verified sightings reported online.
The ebook (in the ePub format) is available from several retailers. For links to theretailers go to the authors’ website: https://www.australian-good-birding-guide.
com/. There is also a printed version that may be purchased directly from thatwebsite. Alex, mobile: 0432 422 862
This is the first publication of a planned series of travel guides describing goodbirdwatching sites in Australia.

Page 8Birding NSW Newsletter

BIRDING NSW’s KEY Biodiversity Area Survey around Grenfell
25 March 2017
Elisabeth Karplus
Birding NSW’s 11th bird survey around Grenfell took
place on Saturday March 25, 2017. Grenfell is within
the South West Slopes Key Biodiversity Area (KBA).
This huge KBA extends from Orange to Wagga
Wagga and east to Canberra so we only survey in asmall area of it. The target species in this KBA are
Superb Parrots, Swift Parrots, Painted Honeyeaters
and Diamond Firetails. Although the area is now a
KBA and therefore other taxa (mammals, reptiles,
amphibians etc) are potentially of concern in the KBA,
we continue to concentrate just on birds. As well as
the target species defined on the basis of their global
conservation status, we record bird species listed
as vulnerable under current NSW legislation. Our
surveys began in 2011. The September 2016 survey
was cancelled because of floods.
Thirty six people took part in the surveys including
Allan Richards presenting the picture painted by Norma Ikin to Miklanine new surveyors and six surveyors from Grenfell
Lewis. Photo Camila Di Gregorio
and Young. This is the largest number of surveyors
we have had. Everyone came to dinner on Friday nightat the Railway Hotel – not a problem for Carol, the cook,Bee-eaters. For surveyors in the forests, Red-capped
who produced a roast dinner for us. We increased theRobins were common being seen in seven sites with thenumber of survey groups to eight and we surveyed on
maximum number seen on any site being seven. Outside of
31 sites including two new sites. I would like to thankthe survey, people saw Plumed Whistling-Ducks and PinkAllan Richards, Ted Nixon, Jill Molan, Richard Webber,
eared Ducks at the sewage ponds.
Graham Fry, Russell Beardmore and Paul Johnstone forOnce again we were blessed with good weather for theleading groups; I led the eighth group. Superb Parrots werebarbecue on Saturday night at “Rosemont”, the homeseen on five survey sites (three on private properties) andof Mikla and Wayne. This provided an opportunity forincidentally in four other places over the weekend; theAllan to present Mikla with a picture of her favourite
maximum number seen at any place was 19 birds. Twobird, a Spotted Harrier, painted by Norma Ikin. This gift
Diamond Firetails were seen on one survey site in Bimbi
is a present from all of us to thank Mikla for all her hard
State Forest. Once again we did not see the other two
work in supporting and promoting the bird surveys aroundtarget species. Of other threatened species, two Brown
Grenfell. Tom provided two chocolate cakes to celebrate
Treecreepers were seen in Warraderry State Forest, five
three birthdays including Mikla’s. On Sunday morning we
Turquoise Parrots were seen in Weddin State Forest, two
met at Company Dam for a walk in fine weather around theSpeckled Warblers were seen in Weddin State Forest (nottracks. I recorded 38 species including six Varied Sittellas,on a survey site) and Grey-crowned Babblers were seen
two Crested Shrike-tits and two Speckled Warblers.
in nine places; the maximum number on any place was 15
During this survey weekend we recorded 64 species withbirds. We did not see any Hooded Robins on this survey.
61 species seen on survey sites. Since commencing the
Other interesting species were an Australian Hobby, aGrenfell surveys in 2011, we have seen 134 bird species
Brown Goshawk, two Swamp Harriers, a White-bellied
on survey sites with several other species seen on nonCuckoo-shrike, a Southern Whiteface, two Painted Buttonsurvey sites during the survey weekends.
quails, Australian Ringnecks, Blue Bonnets and Rainbow

Page 9Birding NSW Newsletter

Below are shown the bird species with bird numbers seen during the survey on Saturday March 25, 2017. This table
does not include birds seen outside survey periods or at other places during the weekend. The only new bird species
seen on a survey site was a White-bellied Cuckooshrike. My thanks go to Michael Edwards, who has provided the data
included in the two tables.

SpeciesNumber ofbirds seen

Number ofsites atwhich seen

SpeciesNumber ofbirds seen

Number ofsites atwhich seen

Apostlebird

119

15

Rainbow Bee-eater

142Australian Hobby

1

1

Rainbow Lorikeet

82Australian Magpie

45

19

Red Wattlebird

22Australian Raven

10

9

Red-capped Robin

19

7

Australian Ringneck

4

2

Red-rumped Parrot

22

6Australian Wood Duck

6

3

Restless Flycatcher

33Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

6

5

Rufous Whistler

85Blue Bonnet

2

1

Southern Whiteface

1

1

Brown Goshawk

11

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

7

2

Brown Treecreeper

21Striated Pardalote

3

1

Common Bronzewing

106Striped Honeyeater

94

Crested Pigeon

28

11Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

1

1

Diamond Firetail2

1

Superb Fairy-wren

113

Eastern Rosella

76

20

Superb Parrot

36

5

Eastern Yellow Robin

6

3

Tree Martin

3

2

Galah

35

12

Turquoise Parrot

5

1

Grey Butcherbird

13

9

Wedge-tailed Eagle

1

1

Grey Fantail

15

7

Weebill11Grey Shrike-thrush

22

Welcome Swallow

5

2

Grey-crowned Babbler

42

6Western Gerygone

22

Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

1

1

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike

1Jacky Winter

2

1

White-browed Babbler

92

Laughing Kookaburra

84White-eared Honeyeater

125Little Raven

2

2

White-plumed Honeyeater

45

6Magpie-Lark

16

10

White-throated treecreeper

3

3

Noisy Miner

115

18

White-winged Chough

73

7

Pacific Black Duck

2

1

Willie Wagtail

19

10

Painted Button-quail

2

1

Yellow Thornbill

32

10

Peaceful Dove

4

3

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

62

Pied Butcherbird

14

10

Yellow-rumped Thornbill

123

Pied Currawong

7

5

Total # Species seen61 		Total # birds seen

971** Species seen for the first time this survey italicised

The next survey will be held on the weekend of September 15-17, 2017. We hope that our existing volunteers andnew volunteers will take part in the next survey. Everyone is encouraged to book accommodation as soon as possible
as there are always events in Grenfell in Spring. Please contact Allan Richards (activities@birdingnsw.org.au) or me(emhodson@exemail.com.au) if you are not already on our contact list and would like details of the next survey.

Page 10Birding NSW Newsletter

Arnhem Land
September 2016
Leigh Hall
Arnhem Land Bird
Week has been held
since 2008. In 2016
there were twoconsecutive weeks
in September andOctober. In prioryears, the location
was the Arnhem
Land Barramundi
Nature Lodge outside
Maningrida, which
operates as a highend fishing campthroughout the dry
season. We only
stayed one night
there, and the recently
opened Murwangi
Safari Camp was thelocation for mostof the week. It is a
Chestnut Rail. Photo Leigh Hall
luxury camp having
air-conditioned tents with modern en-suites. The food was excellent. The Traditional Owner, Johnny Pascoe, whostarred in the movie, Ten Canoes, owns the former cattle property. He has leased the site to Outback Spirit, who are theoperators of the facility, and who now organise the bird week.
The birding was also pretty good! We had several most experienced and enthusiastic guides [ Richard Noske, John
Estbergs, and Chris Brady ] who took small groups of five or six to a variety of distinct habitats. Some 180 species
were recorded.
The first day was spent on the river, as weather prevented us from going out to the off-shore islands, where the previous
group made many great sightings of shore birds. Flocks of Brolgas and groups of buffalo graced the land. Excellent
sightings were made of Chestnut Rails foraging on the muddy shores, Red-headed Honeyeaters, Black-necked Storks,
as well as a Great-billed Heron. Closer to Barra Camp there were Long-tailed and Masked Finches, Black-tailed
Treecreepers, and White-winged Trillers. Along the road we saw a pair of Red Goshawks feeding their chick.
A highlight at Murwangi was the billabong adjoining the camp. This enabled close-up birding from the comfort of aboat in the shady inlets. Apart from the Plumed Whistling-Ducks, Comb-crested Jacanas, Magpie Geese, Whistling
Kites, Blue-winged Kookaburras, Nankeen Night-Herons, Torresian Imperial Pigeons, Australasian Darters andEgrets, we saw White-browed Crake, Crimson Finches, Paperbark Flycatchers, Mangrove Robins, Mangrove Golden
Whistlers, Azure Kingfishers, Forest Kingfishers, Arafura Fantails, and the ubiquitous Lemon-bellied Flycatchers.
The Lemon-bellied Flycatcher reputedly have the smallest nest in Australia, and they certainly looked tiny. The camp
airstrip had its resident Oriental Plovers. The nearby paperbark forests had Bar-breasted, Rufous-banded and Rufousthroated Honeyeaters, as well as Varied Lorikeets.
Our excursion into the nearby settlement of Ramingining provided opportunities to observe indigenous culture as wellas to explore additional habitats. Australian Bustards, Helmeted Friarbirds, Large-billed Gerygones, Yellow Whiteeyes, and large numbers of Little Curlews were recorded.
Arnhem Land Bird Week was a very enjoyable and productive birding experience.

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 11Camp-out West Wyalong
24-26 March 2016
Alan Morris
Twenty-seven members and friends of the Central Coast Group of Birding NSW took part in the first of four camps
for 2017, having spent from 23-27/3/17 staying at the Ace Caravan Park, West Wyalong. From here we visited State
Forests, Nature Reserves, Travelling Stock Reserves, wetlands and farmlands within a 50 km radius of the Town. The
purpose of the visit was to survey the birds in the Box Woodlands, Mugga Ironbark & Cypress Pine Forests, wetlands
and farmlands of the area, for both the NSW Bird Atlas Data Base and to contribute to Birdlife Australia’s Birdata
Project and the South West Slopes Key Biodiversity Area surveys, at the same time learning about the birds of thewoodlands and plains generally. All up we saw 112 species. Within the camp ground we had a list 38 species including
up to five Pink Cockatoos each day, a flock of 21 Superb Parrots, many Little Friarbirds, Blue-faced and Spiny-cheeked
Honeyeaters, many Choughs & Apostlebirds and Grey-crowned Babblers. Overall Choughs, Apostlebirds and Redcapped Robins seem to be the commonest bush birds in the District, where we visited over 28 different locations andwill submit about 50 Birdata surveys!
On the Thursday before the camp, up to 50mm rain fell across the District, and while it had dried out by Friday, theday remained dull & overcast. In the morning we visited an area of mallee in the Charcoal Tank Nature Reserve andthe box woodland habitats of the Buddigower Section of the South West Woodlands Nature Reserve. At the former
the highlights were Inland Thornbills, the first of many Red-capped Robins, Common Bronzewings and the inland
NSW form of the Varied Sittella, while at the latter were Peaceful Doves, Spotted and Striated Pardalotes, Rufous
Whistlers, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Western Gerygone and Ringneck Parrots. On the way we passed the Alleena
Silo and former village, where we saw a Wedge-tailed Eagle, a Brown Falcon, three Banded Lapwings, an adult maleSuperb Parrot, Jacky Winter and 2 Pink Cockatoos. In the afternoon we first visited Wyrra SF, a Cypress Pine/Box
Woodland site, where a flock of eight Zebra Finches were seen, more Sittellas, Red-capped Robins and Spiny-cheeked
Honeyeaters. At nearby Back Creek SF being mostly Cypress Pine/ Belah habitats, there were Dusky Woodswallows,
Striped Honeyeaters and Yellow Robins, and the final stop for the day was at the Wyalong Wetlands and WWTP. Great
views here of a female Musk Duck, and immature Great Crested Grebe, many Pink-ears, Hardheads, White-plumed
Honeyeaters, White-breasted Woodswallows, Black-fronted Dotterels, all the usual waterbirds and a Whistling Kite.
Saturday came up sunny and later hot, the temp rising 30C, so we spent the morning firstly in Wyalong SF (a malleesite), just on the northern edge of the town and had great views of Variegated Fairy-wrens, four Pink Cockatoos,
Crested Shrike-tit, Collared Sparrowhawk, Weebills, Inland & Yellow Thornbills and White-eared Honeyeaters, andthen moved onto the former Hiawatha SF, nowadays a part of South West Woodlands NR, an area of Mugga Ironbark
and Box Woodland habitats. The highlights here were Thornbills including Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Western
Gerygones and Red-capped Robins, while at the adjoining Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR), there were 2 Wedge-tailed
Eagles, Double-barred Finch, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, a Noisy Friarbird and many Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters. In
the afternoon we visited the village of Barmedman and then onto Curraburrama SF. On route to and from the SF wepassed through open cropping country and saw Brown Falcons, Kestrels, a Hobby, Blue Bonnet Parrots, White-necked
Herons, our only flock of Cockatiel for the trip, Grey-crowned Babblers, Yellow-throated Miners and two more Pink
Cockatoos. At the Forest was a pair of Brown Goshawks, Singing, Striped & Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, Rufous
Whistlers, Yellow & Red-capped Robins and yet another Wedge-tailed Eagle.
Our planned visit to the Nerang Cowal Section of Lake Cowal was on the Sunday which was a hot sunny day and goodlight for bird watching. Our first stop was a TSR on the Clear Ridge Road, an area of Box Woodland where we had our
first sightings of Brown Treecreepers, up to this stage only White-throated Treecreepers had been seen! At Clear Ridge
SF there were Blue Bonnets, Brown Falcon, Little Friarbirds and Common Bronzewings, plus the usual robins, and in
the open country enroute to Lake Cowal there were Grey-crowned Babblers, Black-shouldered Kites, Pipits, Yellowthroated Miners, Whistling Kites, Kestrels and Ringnecks. We lunched in the little village of Burcher, finding the usualcollections of Grey Fantails, thornbills and robins.
We drove down the Burcher-Forbes road into the Lake, parking just before where the lake waters have flooded across theroad. The highlights here were a Freckled Duck, a pair of Australian Shelduck, many Pink-ear and Grey Teal, Royal andYellow-billed Spoonbills, Great Egret White-necked Herons, Black-fronted Dotterel, three Sacred Kingfishers, VariegatedFairy-wrens in the Lignum, Darters, many Pelicans, four species of Cormorants and Wood Ducks, Black Ducks etc. On

Page 12Birding NSW Newsletterour way back to Wyalong, we stopped at Lake View and Corringle SFs, the highlights being two Emus at the former
and Blue Bonnet Parrots at the latter. After a coffee and rest at the camp, we paid our final visit to the Wyalong Wetlands
where more Double-barred Finches were seen, and Tree and Fairy Martins, and Reedwarblers were added to our list.
Overall we saw Major Mitchell’s (Pink) Cockatoos at 6 sites including repeat sightings in the camp, Superb Parrots atthree sites, saw many Red-capped Robins & Rufous Whistlers, Inland, Chestnut-rumped & Yellow-rumped Thornbills,
had great views of Blue Bonnets and Mallee Ringneck Parrots; Peaceful Doves, Weebills and Western Gerygones, andnine species of raptors including Wedge-tailed Eagles at seven sites! Everyone agreed that it was a very successful
camp, as it was a great time of socialising, photography, checking out the tourist highlights and enjoying the outdoors,particularly in this part of the Central West Slopes and Plains of NSW.

Sydney Olympic Park
29 March, 2017
Judy Clark
After the run of wet weather, Wednesday dawned fine and sunny. Nine keen birders including one visitor from England
met near Lake Belvedere for our March midweek outing.
We began by heading to the belvedere lookout where we observed plenty of activity on the island. All four cormorants
and darters were nesting, feeding young and some were in the process of building new nests. There were also Great
Egrets feeding in the water and we found others nesting on the island. The best sighting and probably the highlightof the day were two juvenile Nankeen Night-Herons perched in one of the paperbarks adjacent to the lookout only acouple of metres from us, and very photogenic!
We walked around the lake and located many duck species, now returning to city waterways. We found New Holland
Honeyeaters then four or five pairs of Royal Spoonbill nesting at the top of the casuarinas.
After morning tea we headed to the bird hide where we found Black-fronted Dotterel, Red- necked Avocet, Hardhead,
Black Swan and Black-winged Stilt all in good numbers plus two Caspian Tern, one adult and one juvenile.
We lunched in the picnic shelter and chatted about recent sightings in Sydney and around New South Wales. By the endof lunch it had become quite hot so we decided to call it a day. In total 42 species were seen.
Thanks to all those who attended.

Bucketty, Mogo Camp and Wollombi/Murrays Run
1 April 2017
John and Carole Carpenter.
25 keen birders met at the Letter “A” cnr of George Downs Drive and Walkers Ridge Rd Bucketty, on a pleasantautumn day. We had several Sydney visitors, our UK visitor Jay Nicholson, while Tony Yates was joining us for the
first time. Gang-gang Cockatoos were heard calling but waited to make their appearance when everyone had arrived
and they were much admired and photographed! Before we moved off we had recorded 15 species including Pied
Butcherbird, Noisy Friarbird, Grey Shrike-thrush and Scarlet Honeyeater, The friarbirds and honeyeaters were feedingon the flowering Red Bloodwoods, which were in heavy flower at Bucketty Wall & Waterhole and Mogo Camp as well.
We made our way to the convict wall at the corner of Settlers Rd/Great North Road where we had good views of the
Crested Shrike-tit. Also seen were Variegated Fairy-wrens, White-cheeked and White-eared Honeyeaters. We continued
along the Great North Road (Settlers Rd) to the Bucketty waterhole where we found the usually present Yellow-tufted
Honeyeaters. A Dusky Woodswallow was sighted briefly overhead and a Fan-tailed Cuckoo called from a roadsidetree in clear sight! Our next stop was the Mogo Camp, in Yengo NP where a large flowering Forest Red Gum Euc.
tereticornis was alive with birds. There were White-naped, Yellow-faced, Scarlet, New Holland, White-naped andFuscous Honeyeaters feeding on the nectar. The latter species was a new bird for some people. We reluctantly left
the honeyeaters to walk around the Camp track where the dominant bird was the Eastern Yellow Robin. Morning tea
was taken, again watching the honeyeaters and Little Lorikeets were passing overhead. To our great delight a pair ofBirding NSW Newsletter

Page 13

Spotted Quail-thrush walked round the grassed area in view of everyone. After a short look at the Quarry across theroad, we returned to the Camp where Mark spotted a bird with red on its head and everyone was quickly motivated
to see this Red-browed Tree-creeper. The pair of treecreepers, quite oblivious to the excited birders, continued theirforaging while photographers tried to catch this pair of busy birds. This was another lifer for some of the group. Top
morning tea stop of the year!
We then drove to Wollombi via the Yango Creek Road, stopping to look in the waterholes where we added Blackfronted Dotterels, Grey Teal, a Swamphen working at a nest in the reeds, Yellow-rumped Thornbills and Superb
Fairy-wrens. Lunch was had at Wollombi making full use of the upgraded Picnic Area. Blue-faced Honeyeaters wereseen and a Wedge-tailed Eagle soared high in the clouds. We then drove to the Wollombi Cemetery to check out the
nearby waterhole but only found Grey Teal, Black Duck and a row of Cattle Egrets roosting on the old fence in thewater. The surprise find was sighting a Jacky Winter roosting on the tallest tombstone. From here some of our groupreturned to the Letter “A” via George Downs Drive and the rest of us drove back via Murrays Run. Here we saw
Galahs and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Australian White Ibis, Australasian Grebe and Striated Thornbills. A reallygreat day, 65 species were seen, many of them specials and new birds for some especially Jay! Thanks for everyone’s
support.

Scheyville NP Outing
8 April 2017
Trevor Waller
A small group of members met at Scheyville National Park Headquarters under clear sunny skies. The first bird for the
day was an Australian Hobby. We had good close scope views as it perched in a nearby tree. On our walk here we also
found Fuscous and Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Eastern Rosella and Noisy Friarbird. Towards the end of the walk wefound a large active flock of Silvereye including many Tasmanian birds
After morning tea we moved to Cattai National Park where we stopped along the entry road a few times. Along the way
we saw Restless Flycatcher, Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brown Goshawk, Black-shouldered Kite
and Nankeen Kestrel. Other birds seen included White-necked Heron and Red-browed Finch. We had lunch in one ofthe pavilions on new tables and benches.
After lunch we moved on to Mitchell Park which was very wet after all the recent rain, so we stayed on the bitumen. Here
we found Azure Kingfisher, Golden Whistler and Brown Gerygone. After a good day out we all went our separate ways.

Katandra Reserve, St John’s Lookout (Mount Elliott)and Maidens Brush Fire Trail
12 April 2017
Doug Hocking
After a month of wet and humid weather 18 Birders visited the Katandra Reserve, Maidens Brush Fire Trail and St
John’s Lookout (near Mount Elliott). It was a chance to have a look at bird populations in the temperate rain forest
surrounding the man-made Seymour Pond and the ridge lines of Mount Elliott with St John’s Lookout rising 208
metres above sea level. The Sydney CBD can clearly be seen from the lookout. The habitat was in prime condition after
the rain. In short, the birds were scarce in the rain forest and even fewer on the Maidens Brush Fire Trail. However,
we managed to see 36 species. The highlights for me were four female Regent Bowerbirds, a Rufous Fantail and two
Topknot Pigeons at Katandra Reserve while at Maidens Brush Road and St John’s Lookout, the Striated and Buffrumped Thornbills, and a Mistletoebird were the highlights.
Most of the activity at Katandra was around Seymour Pond, a relic of farming days when the pond was the farmdam, there were large areas of cleared rough grazing for cattle and beans were grown on the flatter areas using someirrigation from the dam. There has been much revegetation of the rainforest since then! The birds seen and heard
at Katandra Reserve/Seymour Pond were: Bell Miner, Laughing Kookaburra, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow

Page 14Birding NSW Newsletter

Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, Grey Butcherbird, Eastern Whipbird, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Superb Fairy-wren, Eastern
Yellow Robin, White-throated Treecreeper, Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail, Brown Gerygone, Red-browed Finch,
White-browed Scrubwren, four female/brown Regent Bowerbirds, Rufous Fantail, one Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Satin
Bowerbird, two Topknot Pigeon, Eastern Rosella, Green Catbird, Superb Lyrebird and Masked Lapwing.
Birds seen and heard at Maidens Brush Fire Trail and St John’s Lookout were: Grey Shrike-thrush, Australian Magpie,
Magpie-lark, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird, Eastern Spinebill, one Mistletoebird, Variegated Fairy-wren, Bell
Miner, Grey Fantail, White-throated Treecreeper, Australian Pelican, Golden Whistler, Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern
Yellow Robin, Eastern Whipbird, Grey Butcherbird, Noisy Miner, Brown, Yellow and Striated Thornbills, and another
Brown Cuckoo-Dove2017 Easter camp at Nangar National Park
14 – 17 April 2017
Elisabeth Karplus
The 2016 Easter camp at Nangar
National Park was so successful that
Allan Richards decided to take clubmembers there again in 2017. Nangar
National Park is about five hours drivefrom Sydney and is 70 km west ofOrange and 10 km east of Eugowra.
This national park is within the SouthWest Slopes Key Biodiversity Area andis 90 km north east of Grenfell, where
the Club does twice yearly surveys.
Once again we camped at the Terrara
Creek Camping Ground. This time
Easter occurred in the middle of theschool holidays so there were manyfamilies camping in the area. Luckily
the kids go to sleep quite early! The
single toilet coped very well with theTurquoise Parrot. Photo Greg McLachlan
large number of visits – periodically an
adult would lead a group of 4 or 5 children up to the toilet. It was generally not very smart to be queuing behind them
if you were in a hurry! Our group of 16 campers split into two groups and settled in good sites on opposite sides of theroad and the creek. This year there was water in the creek and plenty of water in other sites so we saw few Macropods
close to the road. Each day Coleen and Gabrielle, who were staying in Forbes, joined us for walks in the park.
Once again the best birding was close to the entrance to the National Park and particularly along the creek among
White Cypress Pine with various eucalypt species. Allan looked for the Owlet-nightjar we had seen last year – no luck
and we watched a Monitor Lizard emerging from the tree hollow! There were good numbers of Turquoise Parrots.
Frequently we were alerted to their presence by their high pitched call as they flew over us but we also had good viewsof perched birds. Greg got close enough to watch some Turquoise Parrots bathing in the creek. One evening Nigel,
Greg and I came upon a group of 14 Turquoise Parrots feeding with two Red-rumped Parrots on the edge of the road.
Of other threatened woodland birds, during the weekend we saw a pair of Hooded Robins, many Speckled Warblers,a few Dusky Woodswallows, two Diamond Firetails and several groups of Grey-crowned Babblers. On a visit to thelookout from which we could see Mount Canobolas near Orange and on a nearby track, there were Red-capped, Scarletand Eastern Yellow Robins as well as several honeyeaters – Yellow-tufted, White-eared, Brown-headed and Whiteplumed. Generally there was little blossom except for a few flowering Ironbarks so honeyeaters were uncommon. We
were surprised to find large numbers of Grey Fantails – at least 5 feeding near the lookout. We presumed that they were
migrating north. Other birds seen in the park included Inland Thornbills, Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, a Horsfield’s
Bronze-Cuckoo, White-browed Babblers and many Southern Whiteface and Yellow-rumped Thornbills. Alas we failed
to see any Glossy Black-Cockatoos this year.

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Birding NSW Newsletter

As well as birding in the National Park, we made trips to Gum Swamp in Forbes and to the Parkes Sewage Treatment
Works. At Gum Swamp there were few ducks but we saw large numbers of Australasian and Hoary-headed Grebes.
The Hoary-headed Grebes were swimming in lines up and down the swamp. As well as both species of Spoonbill, there
were three Nankeen Night-Herons perched on the dead trees. A White-bellied Sea-eagle was sitting beside its nest and a
Whistling Kite flew around the wetland. A flyby by a Peregrine Falcon had all the Rock Doves scattering. Overhead weremany White-breasted Woodswallows while we saw a Pallid Cuckoo on a drive round the end of the swamp. I regretted notjoining the group that went to Parkes Sewage Treatment Works, where nine species of duck were seen including Freckled,
Pink-eared, Musk, Australasian Shoveler and Australian Shelduck. Alas they did not see any Blue-billed Ducks there.
Overall 118 species were seen over the weekend with Greg adding the 118th – a Brown Goshawk - as he left the park.
Our thanks go to Allan Richards for organising the camp and for leading the bird walks and also for showing us somany species of birds.

Surveying Site 2! The Perils of Bird Surveys
14 - 17 April 2017.
Rae Lister
We had no mobile reception andwere unable to contact Heather on
the Saturday morning of the Grenfell
bird survey to give an estimate of
our arrival time. We later heard theOptus Network was down for somehours in the Grenfell area. As wedrove into the private property wefound Heather outside anticipating
our arrival and hurriedly finishing
her breakfast. She had arrived backlate the night before after twelve
months in Brisbane. We drove
around the back and Heather opened
the passenger door to her vehicle forthe two dogs to jump in and then got
in herself and we followed her as
she drove to the site. Paul wonderedaloud how many birds we might see
with two boisterous dogs in tow.
Rae Lister with Heather Lamb’s sheepdog, Jessie, after they were chased by cows.

On arrival at the site a mob of
Photo Stephen Hey
beautiful Belted Galloways
were right beside the entry gate and they began to moo. I saw that each had an ear tag with their name written on
it. Personally I thought how sweet that they were greeting us and particularly noted Amber. She was a big girl. As
Heather opened the gate for us we walked through and the dogs Jessie and Ziggy romped in too. Heather said shewould lead us around the site so we set off with me noting the time at 9:10. We had not gone very far when the mooing
became bellowing and we turned to see Amber leading a charge for us. I turned to look at the others and particularly
Heather seeking guidance in this situation. It was then that I saw the excited dogs were safely ensconced behind us forprotection and that the mooing and bellowing had nothing to do with us. Heather made a swift decision to remove thedogs from the site and closed the gate.
We returned to the task at hand which was to scan and listen out for birds. The cows walked alongside us. Were theyhoping for protection? There was a sense of relative calm, which I judged by Daisy allowing her calf to suckle. Still it
was impossible to hear any birds, should there be any remaining on our side of the mountain, as some cows would not
let the matter drop. They continued to moo their outrage albeit a few decibels below the bellowing! Nigel spoke harshly
to them to no avail.

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Birding NSW Newsletter

Heather led us down an incline and I noted aloud that the cows were no longer accompanying us as perhaps they
preferred walking only on the flat. Soon after that we heard bellowing again and spun around to see Amber leading
the charge down the hill. At the same time we saw that Ziggy was behind us and Jessie was on the other side of thecharging herd. Heather shouted doggy commands like stay, sit, etc to Jessie which she only partially obeyed as it was
obvious she wanted to cross the void to relative safety behind us. Dogs being dogs they had run around the fence until
they found a weakness they could exploit and get back in to the action.
Being the timekeeper I called time up and we moved purposefully towards Jessie and the gate. Amber and co ceased
their descent and we made our way safely out the gate. As we left the enclosure Heather told us that they recently had
a wild dog attack which had killed some sheep and also some goats and the remainder of the goat herd had bolted andnone have returned. On the other hand the Belted Galloway herd remained intact. They had protected their calves andthemselves from the attack.
I am afraid to say my contribution to the bird count was nil. Other team members (Paul, Nigel and Stephen) said they
had seen three species and heard three more, which was impressive. Stephen continuing to take photographs under thecircumstances was no less impressive.

The Murray-Darling Basin
Ian Bailey, the Office of Conservation, Birding NSW
What is Environmental Water?
All the water available in the Murray-Darling Basin isshared by a number of ‘’stakeholders’’. Humans need
it for personal consumption, irrigation, recreation,
fishing and tourism. The environment obviously needs
the ancient, but variable, levels and patterns of waterflows to survive. Rivers were dammed to secure water
for human use and it was realised that too much was
being extracted and the patterns of water delivery didn’t
suit the aquatic freshwater ecosystems. Governments
are now addressing that situation and studies continue.
Water ‘’justice’’ is the objective.
More efficient use of water has resulted, such as amove away from overhead boom sprays used bywinegrowers to a drip irrigation system keeping soils
just moist enough. Pumping water by pipeline overdistances avoids evaporation. Water losses or wastage
has been high with huge irrigation properties such as
Cubbie Station having the largest allocation of waterin Australia at 460,000 mega-litres per annum to growcotton. That is changing, meaning it is believed thatthe government have bought back some water rights.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
work together to decide where Environmental Water
is needed, how it is managed and the results aremeasured. We will have the benefit of hearing up-todate news of the environmental water usage and bird
populations from Terry Korodaj the Community
Engagement & Communications Manager, NSW
OEH, and one of his colleagues, on Tuesday 4th Julyat 7.30 pm at the Club Meeting.

SOME MURRAY-DARLING BASIN FACTS:
Note: The figures quoted are largely from one source.
Data such as the average annual rainfall at 530,618
Giga-litres is debatable and probably should bequoted as ‘’approximate’’. Even so, the statistics show
evidence of the fragile nature of the area.
Land area: 1,058,800 square kilometres.
Population: around 2 million people with anothermillion reliant on the MDB water supply.
Rainfall: average annual 530,618 Giga-litres (one GL= 1 billion litres; Syd. Harbour = 500 GL)
Annual Water Flow: 32,500 GL. (94% of rainfall
evaporates, 2% seeps down, 4% flows).
Public Dams: 31 with a capacity of around 22,500
GL. Current holding: 14,700 GL. (66%). (private
dams-unknown).
River valleys: 23; Wetlands: 30,000; 350 species ofbirds; 100 sp. of lizards; 53 sp. frogs; 46 sp. snakes;
60 sp. fish; world’s largest stands of River Red Gum.
Over 55 species of flora and fauna are endangered.
Other threats: salinity, blue-green algae, carp andcane toads. And – overpopulation!
The Murray-Darling Basin is mostly arid or semiarid country and drought recurs every 10 years or
so, making it one of the driest large river systems onearth.

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Birding NSW Newsletter
Two updates on the bird colonies of the Murray-Darling have come in this week. One is from
Malcolm Carnegie of the Lake Cowal Foundation (www.lakecowalfoundation.org.au) andanother from Dr Jennifer Spencer of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
The first is from Mal:Lake Cowal: (SW of Forbes)
Commencing in late June 2016, flooding
rains over much of inland NSW through tothe end of October 2016 saw the Lachlan
River and Bland Creek fill Lake Cowal
to a flood peak equivalent to that of 1990.
Once full, water flows from the northof Lake Cowal near Bogies Island into
Nerang Cowal. From here, the Mannaand Bogandillon Creeks flow into the
Bogandillon Swamp and ultimately backinto the Lachlan River.
When full, Lake Cowal covers an area ofapproximately 13,000 hectares with a length
Bland Creek in flood looking north to Lake Cowal. Photo Malcolm Carnegieof 21 kilometres by 9.5 kilometres at its
widest point, having a maximum depth of 3.5 metres, and• Eurasian Coot;taking a period of up to three years to dry mostly through• Australasian Grebe and Great Crested Grebe;
evaporation, provided no significant inflows occur.
• Red-necked Avocet;• Black Swan;
During the Spring/Summer/Autumn of 2016/17 a variety• White-headed Stilt;
of waterbirds took the opportunity to breed in both the• Whiskered Tern;lignum areas and fringing river red gums of the lake.
• Sacred Kingfisher;Species feeding and/or breeding in the various habitats of• Plumed Whistling Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Blue-billed
the lake included:
Duck, Chestnut Teal and Pacific Black Duck;• Royal Spoonbill and Yellow-billed Spoonbill;• Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis and Glossy Ibis;• White-necked Heron and White-faced Heron;• Magpie Goose observed and breeding for the first time
• Nankeen Night Heron;since 1990.
• Great Egret;Presently approximately 2,000 Australian Pelicans are• Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant andfishing the shallower northern sections of Lake Cowal
Pied Cormorant;with the water level presently relatively stable through the• Australasian Darter;
winter months. With no further inflows, thelake is expected to have water in it throughto the 2018/19 Summer.
And from Jennifer with information aboutpelican breeding colonies:

Lower Murrumbidgee Valley

Pelican Rookery at Nimmie Caira, Feb 17. Photo Vince Bucello OEH

An estimated 5,000-6,000 pairs of Australianpelicans nested in the lower Murrumbidgee
valley over January-May 2017 for the firsttime in recorded history. The pelicans nested
on an exposed bank in the middle of Kieeta
Swamp, near Balranald in south-western
NSW. This event followed a large flood in
the Murrumbidgee over spring-summer
2016. The breeding site is located within the
Nimmie Caira – a floodplain wetland systemwith numerous flow paths which can deliverPage 18

Birding NSW Newsletter

water to key wetlands throughout the lower Murrumbidgee
floodplain. The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage(OEH) has been working with the local water and land
managers to co-ordinate the delivery of 10,000 megalitresof Commonwealth and NSW environmental water to thesite to provide protection and food for the pelicans. The
Murrumbidgee valley pelicans are a separate colony toanother large pelican colony (estimated at more than 5,000
nests) at Lake Brewster, in the Lachlan Valley some 350km

away. Water levels are being managed at the lake to ensure
nests are not inundated.
More details can be found here:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/pelicansaplenty-in-the-lachlan-valley-this-world-wildlife-day
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/six-thousandpairs-of-pelicans-nesting-near-balranald

UNUSUAL REPORTS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES, MARCH - APRIL 2017
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)
Emu

A,4J

January

Bingie BeachSC

Mandy Anderson

Magpie Goose100

12/2-18/3

205 on 20/3 Fivebough Swp, Leeton

R

Keith Hutton

Magpie Goose2

12-18/3/17

Bushells Lagoon, Wilberforce

S

Greg McLachlan

Magpie Goose90

23-27/3/17

Jacana HSD Clarenza

NC

Eric Wheeler

Cape Barren Goose4

11/3/17

Gol Gol Lake, Wentworth

LW

Pauline Follett

Plumed Whistling-Duck30

18/2-12/3

Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton

R

Keith Hutton

Plumed Whistling-Duck33

23/3/17

Brotherson Swamp, Coutts Crossing

NC

Greg Clancy

Plumed Whistling-Duck12

9/4/17

Bomaderry WWTP

I

Carla Jackett

Wandering Whistling-Duck26

27/3-16/4

Jacana HSD Clarenza

NC

Eric Wheeler

Wandering Whistling-Duck2

24/3/17

Bushells Lagoon Wilberforce

S

M. Rutkowski

Wandering Whistling-Duck12

10-12/4/17

Emerald Downs GC Pt MacquarieNC

Sue ProustMusk DuckF

2/3/17

Centennial Park, Sydney

S

Alan Coates

Musk DuckF

12/3/17

Smaller pond, Eastlakes Golf Course

S

Carla Jackett

Musk Duck1

19/4/17

Metromix Wetland, Kurnell

S

Brian Deans

Freckled Duck100

12/2-12/3

Fivebough Swp, Leeton

R

Keith Hutton

Freckled Duck10

28/3-30/4

Dairy Swamp, CCW, TuggerahCC

Alan Morris

Freckled Duck5

12-16/4/17

Moss Vale Saleyard Ponds

I

Carla Jackett

Blue-billed DuckF

11/3/17

Pitt Town Lagoon, Windsor

S

Edwin Vella

Pink-eared Duck86

25/2/17Morpeth WWTW

H

Terry Kendall

Pink-eared Duck26

15/4/17

Pitt Town lagoon

S

Tom Wilson

Great Crested Grebe

3 Im

24-26/3/17

West Wyalong STW Wetlands

SS

Andrew MelvilleGreat Crested Grebe

1

30/4/17

Triangle Lane Pond, RichmondS

Greg McLachlan

Emerald Dove1

7/3/17

Irrawong Res Warriewood

S

Jayden Walsh

Brush Bronzewing

1

30/4/17

Riverside Park, Chipping Norton

S

Brenda Parkinson

Peaceful Dove18

18/2/17

Tathra taila HSD Mangrove Mtnb

CC

Margaret PointerDiamond Dove1

17/2/17

Rankins Springs

R

Nella Smith

Superb Fruit-Dove

1DY

22/4/17

Mackeral Bch Ku-ring-gai Chase NP

S

Andrew Mowat

Page 19

Birding NSW Newsletter
Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove

1DY

4/4/17

Avalon BeachS

per Jayden Walsh

Rose-crowned Fruit-Dovehc

22/4/17

Oaks Rd MatchamCCJames Panetta

Topknot Pigeon

50

5/4/17

Scenic Hway Terrigal

CC

Doug Hocking

Topknot Pigeon

106

25/4/17

Garden World Ourimbah

CC

Alan Morris

White-throated Nightjar

hc

25/3/17

The Sculptures, Pilliga NP

NP

Michael Dahlem

White-throated Nightjar

hc

12/3/17

Shoplands Rd Annangrove

S

Darryl Smedley

White-throated Nightjar

3

23/4/17

Old Bagotville Rd Wardell

NC

David Charley

White-throated Needletail1000

15/3/17

Brothersons Swamp, Coutts Crossing

NC

Greg Clancy

Pacific Swift ** (Fork-tailed)3

5/3/17

Cape Byron LighthouseNC

A MORRIS

Pacific Swift **(Fork-tailed)30+

12/3/17

Bullaburra-Hazelbrook

CT

Carol Probets

White-bellied Storm-Petrel

1

13/3/17

Sydney pelagic

S

Roger McGovern

Wandering Albatross (Gibson)

1

25/3/17

Kiama pelagic

I

Brook Wylie

Shy Albatross

1

25/3/17

Kiama pelagic

I

Brook Wylie

Black-browed Albatross

3

17/3/17

Mistral Pt Maroubra

SDavid Mitford

Yellow-nosed Albatross *1

11/3/17

Sydney pelagic

S

Roger McGovern

Southern Giant Petrel

1

16/3/17

Red Point, Port Kembla

I

Paul Lynch

Streaked Shearwater

2-3

5-19/3/17

2 on 15/3,Mistral Point, Maroubra

S

Simon Gorta

Grey-faced Petrelbc

5/3/17

Patches Beach Ballina

NC

Steve McBride

Grey-faced Petrel

1

17/3/17

Mistral Point, Maroubra

S

Greg McLachlan

Kermadec Petrel

1

12/3/17

Forster pelagic

H

Mick Roderick

Kermadec Petrel

1

25/3/17

Kiama pelagic

I

Brook Wylie

Providence Petrel

5

8/4/17

Sydney pelagic

S

Roger McGovern

Gould’s Petrel

1

11/3/17

Sydney pelagic

S

Roger McGovern

Gould’s Petrel

2

25/3/17

Kiama pelagic

I

Brook Wylie

White-necked Petrel

1

4/3/17

Mistral point, Maroubra

SDavid Mitford

White-necked Petrel

1

11/3/17

Sydney pelagic

S

Roger McGovern

Black-winged Petrel

1

5/3/17

Mistral point, Maroubra

SDavid Mitford

Leaden Petrel

1

1/4/17

Kiama pelagic

I

Brook Wylie

Little Penguin

3

8/4/17

Nobbys Beach, Newcastle

H

Newcastle

Lesser Frigatebird

1

26/3/17

Flat Rock Ballina

NC

Steve McBride

Lesser Frigatebird

3

31/3/17

Richmond River Ballina

NC

Hans Wohlmuth

Brown Booby1

5/3/17

Flat Rock Ballina

NC

Steve McBride

Red-footed Booby

2

12/3/17

Forster pelagic

H

Mick Roderick

Black-necked Stork2

1/3/17

Lenahan Drive Hexham Swamp WestH

Daniel McKenzie

Black-necked Stork

2,3Y

6/3/17

Seales Rd Swamp, Belmore RiverNC

Lindy Frost

Black-necked Stork

2,3Y

8/4/17

Hexham Swamp

H

Tom Wilson

Australasian Bittern1

22/2/17

Hexham Swamp

H

HBOC

Australian Little Bittern1

15/2/17

Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton

R

Max O’Sullivan

Black Bittern1

7/4/17

Ourimbah Ck RTA Res Ourimbah

CC

Brian Paterson

Black Bittern

1

19/4/17

Deep Creek Res Narrabeen

S

Julie Morgan

White-necked Heron

N+Y

February

Moruya River Flats

SC

J. Collett

Eastern Reef-Egret1

5/4/17

McKenzies Bay, Tamarama

S

Katie Oxenham

Nankeen Night-HeronIm

19/3/17

Pond near Glenmore ParkS

Martin Snowball

Glossy Ibis

16

14/4/17

Serales Rd Swamp, Belmore River

NC

Clive MeadowsRoyal Spoonbill

1

24/4/17

Neds Beach, Lord Howe Island

LH

Martin Schulz

Eastern Osprey

1

14/2 & 6/3

Burrill Lake

I

Charles Dove

Page 20

Birding NSW Newsletter

Eastern Osprey

J

January 17

Candalan Ck Pedro PointSC

Malcolm Fyfe

Eastern Osprey

2+N

27-30/4/17

Budd Island, Batemans Bay

SC

Christina Port

Pacific Baza1

15/3/17

Mount Hay Rd Leura

CT

Chris McDonald

Pacific Baza1

23/3/17

Sydney Park, St Peters

S

Gokay Gul

Square-tailed Kite1

2/3 & 9/4

St Clair, Western Sydney

S

Johan Olsson

Square-tailed Kite1

16/3/17

St Ives Chase

S

Mart CossSquare-tailed Kite1

24/3/17Evans Head Rd Broadwater NP

NC

David CharleyBlack Kite1

29/3/173 km W of Pottsville

NC

David CharleyBlack Kite2

25/4/17

Bensons Lane RichmondS

Andrew Patrick

Grey Goshawk

1

14/3/17

Eastlakes Golf Course

S

Steven Edwards

White-bellied Sea-Eagle

2

24/4/17

Centennial ParkS

Anne Brophy

Spotted HarrierA

24/4/17

McKees Hill, 17 km W of Lismore

NC

June Harris

Spotted Harrier

1

30/4/17

Rollands Plains, Telegraph Pt

NC

Phil Shelley

Wedge-tailed Eagle

6

6/4/17Lake George-Collector

ST

Martin Snowball

Little Eagle

1

19/3/17

Bobbin Head Rd Nth Turramurra

S

Tom Wilson

Little EagleJ

16/4/17

Bakers Lagoon, Cornwallis

S

Biggles Csolander

Little Eagle

J

29/4/17

Birdlife Office, Sydney Olympic Pk

S

Stanley Tang

Black Falcon

1

15/2/17

Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton

R

Max O’Sullivan

Black Falcon

2

13/4/17

CorakiNC

David CharleyBlack Falcon

1

17/4/17

Lawrence Rd GraftonNC

Darryl Eggins

Brown Falcon

1

15/4/17

Cornwallis Rd Cornwallis

S

Tom Wilson

Brolga1

11/2/17

Berambool, Merimbula

SC

Max Sutcliffe

Brolga7

7/3/17

Farm 108 ColleamballyR

Per Doug Hocking

Australian Spotted Crake

1

February 17

Batemans Bay Water Gardens

SC

N.Clark

Australian Spotted Crake1

15/4/17

Pitt Town lagoon

S

Tom Wilson

Spotless Crake1

4/4/17

Sydney Park, St PetersS

Rob Hynson

Spotless Crake1

8/4/17Warriewood Wetlands

S

Jayden Walsh

Spotless Crake1

25/2/17

Panboola Res Pambula

SC

D. Weller

Bush Stone-curlew

1

22/3/17

Six Mile Lane, Grafton Airport

NC

Peter Knock

Bush Stone-curlew

4

27/3-18/4

all banded, Henderson Rd Saratoga

CC

Helen Gould

Beach Stone-curlew

1

5/3/17

Belongil Ck Estuary, Byron Bay

NC

Alan Morris

Sooty Oystercatcher

21

14/3/17

Blue Bay Reefs, Toowoon Bay

CC

Alan Morris

Red-necked Avocet

35

18/4/.17

Sydney Olympic Pk waterbird refuge

S

Brian Downer

Double-banded Plover **1

26/1 & 28/4

Brou LakeSC

N. ClarkeSemi-palmated Plover1

24-25/3/17

Mosely Pk Swp Lord Howe Island

LH

Nicole Spillane

Hooded Plover

19+6J

12/2-21/3

at 9 sites Bermagui-Eden

SC

FSCB

Hooded Plover

6A3J

14/4/17Rennies Beach, Ulladulla

I

Nigel Coghland

Hooded PloverIm

27/4/17Lake Wollumboola, Culburra

I

Alan Morris

Inland Dotterel

1

2-19/3/17

Shoalhaven Heads

I

Michael Ellison

Red-kneed Dotterel

2

21/2/17

waterbird refuge, Sydney Olympic Pk S

Dion Hobcroft

Banded Lapwing

3

24/317

Aleena, 20 km S West Wyalong

SS

Alan Morris

Latham’s Snipe1

11/2/17

Old Quipolly Dam, BoggabriNS

Geoff MitchellBlack-tailed Godwit

1

28/12/16

Brou LakeSC

M. Griffith

Terek Sandpiper **1

8/4/17

Stockton Sandspit

H

Tom Wilson

Great Knot **1

8/4/17

Stockton Sandspit

H

Tom Wilson

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper *15

19-30/3/17

Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton

R

Keith Hutton

Page 21

Birding NSW Newsletter
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper *1

21/4/17

waterbird refuge, Sydney Olympic Pk S

Dion Hobcroft

Sanderling6

1/1/17

Brou LakeSC

M.Griffith

Red-backed Button-quail2

2-4/4/17

Tathra Taila HSD Mangrove Mtn

CCKaye Pointer

Painted Button-quailAM

4/3/17

Chiltern Trail, InglesideS

Jayden Walsh

Pomerine Jaeger1

6/3/17

Tacking Pt Light House Pt MacqaurieNC

Liam MurphySouth Polar Skua1

25/3/17

Kiama pelagic

I

Brook Wylie

Pacific Gull

1

13/3/17

Tura Beach, Merimbula

SC

L. Allen

Kelp Gull

1

19/4/17

Sandringham Bay

S

Brian Deans

Common Noddy

J

1/3/17

Toowoon Bay Reefs

CC

Luke Ullrich

Common Noddy

J

5/3/17

Point Plommer, Limeburners Ck NR

NC

Tim Morris

Common Noddy

1

19/4/17

Warden head, Ulladulla

I

Charles DoveBlack Noddy

1

19/3/17

Mistral Point Maroubra

S

Robert Griffin

White Tern1

14, 16, 17/3

6 on 19/3 Mistral Point Maroubra

SDavid Mitford

Roseate Tern1

24/3/17

Flat Rock Ballina

NC

Steve McBride

Little Tern

30pr

January 17

Many juvs. Brou Lake colony

SC

Mandy Anderson

Little Tern

30pr

Jan-Feb 17

60J fledged Lake Conjola

I

Charles Dove

Fairy Tern

2 pr

January 17

2J fledged, Brou Lake colony

SC

Mandy Anderson

Gull-billed Tern

7,8J

7/2-7/3/17

A+3 downy juvs Fivebough Swp

R

Keith Hutton

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

100+

10-12/2/17

Rankins Springs DistrictR

Rex Schmidt

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

3

21/3/17

Spring Hill, Cocoparra NP YendaR

Max O’Sullivan

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

2

25/3/17

The Sculptures Pilliga NP

NP

David Johnston

Gang-gang Cockatoo

30

11/3/17

Littleton, Lithgow

CT

Grant Brosie

Gang-gang Cockatoo

18

10/3/17

West Kameruka Rd Candelo

SC

I. Elsey

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo

20

21/2/17

Bilbul via GriffthR

Meredith Billington

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo

Max5

23-26/3/17

15 at 5 sites, West Wyalong,SS

Alan Morris

Musk Lorikeet2

2/4/17

Ulladulla Shops Car Park

I

Charles Dove

Little Lorikeet

625/3-1/4

Mogo Camp, Yengo NP Bucketty

CC

Allan Benson

Little Lorikeet

50

25/3/17

The Sculptures, Pilliga NR

NP

David Johnston

Superb Parrot

58

25-26/3/17

8 sites Grenfell District

SS

Grenfell KBA Surveys

Superb Parrot

24

24-25/3/17

3 sites, max 21 West Wyalong

SS

CCGBNSW

Superb Parrot

12

2/4/17

LeetonR

Max O’Sullivan

Swift Parrot

8

27/4/17

Narrowneck Plateau, Katoomba

CT

John French

Swift Parrot

2

30/4/17

Tathra Taila HSD Mangrove Mtn

CCKaye PointerTurquoise Parrot

1

17/2/17

Cruikshanks Dam, Rankin Springs

R

Virginnia Tarr

Turquoise Parrot

11

18/2/17

14 on 15/4, Wattle Dam, Binya SF

R

Virginnia Tarr

Channel-billed Cuckoo **2J

2/3/17

Forest Siding Rd Middle Arm

ST

Clyde Lee

Channel-billed Cuckoo **1

18/4/17

Centennial Park, Sydney

S

Graeme Robinson

Eastern Koel **hc

31/3/17

Warriewood

S

Jayden Walsh

Pallid CuckooIm

9-10/2/17

Commerang

SC

J. Collett

Pallid Cuckoo

1

17/2/17

Koonadan Rd Leeton

R

Max O’Sullivan

Oriental Cuckoo (hepatic m.)

1

8-14/3/17

Eastlakes GC,

S

Corey Callaghan

Oriental Cuckoo

1

14-16/3/17

Barrington Tops NP

H

HBOC

Oriental Cuckoo (hepatic)F

4-6/4/17

Scotts Point, Kooragang Island

H

Peter Weinstock

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (NZ)

1

24/4/17

Neds Beach, Lord Howe Island

LH

Martin Schulz

Powerful Owl

2A,J

Jan-Feb 17

Pedro Swamp

SC

J. SagarPowerful Owl

1

12/3/17

Sydney Park, St. Peters

S

Gokay Gul

Page 22

Birding NSW Newsletter

Powerful Owl

2

25/4/17

Sea Acres NR Port Macquarie

NC

Kylie Randall

Barking Owl

1hc

13/02/17

Tarrawanna Escarpment

I

Alan Cousins

Barking Owl

1hc

28/3/17

Acacia Gardens

S

Edwin vella

Collared Kingfisher2

14/3/17

Riverside mangroves, Fingal Head

NC

David Charley

Dollarbird

25

29/1/17Mystery Bay, Narooma

SC

Mandy Anderson

Dollarbird **1

29/3/17

Round Mountain Rd Hastings Point

NC

David Charley

Dollarbird **1

3/4/17

Loftus Rd Crescent HeadNC

Clive Meadows

Noisy Pitta

1

18/4/17

Castle Hill, hit window

S

Mark Eagles

Noisy Pitta

Im

20/4/17

Maroubra

S

Gillian Dar

Noisy Pitta

1

18/4/17

Oaks Rd MatchamCC

Anna Schutz

Superb Lyrebird

1

18/3/17Warners Park, Northbridge

S

Murray Lord

Superb Lyrebird

1

18/3/17

Harold Reid Reserve, Middle CoveS

Lorna Bloom

Superb Lyrebird

1hc

4/4/17

Press Park, Castle CoveS

Arwen B. Ximenes

Spotted Bowerbird

2

18/3/17

Rankins Springs Caravan ParkR

Max O’Sullivan

Southern Emu-wren

4

22/12-28/2

Candalan Ck Broulee

SC

Geoff McVeigh

Chestnut-rumped Heathwren

2

11/3 & 8/4

Mogo Camp, Yengo NP Bucketty

CC

Greg Miles

Singing Honeyeater

1

21/3/17Duirridgerie Rd Turrill

H

HBOC

Yellow-plumed Honeyeater

8

18/2/17

Whiltshire Rd Rankin Springs

R

Virginnia Tarr

Fuscous Honeyeater

10

26/3-1/4

Mogo Camp, Yengo NP, Bucketty

CC

Daniel McKeon

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater1

6/4/17

Scots Point, Kooragang Island

H

Mick Roderick

Regent Honeyeater

1

23/3/17

Goulburn River NP

H

HBOC

Regent Honeyeater1

8/4/17

Martindale

H

Liam Murphy

White-fronted Chat3

18/4/17

Long Swamp Rd TowrangST

Terry Dunlea

White-fronted Chat7

28/4/17

Brou Lake, BodallaSC

Alan Morris

Black Honeyeater

40+

26/2/17

Eight Mile Tank Rd Rankins Springs

R

Nella Smith

White-naped Honeyeater

1

20/4/17

On summit cairn at Mt Kosciusko

STPaul Schofield

White-cheeked Honeyeater6

2/4/17

Conjurong Point, St Georges BasinI

Clare Wolinski

White-fronted Honeyeater

12

24/4/17

Manna SF, SW of Forbes

CS

Rosemary Stapleton

Blue-faced Honeyeater

1

22/3/17

Parkes Drive, Centennial ParkS

Anne Brophy

Blue-faced Honeyeater2

15/4/17Dolphin St Coogee Beach

S

Mick Edwards

Noisy Friarbird

1

10/4/17

Marrickville

S

Alastair Poore

Spotted Quail-thrush

2

24/3-30/4

Mogo Camp, Yengo NP Bucketty

CC

Allan Benson

Crested Shrike-tit

1

18/3/17Darling River Block Dam, Menindee

LW

Deb Prentice

Crested Bellbird

2

21/3/17

Spring Hill, Cocoparra NP YendaR

Max O’Sullivan

Olive Whistler

1

29/4/17

Porters Ck Dam Rd, Lake Conjola

I

Charles Dove

Ground Cuckoo-shrike

2

23/3/17

Koonadan Rd Leeton

R

Max O’Sullivan

White-breasted Woodswallow

32

5/3/17

Narrawallee Creek,

I

Charles DoveWhite-browed W’swallow

100

6/3/17

Evan Smiles Rd Leeton

R

Max O’Sullivan

White-browed W’swallow

40

26/3-13/4

Seales Rd Swamp, Belmore RiverNC

Liam Murphy

Masked Woodswallow

6

26/3-2/4/17

Seales Rd Swamp, Belmore RiverNC

Liam Murphy

Dusky Woodswallow **17

17/4/17

Tathra Taila HSD Mangrove Mtn

CCMargaret PointerSpangled Drongo *1

12/3/17

Randwick Environment ParkS

Graeme Robinson

Spangled Drongo *1,1

29/3/17

Singles Wattanobbi & Budgewoi

CC

D.Hogan/S.Merrett

Rufous Fantail **1

17/4/17

Newington NR Sydney Olympic Pk

S

Dion Hobcroft

Rufous Fantail **1

19/4/17

GreenwichS

Ted Nixon

Pied ButcherbirdIm

20/4/17

Kangaroo Swamp, Cattai

S

Dion Hobcroft

Page 23

Birding NSW Newsletter
Little Raven65

19/3/17

ExeterI

Lorne Johnson

Black-faced Monarch **J

19/3/17

Cleveland Rd RiverstoneS

Edwin Vella

Spectacled Monarch

Injure10/4/17

Carrington

H

HBOC

Spectacled Monarch **2

17/4/17

Busbys Flat, Rappville

NC

David Charley

Leaden Flycatcher **1

8/4/17

Randwick Environment ParkS

Anne Brophy

Leaden Flycatcher **1

13/4/17

Budgewoi

CC

Steve Merrett

Restless Flycatcher

A,DY

February 17

Commerang

SC

N. Montgomery

Restless Flycatcher

1

4/4/17

Popondetta Pk Emerton

S

Robert Coveny

White-winged Chough

A+Js

11/4/17Adults with DY Kemps Creek

S

Michael Miller

White-winged Chough

4A,J

13/4/17

Avondale GC West Pymble

S

Andrew Robinson

Jacky Winter1

30/4/17

Edwards Rd RichmondS

Greg McLachlan

Rose Robin *1

17/4/17

Newington NR Sydney Olympic Park S

Dion Hobcroft

Rose Robin *5

19/4/17

Deep Creek Reserve Narrabeen

S

Jayden WalshWhite-backed Swallow

4

8/4/17

Martindale

H

Liam Murphy

White-backed Swallow

24

14/4/17

Bobadeen Rd Turrill

H

Mick Roderick

Mistletoebird

F,Im

6/4/17

Centennial Park, Sydney

S

Graeme Robinson

Diamond Firetail2

25/3/17

Bimbi SF Grenfell

SS

Grenfell KBA Surveys

Diamond Firetail2

17/4/17

Yarrowich, Upper Macleay ValleyNC

Liam Murphy

Diamond Firetail4

18/4/17

Long Swamp, Towrang

STFred Young

Beautiful Firetail5,4

29/4/17

Barren Grounds & Budderoo NP

I

Martin Snowball

Double-barred Finch

3

1/4/17

Grose River Junct Yarramundi

S

Martin Snowball

Double-barred Finch

1

25/4/17

Barton Park Sth wetlands

S

Brian Deans

Chestnut Mannikin

3A3J

15/4/17

Pitt Town Lagoon

S

Tom Wilson

COMMENT

After heavy rains in March, finally the rains stopped in April along the Coast and it is obvious that many of the inland wetlands
dried back during February & March because there has been a movement towards the coast of inland breeding birds like
Freckled Ducks, Pink-eared Ducks, White-necked Herons and Straw-necked Ibis. These birds have been returning to
the Coastal wetland in good numbers and the flocks include many juvenile birds. Oriental Cuckoos perhaps were the mostunusual birds seen in the last two months, although the 2 Red-footed Boobies seen on the Forster pelagic, and the Leaden
Petrel, first record for Australia (if accepted by BARC), along with South Polar Skua seen from the Kiama pelagic, and the
clutch of White-necked , Black-winged and Kermadec Petrels seen from the Coast were also of great interest. The Redbacked Button-quails at Mangrove Mountain are the sixth occasion that the birds have been seen at this site since 1995. Lord
Howe Island has had some great records of late, particularly the Semi-palmated Plover and the Royal Spoonbill! The Inland
Dotterel at Shoalhaven Heads appears to have now moved away! Australian Brush-turkeys continue to extend their range into
Sydney’s Eastern and Western Suburbs with many records. A Magpie Goose seen at Pitt Town Lagoon is the first for the Countyof Cumberland, other records are 20 Tamworth STW Westdale 13/2, 3 Barraba 19/2 (NS), 40 Campbells Swp Griffith 7/3 (R) &1 Pitt Town Lagoon 25/4 (S); Other Freckled Duck records include 1 Hobart Bch, Bournda 3/2 (SC), 1 roadside Pond, Kidman
Way, Cobar 11/4 (UW), 2 Moss Vale Saleyard Ponds 12/4 (I), 2 Warriewood Wtlds 20/3-10/4 (S), 1 Nerang Cowal, Burcher
26/3 (CS), 2 Emerald Downs GC Pt Macquarie 10-14/4 (NC); Coastal records for Pink-eared Duck include 6 Teven Rd Swp,
West Ballina (NC), 2 Waterbird Refuge Sydney Olympic Park 27/4 (S); Other Black Bittern: 1 Warriewood Wetlands 8/4 (S);
Eastern Osprey: 1 Yarramundi, Hawklesbury River 8/4 (S) while both pairs around Brisbane Water are refurbishing their nests(CC); Square-tailed Kite: 1Chiltern Trail, Ingleside 23/4 (STW) & 3 Central Coast reports Mar-Apr (CC); Black Kite: 1
Hexham Swamp 8/4 (H); 1 Clarence STW Sth Grafton 11/4 (NC); Grey Goshawk: 1 Eastlakes GC 14/3 and regular Centennial
Pk Sydney Mar-Apr (S); Brolga: 2 Teven Swp Ballina 5/3 (NCl), 5 Fivebough Wetlands, Leeton 1/4 (R), 2 Plummers Lane
Clybucca 13/4 (NC); Hooded Plover: 2 Termeil Bch Bawley Pt 12/3, 2 Racecourse Bch Kiola 20-30/4 (I); Other Common
Noddy records include 1 Bar Beach Newscastle 28/2 (H), Js at Tacking Pt Light House Pt Macquarie 7/3 (NC), Red Point, Pt
Kembla 8/3 (I), Shelley Bch Pt Macquarie 10-11/3, 1 Southies Bch Sawtell 14/4 (NC); Other Powerful Owl; HC Woodfield
Ave Bundeena 12/3, 1 Miner St Wollstonecraft 14 & 17/3, 2 Linley Pt Lane Cove 1/4 (S), 1 Katandra Res Holgate 18/4 (CC), 2
Sea Acres NR Pt Macquarie 25/4 (NC), HC Bellevue Hill 27/4 (S), hc Hazelbrook & Winmallee 29-30/3 (CT); Noisy Pitta: 1
Bellawongarah 24/4 (I); Rock Warbler: 9 birds seen at 7 sites in the Blue Mtns Lapstone-Blackheath Mar (CT); Another late
Rufous Fantail: 1 Uni of Sydney 1/4 (S); Good Birding!

Page 24

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