Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 1birding Newsletternsw
NSW Field Ornithologists Club Inc
Issue 259

October 2013

President’s Report
Birding NSW has submitted a response to the draft
cooperation agreement proposed by BirdLife Australia
to define the relationship between BirdLife Australia
and independent clubs. Other clubs have also written.
This matter was canvassed at the last BIGnet meeting in
Newcastle in September, and will be discussed further at
the next BIGnet meeting in Canberra in 2014. It is clearthat there is some way to go before a final document is
produced.
Lesley Hook of BirdLife Southern NSW group, Tony
Dymond of Cumberland Bird Observers Club, andElisabeth Karplus of Birding NSW, are currently
attempting to coordinate reporting for the 45 Important
Bird Areas (IBAs) in New South Wales/ACT. This is a
key responsibility of the partnership arrangement between
BirdLife Australia and BirdLife International.
The next Birding NSW IBA Survey in Grenfell willtake place on the weekend of 12–13 October, and wealways welcome new surveyors at this event. If you areinterested in attending, please contact either Elisabeth
Karplus at emhodson@exemail.com.au or Allan Richards
at activities@birdingnsw.org.au
At the October meeting, David Bain from BirdLife
Australia will give us an update on the Powerful Owl
project. This study looks at the population of Powerful
Owls in and around Sydney, and particularly about
their breeding habits. David is a keen supporter of
Citizen Science, and has enlisted the help of many local
birdwatchers and also non-birdwatchers in his quest to
get the best data available.
Another aspect of Citizen Science is the Centennial Park
Survey. This year is the 125th Anniversary of the foundingof Centennial Park, and Birding NSW is involved witha project to find 125 species for the park in the 2013

calendar year. At the time of writing this report, 78 species
had been documented – I expect that several more species
will have been found by the time that you receive thisnewsletter. Many non-birdwatchers have helped in thissurvey, in which Freckled Duck, Australasian Shoveler,
Musk Duck and Eastern Barn Owl have been seen. For
further information and advice on how to help, pleasecontact Allan Richards at activities@birdingnsw.org.au .
Charlie Andrews will be the Master of Ceremonies again
at the Birding NSW Annual Photographic Competitionin November, and has assembled his usual competentgroup of judges. The Club Meeting on 1 October is thelast chance for entries! Take the opportunity to compete
for the wonderful Outback Track Tours main prizes, orthe cash prizes for the individual categories. Put up yourimages against other photographers, some of them wellknown, some not. I note that some photographers haveshot to fame through images submitted in this competition– one has been shown in the Wildlife Exhibition at theAustralian Museum. There is no entry fee–what do you
have to lose?
Tom Karplus

New Members

A warm welcome is extended to thefollowing new members:

Gian Luca Calia
John Andrew French &Fiona Campbell Lumsden
Richard Webber

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Summer Hill
Katoomba
Rhodes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.

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

Tuesday 1 October Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre,
Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt
Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm. ‘The Powerful Owl Project’,speaker: David Bain.
Wednesday 2 October Central Coast Half-day Outing:
Matcham and Holgate. Meet in Matcham Road, corner ofMatcham Road and Central Coast Highway, Erina Heights.
Lunch at cars. Leaders: Eileen and Warren Davy 4367 2206
Saturday 5 October Club Outing: Maraylya andScheyville. Meet at 9.00 am at the corner of Whitmore
and Pitt Town Dural Roads, Maraylya. Flat but sometimes
uneven walking tracks. Lunch at cars. Take a chair. Leader:
Elisabeth Karplus 9816 2285 or 0421 665 553

Long Weekend Campout: 5–7 October: Round Hill
north of Lake Cargelligo. Camp on a private property
near Round Hill Nature Reserve. There will not be a
toilet or any other facilities. For details, contact the Allan
Richards 9660 8062 or activities@birdingnsw.org.au

Saturday and Sunday 12–13 October Regent Honeyeater
Survey: Capertee Valley. Timed surveys at several
sites from Glen Davis to Bogee on Saturday and Sunday
mornings. For further information contact Douglas Bateman:
douglasbateman@yahoo.com
Saturday and Sunday 12–13 October IBA Survey:
Grenfell. More information below.

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 3

Saturday 12 October Club Outing: Great North Walk
and Dharug National Park, Wisemans Ferry. Meet at 9.00 am.
Cross over the river on the Wisemans Ferry and turn left andpark. Lunch at cars. Leader: Trevor Waller 0467 977 508

also be our Midweek Outing Christmas celebration, so
please bring along a plate of something to share. Leader:
Elisabeth Karplus 9816 2285 m 0421 665 553 or contact
Carol Abbott 0414 312 538

Weekend Central Coast Campout 18–20 October:
Bingara Riverside Caravan Park. Tel: (02) 6724 0081. Meetat 8.30 am at the caravan park. Visiting Barraba, Bingara
National Park and District. Leader: Alan Morris 4334 2776

Saturday 30 November Central Coast Outing: Spencer
and Dharug National Park. Meet at 8.30 am at Spencer
Wharf and Store, Wisemans Ferry Road, Spencer. Leader:Margaret Pointer 4374 1163

Tuesday 22 October Central Coast Meeting: Meet at theProgress Hall in Anzac Street Tuggerah opposite McDonalds
at 7.30 pm. ‘South African birding’, speaker: Alan Benson.

DECEMBER

Weekend 26–27 October Twitchathon: Get your teams
and sponsors organised. For more information contact Pixie
at southernNSW@birdlife.org.au or Phone 0429 464 403
Wednesday 30 October Midweek Outing: Maraylya
and Scheyville. Meet at 9.00 am at the corner of Whitmore
and Pitt Town Dural Roads, Maraylya. Flat but sometimes
uneven walking tracks. Lunch at cars. Take a chair. Leader:
Elisabeth Karplus 9816 2285 or 0421 665 553 or contact
Carol Abbott 0414 312 538

NOVEMBER
Tuesday 5 November Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre,
Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt
Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm. ‘Photographic Competition’,presented by Charlie Andrews.
Wednesday 6 November Central Coast Half-day Outing:Pearl Beach, Warrah Trig and Patonga. Meet at 8.30 am
Pearl Beach Arboretum, Opal Close, Pearl Beach. Leader:
Christina Port 4340 4767
Saturday 9 November Club Outing: Centennial Park andvarious other locations in the Botany Bay area. Meet at 8.30
am in Dickens Drive near The Learning Centre, Centennial
Park. General bird watching within the park and other nearby
areas. Leader: Allan Richards 9660 8062 or 0432 064 660

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 4352 1060
Saturday 7 December Christmas Outing: Mitchell Park.
Meet at 8.30 am in the first picnic area at Mitchell Park,
Mitchell Park Road, Maraylya for early birding. Bring alongsome food to share for a Christmas morning tea and after
more birding join us for a Christmas picnic lunch in Mitchell
Park at about 12.30 pm. Leaders: Tom and Elisabeth Karplus
9816 2285, 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 and at 10.30
am move to Central Coast Wetlands. Return at 12.30 pm
to Murrumbung Homestead for a Christmas BBQ Break-up
Lunch. (BYO meat and drinks) Leaders: John and Carole
Carpenter 4352 1060

Saturday 16 November Club Outing: Wattle Forest,
Royal National Park. Meet at 8.30 am at the Wattle Forest
Picnic area near Audley. Turn into Lady Carrington Drive at
Audley, then right over the timber bridge on the western sideof the river. Turn left and meet at the last car park. Lunch atcars. Leader: Allan Ible 9542 1617

Birding NSW

Tuesday 26 November Central Coast Meeting: Meetat the Progress Hall in Anzac Street Tuggerah opposite
McDonalds at 7.30 pm. ‘Hunter Wader Update’, speaker:
Chris Herbert.

The Christmas party will follow the addressby the guest speaker, Alan Rogers.

Wednesday 27 November Midweek Outing: Sydney
Olympic Park / Mason Park. Meet at 9.00 am at Belvedere
Lake, Bicentennial Park, parking area P10D. Proceed
through the main gates, along the road past the ConferenceCentre until the lake is on your left hand side. The parking
area is on the right, just after crossing the bridge. This will

Christmas party
3 December 2013

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.

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Birding NSW Newsletter

IBA SURVEY AT GRENFELL
Weekend 12–13 October 2013
Grenfell is part of the South-west Slopes
Important Bird Area, the largest in Australia.
Grenfell was chosen by the Club to monitor
because it is a manageable distance from Sydney
and has some threatened species such as theSuperb Parrot. The Club is organising its fourth
survey on Saturday and Sunday 12–13 October
2013. The survey will be conducted on Saturday
morning allowing time to relax and bird watch in
the afternoon. Teams of four or five people willsurvey three or four sites for twenty minutes at
each site. It may be necessary to survey someof the sites on Sunday morning, if not we will
have time for bird watching at leisure. You aremost welcome to join us regardless of your birdwatching skills. Members will have to make theirown arrangements regarding accommodation
as soon as possible as accommodation islimited in Grenfell. There are three cabins andboth powered and unpowered campsites at the
local Caravan Park. It will also be possible tocamp on private property. There are four hotels,a motel and several B&Bs in town. If you areable to join the group please advise the Club
Activities Officer on 9660 8062 or by email at
activities@birdingnsw.org.au

DECEMBER TALK
Arnold MCGill Memorial lecture

Speaker: Alan Rogers
Ring of Fire- Seabirds and Volcanoes in
the Kuril Islands
The Pacific Ring of Fire manifests itself innumerous places on the rim of the Pacific Ocean– but nowhere more dramatically than in Russia’s
Far East. Stretching from Japan to the southernend of the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands
are a chain of over 30 volcanic islands bordering
an ocean trench, which reaches depths of over
8000 metres. This is one of the richest areas in
the world for seabirds and cetaceans. Highlights
for birders include up to 14 species of auks
including Tufted and Horned Puffins, Crested andWhiskered Auklets, as well as Spectacled andPigeon Guillemots.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
2013 AND CALL FORNOMINATIONSThe Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Birding
NSW (NSW Field Ornithologists Club Inc) will beheld on Tuesday 3 December 2013 at the monthly
Club Meeting, which commences at 7.30 pm in the
Mitchell Theatre, Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’
School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney.
The AGM will take place before the Arnold McGill
Memorial Lecture.
All positions on the Club Committee automatically
become vacant at the AGM. Nominations for thefollowing positions should be submitted in writingby 25 November 2013, signed by the nominee,
nominator and seconder, to the Returning Officer,
Birding NSW, PO Box Q277, QVB Post Shop,
Sydney, NSW 1230.

Office Bearers:
President | Secretary | Treasurer | Public Officer

Other specified positions:
Membership Secretary | Minutes SecretaryClub Email Manager | Activities Officer
Assistant Activities Officer | Speakers Coordinator
Publicity Officer | Newsletter Editor | Website
Coordinator | Conservation Subcommittee Chair +Conservation Officers | Records Office | General
Committee Positions

WHITE IBIS SURVEY
SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER 2013

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service isconducting its annual White Ibis Survey to get a better
understanding of the distribution and abundance of
this bird. This year we are requesting participationfrom across Australia. The survey has been runningsince 2003 and the information collected has assistedwith our knowledge of these distinctive birds.
Increasingly Ibis are moving into urban environments
bringing them into conflict with humans eg aircraftsafety, water quality and biodiversity.
To participate simply report the number of Ibis you
see via the website below.
Reports within a week of 20 October are accepted.
Additional information such as evidence of breeding,number of nests or wing tags is greatly appreciated.
www.environment.nsw.gov.au/surveys/
WhiteIbisSightingForm.htm

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 5NSW ORNITHOLOGIAL RECORDS APPRAISAL COMMITTEE (ORAC)
REVIEW LIST
(Revised 23 February 2013)
The following list comprises birds that are considered rare in
NSW based on reported observations over a preceding tenyear period to a maximum average of 1.5 records per year.
NSW ORAC encourages anyone sighting these species totake comprehensive notes, photographs where possible
and to supply substantiation by other observers whereappropriate. Details of the sighting should be forwarded
to the Secretary of NSW ORAC by way of an Unusual
Record Report (URR) Form available electronically fromthe Secretary, Roger McGovern, at roglou@bigpond.net.au
or by mail via 1/67 Cremorne Road, Cremorne NSW 2090.
This list does not include any of those species on the Birdlife
Australia Rarities Committee (BARC) Review List. In orderto maintain consistency with the BARC Review List, the
NSW ORAC Review List is based on the IOC taxonomy.
Common Ostrich Struthio camelus (1)Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae
Raja Shelduck Tadorna radjah
Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus
Green Pygmy Goose Nettapus pulchellus
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Garganey Anas querquedula
Fiordland Penguin Eudyptes pachyrhynchus
Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus
Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora
Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi
Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca
Light-mantled Albatross Phoebetria palpebrata
Salvin’s Albatross Thalassarche salvini
Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma
Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides
Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea
Salvin’s Prion Pachyptila salvini
Kerguelen Petrel Aphrodroma brevirostris
Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis
Mottled Petrel Pterodroma inexpectata
Cook’s Petrel Pterodroma cookii
Grey Petrel Procellaria cinerea
Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis (2)Grey-backed Storm Petrel Garrodia nereis
White-bellied Storm Petrel Fregetta grallaria
Pied Heron Egretta picata
Great Frigatebird Fregata minor
Red-footed Booby Sula sulaBlack-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens (3)Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Red-backed Buttonquail Turnix maculosus
Black-breasted Buttonquail Turnix melanogaster
Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus

Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus
Little Curlew Numenius minutus
Common Redshank Tringa tetanus
Little Stint Calidris minuta
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum
Fairy Tern Sternula nereis (4)Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus
Roseate Tern Sterna dougalli
Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
Flock Bronzewing Phaps histrionica (5)Squatter Pigeon Geophaps scripta
Torresian Imperial Pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa
Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta porphyrocephala
Bourke’s Parrot Neopsephotus bourkii
Elegant Parrot Neophema elegans
Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster
Scarlet-chested Parrot Neophema splendida
Double-eyed Fig Parrot Cyclopsitta diophthalma
Australian Swiftlet Aerodramus terraereginae
Thick-billed Grasswren Amytornis modetus (6)Purple-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitiusBlack-eared Miner Manorina melanotis
Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis
Dusky Honeyeater Myzomela obscura
Banded Whiteface Aphelocephala nigricincta
Red-lored Whistler Pachycephala rufogularis (7)Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto
House Crow Corvus splendens
Pink Robin Petroica rodinogaster (8)Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Canary White-eye Zosterops luteus
Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos (2)Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis
Painted Finch Emblema pictum
Black-throated Finch Poephila cincta

NOTES:
1) except for the known population in the Barham region2) except for Lord Howe Island3) except for the far South Coast4) except south of Sydney5) except for the Upper and Lower far western region of NSW
6) except for the known population near Packsaddle7) except for Yathong, Nombinnie and Round Hill8) except for the far South Coast and the Southern Highlands

Page 6

Birding NSW Newsletter

January 11

Alpine Fauna & Flora 26-30thCapertee
ValleyGuide Carol
Probets
26-27th Guide Carol Probets$1110$ 2493February 11

Lord Howe$ 3300November
2013Birds & Coral Spawning
26 Feb- 2 Mar Guide Ian Hutton (excludes airfares)
Gloucester & Barrington Tops
$2540
h
11 Janene Luff
8-11tMarch
Guide
Wader Deluge in Newcastle 5-6th$ 980

Guide Alan&Morris
Mallacoota
Gipsy Point Victoria $3880
KangarooValley& Jervis Bay 25-27th$ 193527 Nov- 2 Dec
Guide Bob Ashford

Scheduled Day Trips
AprilMonthly
11

Bhutan –Birds
Thunder
Dragon Birding 1-14th& Camaraderie$12350

Guide Dion Hobcroft (excludes airfares)

Arizona Desert & Seattle Puffins 28-10 May $ 7560
Follow
That Bird - sydney’s birding company
Local Guides (excludes airfares)

Tel 02 9973 1865
Website www.followthatbird.com.au
Top End Birding - Darwin & Kakadu 8-16th TBA
June 11(excludes airfares)
July 11Borneo with Dion Hobcroft 6-17
BIRD-WATCHING PELAGIC
TRIPS(excludes airfares)th$ 8300

DayAnytripsquestions
once a monthon Saturday,
Sydney Pelagic Trips–Book online at www.sydneypelagics.info or www.halicat.com.au
call Halon 0411check our website or ring for more Information
311 236 or email hepstein@bigpond.net.au

Wollongong Pelagic Trips depart on the 4th Saturday of each month. To Follow
make a booking
a SOSSA
Wollongong
That onBird- sydney’s
birding company
Telemail:
02 9973sossa@tpg.com.au
1865 email tours@followthatbird.com.au
pelagic trip, contact Lindsay or Janice of SOSSA by phone: 02 4272 4626 oror visit thewebsite www.followthatbird.com.au
website: 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/November. Additionally occasional trips out of Swansea,
south of Newcastle, are also being organised. For enquiries or bookings contact Mick Roderick by mobile: 0421 761 237
or email: mickhhb@yahoo.com.au

OUTBACK TRACK TOURS BIRD-WATCHING TOURS IN 2013
The Club in conjunction with Outback Track Tours has arranged the following fully accommodated tours. The
itineraries focus on prime bird watching locations and an experienced birding guide will accompany each tour. For
further enquiries or bookings, contact Outback Track Tours by phone or by email at res@outbacktracktours.com orvisit their website at www.outbacktracktours.com
12-day Kangaroo Island, The Coorong and Little Desert Lodge 12–23 OctoberThis tour will visit some great areas for bird watching: Kangaroo Island, The Coorong and Bool Lagoon in South
Australia and Little Desert in Western Victoria. It covers a variety of different habitats with the opportunity to see alarge range of bird species.
9-day Tasmania 2–10 November
This special bird-watching tour to Tasmania has an emphasis on seeing all 12 endemic species of birds but also allows
time for sightseeing. Spend two nights at Cradle Mountain, one night at Strahan, one night at Lake St Clair, one nightat Hobart and two nights on Bruny Island.

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 7FROM AN UGLY DUCKLING TO A BEAUTIFUL SWAN
Nelson Wallis–Community Relations Advisor, Sydney Water

Sydney Water has started work to naturalise three areas
along the Cooks River. Naturalisation involves removing
the deteriorated concrete bank lining the river and replacing
it with sandstone and creating a more natural environment
surrounding the river by planting shrubs and trees that are
indigenous to Cooks River. The areas being naturalised
are at Belfield, Campsie and Canterbury, with over 1.1
kilometres of the riverbank naturalised, with construction
finishing in mid-2014.
This work is the second stage of the Cooks River
Naturalisation Project. In 2010 Cup and Saucer Wetlands
were built and they have attracted a broad range of bird life.
Over the coming years, Sydney Water plans to naturalise
as much as possible along the Cooks River.
We expect that the naturalisation works will have a positive
impact on the bird life in the area of the Cooks River as the
project involves planting 80 000 native plants. It is hopedthat the native groundcover and mid-storey plants will
provide suitable habitat for smaller birds and that overall
the native bird population will become more diverse andmore abundant.

Artist’s Impression of the Cooks River Naturalisation Project

I would like to hear from any members of Birding NSW
who would like to become involved in doing occasional
surveys of the bird life to assist with gauging the impactof the naturalisation project. There may even be somemembers who live in the area who would have a particularinterest in taking part.
To find out more about the project visit:www.sydneywatertalk.com.au/crbnp or call Nelson Wallis,
Community Relations Advisor, Sydney Water on
02 8849 4198.

Used postage stamps for charity

Barrie Ayres
Many Sydney Club members know that the postage stamps have been removed from mail received by the Club andpassed to me and members, friends and neighbours have also been saving their used stamps for me.
On 18 July, a big sort out of all the plastic bags and envelopes containing stamps was done and a large box crammed fullof used stamps was forwarded to the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC). In the sort out, the receipt forthe previous similar consignment came to light, and it was dated November 2003 so the current box of stamps has beenbuilding for ten years.
I plan to continue collecting used postage stamps, but cannot promise to be around in ten years’ time! Why not startsuch a collection in your home or office as they take up little room? Tear the stamps from envelopes leaving about aone to one and a half centimetre border. When any member feels that they have a good collection, then please contactme, or the Committee, so that a further consignment may be organised and sent to help raise money for the RIDBC.
Or one could phone the Institute on 9871 1233 (currently Erin Adams) and get advice as to where to send them.

Royal National Park Outing
6 July 2013
Neil Russill
Sixteen members met at Warumbul Road in Royal
National Park at 9.00 am. Throughout the morning wewalked parts of the Winifred Falls Track, the MeadowsFire Trail and the Gundamaian Fire Trail. The target
species in this area were the Honeyeaters. The day’slist included White-naped, Yellow-faced, New Holland,
Scarlet, Fuscous and Lewin’s Honeyeaters plus Eastern
Spinebills and Red and Little Wattlebirds. Raptors seen
were two Whistling Kites and two White-bellied SeaEagles.

Lunch was at Wattamolla followed by a walk out to the cliffs.
At the Wattamolla cliffs, Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters
were showing and calling well. Out to sea AustralasianGannets and Black-browed Albatross were observed. A
good number of whales were spotted travelling north. For
many members the Humpback Whales breaching was ahighlight.
The last species sighted were three White-necked Herons
flying south along the cliffs. Thanks to all who came andshared this day with us.

Page 8Birding NSW Newsletter

QUORROBOLONG
27 July 2013
Alan Morris

Sixteen people gathered at Freemans Waterhole for ourannual visit to Quorrobolong and no one was disappointed
with the day. Although it started out cold but sunny, as
the temperature rose to 18 Co, it remained sunny and we
all had a great time, with 83 species seen. The usual Bell
Miners, Yellow-faced and Lewin’s Honeyeaters were seen
at Freemans Waterhole and then we headed for Mulbringand Sandy Creek Road in Quorrobolong, passing farmdams with their attendant White-necked and White-faced
Herons, Australian Wood Ducks, Cattle Egrets and an
occasional Nankeen Kestrel and Black-shouldered Kite.
Our first stop was at Peter and Jill Barda’s property Big
Pond. Here we checked out the road reserve first before
going onto the property where we had morning tea with ourhosts, birding at the same time. There were plenty of birds
here with Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebirds andNoisy Friarbirds being the most vocal and abundant but
we soon picked up Striated and Brown Thornbills, Golden
Whistlers, Grey Fantails and a lovely male Rose Robin.
Pied Butcherbirds were calling well; there was a Bluefaced Honeyeater in the Bardas’ Liquidambar Tree andfive Hardheads on their dam, which was being checked out
by a Whistling Kite. We then meandered down Whitings
Lane to Heaton Road where we checked out the wetlands,
as this is a good place for Red-rumped Parrots, StriatedPardalotes, Grey-crowned Babblers and Tree Martins. Allof those birds were found, much to everyone’s delight.
Other birds of interest here were Royal Spoonbills, Whitenecked Herons and a Wedge-tailed Eagle. Then we drove
down Mill Lane and Swans Lanes to Randall Miller’s
property Iomar, which we had been invited to visit,
picking up a Brown Falcon en route. We spent roughly twohours there and although the absence of flowering trees
meant that honeyeaters and lorikeets were comparatively

absent compared to some previous visits, there were agood variety of woodland birds to see. Three small groupsof Little Lorikeets were located and Yellow-tufted andYellow-faced Honeyeaters were both common, whereas
Fuscous and White-naped Honeyeaters proved harder tofind. A dark morph White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike was seen
and a Brown Goshawk was observed harassing a Wedgetailed Eagle overhead. Mistletoebirds were also found.
Finally it was time to cross the paddocks once more and headto Trevor Duckworth’s property Oakleigh where we had lunch.
Nothing new was seen on the drive to Oakleigh, but no sooner
had we arrived and been made very welcome by Trevor andNorma, than a Wedge-tailed Eagle checked us out, followed
later by a White-bellied Sea-Eagle. After lunch Normaand Trevor led us on a walk around the property and somehighlights here were two more Rose Robins, White-eared andStriped Honeyeaters, Bar-shouldered Doves, Grey Shrikethrushes and an Olive-backed Oriole. The Satin Bowerbirds
were still maintaining a bower in the home garden and we also
saw Red-rumped and Australian King-Parrots. The paddocks
seemed full of Straw-necked Ibis and Cattle Egrets and there
were more Eurasian Coots than usual on the dams. AnotherBlack-shouldered Kite was also seen here.
Our final stop for the day was Ellalong Lagoon, first at theeastern end in Ellalong and then along to the western end at
Paxton. Some highlights included a few Black Swans, both
Royal and Yellow-billed Spoonbills and Black-winged
Stilts at the eastern end, with a few Australian Pelicans
and various cormorants at the western end. There werecomparatively few waterbirds on the lagoon, contrary to
information published recently. We finished here at 3.30
pm having seen 83 species of birds on a winter’s day.
Thanks to all who participated.

Midweek Outing to Agnes Banks and Penrith area
31 July 2013
Carol Abbott

A dozen club members met at Agnes Banks Nature Reserve
on a warm winter’s day for the July midweek outing. Apartfrom a number of Little Lorikeets flying fast overhead, few
birds were calling or visible so the group decided to try its
luck birding the roads towards Penrith.
The area between Castlereagh Road and Smith Road proved
productive with flowering eucalypts attracting a good array ofhoneyeaters with Scarlet Honeyeaters being particularly vivid.
A small flock of Little Lorikeets actually sat still to enable thegroup to obtain views and the bird list started to grow.

After a couple more stops, lunch was at Penrith Weir, which
was a new spot for most. The riverbank walk showed up
more species.
Finally, some of the group went off to Mulgoa Reserve tochase up recent sightings of Swift Parrots. On cue, a small
flock flew over giving very fleeting views. A nice way to
end a day that had a decent bird total (78 species), few‘special’ birds but a pleasant winter’s day in the outdoors
with good company.

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 9

Half-day Outing Gosford Coastal Lagoons–Wamberal,
Terrigal and Avoca
5 August 2013
Alan Morris
Thirteen members gathered at Remembrance Drive,
Wamberal on a sunny winter’s morning to check out
the birds on the Gosford Coastal Lagoons of Wamberal,
Terrigal and Avoca. We do this survey annually to update
the Community Environment Network’s Central Coast
Wetland Data Base and to update the Birdlife Australia
Bird Atlas Data Base. Wamberal Lagoon had recently
filled again so that all the large numbers of waders andCormorants have gone and in their place were large
numbers of Eurasian Coots! We counted about 1000 birds
on the lagoon, feeding in a large raft in the centre; among
them were a few Hardheads and Little Grebes. A pairof Black Swans was on their nest near the central reedbed and there were about 32 Chestnut Teal and a few
Australian Grey Teal and Pacific Black Ducks present.
We checked out the bushland in the corner of the Nature
Reserve bordered by Ocean View Drive and Wairakei
Road, and saw a White-headed Pigeon, Eastern Yellow
Robins, a Golden Whistler, two Pied Butcherbirds, an
Olive-backed Oriole, Brown and Yellow Thornbills anda Grey fantail. The total bird count was 37.
We moved off to Terrigal and parked our vehicles in
Willoughby Road and walked around to the bushland in
Florida Drive. Alas there was no Eastern Osprey today

on its usual perch on a pole near the playground, but
we did see Chestnut and Australian Grey Teal, Brown
Gerygones, Eastern Spinebills, Spotted Pardalotes, Grey
Fantails, Golden Whistlers and Lewin’s Honeyeaters aswell as a White-faced Heron and a Little Egret. Twentyeight species was the count here. We had morning tea inthe sun before moving off to Avoca Lagoon.
At Avoca Lagoon, we parked in Heazlett Park, and thenwalked back along the main lagoon to the Lions Unity
Park to check out the waterbirds in the upper part ofthe lagoon. There were at least 172 Chestnut Teal, 70
Australian Grey Teal and 20 Black-winged Stilts feedingin the shallow upper reaches of the lagoon, and we also
saw one Caspian Tern and four Australasian Darters.
There was a pair of Brown Goshawks doing somecourtship flights, a Whistling Kite on a nest in the topof a Norfolk Island Pine Tree and a Brush Turkey wasseen to run across Avoca Drive heading into the reserve.
Our final find for the day was a Nankeen Night-Heron
roosting in the large paperbark adjacent to the lagoon
where we had our lunch. This brought the Avoca Lagoon
count to 34 species.
Overall 57 different species were recorded on the day.

Outing to THE Air Services site at Shanes Park
10 August 2013
Edwin Vella
A reasonable-sized group of keen birders had an
enjoyable sunny day at the Air Services Site, Shanes
Park. This area contains quite pristine examples of therapidly disappearing and endangered Cumberland Forest
and Castlereagh Woodlands still remaining in Western
Sydney. It is home to a range of threatened bird species
including the Speckled Warbler. Unfortunately, unlike
my visit a week ago, none of the Speckled Warblers madean appearance for our outing but an excellent variety ofother bird species was seen. These included three speciesof raptor – Swamp Harrier, Whistling Kite and Brown
Goshawk, a pair of Painted Button-quail, a few Rose
Robins (a stunning adult male even came down to a
stream for our close inspection), Fan-tailed Cuckoos andShining Bronze-Cuckoos, Crested Shrike-tits, Rufous

Whistlers, Varied Sitellas, Brown-headed Honeyeaters,
lots of both Buff-rumped Thornbills and Weebills, asmall group of Olive-backed Orioles and some Fairy
Martins already on the job maintaining their nests fromthe previous season. In addition both Lewin’s Rails andSpotless Crakes were clearly heard but unfortunately
remained out of view.
Due to its high conservation values, there is hope that
this site will one day become a nature reserve and as aminimum, a National Park. An excellent website on the
Shanes Park Air Services Site is also available detailingits unique flora and fauna as follows:
http://www.shanespark.com/

Page 10Birding NSW Newsletter

Sydney Pelagic Trip
10 August 2013
Roger McGovern
We departed through Sydney Heads with a full complement ofpassengers which included regular and irregular local birders,interstate visitors (good to see Nikolas back for the day), someinternational visitors and a number of nature watchers along
to see whales, dolphins and, of course, the birds.
With the inshore berley trail failing to draw a crowd, there
were not large numbers of birds around in the first coupleof miles. However, a pair of Humpback Whales werequickly spotted but were not cooperative and we continued
on our way after a few minutes. In addition to the usual
Silver Gulls and the odd Greater Crested Tern, there were
initially several Black-browed Albatross, an AustralasianGannet and then we began to see some Indian Yellownosed Albatross. Perhaps the most notable sighting during
this stage of the trip was a couple of good-sized groups ofsmall shearwaters that passed by with the bulk of them being
Hutton’s Shearwaters and only a few Fluttering Shearwaters
accompanying them. A group of small dark cetaceans wasseen to break the surface but, despite our best efforts, they
could not be relocated causing us to think that they weresomething unusual. Shortly afterwards, a sea monster wasseen making a series of very vigorous splashes at somedistance but, again, when we arrived on location it did notshow again. The most likely explanation for this one wasthat it was a feeding marlin.
As we moved further offshore, small numbers of Fairy
Prions began to appear, some Shy Albatross were well seen
and a lone Wedge-tailed Shearwater came past and kept on
going. More Humpback Whales were seen with one groupof two showing very well and providing good views andphotographic opportunities. A couple of observers on board
spotted a prion that had quite a different flight pattern to the
Fairy Prions around it but it moved away without giving
good views and the consensus was that it was either aSlender-billed Prion or an Antarctic Prion.
As we were approaching Brown’s Mountain, a small groupof Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphins was briefly seen but they
did not approach the boat and quickly disappeared. We set
up a berley slick as the wind began to freshen and there wasplenty of activity around the boat. The first of two Antipodean
Albatross (Gibson’s subspecies), adult Campbell Albatross,small numbers of Providence Petrels, and some very smartlooking juvenile Shy (White-capped) Albatross straightfrom fledging at their New Zealand breeding grounds were
all seen along with the good numbers of Black-browed
Albatross, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross and Fairy Prions.
It was of interest that none of the adult Shy Albatross wasseen with a yellow base to the culminicorn, which may haveindicated that these birds were all White-capped Albatross

Shy Albatross. Photo: Alfred Schulte

Providence Petrel. Photo: Alfred Schulte(steadi) or possibly that the nominate race (cauta) does
not show this characteristic at this time of the year. Before
leaving Brown’s Mountain, some people on board spotted a
Buller’s Albatross fly by but the call did not get to everyone
unfortunately. A Brown Skua showed well, but with no new
species appearing for a while and the wind freshening, we
set off back to Sydney.
Our journey back was initially somewhat choppy but, as
we got closer to the protection of the shore, conditions once
again became very comfortable. No new birds were seen for
most of the way back, but a pod of maybe 60 Short-beaked
Common Dolphins delighted everyone by coming for a rideon our bow and a couple of flying fish were well seen. As
we were approaching the heads, a small group of Whitefronted Terns were seen fishing - a species that we rarely
record from the Halicat for reasons that I can’t explain. In
the harbour we detoured over to the Quarantine Station to
search for Little Penguins and although we didn’t find any,
we were rewarded instead by the sight of two Australian
Fur Seals lazing on the rocks. Although it was not a day
for rarities, all on board enjoyed a great Sydney day on theocean with 16 species recorded.

Birding NSW Newsletter

Page 11

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

2
20
3
16

(1) both gibsoni(6)(2)(4) only juvenile steadi identified

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
Buller’s Albatross
Prion (sp)Fairy Prion
Providence Petrel
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Fluttering Shearwater

34
1
1
60
5
1
10

(20)
(1)
(1) Antarctic or Slender-billed
(8)
(2)
(1)
(6)

			

as to sub-species

Hutton’s Shearwater
Australasian Gannet
Silver Gull
Greater Crested Tern
White-fronted Tern
Brown Skua
OTHER
Oceanic Bottlenose Dolphin
Short-beaked Common Dolphin
Humpback Whale
Flying Fish
Australian Fur Seal

200 (100)
6 (3)
90 (40)15 (5)
5 (5)
1 (1)
6
60
10
2
2

CHILTERN ROAD ET AL
13 August 2013
Philip Brook
Eight members turned up on a beautiful almost springmorning at Chiltern Road at Ingleside with not a cloud insight. We had a great day birding along the Chiltern Track,
before moving to Warriewood Wetlands and afterwards
lunch and an inspection of the new facilities at Middle
Creek, near the NSW Institute of Sport.
It was interesting to compare the birds seen during areconnaissance the previous Tuesday to those on the outing.
On Tuesday Chiltern Road produced twelve honeyeater
species including Yellow-tufted, White-eared and Fuscous,
but the first two were absent on Saturday, replaced by a distant
Scarlet calling. Little Eagle, probable Grey Goshawk and a
Spangled Drongo were also present only on the Tuesday.
At Middle Creek, a Buff-banded Rail was evident on theTuesday but was replaced by a Striated Heron, three Royal
Spoonbills and a Hoary-headed Grebe on the weekend. A
family of Laughing Kookaburras entertained us by keeping
a very sharp eye on the BBQ area.
Warriewood produced its usual nice birds but the reported
nesting Grey Goshawk wasn’t seen – instead you can’t misstwo of the three new Brush Turkey mounds, one entering
Warriewood from Katoa Place to the right of the track justafter the first boardwalk, and another on the right soon after
you begin on the Irrawong Track. The builders have become
immune to people walking past their territory and hopefully
they’ll nest successfully.
A beautiful winter’s day, a good sprinkling of birds and acheerful group made for a very enjoyable outing.

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Outing
28 August 2013
Coleen Southall
Seventeen members met at the Elvina Trail Car Park on
a sparkling winter’s morning and as we set off down the
track a flock of Yellow-tailed Black- Cockatoos were flying
in the distance. There were several Little Wattlebirds and
New Holland Honeyeaters flitting about and an Eastern
Whipbird close to the edge of the track. We walked to thesite of some very interesting rock formations and Aboriginalengravings. Here we observed a Grey-shrike Thrush, Whitebrowed Scrubwrens and Silvereyes. We then proceeded to
the Salvation Creek Picnic Area. Here we could hear a Fantailed Cuckoo calling. We saw an Eastern Yellow Robin,
Grey Fantail and a Spotted Pardalote. At West Head weobserved a pair of Australian King-Parrots, a Laughing
Kookaburra, Welcome Swallows, a Black-faced Cuckoo-

shrike, Noisy Miners, Pied Currawongs, Australian Ravens
and an Australian Magpie. At the Resolute Picnic Area wesaw an Olive-backed Oriole and a newly constructed nest.
Two Australian Brush-turkeys joined us for lunch andentertained with their antics.
Five of us then headed off to the Chiltern Trail where wefound more Little Wattlebirds and New Holland Honeyeaters.
Later a Golden Whistler, Variegated Fairy-wrens, Whitenaped Honeyeaters and Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters wereadded to the count for the day. As we were leaving we could
hear a Bar-shouldered Dove calling. Thank you everyone
for making it a very enjoyable day even though birds were
scarce.

Page 12Birding NSW Newsletter

THE BEST UNUSUAL RECORDS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES, JUNE-AUGUST 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 WesternKing Quail			
Magpie Goose			
Magpie Goose			
Magpie Goose			
Magpie Goose			
Plumed Whistling-Duck		
Wandering Whistling-Duck		
Wandering Whistling-Duck		
Wandering Whistling-Duck		
Freckled Duck			
Freckled Duck			
Freckled Duck			
Freckled Duck			Blue-billed Duck			Australian Shoveler			Pink-eared Duck			Pink-eared Duck			Pink-eared Duck			
Emerald Dove			Diamond Dove			Diamond Dove			Superb Fruit-Dove			Topknot Pigeon			
White-faced Storm-Petrel		Black-bellied Storm-Petrel		
Wandering Albatross		
Wandering Albatross		
Wandering Albatross		Gibson’s Albatross			
Campbell’s Albatross		Campbell’s Albatross		Campbell’s Albatross		
Shy Albatross			
Buller’s Albatross			
Buller’s Albatross			
Buller’s Albatross			
Northern Giant-Petrel		Northern Giant-Petrel		Northern Giant-Petrel		Northern Giant-Petrel		Southern Giant-Petrel		Southern Giant-Petrel		Cape Petrel *			Fairy Prion			
Fairy Prion			
Fairy Prion			
Fairy Prion			
Fairy Prion			
Fairy Prion			
Antarctic Prion			
Slender-billed Prion		
Slender-billed Prion		

3
6
3
10
3
2000+
2
8
650
36
34
23
100+
M,3F
2
150
4
2500
1
5
20
AM
1
3
1
2
1
4
1
1
2
1
12
1
3+
1
1
1
3
3
1
1
1
800+
500
400
3
40+
12
1+
1+
1bc

24/06/13		
18/06/13		
20/06/13		
25/06/13		
03/07/13		
27/06 & 22/07
29/06/13		
30/06/13		
26/07/13		
15/06/13		
03/07-07/08/13
03-23/07/13
24/07/13		
04/07/13		
24/07/13		
22/06/13		
04/04-31/07
28/07/13		
March		23/06/13		
04/07/13		
20/07/13		
20/07/13		
08/07/13		
23/06/13		
15/06/13		
21/06/13		
08/07/13		
14/07/13		
20/06/13		
08/07/13		
14/07/13		
18/06/13		
21/06/13		
08/07/13		
04/08/13		
25/06/13		
08/07/13		
14/07/13		
16/07/13		
25/06/13		
01/07/13		
26/06/13		
18-27/06/13
22/06-01/07/13
23-26/06/13
24/06/13		
25/06/13		
26/06/13		
23/06/13		
23/06/13		
01/07/13		

Windsor (Turf Farms)		
Yanco Feedlot (22 on 22/07)		
Osprey Drive Yamba		
Geneebinga Wetlands Casino		
Berkeley Lake Illawarra		
Yanco Feedlot			Woodlands East Maitland		
Broadwater Lagoon Cattai		Lismore Lake			Morpeth STW			
McPherson Road Swamp		
Central Coast Wtlds Tuggerah
Flat Rock Dam Nowra		
Shangri la Rd Swp Bundanoon
Centennial Park			
Swan Pond Ash Island		
Centennial Park			
Fivebough Swp Leeton		Pedro Swamp Batemans Bay 		
Tycannah Ck Terry Hie Hie		
Whittakers Lagoon Moree		Irrawong Res Warriewood		Marrickville (perched on car)		
Terrigal pelagic			
Port Stephens pelagic		South Head Sydney Harbour NP
Norah Head Lighthouse		Terrigal pelagic			
Port Stephens pelagic		
Mistral Point Maroubra		
Terrigal pelagic			
Port Stephens pelagic		
Norah Head Lighthouse		
Mistral Point Maroubra		
Terrigal pelagic			
North Head Sydney Harbour NP
Boat Harbour Kurnell		
Off Terrigal			Port Stephens pelagic		
Green Cape Ben Boyd NP		
Boat Harbour Kurnell		Terrigal pelagic			
North Head Sydney Harbour NP
Norah Head Lighthouse		
North Wall Ballina 			
Mistral Point Maroubra		
Sawtell Headland			Terrigal				Kingscliff			
Port Stephens pelagic		
Port Stephens pelagic		
Flat Rock Ballina			

S
R
NC
NC
I
R
H
S
NC
H
CC
CC
I
I
S
H
S
R
SC
NP
NP
S
S
CC
H
S
CC
CC
1
S
CC
H
Cc
S
CC
S
S
CC
H
SC
S
CC
S
Cc
NC
S
NC
CC
NC
H
H
NC

Ted Wnorowski
Ben Kschenka
Gary Whale
Darryl Eggins
David Rower
Ben Kschenka
Grant Brosie
Keith Brandwood
Hans Wohlmuth
Ann Lindsay
Nick Carson
Alan Morris
Duade Paton
Lorne Johnson
Marylon Coates
Neville McNaughton
Marie Lister
Keith Hutton
Julie Morgan
Michael Dahlem
Curtis Hayne
Rae Lister
Melissa Mason
Tim Faulkner
Mick Roderick
Ida Rohne
Allan Benson
Tim Faulkner
Mick Roderick
Bas Hensen
John Weigel
Mick Roderick
Brad Gabriel
Fiona Brook
Tim Faulkner
Michael Ronan
David James
Alan Richardson
Mick Roderick
Grant Brosie
David JamesTim Faulkner
Michael Ronan
Brad GabrielHans Wohlmuth
Simon Gorta
Peter Higgins
Nick Carson
Kathy Wilk
Mick Roderick
Mick Roderick
Steve McBrideBirding NSW Newsletter
Slender-billed Prion		
Blue Petrel			Gould’s Petrel			Little Shearwater			Fluttering Shearwater		Common Diving-Petrel		Common Diving-Petrel		Common Diving-Petrel		Common Diving-Petrel		Common Diving-Petrel		Common Diving-Petrel		Little Penguin			Black-faced Cormorant		Australasian Bittern		Australasian Bittern		
Black Bittern			Black Bittern			Glossy Ibis			
Eastern Osprey			Eastern Osprey			Eastern Osprey			Eastern Osprey			Pacific Baza			Pacific Baza			Pacific Baza			Square-tailed Kite			Square-tailed Kite			Whistling Kite			Black Kite			Black Kite			Black Kite			Grey Goshawk			
Grey Goshawk (white)		
Grey Goshawk			
Spotted Harrier			Spotted Harrier			Spotted Harrier			Little Eagle			Black Falcon			Black Falcon			Black Falcon			
Grey Falcon			
Brolga				Brolga 				Brolga				Buff-banded Rail			
Lewin’s Rail			
Lewin’s Rail			
Black-tailed Native-hen		
Spotless Crake			
Spotless Crake			
Beach Stone-curlew		
Beach Stone-curlew		
Bush Stone-curlew			
Bush Stone-curlew			
Red-necked Avocet			Red-necked Avocet			Red-necked Avocet			

3bc
1
3
1bc
500+
5
103+
100
11
15
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
127
1
2
2+NE
2+N
3
2
2
3
1
2
1
70
150
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
4
2+N
5
1
1
1
1
37
2
2
1
1 rk
3
12
350
3

Page 1328/06/13		
22/06/13		
18/06/13		
28/06/13		
27/07/13		
19-26/06/13
20-27/06/13
21-27/06/13
29/06-01/07/13
23-26/06/13
01/07/13		
18/07/13		
16/07/13		
24/06/13		
16/06/13		
21/07/13		
07/08/13		
02/08/13		
22/06/13
04/07/13		
30/07/13		
30/07/13		
30/05/13		
30/06/13		
01-02/07/13
04/07/13		
17/07/13		
27/06/13		
19/06/13		
19/06/13		
05/07/13		
05/07/13		
04/08/13		
04/08/13		
18/06/13		
04/07/13		
04/08/13		
03/08/13		
18/06/13		
19/07/13		
27/07/13		
01/08/13		
21/06/13		
01/08/13		
01/08/13		
07/04/13		
24/06/13		
04/08/13		
24/06/13		
13/07/13		
04/08/13		
21/06/13		
26/06/13		
22/07/13		
03/08/13		
20/06/13		
22/06/13		
22-30/06/13

Bherwerre Bch Booderee NP		I
Martin Schulz
Wollongong pelagic		S	Brook Wylie
Trial Bay Gaol Arakoon NP (300m off) NC
Laurie McInellie
Bherwerre Bch Booderee NP		I
Martin Schulz
Warden Head Ulladulla		I
Bob Rusk
North Head Sydney Harbour NP
S
Michael Ronan
Nobbys Breakwall Newcastle		
H
Grant Brosie
Norah Head/Soldiers Point		
CC
Brad Gabriel
North Wall Ballina			S
Hans Wohlmuth
Mistral Point Maroubra		
S
Simon Gorta
Tacking Pt LH (taken by peregrine)NC
Tim Morris
North Sydney (Ferry Wharf)		
S
Nigel Jackett
Green Cape Eden			
SC
Grant Brosie
McGraths Hill STW		
S
Ted Wnorowksi
The Basin Dam Koonadan		
R
Nella Smith
Chain of Ponds Lgn Stannix ParkS
Chris Gladwin
Deep Creek Narrabeen		
S
Alex James
Casino Wetlands (5 nests)		
NC
David Charley
Moree Common (2 on 05/07)		
NP
Curtis Hayne
Burns Bay Lane Cove		
S
Fatih Sam
Illawong Georges River		S
Per Debbie Andrew
Narrabeen Lakes			
S
Birdline
Coolbaggie NR 			
CS
Andrew Bishop
Mitchells Pass Glenbrook		
S
Chris Chafer
Dalrymple-Hay SF St Ives		
S
Arnie Hollyman
Woodville Maitland		
H
Mike Newman
North Brother Mtn Laurieton		
NC
Stephen Gallivan
Bicentennial Pk Glebe		
S
Simon Gorta
North St Kempsey			
BC
Tim Morris
Clergate Orange			CT
Neville Schrader
South Grafton Tip (80 on 06/08)
NC
Greg Clancy
Ashley Moree			
NP
Curtis Hayne
Warriewood Wetlands		
S
Tom Wilson
Orara Way Glenreagh		
NC
Greg Clancy
Rocks Ferry Bridge WauchopeNC
Ian Kerr
Sydney Olympic Park		
S
Jenny Stiles
Orara Way Glenreagh		
NC
Greg Clancy
Castlereagh			S
Akos Lumnitzer
Four Mile Lane Swan Creek		
NC
Darryl Eggins
Scone Township			
H
Greg Newling
Whittingham Singleton		
H
Alwyn Simple
Gundabooka NP Bourke		
UW
Ted Wnorowksi
Koonadan/Tuckerbil		
R
Max O’Sullivan
Crowsnest Swamp Glenugie		
NC
Greg Clancy
Tuckerbil Swamp Leeton		
R
Keith Hutton
Whites Ck Wetland AnnandaleS
Andrew Taylor
Bushells Lagoon Nth RichmondS
Ted Wnorowksi
Shanes Park (Air Services Site)
S
Edwin Vella
McGraths Hill STW		
S
Ted Wnorowksi
Seales Rd Swamp (seen & heard)NC
Ken Shingleton
Shanes Park (Air Services Site)
S
Edwin Vella
Salamander Bay Bch (3 on 24/06)
H
Lois Wooding
Mudbishops Point Old Bar		
H
Alan Stuart
Avalon (George Street)		
S
Gwen McDonald
Davistown Wetlands		
CC
Alan Morris
Bicentennial Park Homebush Bay
S
Duncan Fowler
Swan Pond Ash Island		
H
Alan Stuart
Hooka Point Lake Illawarra		
I
Martin Cocker

Page 14Red-necked Avocet			
Double-banded Plover		
Double-banded Plover		
Double-banded Plover		
Inland Dotterel			Hooded Plover			Hooded Plover			Hooded Plover			Red-kneed Dotterel			Banded Lapwing			Banded Lapwing			Painted Button-quail		
Painted Button-quail		
Wood Sandpiper *			Red-necked Stint			
Brown Skua			Brown Skua			
Pacific Gull			Gull-billed Tern			White-fronted Tern			White-fronted Tern			White-fronted Tern			White-fronted Tern			
Cockatiel				Little Lorikeet			Superb Parrot			
Superb Parrot			
Superb Parrot			
Superb Parrot			
Swift Parrot			
Swift Parrot			
Swift Parrot			
Swift Parrot			Blue-winged Parrot			Turquoise Parrot			Turquoise Parrot			Budgerigar			
Budgerigar			
Budgerigar			
Eastern Koel 			Black-eared Cuckoo		
Powerful Owl			Powerful Owl			Powerful Owl			Barking Owl 			
Barking Owl			Southern Boobook			Eastern Barn Owl			
Eastern Barn Owl			
Eastern Barn Owl			
Masked Owl			
Sooty Owl			
Noisy Pitta			Noisy Pitta			Noisy Pitta			
Eastern Bristlebird			Spotted Bowerbird			
Chestnut-rump Heathwren		Birding NSW Newsletter
11
3
86
42
2A2Y
6
5,1J
10
2
4
4
2
F
1
1
2
1
3A,J
121
5
5
10
3
6
470
12
60
12
40
50
300
20
10
100+
5,3
2
12
40+
24
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
Im
1
HC
2
1
1
1
1
1
4

28/07/13		
20/06/13		
27/06/13		
18/07/13		
06/07/13		
22/06/13		
17/07/13		
25/07/13		
30/06/13		
24/06/13		
28/07/13		
14/07/13		
04/08/13		
28/07/13		
12/07/13		
01 & 08/07/13
18/07/13		
25/06/13		
23/07/13		
23/06/13		
24/06/13		
27/06/13		
08/07/13		
21/06/13		
22/05/13		
05/06/13		
21/06/13		
22/06/13		
23/06/13		
22/05/13		
22/05/13		
24/07-03/08
04/08/13		
08-21/06/13
10/06/13		
01/07/13		
13-21/06/13
16/06/13		
03/08/13		
15/06/13		
20/07/13		
24/04/13		
18-25/06/13
30/07/13		
02/07/13		
02-05/08/13
17/07-03/08
24/06/13		
03/07/13		
13/06-05/08/13
30/07/13		
29/06/13		
30/06/13		
03/08/13		
30/07/13		
11/06/13		
04/06/13		
29/06/13		

Dee Why Lagoon			S
Lake Goran Spring Ridge		
NS
Farquhar Inlet Old Bar		
H
Windang				
I
Tibooburra (53 km W)		UW
Bendalong (nr Cudmirrah)		
I
Racecourse Bch Ulladulla		
I
Burrill Lake Entrance		
I
Macksville STW			
NC
Windsor (Turf Farms)		
S
Terry Hie Hie (20 km S)		NP
North Head Sydney Harbour NP
S
Shanes Park (Air Services Site)
S
Fivebough Swamp Leeton		
R
Fivebough Swamp Leeton		
R
Terrigal pelagic			
CC
Broulee Island Broulee		I
Boat Harbour Kurnell		S
Ash Island Ponds			
H
Mistral Point Maroubra		
S
Norah Head/Soldiers Point		
CC
Mudbishops Point Old Bar		H
Terrigal pelagic			
CC
Warrah Creek Res Bunnan		
H
Mogo SF (Buckenboura Road)SC
Griffith (DPI)			
R
Moree (Big Leather Watercourse)NP
Eulah Creek Narrabri		
NP
Terrie Hie Hie (10 km N)		NP
Moruya SF Moruya			SC
Mogo SF Moruya			SC
Mulgoa NR Glenmore Park		
S
Laurieton (Dunbogan Caravan Pk)
NC
Koonadan Leeton			
R
Kwiambal NP Inverell		NS
Trapyard Dam Merriwindi SCA
NP
Kurri Kurri Woodlands		
HWest Molong			
CS
Moree Common			NP
Shortland (overwintering)		
H
Trapyard Dam Merriwindi SCA
NP
Sea Acres Port Macquarie		
NC
Queenscliffe Rd Queenscliffe		
S
Irrawong Res Warriewood		
S
Little Bch Bouddi NP (car park)CC
Jamieson Park Narrabeen Lakes
S
E.S. Marks Athletic Field Centennial Pk S
Windsor Turf Farms		
S
Castlereagh			S
Centennial Park Sydney		
S
Gibralter Res (W of Grafton)		
NC
Wanganui Mullumbimby		
NC
Kooloobung Res Pt Macquarie
NC
Lower Pappinbarra			NC
Irrawong Res Warriewood		
S
Border Loop (car park)		
NC
Daruka Road Tamworth		NS
Timmallallee NP Baradine		
NP

Steph Turnbull
Alan Morris
Alan Stuart
Grant Brosie
Beverley Morgan
Dejan Stojanovic
Grant Brosie
Bob Rusk
Richard Jordan
Ted Wnorowski
Curtis Hayne
Ted Wnorowksi
Edwin Vella
Keith Hutton
Keith Hutton
Tim Faulkner
Rob Hamilton
David James
Mick RoderickDavid Mitford
Allan Benson
Alan Stuart
Christina Port
Alan Stuart
Julie Morgan
Bill Moller
Curtis Hayne
Michael Dahlem
Curtis Hayne
Don McGregor
Dimitris Bertzeletos
Bob Sinclair
Peter West
Keith Hutton
Greg Roberts
Steven Edwards
John GoswellJohn Austin
Curtis Hayne
Dan Williams
Shirley GreyPeter West
Isabel Tydeman
Kerry Allen
Mark Shanks
Carol Abbott
Daphne Gonzalvez
Ted Wnorowski
Akos Lumnitzer
Dominic Gonzalvez
Simon Clayton
Steve Brooking
Dave Whitfield
Ian Kerr
Kerry Allen
Margaret Jordan
John Holland
Greg Roberts

Birding NSW Newsletter
Shy Heathwren			
Western Gerygone			Mangrove Gerygone		
Inland Thornbill			Singing Honeyeater			
Blue-faced Honeyeater		
Scarlet Honeyeater			White-fronted Honeyeater		Striped Honeyeater			Spotted Quail-thrush		Varied Sitella			White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike		
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike		
Ground Cuckoo-shrike		
Ground Cuckoo-shrike		
White-winged Triller		Figbird				White-eared Monarch		
Spangled Drongo			Spangled Drongo			Paradise Riflebird			
Jacky Winter			
Rose Robin			
Scarlet Robin 			Scarlet Robin			
Scarlet Robin			

1
1
4
4
1
10
AM
2
1
F
4
2
2
2
4
F
2
1
1
1
F
1
2
AM
M,F
2,2

Page 15
28/07/13		
03/08/13		
19/07/13		
18/06/13		
31/07/13		
25/07/13		
23/06/13		
24/07-03/08/13
18/06/13		
03/07/13		
15/06/13		
21/06/13		
22/06/13		
29/07/13		
30/07/13 		
03/08/13		
21/07 & 03/08
07/07/13		
22/03/13		
03/08/13		
08/07/13		
25/06/13		
20/06/13		
25/06/13		
26/06/13		
30/06-06/07

Taleeban Res Rankin Springs		
Cut Hill Road Cobbitty		
Shipwreck Lkt Centennial Pk		The Rock NR			Glenbrook			Australis Retreat Wisemans Ferry
Tycannah Creek Terry Hie Hie
Gilgai NR Pilliga			The Rock NR 			
Shaws Ridge Winmalee		
Sculptures Park Pilliga NR		Gil Gil Creek Weemalah		Moree Common			
Pilliga (village)			
Tuckerbil Leeton			Cut Hill Road Cobbitty 		
Moree Township			
Wanganui Mullumbimby		
Tinmalallee Dam Pilliga Scrub
Wolli Creek Earlwood		
Killabakh NR (SW of Comboyne)
Mulgoa NR Glenmore Park		Mullion Ck Res Orange		
Mulgoa NR Glenmore Park		
Waratah Road Mangrove Mtn		
Galore Hill & Rocky Waterholes

R
S
S
SS
S
S
NP
NP
SS
CT
NP
NP
NP
NP
R
S
NP
NC
NP
S
NC
S
CT
S
CC
R

Phillip Williams
Edwin Vella
Jenny Stiles
Tim Dolby
Mark Ley
Tom Wilson
Curtis Hayne
Michael Murphy
Tim Dolby
Robert Sinclair
Shirley Grey
Curtis Hayne
Deryk Engel
Steven Edwards
Keith Hutton
Edwin Vella
Curtis Hayne
Stephen Brooking
Steve Eke
Melissa Mason
Kim Lahmour
Mark Fuller
Neville Schrader
Mark Fuller
Alan Morris
Nella Smith*=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)
COMMENTThe 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, 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 winter storms have also played a part in bringing seabirds into
coastal areas, of particular interest was firstly a Blue Petrel, a very rare bird in NSW, and the large movement of many thousands of Great-winged Petrels,
up the coast in early June, and Fairy Prions and Common Diving-Petrels in mid-June and early July, other prion records include 40 Nobbys Breakwall,
Newcastle 15-29/06 (H), 10 300 m off Arakoon NP Goal 18/06, 6 Hastings Point, 2 Pass & Wategos Bches Byron Bay & 3 Sawtell Headland 24/06, 3
Macauleys Hd Coffs Hbr & 3 Tacking Pt Lighthouse 27/06, 2 others seen at Crowdy Head 26/06 (NC), 40 Terrigal pelagic 08/07 (CC), 80 Port Stephenspelagic 14/07 (H), 50+ Green Cape 16/07 (SC), 40+ 5 km NE Port Macquarie 02/08 (NC); and other Common Diving-Petrels: 12 Terrigal 25/06 (CC), 10
bc Bellambi Pt 26/06 & 46 bc Bherwerre Ch, Booderie NP 28/06 (I), 1 bc Potato Pt Bodalla 07/07, 1 Green Cape, Ben Boyd NP 16/07 (SC), 1 bc Newcastle
Harbour entrance 210/7 (H) ; White-faced Storm-Petrel: 2 Terrigal pelagic 01/07 (CC), 1 Pt Stephens pelagic 14/07 (H); The numbers of Freckled Ducks
continue to rise in NSW, other records include; 6 Berrima Rd Wetlands Mossvale 21/06 (I), 3 Geneebinga Wetlands Casino 25/06 (NC), 1 Centennial Pk
Sydney 08/07 (S), 50 Gum Swamp Forbes 21/07 (CS), 7 Lismore Lake 26/07 (NC), 35 Fivebough Swamp 28/07 (R); Plumed Whistling-Ducks: 12 Moree
Common 03/08 (NP); 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 Pedro Swp Batemans Bay Apr (SC), 1 Woodfield
Ave Bundeena 26/07, 2 Burns Bay Rd Lane Cove 04/07 (S); Pacific Bazas: 2 Boyds Bay Walk Tweed Hds 28/06 (NC), 1 North Richmond 03/08 (S), 4
Junction Hill, Grafton 06/08 (NC); Despite it being winter there have been more Square-tailed Kites reported: 1 Bingie Pt Apr, 1 Mystery Bay May (SC), 1
Rutherford 22/06 (H). The movement of Black Kites to coastal NSW continues, other records include 1 Castlereagh 21/07 (S), 50 Lawrence Rd Southgate
05/08 & 50 Stotts Ck Tweed Heads 07/08 (NC); Other Grey Goshawks were at Ramsgate 17/07 (S), 1 Wongambia, Nowra 12/07 (I); Coastal Spotted
Harriers remain in many locations including 1 Comerang, Narooma Mar (SC), 1 Oakhurst (S), Lower Pappinbarra (NC) North Orange (CT) 19/06, 2
Bunnan 21/06 (H), Coffee Camp, Nimbin 26/06 and Fairy Hill, Casino 25/06 (NC), 1 Wingen 29/06 (H), 1 Cornwallis 06/07 and 1 Picton Rd Wilton (S),1 Halcombe Hill, Aberdeen 06/07 and Hinton 23/07 (H); A surge in Black Falcon numbers continues, other records include 1 Bingara 20/06 (NS), 1 5 km
S of Scone 20/06 (H), Big Leather Watercourse, Moree 21/06 (NP), Maitland Vale 30/06, 1 Medhurst Bridge 15/07 and 2 Scone 16/07 (H); Lewin’s Rails:
HC Harrington rainforest 26/06 (H), Pallamallawa 02/07 (NP); Baillon’s Crakes: 1 Bushells Lgn 24/06 (S); Spotless Crakes: 1 Boyters Lne Jerseyville
13/07 (NC); Other Brolgas were at McCraken Rd Wetland, Leeton 3 on 14/07 and 5 Fivebough Swp 30/07 (R); During Jul-Aug Bush Stone-curlews
were reported from Veterans Hall, Umina High School, Davistown and Correa Bay on the Central Coast where the local population is estimated at 19 birds;
Double-banded Plovers: 3 still present on Fivebough Swp 30/07 (R); White-fronted Terns: 4 North Head rocks, Manly 14/07 (S); Other interesting
Glossy Black-Cockatoos records include: 3 Lower Pappinbarra 03/08 (NC), 2 Warriewood Wetlands 04/08 (S); Superb Parrots: 4 Moree 06/07 (NP), 10
Yanko Feedlot 25/07 (R); The movement of Budgerigars in eastern NSW continues viz small numbers Burges Lane and Appleby Lane Tamworth, Moore
Ck and Callala 27-30/06 (NS); Generally small numbers of Swift Parrots are being reported, but there have been some larger concentrations on the South
Coast in Spotted Gum woodlands, other records include 30 Moruya SF, 7 Pedro Swamp, 5 Moruya Heads and 2 Batemans Bay all May (SC), 2 Hanna
Res Plumpton 27/07, 13 Scheyville NP 02-03/08 and 8 Cut Hill Road Cobbitty 04/08 (S) ; There are more Powerful Owl records: 1 cnr Fiona Road andBurns Road Sth Beecroft 01/07 and 1 Warriewood Wetlands 04/08 (S); ; There is an upsurge in records of Eastern Barn Owls, particularly in the Greater
Sydney-Hunter region with other records of single birds at Koonadan Res, Leeton 19/06 (R); Both the White-fronted Honeyeater and the Spangled
Drongo reported in this summary for the Pilliga area, are new birds for the Pilliga (NP); Bellminer: A single bird at Eulah Creek, Narrabri was out of range
04/07 (NP); Ground Cuckoo-shrikes: 2 Koonadan Road Leeton 14/07 (R); Good Birding!

Page 16

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

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Norma Ikin

Newsletter contributions:18 October 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.