September 2013

This pair of Laughing Kookaburras were sitting adjacent to the Fairy Martin culvert on Plains Rd.  I use the term 'pair' with caution as it implies they are more than 'good friends' and I don't know the sex of the one on the right.  The blue rump, just visible on the leftie, indicates adult male.

The migrants are continuing to return with the first Noisy Friarbird call (ruckus) being heard on the 2^nd, the first Grey Fantail on the 3^rd, and the first Leaden Flycatcher on the 26^th.   Of the 12 migrant species which have returned so far 4 are early, 5 as expected and 3 are a tad late.  (The variation is typically +/- a single month.)

Two species have been added to the district list in the month.  A Whiskered Tern was seen (from the road) on Foxlow Lagoon  on 13 September.  A  Rose Robin passed through Whiskers Creek on the  23^rd:  this has led me to compile a separate note on the various robins seen in the area.

In total we have recorded 95 species for the month.  A pleasant return towards the values of recent years and reflecting the return of some observers from distant climes.

Breeding is also happening with 8 species, indicated in red in the list below, recorded as undertaking some component of the reproductive process.  .  Our Tawny Frogmouths are now sitting on eggs.  I have been told of Black-fronted Dotterels having a nest with three eggs which seem to have hatched on 22 September, and Kookaburras nesting.  Striated pardalotes are using and investigating nesting sites.  

Thanks to observers in Wanna Wanna, the Molonglo Valley, Plains Rd and Widgiewa Rd for their contributions.

1  Waterbirds:  Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑faced Heron; EurasianCoot; Black‑fronted Dotterel; Masked Lapwing; Whiskered tern.

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Brown Goshawk; Collared Sparrowhawk; Swamp Harrier; Wedge-tailed Eagle;  Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; Peregrine Falcon.

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

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Brown quail; Black‑eared Cuckoo; Shining Bronze‑cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan‑tailed Cuckoo; Eastern Barn Owl; Tawny Frogmouth;  Laughing Kookaburra; Sacred Kingfisher; 

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

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

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

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Olive‑backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Brown Songlark; 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