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).