February 2012

In January a very good  96  species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  This is 2 more than the total in January 2011 and 7 more than  February 2011.  Here is a graph of the situation, showing the long term trend (as assessed by a 12 month moving average) to continue rising!

Thanks to several observers in: the Molonglo Valley, Captains Flat Rd, Hoskinstown, Radcliffe and Widgeiwa Rd.

The most interesting sighting this month was 2 Spotted Harriers (an adult and a juvenile) on the Hoskinstown Plain.  The grassy areas to the East of the Ranges appear to be favoured by the Spotted Harrier rather than the related Swamp Harrier (which has not yet been reported in this project).  This difference possibly reflects their different food preferences (well done Swamp Harrier for preferring rabbits and mice!)  

A wide range of other raptors were also observed with the further sighting of the uncommon Black Falcon being a highlight.   A Nankeen Kestrel - the commonest local raptor - disapproved of the appearance of the Harrier and vigorously swooped it. 

13 species have been reported as breeding in this month (as shown by bolding in the list below).  All records were of dependent young, out of the nest and being fed by the adults.  Four of these species were Honeyeaters, quite possibly with second broods.  They have had a lot of food around recently with nectar being available from the Yellow Box as well as the hordes of insects attracted to the flowering eucalypt.  I’d welcome records of any breeding activities seen in the area and, of course any other records which readers feel interesting..

Migrants are shown in italics below.  The Summer migrants will now be thinking about moving off although most of the usual suspects were reported in the month.  (The absence of several Cuckoo species from the list most likely reflects them not calling, rather than absence).  

Blue text links to a photograph.   

1  Waterbirds:  Musk Duck;  Australian Wood Duck;  Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe;  Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant; White‑faced Heron; Australian White Ibis;  Dusky Moorhen;  Eurasian Coot; ; Masked Lapwing; 

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite;  Spotted Harrier; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon;  Black Falcon, Peregrine Falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang‑gang Cockatoo; Galah;  Sulphur‑crested Cockatoo; Australian King‑parrot; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Red-rumped parrot  

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Emu; Stubble Quail; Brown quail; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Australian Owlet-nightjar; White-throated Needletail; Painted Button-quail; Shining Bronze‑cuckoo; Fan‑tailed Cuckoo;  Laughing Kookaburra.

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed Honeyeater; White-naped Honeyeater; Noisy Friarbird

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush;  Grey Fantail; WillieWagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow; Tree Martin

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill; Western Gerygone; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill;  Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Dusky Woodswallow;  Skylark; Common Blackbird; Common Starling; Mistletoebird; Australasian  Pipit;

9  Other, larger birds: Satin Bowerbird; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven; White-winged Chough