Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 1birding Newsletternsw
NSW Field Ornithologists Club Inc
Issue 260

December 2013

President’s Report
The October IBA survey in Grenfell was a great success.
Twenty surveyors (including four locals) covered 24 sites,some on private land. Superb Parrots were seen on six
sites during the survey, and were also identified outside
the survey times. There was a dinner for the surveyors on
the Friday evening and a barbecue on a private property on
Saturday night. On the Sunday morning, there was a bird
walk for interested members of the Grenfell community,
which was very well attended. Please see the article about
the weekend by Elisabeth Karplus in this issue of thenewsletter for further details and information about thenext survey.

New Members

David Bain’s talk on the Powerful Owl project in October
was very well received. This project is partially funded byproceeds from the 2012 and 2013 Twitchathon under the
auspices of BirdLife Southern NSW.
The September BIGnet meeting in Newcastle was wellattended and the CEO of BirdLife Australia, Paul Sullivan
was there on both days. He said that key priorities for
BirdLife Australia included improvement of the Atlas
database and obtaining government research grants andcorporate funding. Bird habitat conservation continues tobe a major focus for BirdLife Australia. The next BIGnet
meeting will be held in Canberra in April 2014 and will behosted by the Canberra Ornithologists Group in their 50thyear.

Port Macquarie

At the December meeting, the 2013 Arnold McGill
Memorial Lecture will be given by Alan Rogers, a pastpresident of both Birding NSW and of the Cumberland
Bird Observers Club. The Birding NSW Annual General
Meeting will take place on this day and the evening willconclude with the Club’s annual Christmas Party. The
successful bring-a-plate format for the party will again
be used, so come along for a great night and remember tobring a plate!

Michael Hanvey

Mona ValeTom Karplus

Kristine Martin

Blackwall

Stephen Morgan

SydneyA warm welcome is extended to thefollowing new members:

Richard Black

Camperdown

Milan & Eva Busina

Bondi Junction

Mark Cowan
Ted Giblin

NSW

Jillian Nolan

Castle Hill

Lynette Purcell

NewportM & F Sheridan

Picnic Point

Jacob Sife

Willoughby

Andrew Walker

Blackwall

I wish you a safe and happy
Festive Season and the bestof birding!

PRINT POST APPROVED PP100001080

Rae Lister, Editor

Page 2

Birding NSW Newsletter

Club Activities
FIELD 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.

DECEMBER
Tuesday 3 December Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre,
Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt
Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm. Annual General Meeting and
Arnold McGill Memorial Lecture. ‘Ring of Fire–Seabirds
and Volcanoes in the Kuril Islands’, speaker: Alan Rogers.
Followed by the Club Christmas party. Please bring finger
food to share.
Wednesday 4 December Central Coast Half-day
Outing: Swansea. Meet at 8.30 am Coon Island Picnic
Area. Leaders: John and Carole Carpenter 02 4352 1060
Saturday 7 December Christmas Outing: Scheyvilleand Mitchell Park. NB: The meeting site for this outing

has changed. Meet at 8:30 am at the corner of Whitmore
and Pitt Town Dural Roads, Maraylya. Flat but sometimes
uneven walking tracks. Bring along some food to share for
Christmas picnic lunch in the first picnic area in Mitchell
Park at about 12.30 pm. Leaders: Tom and Elisabeth
Karplus 9816 2285, or 0421 665 553
Saturday 14 December Central Coast Christmas
Outing and Break-up: Mardi and Tuggerah. Meet at 7.30
am at Murrumbung Homestead, 37 The Valley Way, Mardi
for an early morning walk. Morning tea at 10.00 am. At
10.30 am move to Central Coast Wetlands. Return at 12.30
pm to Murrumbung Homestead for BBQ Christmas Lunchand break-up (BYO meat and drinks). Leaders: John and
Carole Carpenter 02 4352 1060

Birding NSW Newsletter
Club Campout – Christmas Day 2013 to New Year
2014: - Barrington Tops National Park.
The campsite is at Horse Swamp in Polblue Crown
Reserve. While travel from Gloucester is possible,
the route via Aberdeen, Gundy and Moonan Flat isrecommended if travelling from Sydney. About two
kilometres from the dingo fence on the road from
Scone to Gloucester, turn left into Tubrabucca Road
immediately before a pine plantation. The campsite isa public area so there could be other campers present.
Camp fees apply. Campfires are permitted providingthat there is not a total fire ban. Bring everything thatyou need including garbage bags and water. It can bevery cold so bring warm clothing. The closest petrol is
at Moonan Flat so ensure that you have plenty of fuel.
Leader: Allan Richards 9660 8062

2014
JANUARY
Saturday 11 January Club Outing: Warriewood
Wetlands and Long Reef. Meet at 8.30 am at Katoa Close,
Warriewood. Mostly walking along flat paths and tracks
towards the end of Irrawong Reserve. Leader: Trevor
Waller 0467 977 508
Saturday 18 January Club Outing: Centennial Park.
Meet at 8.30 am in Dickens Drive, Centennial Park, near
The Learning Centre. An introductory survey of various
sites throughout the park followed by general bird watching
within the park. Leader: Allan Richards 9660 8062 or 0432
064 660Club Campout–Australia Day Long Weekend 25–27
January: Coolah Tops National Park. A campout has beenarranged over the long weekend at Coolah Tops National
Park. Temperatures will be pleasant because of the highaltitude and nights will be cool for sleeping. Please notethat the access road is steep and could be rough if it has
not been graded recently. Many of the roads within thepark are closed during wet weather. Access to the main
camping area at The Barracks is suitable for all vehicles
with care. Turn off the Coolah-Merriwa Road about four
km east of Coolah then travel about 20 km to the park.
Bring everything that you need including drinking water.
There is a pit-toilet at the campsite. Leader: Allan Richards
9660 8062
Tuesday 28 January Central Coast Meeting: Meet at theProgress Hall in Anzac Street Tuggerah opposite McDonalds at
7.30 pm. Members’ Night.
Wednesday 29 January Midweek Outing: Scheyville NP andLongneck Lagoon. Meet at 9.00 am at the corner of Pitt Town
Dural Road and Whitmore Road. Lunch at cars. Leader: Carol
Abbott 0414 312 538 or 9980 1201.

Page 3
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 at 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 at 8.00 am at
Lake Belvedere, Bicentennial Park, parking area P10D.
Proceed through the main gates, along the road past theConference Centre until the lake is on your left-handside. 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 at 9.00 am at Jamieson
Park at the end of Mactier Street (becomes The
Esplanade). The actual time of the visit to Long Reef
will be determined by tides and conditions on the day.
Lunch at cars.
Leader: Elisabeth Karplus 9816 2285 or 0421 665 553

Birding NSW
Christmas party
3 December 2013

The Christmas party will follow the addressby the guest speaker, Alan Rogers.
The Christmas Party in 2012 was a resounding
success where members attending brought foodto share. Without any direction the range acrosssavoury and sweet was balanced and the amountseemed just right.
Please bring a small plate of finger food to share.

Page 4

Birding NSW Newsletter

FEBRUARY TALKThe Vocalisations of theAustralian Pied Butcherbird
Speaker: Hollis Taylor
Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
University of Technology, Sydney

This talk summarises through photos, audio, andvideo my ongoing eight-year research into the
vocalisations of the Pied Butcherbird. I believe
this species could revolutionise the way we think
about birdsong, human exceptionalism, and thecore values of music. As a field musicologist, I
spend months each year in the outback recording
songs and chronicling their musical activities. The
success of this extraordinary species in creatinga musical culture with significant overlaps withhuman music (including some features thought
unique to human music) has provoked me toreconsider an old question: Is birdsong music?

A MESSAGE FROM THE
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Membership renewals were due on 30 September
2013. If you are one of the people who have forgotten
and plan to stay a member please renew now.
You can download a renewal form from the website
and fill it in if you have any changes of email,address etc. Otherwise renew by sending a chequeto the PO Box address or pay using direct deposit.
Just use your surname and membership number as areference so that the deposit can be traced to you!
Banking details are on the membership form
available on the website.
Financial members will receive the February 2014
newsletter.
Financial online members will receive the new
password for 2014 with the notification that the
newsletter is available on the website.
Adrian Nieuwenhuizen
Membership Secretary – Birding NSWHOSTING VISITORS

Occasionally birdwatchers (usually from overseas but some from within Australia) visiting Sydney contact the Club
via the activities email in the hope of joining a Club outing. Birding NSW welcomes visitors on any Club activity
but they usually require transport. The outing leader is sometimes able to pick up a visitor but not always. Visitors
mostly stay in the CBD but sometimes with family or friends in the suburbs so you may be able to assist even if you
can’t collect them from the CBD.
Other times they ask whether a Club member is available to take them out for a day of bird watching around Sydney.
The visitors are mostly very generous and offer money for fuel and pay for lunch.
We are sure there are others out there who would be willing to help these visitors so we propose to compile a listof those members. Then when a request comes in the visitors’ requirements and contact details can be circulated tothose who may wish to drive them to and from an activity or to accompany them bird watching.
As the recipient of most of the inquiries, Allan Richards as the Activities Officer will maintain the list and circulate
the requests. All correspondence will remain confidential.
Please contact the Activities Officer by telephone or by email at activities@birdingnsw.org.au if you are able toassist our visitors or have any enquiries about this service.

BIRD-WATCHING PELAGIC TRIPS
Sydney Pelagic Trips There have been some changes - there will be no trip in December 2013 or January 2014–tours for2014 are planned to commence in February. For further information please contact Hal Epstein by phone 0411 311 236
or by email hepstein@bigpond.net.au or Roger McGovern on 9953 3484 or by email roglou@bigpond.net.au
Wollongong Pelagic Trips depart on the 4th Saturday of each month. To make a booking on a SOSSA Wollongong
pelagic trip, contact Lindsay or Janice of SOSSA by phone: 02 4272 4626 or email: sossa@tpg.com.au or visit thewebsite: www.sossa-international.org http://www.sossa-international.org
Port Stephens Pelagic Trips are arranged sporadically throughout the year, with usually about ten trips including
two trips held in the peak months of March, April and October. Additionally occasional trips out of Swansea, southof Newcastle, are also being organised. For enquiries or bookings contact Mick Roderick by mobile: 0421 761 237 oremail: mickhhb@yahoo.com.au

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 5Conservation News
IMPORTANT BIRD AREA SURVEY AROUND GRENFELL IN OCTOBER 2013
Elisabeth Karplus

Bird surveys by Birding NSW around Grenfell commencedin October 2011. Our fifth survey took place on 12 October
2013. Sixteen surveyors from Birding NSW and Dubbo Field
Naturalists joined with four surveyors from Grenfell forthe survey. Divided into five groups, we surveyed 24 sites,
including eight sites on private land. My thanks go to Ted
Nixon, Jill Molan, Coleen Southall and Allan Richards, who
led groups. As expected the spring survey provided more
species than the autumn survey with 75 species recorded,compared with 51 species in the April 2013 survey and 76
species in the Spring 2012. Superb Parrots, one of the four
key species, were seen on six survey sites including two on
private land during the 20-minute surveys. The maximum
number at any site was seven birds. In addition Superb Parrots
were seen on three sites but outside the survey time and at one
place, which is not a survey site. Two additional sightings
were on private land. Superb Parrots were seen on three of
the Bird Routes of Weddin Shire (Dodds Lane, Abbott’s Lane,
Holy Camp Road). Two Diamond Firetails were seen at one
site. There were no sightings of the other key species (Swift
Parrot, Painted Honeyeater). Other important woodland birds
seen or heard, though not necessarily in survey times or on
survey sites, were Turquoise Parrots, a Barking Owl, Brown
Treecreepers, Speckled Warblers, Grey-crowned Babblers,
Varied Sittellas, Flame Robins and Hooded Robins. The
number of birds seen per site varied between four and 18. We
added 12 species including Australian Hobby, Cockatiel andBlack-faced Woodswallow to our species list for Grenfell(not just survey sites) to reach a total of 120 species.
On Saturday evening the surveyors met for a barbecue at
Mikla and Wayne’s place on Holy Camp Road. This proved

to be a lovely evening of good food and good conversation.
We all cooked our steaks and sausages on Wayne’s barbecue,
which was placed in a grove of trees and shrubs planted by
Mikla. On Sunday morning eight people from Grenfell met
seven people from Sydney and Dubbo for a two-hour walkaround Company Dam. Once among the trees around thedam, we were not troubled by the wind and saw a good rangeof bird species. Highlights were Speckled Warblers and three
species of Thornbills seen together (Chestnut-rumped, Buffrumped and Yellow-rumped). We saw or heard 30 species.
We took so long with the walk that there was no time formorning tea!
The next IBA survey will take place on 29 March 2014. We
hope that our existing volunteers and new volunteers willtake part in the next survey. In particular we hope that more
people from Grenfell will join us on the surveys. Pleasecontact Allan Richards (activities@birdingnsw.org.au) or me(emhodson@exemail.com.au) if you are not already on ourcontact list and would like details of the next survey.

Protecting the Gardens of Stone
Judith Nancarrow

The Department of Planning and Infrastructure hasrecommended that the Coalpac Consolidation Project near
Lithgow should not be approved in its current form. The
Planning and Assessment Commission Panel (PAC) earlier
rejected the same mining proposal. Now the final stage isanother review by PAC with different panel members. Dare
we be cautiously optimistic that the western gateway to the
Gardens of Stone NP will be protected from open cut mining?

31ST ANNUAL BIRDING NSW PHOTOgraphic COMPETITION WINNERS
Congratulations to the following winners:
Grand prize: Alfred Schulte - Photograph of Baudin’sBlack-Cockatoo. Prize: A trip of the winner’s choice donatedby Outback Track Tours.
Second Prize: Michael Hanvey - Photograph of an
Eastern Spinebill. Prize: An Outback Track Tours Easter
Camping Trip.
single Bird PRIZE: Colette Livermore - Photograph ofa Greenshank. Prize: $250
in Flight Prize: Eric Yan - Photograph of a Spotted
Harrier. Prize: $250
Group of Birds PRIZE: Jodi Webber - Photograph of apair of Laughing Kookaburras.
Prize: $250
MEMBER’s Choice Award: Eric Yan - Photograph of a
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo. Prize: $200

We thank Charlie Andrews for coordinating the group of judges
and compering the proceedings on the night. He showed all 167
entries in the 2013 Photographic Competition. The audience
voted for their favourite before the prize winning photographs,
chosen by the three judges, David Stowe, Adrian O’Neill, andCharlie Andrews, were shown and at the same time the namesof the winning photographers were announced. The winningphotographers in the audience were presented with a certificate aswell as a cheque if applicable. Birding NSW is grateful for David,
Adrian and Charlie again giving of their time and expertise to judge
the competition for a fourth year. Special thanks go to Adrian forgathering the entries and putting them all on disk and after thecompetition forwarding selected photographs to Peter Deigutis
who uploads them onto the website. Thanks to Peter you can now
view the winning photographs on the Birding NSW website.
We would also like to thank Mark and Sarah Wardrop of
Outback Track Tours for again generously providing theGrand Prize and Easter Prize.

Page 6

Birding NSW Newsletter

CENTENNIAL PARK IS 125 YEARS OLD
Allan Richards

This year marks the 125th anniversary of Centennial
Park in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. As partof the commemorations, a bird challenge has
been organised to see if 125 species can be seen
throughout the year. A diligent group of people who
visit the park regularly have so far seen 89 species.
The year is coming to a close and maybe you areable to add to the list of birds sighted during 2013. If
so, please report your sighting to the Club Activities
Officer at: activities@birdingnsw.org.au
The list so far can be viewed by searching for Bird
Challenge on the Centennial Park website.
http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/whatson/
centennial_park_125th_anniversary/125_birds_
challenge

Barn Owl sighting and photograph by Daphne Gonzalvez 15 June 2013.

BOOK REVIEWSBest 100 Birdwatching
Sites In Australia
By Sue Taylor
paperback $39.99)
This beautifully presented
mid-size paperback of 220
pages is magnificently
illustrated with a wealth of
information. Each double
page describes the better
birds likely to be seen at each location with several
accompanying photographs. Coverage includes offshore
spots such as Christmas, Macquarie, Lord Howe andNorfolk Islands while the continental sites vary from
Broome as number one Birding spot to Alice Springs
Sewage Ponds as number 100. There is no overall map
to help you find the right place, but there is always
a description to get you there. There are 700 birds
described and the Index and Bibliography are extensive.
It is an ambitious project with magnificent
photographs; some of the best by our own Club
members Alfred Schulte and Neville Lazarus. It isa Twitcher’s Bucket List and really will encourage
us to visit as many of these famous spots as we canbefore the bucket gets kicked. It will also provide foodfor thought in producing your own priority list once
you’ve been everywhere!
Philip Brook.

Flocks of Colour
Penny Olsen (flexi back
216pp)
Australia’s avifauna isdistinguished by many
beautiful birds, andparticularly by our glorious
parrots. This splendid bookdraws on the National
Library’s collection and features images of all theAustralian parrots (living and extinct), treating theillustrations in a historical context. Often the plates
depict the first known illustration of a species, and
it is fascinating to see the development of the art ofnatural history. From early paintings of amateurs
which try to catch the colours but are stiffly posed, tothe highly detailed and naturalistic depictions fromliving specimens set in context of their habitats, thisbook is a joy to look through. Artists include First
Fleeter John Hunter, John and Elizabeth Gould,
Edward Lear, E E Gostelow, the Caleys, Ferdinand
Bauer, Henry Richter, and (my favourite) William
Cooper. Accompanied by a foreword from Joseph
Forshaw, and with engaging essays and captions
from one of our most recognised natural history andscience writers, Penny Olsen, this delightful book
combines art and birding beautifully!
Lindy JonesBirding NSW Newsletter

Page 7TWITCHATHON 2013

Report from the Champagne Shrike-tits
Elisabeth Karplus
The annual BirdLife Southern NSW Twitchathon
was run by Alan Morris and Frances Czwalinna in
2013. Each year birders can enter either the Main
Race or the Champagne Race – the latter for people
who prefer to sleep at night, like to take breaks
for meals and to finish the day with champagne.
Each team sets out to see as many bird species as
possible in 24 hours from 4 pm on Saturday 26th
October to 4 pm on Sunday 27th October. Morethan 50% of the members of each team must seeor hear each bird before it can be counted. Winners
get great prizes. However the main idea is to raise
as much sponsorship money as possible. In 2012,$31 200 was raised for the Powerful Owl Project.
The Twitchathon 2013 aims to raise a similar
amount to allow a third year of observations bycommunity members of Powerful Owls to gain
more information about these huge owls.
Our core team of Philip Brook, Tom and Elisabeth
Karplus has now taken part in 10 Twitchathons
starting in 2000. Our score has increased from 100
in 2000 to 131 in 2011; 2012 was a poor year with
only 122 species recorded. This year Dorothy Pricejoined us. Our team spends more time planning thefood and drink for the day than the actual birding– our birding route in 2013 was unchanged fromthat in 2011 and 2012 though we discussed otherroutes at some length because of the bushfires. At 4
pm on Saturday we were at the Discovery Centre atSydney Olympic Park, where Judy Harrington had
her scope on a Tawny Frogmouth – our first bird
for the race. For the previous three years we had
been able to count the Tawny Frogmouth nestingnear us in Hunters Hill but the nest tree was felled
this year! We spent the remaining daylight hours
in Sydney Olympic Park finding Little Grassbirds
at the Northern Water Feature (alas no Baillon’s
Crake or Latham’s Snipe as I had seen earlier in theweek), Red-necked Avocets, Royal Spoonbills andSharp-tailed Sandpipers at the Waterbird Refuge,
Buff-banded Rail and Brown Quail at Wentworth
Common and all the water birds at Lake Belvedere.
By dark our score was 60 species.
On Sunday, we met up at the beginning of Boundary
Road on the way to Maraylya. There were lots ofbirds to hear and see along this road so we added
White-bellied Sea-Eagle seen flying over a dam,
White-winged Triller, Sacred Kingfisher and
Restless Flycatcher among others – nothing rare but
all important for our score. Along Pitt Town-Dural
Road and in Scheyville National Park, there wereCrested Shrike-tits, nesting Jacky Winter, three
species of Woodswallows, Scarlet Honeyeaters,
Leaden Flycatchers and White-throated Gerygones
and at Long Neck Lagoon we found a pair ofCommon Bronzewings and a Shining BronzeCuckoo. At Mitchell Park we added Dollarbirds,
Pallid Cuckoo and Variegated Fairy-wren. By thenit was time for the 30 minute obligatory break formorning tea and Dorothy’s fruit cake. Our next stop
was Pitt Town Lagoon where we added several
species including the Ruff and a Pectoral Sandpiper,
which were being seen regularly there. We failed tosee but did hear the Painted Honeyeater, which a few
lucky birders had recorded there. The compulsory
one-hour stop for lunch, when we are not allowed
to ‘actively’ look for birds, was spent at Pitt Town.
By then our score was 130 species. The final hourof the day was spent driving around Cornwallis andother roads between Windsor and Richmond where
we picked up a further five species including 12
Banded Lapwings. Our final bird for the day was a
White-necked Heron.
Tired but triumphant after achieving a personal bestscore of 135 species, we drank sparkling wine andate nibbles at Pugh’s Lagoon at Richmond to finish
the day. Next year we will have French Champagne
after seeing even more bird species!
After all the donations from people at the Birding
NSW Meeting on 5 November, the total raisedfor the Twitchathon from sponsors was $1926.00.
This represents the great generosity of Birding
NSW members, Cumberland Bird Observers Club
members, some friends of Dorothy’s and a numberof my colleagues at work. I thank everyone who
has contributed to the Twitchathon in general andto our team in particular. All being well we will begoing around again in 2014 and anyone is welcome
to join our team or to form their own team and join
the Twitchathon.

Page 8Birding NSW Newsletter

BIRDING IN BRAZIL
Elisabeth Karplus

Tom organised a 14-day birding tour for eight (Allan
Richards, Chris Gladwin, Trevor Waller and Margaret Piper,
and Carol and Peter Abbott, in addition to ourselves) to the
Mato Grosso state of Brazil in late August 2013 throughWings Birdwatching Tours. We met our leader, Rich Hoyer,
in Cuiabá, the capital of the state. Brazil is the fifth largest
country in the world (after Russia, China, Canada and theUSA). Its 8.5 million square kilometres occupy almost halfof South America. It has borders with all countries in SouthAmerica except Chile and Ecuador. With a population of
202 million, it is also the fifth most populous country in theworld. Most people live along the east coast, particularly inand around Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Mato Grosso isin the west of the country bordering Bolivia. To the north,
Mato Grosso borders the Amazonian states of Amazonas
and Pará. Much of the vegetation in Mato Grosso has beencleared for intensive farming of cereal crops and for cattle
ranches, but important areas of forest remain in the northwhile the Pantanal lies to the south-west of Cuiabá.
Due to a series of cold fronts, the weather on our trip overall
was about 10 0 Celsius lower than usual, which was a bit chilly
early on, but better in the Amazonian forest. Only one morningof rain at Cristalino Jungle Lodge slowed our birding.
We left Cuiabá immediately for the two-hour drive northeast
to the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães. En route
we lunched at a typical self-service buffet restaurant, where
the cost was determined by weighing the plate of food. We
stayed in the park at the Pousada do Parque. In the garden
we saw some common birds including the Rufous Hornero,
which builds intricate mud nests, Rufous-bellied Thrush(Brazil’ s national bird) and Peach-fronted Parakeets. The
next day birding was curtailed by cold weather with strong
winds and temperatures around 9° Celsius. Nevertheless innearby Cerrado (open savannah with small trees and shrubs)
we saw White-rumped and White-banded Tanagers anda Chapada Flycatcher. Later we drove through extensive
cleared land including a huge area of cotton. In the scrub
we got our first views of Greater Rheas (similar to Emus)and Red-legged Seriemas. The highlight in a small patch of
Cerrado was a Collared Crescentchest, a small bird, which
is one of only four members of its family. It sang fromthe top of a small bush giving us particularly good views,
thanks to Rich. The following morning in continuing very
cold weather, we visited the Veu-de-Noiva waterfall where
White-collared and Great Dusky Swifts roosted behind
the waterfall. Several brightly coloured Swallow Tanagers
seemed anchored to the branches by the strong wind andBlue-winged Macaws perched on the cliff.
We left the Chapada dos Guimarães to travel to the Pantanal
and warmer weather. The Pantanal is a vast alluvial plain

Typical Pantanal habitat with Cayman & Jabiru. Photo: Carol Abbott

covering 210 000 square kilometres; 100 000 of which are
in Bolivia and Paraguay with the rest in the Brazilian statesof Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. The area is largely
inaccessible during the rainy season from November toMarch. This has limited farming to small ranches. During
the dry season, the northern part of the Pantanal is accessed
via the Transpantaneira, 145 kilometres of dirt road from
Poconé to Porto Jofre on the Rio Cuiabá.
There are 125 wooden bridges on the road in varying statesof (dis)repair – we bypassed several of them on side tracks.
The birdwatching was particularly exciting, with close
views of many birds including Southern Screamers, Jabirus,
Rufescent Tiger-Herons, Whistling and Capped Herons,
Sunbitterns and very tame Grey-necked Wood-Rails.
Sunbitterns were common – when they fly, the brilliant
red and yellow pattern of their wings becomes obvious. As
well as water birds, large numbers of Yacare and Spectacled
Caiman were lying on the banks of small water holes.
After an overnight stay at Pouso Alegre, we travelled on to
Porto Jofre for one night on the Flotel (a houseboat) mooredSunbittern. Photo: Trevor Waller

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 9Jaguar. Photo: Carol Abbott

Hyacinth Macaw. Photo: Carol Abbott

on the river. Further up river, we were lucky to see Jaguars
on the river bank and Giant Otters. The boats huddled around
the Jaguars reminded me of game drives in Africa.

of Russet-crowned Crakes into the open, then at a grove ofMoriche Palms, where we saw a Point-tailed Palmcreeper
and finally in forest, where we saw an Amazonian Pygmy
Owl and a Glossy Antshrike among other birds. There wereseveral Burrowing Owls perched on termite mounds along
the way.

There were birds to see, including a Great Antshrike and theuncommon Crane Hawk. A pair of Mato Grosso Antbirds
was enticed out of dense cover by Rich’s play back of thecall. We returned to Pouso Alegre for two nights. Pouso
Alegre is a 6000-hectare cattle ranch as well as a lodge. We
were struck by the tameness of both animals and birds – twoCrab-eating Foxes walked between the dining area and our
accommodation, while South American Coati and Azara’s
Agouti wandered around the grounds. A pair of endangered
Hyacinth Macaws nested in one tree and early one morning
we saw eight Hyacinth Macaws perched.
A pair of Great Rufous Woodcreepers disputed a deadtree with several White Woodpeckers, a Crimson-crested
Woodpecker drummed beside his nest hole, while Red-billed
Scythebills and Narrow-billed Woodcreepers searched for
grubs in the trees and fence posts like treecreepers. Other
highlights in day and night walks around the property wereMottled, Black-banded and Great Horned Owls, a Great
Potoo (these look like frogmouths but are unrelated) andYellow-chevroned Parakeets, which were chewing the pink
blossoms of a Tabeouia tree.
We drove back to Cuiabá for the 90-minute flight to Alta
Floresta in the north of Mato Grosso. Near the hotel there
is a small patch of forest where Harpy Eagles have nested
since 2005 - alas there was no sign of the birds on our visit.
Nearby we saw Blue-and-yellow Macaws and a Red-fan
Parrot. The next day we journeyed to Cristalino Jungle Lodge
on the Rio Cristalino, where we spent six nights. En route
we stopped first at a small pond where Rich persuaded a pair

Cristalino Jungle Lodge is on a 6000 hectare Private
Conservation Reserve created to protect an area of great
biodiversity; it has a bird list of over 600 species. It isadjacent to protected forests to the north but threatened fromthe south and east by clearing for farmland. The lodge wasreached by a 25-minute boat trip; we crossed the Rio Teles
Pires (which flows north to join the Rio Tapajós, a tributaryof the Rio Amazonas) to enter the Rio Cristalino.
On each day we birded along the well-kept trails reacheddirectly from the Lodge or by short boat rides. Seeing birds
was very difficult with long periods of standing and waiting.
Rich identified the calls of the antbirds, antshrikes, antwrens
and other birds in the flocks and then used playback tobring one or more species close enough for us to see. Theseflocks were accompanied by woodcreepers and a variety offlycatchers. We were particularly pleased to see the Bareeyed Antbird, which is endemic to the region. On several
trails were huge Castanheiras (Brazil nut trees). On twomornings we climbed up the 50 metre-high towers to watch
canopy birds. From one tower we watched seven brilliantly
coloured Spangled Cotinga, two species of Aracari (small
toucans) and Black-girdled Barbets feeding on berries.
Meanwhile Chris Gladwin was scanning all the trees – a callfrom him had us all running to the telescope to see the Harpy
Eagle he had identified in a far tree. These huge eagles eat
monkeys.

Page 10
Twice we were lucky to see Dark-winged Trumpeters, which
are shy, small, forest crane-like birds and follow ant swarms.
Some of us got photographs of these elusive birds. On one
morning we climbed up to a granite outcrop, where different
birds including Striolated and Pied Puffbirds live in deciduous
forest. There were lots of birds to be seen around the Lodge
including an American Pygmy Kingfisher, an Amazonian
Umbrellabird, three species of Aracari and roosting Crested
Owl, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl and Blackish Nightjars.
We learnt that having two species of roosting owl at Cristalino
Jungle Lodge was quite exceptional and that most people donot see owls there. Everywhere there were brightly coloured
butterflies. On one boat ride Chris, Tom and Rich saw a
Tapir. The 14-day tour ended back in Cuiabá.
Everywhere the accommodation was comfortable if basic, withgood bathroom facilities. Cristalino Jungle Lodge adheres to

Birding NSW Newsletter
sustainable principles as much as possible using solar energy,
local timbers and an Australian-designed biodegradable
system for waste. There a generator powered the lights andceiling fans for short periods in the middle of the day andin the evenings. The main meals at all lodges were served
buffet-style and comprised several different vegetable dishes
including rice, beans and manioc and one or two meat or fish
dishes followed by a rich pudding such as caramelised bananas.
The food was particularly good at Cristalino Jungle Lodge,
which has its own farm close to the Rio Teles Pires. Once thecold front had passed we had hot, humid and generally sunny
weather with evening and night thunderstorms at Cristalino
Jungle Lodge. We travelled to Cuiabá via Santiago, Chile and
Sao Paulo, Brazil. If you would like to know more about theplaces we visited and the birds we saw, please contact me atemhodson@exemail.com.au

SOUTH TACOMA AND CENTRAL COAST WETLANDS
HALF-DAY OUTING
4 September 2013
John and Carole Carpenter
There were 12 keen birders as we started on our walkthrough the Casuarinas to the end of South Tacoma Point.
Three latecomers then joined us, two who had not readthe directions correctly–no names mentioned. It was a
lovely sunny spring day and the 47 species found on the
walk were busy calling and feeding so we had great viewsof both bush and waterbirds. We observed Scarlet andYellow-faced Honeyeaters, Eastern Spinebills, Olivebacked Orioles, Figbirds, Golden Whistlers, AustralianKing-Parrot and Brown and Yellow Thornbills. BothFan-tailed and Shining Bronze-Cuckoos were calling
and we were eventually able to track down the latter asa pair of them flew around us on the track. At the pointa tight group of about 30 pelicans were in a feeding
frenzy. Circling about them were Crested, Caspian and
Whiskered Terns along with Silver Gulls. On the Lakewere Great and Little Egrets, Black-winged Stilts anda Whistling Kite patrolled above. There was a raft ofBlack Swans stretching from Chittaway Bay towards
the Entrance and John gave up counting after 300! Both
Wyong River and Tuggerah Lakes were picturesquely
calm with wonderful reflections.
We drove back along the South Tacoma Road to the easternend of Tuggerah Nature Reserve where we added Noisy
Friarbird, White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Yellow
Robin, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Brown Gerygone, Spotted
Pardalote, beautifully coloured Variegated Fairy-wrens
and Bar-shouldered Doves with their persistent calling.
Along the river as elsewhere on the Central Coast atthat time were many Eurasian Coots. We had morning
tea on the verandah of the restored Dairy Cottage, at theCentral Coast Wetlands.
Our first walk there was to the Dairy Swamp, always adraw card, where we saw the usual waterbirds including
Hardhead, five Australasian Shovelers, Royal Spoonbill,
and Black-fronted and Red-kneed Dotterels feeding on
the mudflats with Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Amongst the
Sharpies was an unusual bird, so after much discussion,
checking field guides and taking photos, we decided that
we had a Pectoral Sandpiper. The main distinguishingfeatures being its upright stance, its yellow legs andyellow base to the bill, and a clear curved demarcationline between the breast markings and the white belly.
Overhead we had a Brown Goshawk and White-breasted
Woodswallows.
Diana Hogan showed us a Masked Lapwing’s nest withfour eggs in the stones on the new parking area, as we
took the walk around the Pioneer Creek constructedwetlands. As we passed the Hannan’s shed we had goodviews of a pair of Nankeen Kestrels. We had our lunchat the new picnic tables, which gave us great views towetlands on both sides. Our half-day outing was to havefinished there but we decided to have a quick look into
the McPherson Road Swamp, and we were rewarded
with Freckled Ducks, White Ibis and Red-whiskered
Bulbuls as our last birds for the day. Our final tally forthe outing was 81 species.

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 11OUTING WARRIEWOOD WETLANDS, IRRAWONG RESERVEAND JAMIESON PARK
14 September 2013
Coleen Southall
On an overcast morning five members set off into the wetlands
as Rainbow Lorikeets flew overhead. From the bridge wesaw an Australasian Darter then on the path walking towards
the boardwalk we had a flock of Red-browed Finches. Fromthe boardwalk we observed a Great Egret, Eurasian Coot,
Northern Mallard, Dusky Moorhen, Purple Swamphen anda Pacific Black Duck with four ducklings plus Chestnut Teal.
Further along we found Varied Sitellas, Superb Fairy-wrens
and very active Eastern Whipbirds.
At the water control ponds we saw an Australasian Grebe,
Hardheads, a Reed Warbler and Welcome Swallows.
In Irrawong Reserve we found Brown Gerygone, VariegatedFairy-wren Spotted Pardalote, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Yellow-

faced Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye and aSuperb Lyrebird at the side of the track. There were Galahs,
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Red-whiskered Bulbuls.
We had lunch at Jamieson Park and then had a leisurely
stroll finding Little Pied, Pied, and Great Cormorants all
together as well as Australian Pelican. We could hear
Scarlet Honeyeaters and had an excellent view of two
Fan-tailed Cuckoos courting. The Barking Owl was ona branch hanging over the track and certainly was thebird of the day. Across the lagoon we could see Several
Black Swans and walking back we observed a pair ofAustralian King-Parrots. Fifty species were observed
for the day.

CAMPOUT AT TOTTENHAM
20–22 September 2013
John and Carole Carpenter
Where is Tottenham you may ask? Many times thisquestion was put to us. Tottenham is the town closest
to the Geographical Centre of NSW. A local returned
to Tuggerah after living at Tottenham for 20 years andtold us that Tottenham was keen to have more visitors
and we were therefore asked if we were interested intaking our bird group there so that is how it happened.
It was suggested that we contact Gail, who runs theState Centre Caravan Park and she was most helpful
with accommodation and generously offered our groupa free BBQ meal as part of our stay. At our happy houron Thursday night our small group of 13 birders had
seen so many birds as they approached town and in the
bushland across the road from the caravan park, thatthey were keen to have a bird call. Seventy-three species
were recorded and the official start was not until thenext day! Friday was to be an easy day after the hours Black Honeyeater. Photo: Alfred Schulteof travelling to the Camp. We started the morning with We then drove to the old town water supply dam, the
1.5 hours across the road in the bushland in the Railway Sewage Treatment Works and to another dam just out ofReserve and there were many birds to see like Splendid town. Here we saw a Black-tailed Native-hen quickly
Fairy-wren, Jacky Winter, Rufous Whistler, Rufous running for cover, Hoary-headed and Little Grebes andSonglark, Peaceful and Bar-shouldered Doves, Grey- Hardheads. In the bush were Common Bronzewings,
crowned Babblers, Striped, Spiny-cheeked and Blue-faced plenty of Western Gerygones, Chestnut-rumped Thornbills
Honeyeaters, Yellow-throated Miners, Mallee Ringnecks and a brightly coloured male Crimson Chat.
and Blue Bonnets, Horsfield’s Bronze and Black-eared
Lunch was back at the camp before driving out towards
Cuckoos, but the best find was four Black Honeyeaters.
Landsdale and a visit to the cairn to mark the Centre of NSW
Gail provided morning tea back at the Caravan Park, which
and returning via one of the Nyngan roads. Here we added
was a lovely surprise.

Page 12Birding NSW Newsletterthe Bogan River near Dandaloo we saw a Wedgetailed Eagle and Inland Thornbills. Lunchtime birds
included Grey Shrike-thrush, Brown Treecreeper
and Wood Duck with ducklings. From here wetravelled to Tabratong along the eastern side of
the Bogan River and had great views of a Spotted
Harrier flying low over the paddocks. Back to campwith 80 species for the day. Tea was at the golfclub, friendly locals, meals and drinks good andreasonably priced.

Female and male Crimson Chat. Photo: Alfred Schulte

Red-capped Robin, had great views of numerous Whitebrowed and a few Masked Woodswallows feeding low
down on flowering Emu Bushes, Eremophila longifolia.
Back at camp after our Birdcall of 70 species, Gail provided
a most welcome meal of sausages, steak, potato bake andfour salads.
On Saturday we had been invited, courtesy of Gail, onto
Avoca, a property owned by Julie and Alan MacCrae near
Albert. Along the way in a patch of mallee we found Golden
Whistlers and White-eared Honeyeaters. Julie is particularlyinterested in birds and checks out their large dam every day.
A few days earlier she had seen a Brolga and last summer,a Latham’s Snipe, and was keen to see what we might
find. Julie took us for a two-hour walk, which included
paddocks and some bush as well as the dam. Here we saw
both Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels, Black Swans,
Yellow-billed Spoonbills, Australasian Darter, Little Black
Cormorant, 12 Hardheads and 44 Coots. A White-necked
Heron, three Banded Lapwings and a pair of Major Mitchell
Cockatoos flew over during the walk and there were plentyof White-winged Trillers, White-winged Choughs andApostlebirds to see. ‘Country Hospitality’ came to thefore again and we were invited to morning tea served withluscious slices and cakes, leftovers from yesterday’s Kitchen
Tea! The MacCrea’s garden was alive with birds, many busy
building or sitting on nests. The Striped Honeyeater’s nest
was still under construction with wool from the woolshed
but the Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark and Crested Pigeons
were already sitting. The Spotted Bowerbird visited thegarden gathering pieces for his bower near the shed andWhite-breasted Woodswallows were flying overhead.
We managed to drag ourselves away after midday and head
for Albert for fuel. We were pleased to see that there were not
any giant rabbits to go with the giant rabbit trap on the roofof the hotel of that name! On the way to our lunch spot by

Sunday was our Forest Day, visiting several State
Forests (SF) within easy reach of Tottenham.
We headed out towards Meryula SF; stopping
first to check out some extensive stands of Belah
Allocasuarina crystata, growing alongside theroad. Here were Little Friarbirds, Mistletoebirds,
a Wedge-tailed Eagle, an Australian Pelican flying
and a flock of White-winged Trillers and Zebra
Finches. A special find was calling Painted Honeyeaters.
We spent time in Meryula SF where White-browed andMasked Woodswallows were building nests, and a Little
Eagle circled overhead. Morning tea was by the Bulbodney
Creek with Cockatiel, Rufous Songlarks and Jacky Winters
for company. Along the way to Talbratong SF near the
Carbon Credit Plantations, there was much excitement whena Button-quail ran across the road but did not pause longenough to be identified! We lunched in Talbratong SF where
Rufous Whistlers and Western Gerygones serenaded us.
The final forest for the day was Albert SF but no new birds
were added to our list. We ventured into the grid south ofAlbert SF and found a group of birds feeding together which
included Southern Whiteface, Double-barred Finches, andChestnut-rumped and Yellow Thornbills, while a Sacred
Kingfisher was seen here a few days before during a recce!
Our birders were getting weary, as this was a hot day, as weheaded back to camp we added a lone Little Pied Cormoranton the way, making 74 species for the day. Back at camp,
Gail greeted us with lots of nibblies and a warm Tottenham
special Pizza Dip. Most of us had trouble eating much fortea. The large area of bush across the road continued to
produce new species for our list on a daily basis. It wasso handy to check the birds out early each morning andafternoon, if you were not worn out! Special additions were
Hooded Robin, Speckled Warbler, White-browed Babbler,
Brown Goshawk and Collared Sparrowhawk, Rainbow
Bee-eaters, Buff-rumped Thornbills and Zebra Finches.
About 72 species were found in this area alone! Overall
we had a very successful camp with a great group ofpeople, some very weary towards the end but still smilingnext morning. We visited 12 Atlas grids and recorded 110
species. Many thanks to you all and it was a pleasure tohave you on Camp with us. We would recommend to
everyone to visit Tottenham and enjoy the birding and thewonderful, generous Country Hospitality.

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 13OUTING - KURNELL AND BOAT HARBOUR
25 September 2013
Ann Pritchard
On a sunny morning, promising to get very
warm, 14 members and an English visitor met at
Bonna Point. As the council had dug up the carpark and the loo we had quite a long walk roundto the beach where the tide was up too high formany birds. There was only an Australian Pelicanon a far-off post and a few Red Wattlebirds anda Willy Wagtail in the bush on the way round.
Next stop was Cape Solander–no whales but
some Shearwaters (too far to identify) an
Australasian Gannet and some Silver Gulls wereseen. In the bush there were lots of calls but only
New Holland Honeyeaters showed themselves.
We had lunch at a picnic area near the Visitors
Centre and two Australian King-Parrots flew
over. There was a Grey Butcherbird calling andsome resident Crimson Rosellas and AustralianRavens looked for handouts. Walking down tocheck the rock platform Ted spied a Grey-tailed
Tattler perched on a rock, which soon flew off
but we followed and most people got good viewsof the bird.

Red-necked Stint. Photo: Alfred SchulteHigh tide was midday so we made our way to
Boat Harbour next. A few Superb Fairy-wrens
and a Golden-headed Cisticola called, a Blackfronted Dotterel and an Australasian Pipit
made a brief appearance on our walk round to
the rock platform but it was too calm for manyseabirds.
Once on the rocks at Boat Harbour we wererewarded with good views of approximately 50
Red-necked Stints, 10 Pacific Golden Plovers,
eight Ruddy Turnstones, many Crested Terns,
Silver Gulls, Little Pied and Black Cormorants
and I was extremely pleased when an Eastern
Osprey flew over. I had seen one on my recce
the previous week but as I was on my own I
was not too sure so this sighting was very
welcome.

Pacific Golden Plover. Photo: Alfred Schulte

Having a couple of people with scopes wasreally helpful as was having so many experts
to help with spotting and identifying. It was agreat day with a total of 43 species. Thank you
everyone for your help and company.
As well as Boat Harbour these three birds
can also regularly be seen on or near the rock
platform at Long Reef where these photographs
were taken. Editor

Ruddy Turnstone. Photo: Alfred SchultePage 14Birding NSW Newsletter

HALF-DAY OUTING MATCHAM-HOLGATE
2 October 2013
Antoinette Walter
On a sparkling spring day 16 optimistic keen birders(barring a couple who just like to socialize!) gatheredwith leader Eileen Davy at the meeting site at Erina
Heights. Several species seen at or around this area
included soaring Australian Pelicans, Wood Ducks,
Masked Lapwings, Rainbow Lorikeets hovering
around a nesting hole in a gum tree, Cattle Egrets,
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Fantail, Grey
Butcherbird, Spotted Pardalote, Eastern Whipbird
and Grey Shrike-thrush.
We continued on to the Davy’s lovely property
in Wattle Tree Road Holgate, with its many
colourful grevilleas, including the Peaches andCream and many other native species as well as
Salvias with an Eastern Spinebill dipping into theblossom along the driveway. The property is a Spotted Pardalote. Photo: Michael Hanvey
rainforest retreat with its many rainforest trees andCabbage Tree and Bangalow Palms. We immediately saw Yellow-throated Scrubwren hanging over the creek andAustralian King-Parrots, Golden Whistlers and Lewin’s saw the Black-faced Monarch, Large-billed Scrubwren andHoneyeaters. Overlooking the rainforest from the deck out White-throated Treecreeper, while Wonga Pigeons called
the back, we had excellent views of male and female Spotted continuously. As we made our return to the Davy’s house,
Pardalotes, which were seen carrying building material for Alan spied a Brown Thornbill flying away from its cleverly
their nest, which was located by John Carpenter, under the hidden nest in the bracken and grass and we watched its
deck. At least four Bassian Thrushes were seen much to return as we retreated. Back at the homestead Silvereyes
everyone’s delight. We heard a Green Catbird as Eileen were heard along with Red-browed Finches, Bell Miner,
slowly led us down to the creek. Yellow-throated and Olive-backed Orioles and Noisy Friarbirds, and a Brown
White-browed Scrubwrens were seen, as well as Brown Cuckoo-Dove and a Brush Turkey were seen. A pair of
Gerygones and an Eastern Yellow Robin and a Channel- Sacred Kingfishers was seen up high on a dead tree. Whilebilled Cuckoo was heard. We then adjourned for morning tea, having lunch Yellow-throated Scrubwrens were seen on
and really enjoyed Eileen’s delicious Pumpkin Fruit Cake. the lawn and later two of the Bassian Thrushes were easily
Eileen then led us to an adjoining neighbour’s property seen sunbathing with their wings outstretched. Many of thewhere we had an exciting scramble under palm trees, birders expressed how much they enjoyed the visit along
complete with all the debris and leeches underfoot, down with Warren and Eileen’s hospitality. It was a successful
to the creek. Here we observed the unusual nest of the morning with 43 species seen and heard.

SYDNEY PELAGIC TRIP SUMMARY
14 September 2013
Roger McGovern
We departed through the heads with 16 passengers on
board, mostly locals but with a couple of overseas visitors.
David started the berleying before we left the harbour and
we immediately had throngs of Silver Gulls and a few
Greater Crested Terns following the boat. As soon as wereached open water, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters joined thefray and, within 30 minutes or so, we had an immense
following of perhaps 1000 hungry wedgies behind theboat. A few Australasian Gannets began to appear alongwith flocks of small shearwaters passing by, mostly

Fluttering but with a few Hutton’s here and there. Numbersof albatross following the boat slowly increased, mostlyBlack-browed and some Shy (predominately juvenile
White-capped form) and one or two Campbell Albatross.
Only a few miles from the heads, we encountered our
first two Humpback Whales of the day and, although thesea conditions were not conducive to whale watching,most people on board had very good views of them. A
Southern Giant Petrel appeared and stayed with the boat
for almost the entire journey out and back again. A groupBirding NSW Newsletter

Page 15of three Brown Skuas joined the mass of birds following
the Halicat and the first of several Indian Yellow-nosed
Albatross made an appearance. A small pod of Shortbeaked Common Dolphins rode on our bow for a while
giving some good photo opportunities and then David
picked out a SALVIN’S ALBATROSS among thelarge numbers of birds following the boat. It seemed todisappear shortly after but was relocated just before weheaded back to port.
As we approached the shelf break, Steve’s sharp eyes
picked up the first of several Antipodean Albatross–all ofthese wandering-type albatross were of the sub-species
gibsoni. Pterodromas started to show in small numbers,
initially only Providence Petrels and then a few Greatwinged Petrels of the New Zealand race gouldi. The firstof two Buller’s Albatross arrived and was a life bird forseveral on board. Just before our early departure from theshelf after the first berley drift, the only Fairy Prion of
the day was seen–fortunately it approached quite closely
giving everyone a good look at its ID features.
The journey back to Sydney did not bring any more new
bird species for the day, but we saw more Humpback
Whales and Short-beaked Common Dolphins alongwith an Australian Fur Seal that was pretending to be adolphin by swimming with the boat for several minutes.
A massive flock of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters was seensome distance to the north as we approached the heads
and a brief view of a ‘sea monster’, which promptly
disappeared, was thought to be an Oceanic Bottlenose
Dolphin. Although the day was curtailed and several
people experienced an uncomfortable journey, it was a
day memorable for the constant throngs of birds aroundthe boat for the entire trip.

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
SALVIN’S ALBATROSS
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
Buller’s Albatross
Southern Giant Petrel
Fairy Prion
Great-winged Petrel
Providence Petrel
Wedge-tailed Shearwater

7
80
4
20
1
9
2
1
1
5
12
1500

(3) all gibsoni(55)(2)(7) mostly juvenile White-capped(1) Immature, maybe second cycle
(3)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(2) all gouldi(3)(1000)

Fluttering Shearwater
Hutton’s Shearwater
Australasian Gannet
Silver Gull
Greater Crested Tern
Brown Skua

200
12
55
400
28
6

OTHER
Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin
Short-beaked Common Dolphin
Humpback Whale
Australian Fur Seal

1
25
6
1

(40)
(2)
(25)
(300)
(10)
(3)

OUTING DHARUG NATIONAL PARK
12 October 2013
Trevor Waller
Margaret and I met Viv and Jan on the northern side of
Wisemans Ferry and spent a good day birding together.
We started with a short walk up the Old Great Northern
Road where we had good views of a Rock Warbler as
it crossed the road. Other birds found here included
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Pied Currawong and Spotted
Pardalote. We were treated to a cuckoo chorus as we
listened to Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Channel-billed Cuckoo,
Shining-Bronze-Cuckoo and Eastern Koel. When wearrived at the Mill Creek picnic area of Dharug National
Park for morning tea we were greeted by two BassianThrushes as they foraged on the ground. Another cuckoo

added its voice to our cuckoo choir when we heard Brush
Cuckoo calling. After morning tea we walked backalong the road to the camping grounds. Along the way
we had great views of a male Gang-gang Cockatoo. In
the campgrounds we watched a male Leaden Flycatcher
laying the foundations for a nest and saw a Wonga
Pigeon. We had good views of a Superb Lyrebird as it
scratched around in the leaf litter. After having lunchback at the picnic area we drove the short distance toHazel Dell where we had a short walk before heading
for the ferry.

Page 16

Birding NSW Newsletter

SYDNEY PELAGIC TRIP OVERVIEW
12 October 2013
Roger McGovern
This was the first regular Sydney pelagic
trip to operate without the Halicat and,after a very mixed bag of high winds fromevery different quarter of the compass
over the past few days, we had somedoubts whether the MV Lormar would
deal with the possible high sea conditions
that were forecasted. In the event, thepelagic gods allowed an unexpected
abatement in the wind overnight on
Friday and sea conditions were actually
very acceptable for most of the day. A fullboat of 21 passengers experienced a fairly
typical October day off Sydney with large
numbers of birds accompanying the boat
for the entire trip and plenty of cetaceans
to add to the spectacle.
There were very few surprises in the bird
species list for the trip but a tern called
as an Arctic Tern, which photographs
subsequently showed as a Common Terncaused a lot of interest.

Common Tern. Photo: David Mitford

The birds that didn’t appear were worth noting as we havegone the entire winter and first half of spring without asingle record of Cape Petrel off Sydney and, from anecdotal
evidence, they appear to have been absent or extremely
scarce everywhere along the eastern seaboard this year.
Other absent species normally seen in October included
both giant petrels, Fairy Prions and Pomarine and Arctic
Jaegers. Even numbers of Providence Petrels and Greatwinged Petrels seem to be a lot lower this year than would
be considered ‘normal’.

We left the heads in reasonable seas of a metre or
so at 7.40 am and arrived at the shelf break at about
11.15 am. Winds were light and northerly for mostof the day but freshened later in the afternoon to make thelast hour of the trip somewhat uncomfortable. Sea watertemperatures ranged from 19.7 °C at the heads up to about
21.5 °C at the shelf break. We left the shelf at 12.15 pm
to head back to Sydney and, with a stop to watch some
spectacular humpback display, we arrived back at Rose
Bay at 4.30 pm where Hal very kindly put on an al frescowine and cheese party to give the Halicat era a fitting send
off.

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
Shy Albatross
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
Great-winged Petrel
Providence Petrel 6
Wedge-tailed Shearwater 250
Sooty Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
Fluttering Shearwater
Hutton’s Shearwater
Wilson’s Storm Petrel

1
(1)
18
(6)
36
(8) many juvenile NZ White-capped Albatross
1
(1)
8
(2)
(1)
(150)
2
(1)
400 (250)
350 (250)
150 (70)30(20)Australasian Gannet
Silver Gull
Greater Crested Tern
Common Tern
Long-tailed Jaeger

22
90
6
1
2

OTHER
Inshore Bottlenose Dolphin
Oceanic bottlenose Dolphin
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
Humpback WhaleSouthern Ocean Sunfish

40
20
20
17
1

(4)
(60)
(2)
(1)
(2)

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 17

Birding NSW - NSW Field Ornithologists Club Incorporated
Financial Report
For the year ended 30 June 2013
The attached document contains extracts from Birding NSW’s financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2013. A
full copy of the financial statements was approved by the Committee and will be presented to the members at the Annual
General Meeting on 3 December 2013. It is available on request from the Treasurer. The following Statements and notes
have been omitted in this extract:
Statement of Cash Flows
Note 1–Statement of Significant Accounting Policies
Note 3–Details for cash assets on interest rates and institutions
Note 4–Inventories
Note 5–Property, Plant and Equipment
Note 7–Notes to Statement of Cash Flows
Statement by Members of the Committee

Birding NSW - NSW Field Ornithologists Club Incorporated
Income Statement
For the year ended 30 June 2013

2013
$

2012
$

2 (a)

417
21,40821,825771
21,862
22,633Purchase of inventories		

1,342

210

Decrease (increase) in inventories		

(1,008)126

Administration expenses

19,551

22,184

Operating surplus/(deficit) before income tax

1,940

113

Accumulated surplus at the beginning of the year

61,91361,800

Accumulated surplus at the end of the year

63,853

61,913

Revenue from sale of goods
Other revenues from operating activities
Total Revenue

2 (b)There are no non-owner related changes in equity.

Balance Sheet
As at 30 June 2013

Note		Current assets
Cash3
Sundry debtors		
Inventories
4

2013
$

2012
$

66,1240
1,083

60,413
4,599
75

Total current assets		

67,20865,087

5

191

1,107

Total assets		

67,39966,194Current liabilities
Payables & Deferred Income

6

3,546

4,281

Total current liabilities		

3,546

4,281

Net assets		

63,853

61,913

Members’ funds
Accumulated surplus		

63,853

61,913

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment

Page 18

Birding NSW Newsletter

Birding NSW - NSW Field Ornithologists Club Incorporated
Income and expenditure statement for the year ended 30 June 2013
2013
$

2012
$

417

771

Less: Cost of goods soldOpening stock
Purchases

75
1,341

201
210

Closing stock

1,416(1,083)

411
(75)

333

336

Gross profit/(loss) from trading

83

435

Other income
Donations received
Other income and reimbursements
Members subscriptions
Interest

3,429
640
14,135
3,204

2,979
670
14,171
4,042

21,40821,862

Total income

21,491

22,297

Expenditure
Newsletter
Insurance
Hire of plant, equipment and theatre
X-mas party & other meeting costs
Photo competition prizes
Depreciation
Postage, Printing and stationery
Donations
Name Tags
Advertising (incl member brochures)
Website costs
Government and bank charges
Sundry expenses
Audit
Subscriptions
Telephone

8,353
3,605
2,738
1,064
1,000
916
779
395
376
145
109
51
20
-

8,873
3,453
2,770
949
1000
1,008
802
363
1,554
49
225
800
75
15

19,551

22,184

1,940

113

Revenue
Sale of goods

Operating surplus/(deficit) before income tax

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 19

THE BEST UNUSUAL RECORDS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES, AUGUST-OCTOBER 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
Malleefowl
King Quail
Freckled Duck
Freckled Duck
Freckled Duck
Freckled Duck
Magpie Goose
Cotton Pygmy-goose
Australian Shelduck
Australasian Shoveler
Australasian Shoveler
Pink-eared Duck
Pink-eared Duck
Brush Bronzewing
Peaceful Dove
Diamond Dove
Bar-shouldered Dove
Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
White- throated Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
Owlet-Nightjar
Marbled Frogmouth
White-throated Needletail*Wandering Albatross
Wandering Albatross
Northern Royal Albatross
White-bellied Storm-Petrel
Buller’s Albatross
Buller’s Abatross
Salvin’s Albatross
Northern Giant Petrel
Fairy Prion **White-headed Petrel
Wedge-tailed Shearwater *Little Shearwater
Common Diving Petrel
Little Penguin
Black-necked Stork
Australian Pelican
White-necked Heron
Australasian Bittern
Striated Heron
Eastern Osprey
Eastern Osprey
Letter-winged Kite
Pacific Baza
Pacific Baza
Pacific Baza
Pacific Baza
Square-tailed Kite
Square-tailed Kite

1
HC
460
26
41
40
10
AM
2
46
40
1000
410
1
3
13
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2HC
20
12
2
1
2
1
2
1
1
40
1
1
11
1
6
2,2
60J
2
1
1
2
2N
1
2
4
2
1
1
1

23/09/13
Lake Mungo (45 km N-W)
LW
Chris Hunter
02-04/09/13
Bellfrog Track Ash Island
H
Steven Edwards
12-25/08/13
Flat Rock Dam W Nowra (500 17/08)
I
Bob Rusk
27/08-11/09
Emerald Dwns GC Pt Macquarie
NC
Alan Morris
22/07-30/09
McPherson Rd Swamp Tuggerah
CC
Nick Carson
30/09/13
Pitt Town Ferry Rd Wilberforce
S
Keith Brandwood
07/09/13
South Moruya River FlatsSC
Megan Griffith
26/08-26/09	Lake Harrison Geneva–Kyogle
NC
Richard Alcorn
07/09/13
Werai
I
Lorne Johnson
01-20/08/13
Dairy Swp CCWetlands TuggerahCC
Alan Morris
13/08/13
Wilfords Swp UlladullaI
Bob Rusk
03/09/13
Lawrence Egret Colony Wetland
NC
Greg Clancy
02/10/13
Muswellbrook STW
H
Mick Roderick
05/08/13
Irvines Rd Bellawongarah
I
Carla Jackett
16/08/13
Coates Pk Cobbitty
S
Brendon Levot
21/07/13
Koorawatha (2 sites Spring Forest)
CT
Per Maret Vesk
11/09/13
WallagootSC
D. Lambert
11-20/09/13
Pelican Point Pt Macquarie (rainforest)NC
Tim Morris
26/09/13
South West RocksNC
Ken Shingleton
25/08/13
Gibraltar Reserve Grafton
NC
Simon Clayton
22/09/13
Nombinee NR (wheat paddock)
LW
Marc Anderson
27/09/13
Mt Ulamambri HSD Ulamambri
CS
Max Breckenridge
11/10/13
Bundanoon
I
Lorne Johnson
26/09/13
Wanganui Rd Wilsons Creek
NC
Steve Brooking
03/10/13
SawtellNC
Michael Cheers
24/08/13
Wollongong pelagic
I
Brook Wylie
14/09/13
Nambucca Heads (100 NM off)
NC
David Mitford
24/08/13
Wollongong pelagic	I	Brook Wylie
14/09/13
South West Rocks (100 NM off)
NC
David Mitford
10/08 & 14/09
Sydney pelagic
S
Roger McGovern
24/08/13
Wollongong pelagic
I
Brook Wylie
14/09/13	Sydney pelagic	S	
Roger McGovern
04/09/13
Warden Head UlladullaI
Bob Rusk
21/08/13
Off South West RocksNC
Laurie McInelly
11/10/13
North Head Sydney Harbour NP
S
Michael Ronan
10/08/13
Sydney pelagic
S
Roger McGovern
30/08/13
Balls Pyramid Lord Howe Is
LHI Robert Hynson
24/08/13
Wollongong pelagic
I
Brook Wylie
24/09/13
Broughton Island (coming ashore)
H
Alan Stuart
30/09-01/10
Whittakers Lgn & Gwydir Wtlds
NP
Curtis Hayne
10/10/13
Snake Is Wallis Lake (nesting)H
Alan Stuart
16/08/13
Chatswood CBD
S
Chris Charles
04/09-02/10
Ash Island Ponds
H
Michael Kearns
23/09/13
Kirribilli Sydney Harbour
S
Robert Griffin
02/08-15/09
MerimbulaSC
D Adams
September
Erina & Bensville (2 prs nesting)CC
Warren Brown
02/09/13
Warwillah Rd Boorooban
R
Robert Nevison
11/08/13
Sun Valley Valley Heights
S
Matt Stephens
12/08/13
Nandi Ave Frenchs ForestS
Nathan Ruser
14/08/13
St IvesS
Arnie Hollyman
24/09/13
Mansfield Reserve East Bowral
IMark Filipczyk
13/08/13
Bargo
I
Lorne Johnson
21/08/13
Shortland Newcastle
H
Mick Roderick

Page 20
Square-tailed Kite
Spotted Harrier
Spotted Harrier
Spotted HarrierBlack Kite
Black Kite
Black Kite
Brahminy Kite
Brahminy Kite
Grey Goshawk
Little Eagle
Black Falcon
Black Falcon
Black Falcon
Grey Falcon
BrolgaBrolgaPale-vented Bush-hen
Lewin’s Rail
Lewin’s Rail
Baillon’s Crake
Baillon’s Crake
Spotted Crake
Spotless Crake
Spotless Crake
Black-tailed Native-hen
Black-tailed Native-hen
Beach Stone-curlew
Beach Stone-curlew
Beach Stone-curlew
Bush Stone-curlew
Bush Stone-curlew
Red-necked Avocet
Grey Plover
Grey Plover
Double-banded Plover **Hooded Plover
Oriental Plover
Oriental Plover
Oriental Plover
Inland Dotterel
Red-kneed Dotterel
Banded Lapwing
Latham’s Snipe *Latham’s Snipe *Latham’s Snipe *Latham’s Snipe
Marsh Sandpiper *Common Sandpiper *Common Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Little Curlew
Little Curlew
Bar-tailed Godwit
Curlew Sandpiper *Curlew Sandpiper *Sharp-tailed Sandpiper *Sharp-tailed Sandpiper *Sharp-tailed Sandpiper *Birding NSW Newsletter
1
4
2
1
50
147
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
145
2
1
1
8
1
3
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
3prs
2A+J
13
1
1
A
4
1
2
2
1
10
7A3Y
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
155
4
12
1
1
12

27/09/13
Mt Ulamambri HSD Ulamambri
CS
15/08/13
Edderton Rd Jerrys Plains
H
08/09/13
Spains Lane Willow Tree
H
06/10/13
South GraftonNC
07/08/13
Stotts Ck Tweed Hds (15 on 21/08)
NC
31/08-04/09
Levenstrath Rd GraftonNC
10/09/13
Sydney Olympic Pk (Nature Res)S
29/09/13
Flat Island Munmorah SCA
CC
30/09/13
Hawkesbury R Mooney MooneyCC
17/08/13
Sydney Olympic ParkS
10/09/13
Sydney Olympic Pk (Nature Res)S
19/08/13
Alroy Park PlumbtonS
25/08/13
RiverstoneS
15/09/13
Coolgardie Rd WardellNC
04/10/13
Yass (5 km NW)
SS
30/08/13
Gwydir Wetlands (60+ on 01/10)
NP
02/09/13
CorakiNC
17/08/13
General Stubbs Dve Rosebank
NC
02/09/13
Boyters Lane JerseyvilleNC
24/09/13
Broughton IslandH
02/09/13
Tallawarra Ash Ponds
I
25/08 &13/10
Pitt Town Lagoon
S
02/09/13
Bellfrog Track Ash IslandH
01/09 & 13/10
Pitt Town Lagoon
S
01/09/13
Warriewood Wetlands
S
28/09-10/10
McPherson Rd Swp TuggerahCC
29/09-12/10
Long Reef Golf CourseS
13/08/13
Hastings PointNC
05/09/13
Arakoon Beach Sth West RocksNC
13/10/13
Picnic Pt Res The EntranceCC
September
Brisbane Water Woy Woy (nesting)CC
11/10/13
East Ballina
NC
25/08/13
Dee Why Lagoon
S
04/10/13
WindangI
07/10/13
Long Reef Golf CourseS
26-28/08/13
Dairy Swp CCWetlands TuggerahCC
07/09/13
Burill Lake EstuaryI
27-30/09/13
Dairy Swp CCWetlands TuggerahCC
27/09/13	Bushells Lagoon Wilberforce 	S	
06-12/10/13	Long Reef Golf Course 	S	
04/10/13
WanganellaR
29/09/13
McGraths Hill STW
S
29-30/08/13
Windsor Turf farms
S
15/08/13
Eastlakes Golf courseS
19/08/13
Long Reef
S
23/08/13
Narrabri LakeNP
14/10/13
Morecambe Place Pt MacquarieNC
11-17/08/13
Dairy Swp CCWetlands TuggerahCC
02/09/13
JerseyvilleNC
29-30/09/13
Flat Island Munmorah SCA
CC
29/09/13
Waterbird Refuge Bicentennial Pk
S
AugustTuross Heads
SC
12/10/13
Fivebough Swamp LeetonR
12/10/13
Canada Bay Parramatta RS
26/09/13
Wilfords Swp Lake BurrillI
09/10/13
Earthcare Pk TenambitH
19/08/13
Dairy Swp CCWetlands TuggerahCC
23/08/13
Eastlakes Golf courseS
26/08/13
Wilfords Lane Swp Lake Burrill
I

Max Breckenridge
Alan Morris
Penny Drake-Brockman
Eric Wheeler
Phil Murray
Warren Thompson
Geoff Hutchinson
Tim Faulkner
Simon Gorta
Max Breckenbridge
Geoff Hutchinson
Mark Fuller
Edwin Vella
Hans Wohlmuth
Lorne Johnson
Curtis Hayne
David CharleyPhil Murray
Ken Shingleton
Alan Stuart
Chris Brandis
Edwin Vella
Michael Kearns
Steven Edwards
David Potter
Margaret Pointer
Tom Wilson
Rob Morrow
Ken Shingleton
Tim Faulkner
Alan Morris
Bob Moffat
Lorand Szucs
Charles Dove
Joshua Bergmark
Alan Morris
Bob Rusk
Alan Morris
Michael Rutkowski
Mark Young
Bernie O’Keefe
Ted Nixon
Keith Brandwood
Ashwin RudderMark Young
Michael Dahlem
Per Peter WestTim Faulkner
Laurie McInelly
Tim Faulkner
Rob Child
ENHS Newsletter
Max O’Sullivan
Max Breckenbridge
Bob Rusk
Grant Brosie
Alan MorrisMark Young
Bob Rusk

Birding NSW Newsletter
Pectoral Sandpiper *Australian Painted Snipe
Plains Wanderer
Painted Button-quail
Painted Button-quail
Little Button-quail
Australian Pratincole *Australian Pratincole *Australian Pratincole *Pacific Gull
Kelp Gull
Sooty Tern
White-fronted Tern **Common Tern *Whiskered Tern *Whiskered Tern *Whiskered Tern *White-winged Black Tern *White-winged Black Tern *Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Gang-gang Cockatoo
Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo
Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo
Rainbow Lorikeet
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Australian King-Parrot
Superb Parrot
Superb Parrot
Superb Parrot
Superb Parrot
Swift Parrot **Swift Parrot **Pale-headed Rosella
Blue Bonnet
Blue Bonnet
Budgerigar
Budgerigar
Budgerigar
Turquoise Parrot
Channel-billed Cuckoo *Channel-billed Cuckoo *Eastern Koel *Eastern Koel *Eastern Koel *Pallid Cuckoo *Brush Cuckoo *Black-eared Cuckoo
Black-eared Cuckoo
Black-eared Cuckoo
Powerful Owl
Powerful Owl
Barking Owl
Eastern Barn Owl
Eastern Barn Owl
Masked Owl
Masked Owl
Sooty Owl
Australian Grass Owl

1
AM
AF
1
1
1
1
2
2
Im
7
7
2
1
9
6
120
1
1
8
4
4
7
20
4
1
AM
53
20
12
20+
1
8
3
2
2
15
14
12
5
1
1
1
1
AM
1
1
1
2
1
2
2A,1J
1
2
1
1
1 +J
3HC
1

Page 2104-10/09/13
25/08/13
04/10/13
22/08/13
27/09/13
04/10/13
18/08/13
27/09/13
26/09/13
11/08/13
07/08/13
14/09/13
05-07/10/13
14/08/13
26/08-30/09
19/09/13
20/09-05/10
05/10/13
13/10/13
14/09/13
07-14/09/13
11/08/13
19-23/09/13
20/09/13
24/09/13
August23/08/13
20-21/07/13
01/09/13
01/09/13
23/09/13
22/08/13
01/09/13
06/10/13
25/08/13
31/08/13
01/09/13
02/10/13
06/10/13
04/08/13
29/08/13
01/09/13
25/08/13
07/09/13
08/09/13
23/09/13
13/10/13
19/09/13
29/09/13
05/10/13
22/08/13
29/08/13
06/08/13
14/08/13
07/09/13
14/08/13
July
26/08/13
26/08-02/09

Dairy Swp CCWetlands Tuggerah
Wilfords Lane Swp Lake Burrill
Wanganella
Lilyfield Sydney
North Richmond
Wanganella
Hexham Swamp (private property)
Bellata (S-E)
Bourke (10 km N)
Boat Harbour Kurnell
Austinmer Boat Ramp
Nambucca Heads (100 km E)
Soldiers Pt Norah Head
Newcastle Ocean Baths
Chittaway Bay
Lake Wollumboola
Ash Island Ponds
Lake Cargelligo STW
Pitt Town Lagoon
Yambulla SF Bega
Tascott
Kooringal Ave ThornleighTottenham
Bogan Gate
Bourke Township
Pedro Swamp
Ashley Moree
Cowra District (16 sites)
Murrumbidgee NP Euroly Bridge
Orange Botanical Gardens
Bribbaree Quandialla
Black Hill Newcastle
Cattai NP Windsor
Warialda
Obley (2 km W)
Jindalee NP Cootamundra
Orange Rd Manildra
Parkville
Bingara (5 km N)
Warragamba Dam
Castlecrag
LewishamPecan Close Cherrybrook
Rumbalara Res Springfield
Manly Lagoon Sydney
Yurammie Bega Valley
Rockdale Bicentennial Park
Tottenham CP
Trapyard Dam Merriwindi SCA
Cobar Waste Tip
Wattle Flat RNP
Glenbrook BMNP
Jamieson Pk Narrabeen
Tamworth West
Ash Island Ponds
Majors Ck Ebor
Moruya (roadkill & juv)
Berry Mountain
Bellfrog Track Ash Island

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

Jill Nolan
Bob Rusk
Bernie O’Keefe
Andrew Taylor
David Potter
Bernie O’Keefe
Mick RoderickMichael Dahlem
Neville Schrader
Lorand Szucs
Michael Crosland
David Mitford
Brad Gabriel
Allan Richardson
Alan Morris
Joy Pegler
Mick Roderick
Edwin Vella
Michael Ronan
Edward Kettle
Andrew Whittaker
Cameron Ward
John Wallace
Marc Anderson
Neville Schrader
ENHS Newsletter
Curtis Hayne
Per Maret Vesk
Marc Anderson
Anon
Marc Anderson
Mick Roderick
Steven Edwards
Greg Clancy
Neville Schrader
Marnix Zwankhuisen
Bruce Tinsey
Mick Roderick
Richard Jordan
Graham Fry
Matthew Keighery
Ashwin Rudder
Gabrielle Rees
Warren Brown
Joshua Bergmark
R Heffernan
Oliver Williams
Rowena Wallace
Max Breckenridge
Edwin Vella
Deryk Engel
Jake Webb
Coleen Southall
Stephen Debus
Edwin Vella
Russell Jago
ENHS Newsletter
Carla Jackett
Michael Kearns

Page 22
Sacred Kingfisher *Sacred Kingfisher *Dollarbird *Dollarbird *Dollarbird *Rainbow Bee-eater *Rainbow Bee-eater *Rainbow Bee-eater *Noisy Pitta
Noisy Pitta
Noisy Pitta
Eastern Bristlebird
Brown Treecreeper
Regent Bowerbird
Southern Emu-wren
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren
White-throated Gerygone *White-throated Gerygone *Pilotbird
Singing Honeyeater
Noisy Friarbird
Pied Honeyeater
Crimson Chat
Crimson Chat
Crimson Chat
Gibber ChatBlack HoneyeaterBlack Honeyeater
White-fronted Honeyeater
White-fronted Honeyeater
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater
Blue-faced HoneyeaterBlack-chinned HoneyeaterBlack-chinned HoneyeaterBlack-chinned Honeyeater
Regent Honeyeater
Regent Honeyeater
Painted Honeyeater
Painted Honeyeater *Painted Honeyeater *Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush
Spotted Quail-thrush
Spotted Quail-thrush
Gilbert’s Whistler
Varied Sittella
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike
Cicadabird *Cicadabird *White-winged Triller *White-winged Triller *Varied Triller
White-breasted Woodswallow
White-browed Woodswallow*
White-browed Woodswallow*
White-browed Woodswallow
Apostlebird
Spectacled Monarch *Spectacled Monarch *Leaden Flycatcher *Birding NSW Newsletter
1
1
2
1
1
1
4
40
1
2
1
4
2
3M,F
4
2
1
1
1
1
2
6+
AM
3
4
4
4
4+
3
4+
4
2+
3
4
1
6+N
25+N
1
2
2
2
1
6
2+
6
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
20+
100+
100s
2+N
1
3
1

11/08/13
11/08/13
31/08/13
05/09/13
07/09/13
11/08/13
12/08/13
28/08/13
29/08-03/09
30/08-14/09
10/09/13
11/08/13
22/08/13
08/09/13
24/09/13
08/09/13
15/08/13
25/08/13
14/09/13
02/10/13
28/09/13
06/10/13
20/09/13
05/10/13
06/10/13
26/08/13
19-23/09/13
31/08-22/09
17/08 & 29/09
22/09/13
24/09/13
28/09/13
21/07/13
13/08/13
25/08/13
27/09/13
27/09-12/10
18/08/13
22/09/13
22/09/13
05/10/13
26/08/13
02/10/13
31/08-02/09
02/08/13
17/09/13
07/10/13
09/10/13
02/09/13
15/09/13
01/09/13
19/09/13
17/08/13
14/09/13
27/09/13
23/09/13
01/09/13
06/09/13
31/08/13

Mehi River Moree EastNP
Penrith & Sydney Olympic ParkS
West Kempsey
NC
ArakoonNC
Tumbi Umbi
CC
SawtellNC
Boggy Ck Bellingen
NC
Eulah Ck Narrabri (flying sth)
NP
Blackbutt Forest Wollongong
I
Irrawong Res Warriewood
S
Stafford FarmTk Kembla Heights
I
Booderie NP Jervis Bay
I
Black Hill Newcastle
H
Wallabi Point Old Bar
H
Locksley Pylon Blue Mtns NP
CT
Voyager Pt Wetlands Liverpool
S
King Ck Wauchope
NC
RiverstoneS
Yambulla SF Bega
SC
Hebden Rd Lake Liddell
H
Byrock (well west of usual range)
UW
Louth Rd Cobar
UW
Tottenham (water supply dam)CP
Lake Cargelligo STWR
Cobar Airport
UW
Tibooburra (20 km W)
UW
Tottenham CP
CP
Nombinee NP (wheat paddock)
LW
Pilliga NP (Gilgai Section)
NP
Nombinee NP (wheat paddock)
LW
Locksley Pylon Blue Mtns NP
CT
Cambridge Gardens
S
Koorawatha and BumbaldryCT
Fairlead HSD Dungowan
NSRiverstoneS
Widden Brook Widden Valley (nests)
H
Capertee Valley-Glen AliceCT
Medhurst Bridge MartindaleH
Munghorn Gap NR Mudgee
CT
Meryula HSD Tottenham
CP
Cobar Waste Tip
UW
Uloola Tk Royal NP
S
Bargo River Conservation Res
I
Nombinnie NR (wheat paddock)
LW
Old Man Valley Hornsby
S
Eastlakes Golf courseS
Murrumbung HSD Mardi		
Lower Pappinbarra
NC
JerseyvilleNC
Nurragingy Res Doonside
S
Racecourse Hdld Goolawah NP
NC
Mandeni Tura BeachSC
Pilliga NP (Gilgai Section)
NP
Ashley (nr Moree)
NP
Capertee Valley-Glen AliceCT
Alroy Pk Plumbton
S
Boggy Ck Bellingen
NC
Swans Crossing Kendall
NC
Boambee Beach
NC

Curtis Hayne
Lumnitzer/Gorta
Trevor Bullock
Ken Shingleton
Stephen Clark
Peter Higgins
Brian Hawkins
Michael Dahlem
Michelle Rower
Rae Lister
Terrill Nordstrom
Julie Neumann
Mick Roderick
Penny Drake-Brockman
Harry Donovan
David James
Clive Meadows
Edwin Vella
Dean Purcell
Mick Roderick
Neville Schrader
Edwin Vella
Alan Morris
Edwin Vella
Edwin Vella
Tim McKellar
John Carpenter
Jon Spicer-BellMichael Murphy
Marc Anderson
Harry Donovan
Akos Lumnitzer
Per Maret Vesk
Annabel Ashworth
Edwin Vella
Mick Roderick
Mick RoderickMichael Kearns
Simon Gorta
Alan Morris
Edwin Vella
Gary Gibbs
Terry Dunlea
Marc Anderson
Dick Mason
Eric Finley
Carole Carpenter
Ian Kerr
Ken Shingleton
Ted Wnorwoski
Tim Morris
Max Sutcliffe
Michael Murphy
Curtis Hayne
Mick RoderickMark Fuller
Brian Hawkins
Clive MeadowsMichael CheersBirding NSW Newsletter
Leaden Flycatcher *Satin Flycatcher *Rufous Fantail *Spangled Drongo
Spangled Drongo
Jacky WinterFlame Robin
Flame Robin
Flame Robin
Red-capped Robin
Rufous Songlark *Rufous Songlark *Brown Songlark *Common Greenfinch
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Beautiful FiretailDiamond Firetail
Zebra Finch
Plum-headed Finch
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin

1
2
1
1
1
2
5
3
12
1
1
1
2
1
AM
2+N
6
5
60
7
20

Page 23
05/09/13
12/10/13
09/09/13
13/08/13
17/09/13
11/09/13
20-21/07/13
10/08/13
11/08/13
August21/08/13
07/09/13
01/10/13
01/09/13
June
11/09/13
04/08/13
29/09/13
01/10/13
30/09-14/10
01/10/13

ArakoonSun Valley
Border Lp Lkt Border Ranges NP
Chipping Norton
Beaconsfield St Revesby
Bargo River Reserve
Cowra District (2 sites)
Snowy River Way Jindabyne
Wolgan Valley Newnes
Belowla Merimbula
Willbriggie (S of Griffith)
Ash Island Ponds
Cumnock
Eastlakes GC
Orient Pt Culburra
Lady Carrington Dve Royal NP
Warragamba Dam
The Ponds Parklea
Gwydir Wetlands Moree
McPherson Rd Swp Tuggerah
Gwydir Wetlands Moree

NC
S
NC
S
S
I
CT
ST
CT
SC
R
H
CS
S
I
S
I
S
NP
CC
NP

Ken Shingleton
Gerry Flanagan
Greg Clancy
David James
Brendon Levot
Peter Dewey
Per Maret Vesk
Gavin Scott
Michael Ronan
ENHS NewsletterDavid Parker
Tony Dawe
Neville Schrader
Ashwin Rudder
Jan Wilson
Rob Child
Elizabeth Cameron
Edwin Vella
Curtis Hayne
Alan Morris
Curtis Hayne*=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, which appeared at three sites almost simultaneously, while two visits of Little Curlews have also been recorded! 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, Australian Grey Teal, Pink-ears, Yellow-billed Spoonbills, White-necked Herons, Black Kites, Spotted Harriers
and Budgerigars into north-eastern and eastern NSW with extraordinary numbers of each species being seen in places not previously reported; The
numbers of Freckled Ducks continue to rise in NSW, other records include: 1 Lithgow STW 12/08 (CT), 1 Bungendore STW 16/08 (ST), 1 Spring
Ck Reservoir, Orange 17/08 (CT), 17 Monaltrie Wetlands Lismore 30/08 (NC), 1 Cut Hill Res Cobbitty 31/08 (S), 56 Lawrence Egret Colony Swp 56
03/09 (NC), 2 Killalea State Park 06/10 (I); other Magpie Geese records include 40 Narrabri lake 07-23/08 (NP), 8 Braunstone 11/09 (NC); Plumed
Whistling-Duck: 100 Braunstone 11/08 (NC), 400 Berrigan Rd Swp Jerilderie 08/09 (R); Owlet-Nightjar: Bundanon 11/10 (I), observers first record
for site; Wandering Albatross: 1 North Head 15/08 (S); There is a rash of records around Central Coast and Sydney of Eastern Ospreys, the current
breeding pair on the Georges River at Illawong, would appear to be the most southern nesting pair at present in NSW, other records include: 1 Boat
Harbour, Kurnell 25/09 (S); Pacific Baza: 2 Nandi Ave Frenchs Forest 12/08, 2 St. Ives 14/08 (S), 1Wilton 31/08 (I); Square-tailed Kites reported
include: Nth Brother Mountain 14/08, 2 Stuarts Pt 29/08, Pedro Swamp and Mystery Bay, Narooma August (SC), Coraki 02/09 (NC), Muogomarra
NR 07/09, Acacia Gardens 08/09 (S), 1 Shoalhaven Hds 29/09 (I). The movement of Black Kites to coastal NSW, particularly the far North Coastcontinues, other records include 40 Jarrett Park Bellingen 14/08, 45 Cudgen 03/09 (NC), 25 Hexham Swamp 07/09 (H), 1 Vale of Ah Res Milperra
10/09 (S); Other Brahminy Kites were 1 Hexham Swp 07/09 (H); Coastal Spotted Harriers remain in many locations including: 1 Wollongong
CBD 01/08, Humewood Pk Mt Gileard 15/08 (I), 1 Spring Ck Reservoir, Orange 17/08 (CT), 1 Pitt Town Lagoon 25/08, 1 Trunketabella Swampand Moruya August (SC), 1 Richmond Lowlands 01/09 (S), 1 Hexham Swamp 07/09 (H), 3 km N Kyogle 09/09 (NC), 1 Bogan Gate and Dandaloo(CP) 20/09, 1 Riverbend Res Berrima 01/10 (I); The surge in Black Falcon numbers continues, other records include Richmond Lowlands 17/08 (S),Monaltrie Wetlands Lismore 30/08 (NC), 1 Hexham Swamp 07/09 (H), 5 km NE Wagga Wagga 14/09 (SS); Lewin’s Rail: Eastlakes GC 15/8 (S),Bellfrog Tk, Ash Island Ponds 04/09 (H); Baillon’s Crake: Eastlakes GC 17/09 (S), 1 McPhersons Rd Swamp, Tuggerah 04/10 (CC); Spotted Crake:
3 Lake Cargelligo STW 03/09 (R); Spotless Crake: 1 Eastlakes GC 15/08 (S), Bellfrog Tk Ash Is Ponds 04/09 (H); Other Brolgas were at Boyters
Lane Jerseyville 15/10 (NC); During Jul-Aug Bush Stone-curlews were reported from Veterans Hall, Umina High School, Davistown and Correa Bayon the Central Coast where the local population is estimated at 19 birds; Hooded Plover: 1 Nelliga Bch Twofold Bay 13/08 (SC); Latham’s Snipe:
Other arrivals Kings Rd Swp Wauchope 28/08 (NC), Lake Cargelligo STW 03/09 (R); Sharp-tailed Sandpiper: Other first arrivals Native Dog Swp
Berrigan 08/09 (R); White-fronted Tern: last dates 6 Bellambi Rock platform 31/08 (I); Whiskered Tern: 5 Cooks River mouth, Botany Bay 01/10,
26 Maroubra Bch 13/10 (S); Other interesting Glossy Black-Cockatoo records include: 3 Warriewood Wetlands 30/08 (S), 2 Bomabee Bch 31/08(NC), 2 Muogomarra NR 07/09 (S), 7 Mandini, Tura 14/09 (SC); Superb Parrot: 8 Beckom-Mirrool Rd Beckom 27/08 (R), 12 Orange Botanic Garden
01/09 (CT), 2 5 km NE Wagga Wagga 14/09 (SS), 2 Nyngan CP 23/09 (CP) , 4 Cumnock 01/10 (CS), 1 Canowindra, 6 15 km N Boorowa 04/10(CT), 3 Bimbi-Grenfell Rd 06/10 (SS), 2 Yarrie Lake 12/10 (NP); Turquoise Parrot: 2 Conimbla NP and 1 Wallipendi, Koorawatha 20/07 (CT); Themovement of Budgerigars in eastern NSW continues viz 20+ Tamworth Airport 31/08, 20+ Leard SF Boggabri 15/09 (NS); Swift Parrot remained in
NSW until 01/09 other records include 2 Elizabeth Dve Cecil Hills 12/08 and 1 Cut Hill Rd Cobbitty 31/08 (S); There are more Powerful Owl records:
1 Moore Res Oatley 24/09 (S); Other Channel-billed Cuckoo arrivals include Galaringi Res Carlingford 11/09 (S), Bimbaya, Bega 14/09 (SC);
Eastern Koel arrivals: Manly Lagoon 08/09 (S), Westfield Tuggerah 18/09 (CC), Latham Pk Coogee 22/09 (S). Sacred kingfisher arrivals: 1 RoyalNP 03/09 (S), 2 Tathra taila HSD Mangrove Mtn 06/09 (CC); Rainbow Bee-eater arrivals: 6 Dungowan 31/08 (NS), 2 Cedar Brush Rd Yarramalong
20/09 (CC), 2 Cassola Place Penrith 13/10 (S); White-fronted Honeyeater: 6+ Round Hill NR 04/09 (LW); Black Honeyeater: 4 Round Hill NR
Nth 04/09 (LW), 3 Lake Cargelligo STW 05/10 (R), 6+ Louth Rd Cobar 06/10, 10 7 km NW Cobar 12/10 (UW); Painted Honeyeater: Other reports
include 2 Widden Brook, Widden Valley 27/09 (H), 10 Yarrie Lake, Narrabri 29/09-12/10, 5 Trapyard Dam Merriwindi SCA 29/09 (NP), 4 Back Creek
SF Wyalong and 6 Caragabal 04/10 (CP); Other White-winged Triller records: 2 AM Picnic Pt Res The Entrance 11-14/10 (CC), 2 Toogong Rd Cudal
11/10 (CT), 2 Nepean River, Penrith 15/10 (S); Flame Robin: AF Bundanoon 11/08 (I); Good Birding!

Page 24

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

FEBRUARY Newsletter Deadline:

NAME TAGS &HAT/LAPEL BADGES:

Norma Ikin

Newsletter contributions:

20 December 2013

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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.