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