Arrival of migrants: 2014 version

I have just been through the records to see what migrants are due when.  I basically used COG classifications as to what is a migrant (excluding a couple of Winter arrivals and birds that seem to be pretty much resident all the year in this area).  Here is the result (it is an image so not updateable) as at 30 September:

We have already recorded the species where the number is marked in red.  Those recorded in August are hatched black.  I will try to remember to replace this image with an up to date version each month.

August 2014

The Crescent Honeyeater has stayed on in Widgiewa Rd and - unlike this author - John Wilkes managed to photograph it!

In terms of birds once unusual but relatively common this year, a Red-capped Robin was seen again on the Plain.

Among the more unusual observations were King Parrots in Knox Close: thanks to Wayne Gregson for the photo!

Another unusual observation in this area was an Australian Pelican (4th observation in the area) seen flying up out tof the Plain before heading off to the North.  Finishing off the oddities is a pair of Pink-eaed Ducks (2nd Observation in the area) seen on a small dam near Foxlow Bridge.

During the month we recorded 79 species a great deal better than July and 3 more than August last year.

For August I thank observers in Widgiewa Rd, Knox Close, the Plain, Pony Place, Captains Flat Rd and Wanna Wanna Rd.for their efforts in reporting

We are now at the time of the year when migrants return.  I have done a special post on this which shows that things are on time (except for Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo) with a couple of early arrivals.  I am particularly interested to record when the migrants return.

The other special interest is breeding activity, which is happening already.  The forward thinking species are marked in red in the detailed list below.  Please let me know of any such events you observe.

I'm also happy to hear of other sightings of interest to you, by email to martinflab@gmail.com.  

1  Waterbirds:  

Musk Duck; Black Swan; Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Pink-eared Duck; Australasian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck;Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Australian Pelican; White-necked Heron; White-faced Heron; Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing.

2 Birds of Prey: 
Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel

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: 
Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; Laughing Kookaburra 

5 Honeyeaters: 

Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; Crescent Honeyeater; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown-headed Honeyeater

6 Flycatchers and similar species: 

Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Red-capped Robin, Scarlet Robin; Flame Robin; Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome swallow; Tree Martin; 

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

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

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

I thought it would be nice to finish with an image of a coiled Australian Shelduck, beside a small dam behind Foxlow (the Pink-eared Ducks were on the same dam, but a lot further away and skulking under reeds).

July 2014

The intrepid compiler of this blog spent 90% of the month in Northern and Western NSW and many other regular reporters were elsewhere.  Fortunately others provided reports so we have something to tell you! In addition the weather was pretty ordinary, judging by the reports we heard while away and results generated by my weather station when we returned!

There were some good birds around:

• Restless Flycatcher on Wanna-wanna Rd, but next door to June's report);
• Crescent Honeyeater (2nd record for the project) on Widgiewa Rd, and 
• Spotted Harrier on the Hoskinstown Plain (from they have been absent for 7 months)

So we have ended up with 51 species, which can probably be viewed as the core level of diversity in the area in mid-Winter.  (By contrast 46 species have been recorded in the area by 6/8/2014 for the month of August!) 

At the risk of focusing too much on August I'll note that I have had reports of, or have observed, several species in the early stages of breeding.  If other breeding events (including display, nest building, inspecting hollows in trees) are seen please let me know.  Migrants will also be returning and I have heard the first Pallid Cuckoo calls (probably to be translated as "It ain't half cold mum!" from the direction of Douglas Close).  First reports for a season are always exciting!

I'm also happy to hear of other sightings by email to martinflab@gmail.com.  For July I thank observers in Widgiewa Rd, and the Plain, Pony Place, Captains Flat rd and Wanna Wanna Rd.for their efforts in plugging the gap.

*** Request for info: my brain must have frozen when we were Back of Bourke.  In December last year "someone" told me of a Pelican seen swimming in a dam.  I can't remember who and that is annoying me.  If whoever it was reads this, could they let me know please!  I'm not in any way questioning the record but just annoyed that I can't remember who it was!****

1  Waterbirds:  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant;  White‑necked Heron;  Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Spotted Harrier;  Wedge-tailed Eagle; 

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:  Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Laughing Kookaburra; 

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill;  White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Crescent Honeyeater; 

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Grey Shrike-thrush; WillieWagtail; Magpie-lark; Flame Robin; Welcome Swallow; 

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill;  Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Skylark; Common Blackbird; Common Starling; Australasian  Pipit;

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