Article for Canberra Bird Notes

Birds of “Carwoola”

Purpose of exercise

When we moved to Carwoola in January 2007 I was pleased to find a regular article in the local news letter “Stoney Creek Gazette” reporting on plants in flower in the area.  I thought that the readership of the Gazette might be interested in a similar column on birds.  The editors agreed with me and I began compiling a brief report on the birds I had seen each month. 

Figure 1 The author at work (as seen by Wild Cattle Productions)

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The initial reports were effectively just a list of what I – and eventually others - had seen in the area in the previous month but gradually included some commentary, varying according to what I thought would be of interest to readers at the time.  This occasionally included some references to material in my blog, and when it became necessary to reduce the size of the printed Gazette I reduced the hard copy to a very brief summary of highlights and created a special blog for the detail.

The objective of the exercise remains to inform local residents of what is happening with birds in the area, and to encourage them to take an interest in this aspect of the natural environment.

I maintain an ACCESS database of species recorded each month, but not recording abundance or number of reports.  This reflects:

·         the relatively ad-hoc nature of reports;

·         a recognition that most people do not wish to commit to making detailed reports but are happy to note unusual sightings; and

·         the extra precision not being necessary for the objectives of the study.

Of course, more formal reports to the COG Atlas system or eBird (see below) contain full detail.

Metadata

What is the survey area?

The area covered by the reports is effectively the catchment area of the Gazette.  This includes the localities of Carwoola (both Queanbeyan and Palerang components), Hoskinstown, Forbes Creek and Primrose Valley and is illustrated in the sketch map below.

Figure 2 Sketch map of the study area

No part of Tallaganda National Park or State Forest is included.  The edge of those areas is the Eastern edge of the survey area.  The Northern edge is effectively a ridge parallel to Briars –Sharrow Road and Captains Flat Road.  The Western boundary of the study area is the top of the Queanbeyan escarpment meaning that most of Cuumbeun Nature Reserve is in the area, as are Yanununbeyan State Conservation Area and Nature Reserve which form the Southern end of the area.

Other than reports from residents (see below) on their properties and forays into the public reserves most of the birding is done from roads, either driving, jogging or cycling.

Key attributes

Most of the area is above the 750m contour line with some high points above 1000m.  This means it is 200-400m higher than Central Canberra.  This often results in cooler temperatures in the study area, and the Hoskinstown Plain (hereafter ‘the Plain’) is effectively a large frost hollow.

Other than the public Reserves the Northern half of the area is rural residential, with most blocks varying from 4Ha to 25Ha in size.  Most of the Southern half of the area is contained in a few much larger commercial properties.

A particularly interesting phenomenon occurs in the Plain where woodland approaches the frost hollow from both sides. 

Figure 3 The ‘neck’ on the Hoskinstown Plain

This narrowing of the treeless area has been the source of several sightings of unusual species, and seems to reproduce the ‘point’ phenomenon in which migrating birds cluster at a point of land, before moving across water.  In this case it might form a connection between Tallaganda to the East and Yanununbeyan to the West.  (Unfortunately the observer who owned the property concerned has passed away so it no longer gets daily attention, although parts of the area are visited approximately once a month.)

There are many small farm dams on the properties in the area and it is bisected by the Molonglo River.  There are however very few large water bodies.  The best example, and the only near‑permanent one, is a lagoon on Foxlow Station which can only be looked into from a road some 400m away.  In the past much of the Hoskinstown Plain was a swamp but in recent years most of the area has been much drier: when one swampy area (on private property) flooded in 2011-12 it provided an extraordinary range of observations, described under case studies below.  Unfortunately it has been dry since.

Observer effort

For the first year or so the reports were entirely my own observations.  Since then a variable number of other observers have reported, with their efforts ranging from regular completion of an EXCEL spreadsheet to ad-hoc reports of unusual or exciting single species sightings.  This does mean that results from month to month can be very variable.  It is particularly the case in July when many/all of the regular observers have gone away for most of the month.

Between us we cover examples of all the major habitat types, at least over the course of a year.

Relationship with other data collections

Myself and another observer maintain COG Garden Bird Survey sheets for our home patches, data from which are included in the monthly reports.

As the data is compiled on a monthly basis and only covers presence/absence the material in my database is not suitable for incorporating in either the COG data system or Eremaea/eBird.  However specific surveys within the area do get submitted as with any other observations to whichever of those systems the observer prefers.  In addition when a particularly interesting sighting is made by another resident I encourage them to submit an ad-hoc report to one of the systems (or in some cases make the submission on their behalf).

While the monthly time frame could be accommodated by the Atlas of Living Australia, the area is approximately 25km North-South and 16km east-West making it too coarse an area to be useful in the Atlas.  The same comment applies to the Atlas of NSW Wildlife.

Comments on number of species observed

Species occurring

In the 8 years in which this project has been going 188 species have been recorded at least once in the study area.  The number of species seen each calendar year is summarised in Table 1.

Table 1 Number of species observed x Calendar Year

year	Count Of species	Notes
2007	106	Only one reporter
2008	116
2009	137
2010	146
2011	141	Low for unknown reasons
2012	150
2013	153
2014	150
2015	120	To end March

The number of species added each year is shown in Table 2, and the pattern is shown in Figure 4.

Table 2 Number of species added x Calendar Year

Year	Additional species	Cumulant
2007	106	106
2008	19	125
2009	19	144
2010	17	161
2011	5	166
2012	11	177
2013	7	184
2014	2	186
2015	2	188

Figure 4 Cumulative number of species recorded in study area

As indicated by the value of R² the series of cumulative number of species recorded is a good fit to the quadratic trend function represented by the red dashes.  The overall shape of the trend line is similar to many representations of time series of observations, with a declining marginal rate.

Again the value for 2011 is below expectations: possibly the low rainfall from March to October dissuaded ‘marginal’ species from arriving in the area.

Species breeding

Commencing in 2009 I began recording birds breeding in the area, using the COG set of breeding events and codes.  I also added in breeding records from my GBS Chart for 2007 and 2008, mainly because the data was “just sitting there”  

In total 90 species have been recorded undertaking some form of breeding activity in the area.

I have recorded species coded to both the calendar year in which breeding was observed and the financial year, which for most species gives a better break between the peak periods of breeding activity.  The number of species recorded in each half year is shown in Table 3.

Table 3 Number of species recorded undertaking breeding activity x Calendar half years

Breeding season	Observation Year	Number of species
2009-10	2009	28
	2010	16
2010-11	2010	36
	2011	30
2011-12	2011	40
	2012	27
2012-13	2012	43
	2013	16
2013-14	2013	44
	2014	10
2014-15	2014	36
	2015	12

The high number of species reported in the first half of calendar 2011 (ie the second half of breeding season 2010-11) caused me to re-examine the data.  Nearly all the records in that period were of dependent young so it appears that the very good rains of October 2010 to February 2011 encouraged a number of species to fit in a second brood.  Looking at the results for each complete breeding season, 2010-11 does not stand out from the subsequent seasons.

Table 4 Number of species recorded undertaking breeding activity x Breeding seasons

Breeding season	Number of species
2009-10	37
2010-11	50
2011-12	51
2012-13	49
2013-14	47
2014-15	41

Given that the breeding season for 2014-15 is essentially complete at the time of writing I believe the low result for that year reflects the unavailability of an observer, who is particularly good at spotting breeding activity, in the first half of that season.

In terms of breeding activities, the number of species and number records relating to various codes is shown in Table 5.   The codes shown are those used by COG as standard.

Table 5 Number and percentage of records x type of breeding activity

code	# species	# records	% records
di	16	27	4.86
co	4	4	0.72
ih	7	11	1.98
nb	28	61	10.99
ne	6	9	1.62
on	38	90	16.22
ny	29	99	17.84
cf	12	12	2.16
dy	64	242	43.60

As expected the commonest code (43.6% of records) is for Dependent Young.  By way of contrast the equivalent percentage for the Garden Bird Survey is 59%.  I suspect the difference may reflect the fact that most of the regular observers in this project are either retired or work from their properties in the area (and thus spent a higher proportion of their time on the study sites).

Relative to ACT

Impact of elevation

Due to the increased elevation of the area it could be expected that events such as commencement of breeding or arrival of migrants will be delayed by about 2 weeks compared to urban Canberra.  Investigating that hypothesis is beyond the scope of this report, but may be covered by a separate report.

Status of birds

The matter of whether a bird is “officially unusual” is a major minefield and subject to change over time.  For this report I have used a code in an historic table which splits birds into three status groups equivalent to the terms ‘common’, ‘uncommon’ and’ rare’ used in the COG Annual Bird report.  While possibly out of date it is I believe sufficient for this purpose.  The status of the 188 species recorded in Carwoola is shown in Table 6

Table 6 Number of species and average number of months recorded x Frequency status. 

Status	Number of species	Average number of months reported
Common	127	57.8
Uncommon	52	16.0
Rare	10	2.4

 The project has been operating for 97 months and thus the common birds average out being recorded in somewhat more the half the months, while the rare species have only been recorded infrequently.  A happy situation of expectations being met by reality!

Common COGAOI birds

19 species have been reported in every month of the project.  They are marked with a hash mark (#) in Appendix 1.  All of these are rated as Common in the COG status.

There are 14 species with a COG status of “common” which have only been reported less than 10 months (which I consider makes them at least uncommon) in Carwoola.   It is possible to regard them in several groups:

·         Birds of forests: While a good proportion of the area is covered with woodland, there is little forest.  Wonga Pigeon (Leucosarcia picata); Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae); Satin Flycatcher (Myiagra cyanoleuca).

·         Waterbirds: The absence of large water bodies has been noted above. Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus); Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae); Eastern Great Egret (Ardea modesta).  The third of these species, recorded in only 6 months, offers an interesting contrast with the White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica), recorded in 47 months.  Possibly this reflects the differing diets with the Egret preferring fish and the Heron preferring other small aquatic and terrestrial animals (Marchant and Higgins 1990)

·         Relatively infrequently reported in COG area: Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes); Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta – from chatline commentary appears to have been recorded more frequently in the AOI in 2015); Rose Robin (Petroica rosea); Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus); Fuscous Honeyeater (Lichenostomus fuscus); and Yellow‑tufted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops). The Annual Bird report for 2012-13 (COG 2014) ranks species by number of records in the year: none of this group was in the top 120.

·         Not yet invaded Carwoola; Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis); Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea).  Observations of the Corella in Carwoola have increased in 2014-15).

Uncommon COGAOI birds

I have identified 8 species which are possibly more common in Carwoola (being seen in more than 30 months) than implied by their COG status of uncommon. 

Three of these are perhaps marginal over-achievers.  I mainly identify Western Gerygone (Gerygone fusca: reported in 34 months) by call and may have over-represented the species.  Speckled Warbler (Chthonicola sagittata: also 34 months) is seen very irregularly in Carwoola but when seen is often as a pair suggesting breeding activity in the area.  Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis: 47 months) has become much harder to find in recent years despite checking previous hotspots. 

However there is no doubt that the remaining 5 species are more common in Carwoola than in the overall COG AOI .  These are:

·         Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus 97 months – very common throughout the area, and very young birds are frequently seen being fed in Spring, although no nest has yet been found)

·         Little Raven (Corvus mellori 97 months very common on the Plain, at times in flocks >100 birds.  In the surrounding more wooded areas they are not so frequent or numerous.)

·         Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus 96 months – very common feeding in Pinus radiata windbreaks);

·         Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata 70 months – very common in or near hawthorn thickets especially on the Plain);

·         Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis 63 months – but I am sure they are always present on the Plain – they just don’t sing for a few months each year, and are hard to identify when grounded.)

Rare birds

As shown above there are 10 species with a COG status of rare.  9 of the species have been recorded only on the Plain – an interesting fact which requires some further thought.

Three of these (Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta, Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) have only been reported from the ‘neck’ site on the Plain.  The Lorikeet was considered an escapee.

Plumed Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni) have become regular at sites in Bungendore but have only been recorded once – very recently in 2015 - on the Plain.

The appearance of Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor), Australian Painted Snipe (Rostratula australis) and Painted Honeyeater (Grantiella picta) all coincided with a year of increased sightings of these species elsewhere in the COG Area of Interest (AOI).  The Banded Lapwings (2012- 13) invaded a Lucerne crop with up to 45 birds present: despite continued growing of Lucerne the species has not reappeared.  In 2013 it was becoming ‘usual’ to see Painted Snipe in Kelly’s Swamp but to flush two birds from a paddock full of Herefords was truly surreal. 

Figure 5 Australian Painted Snipe on the Hoskinstown Plain (image by Garry Moffit)

The Painted Honeyeaters bred in a GBS site at Hoskinstown in 2013-14 but have not returned.

Two other species are simply rare in both Carwoola and the AOI.  Horsfield’s Bushlark (Mirafra javanica) may well be not recorded due to its preference for rank grass on the roadsides of the Plain where it is overlooked, especially as the quiet song is mainly sung early in the morning.  The single flock of Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata) were seen in a period of strong westerly wind. 

The final species, Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus), could be considered as at the margin for a status of rare in the AOI, although they are less frequently seen in both areas than White-browed Woodswallows (Artamus superciliosus).

Case studies

The Swamp on the Plain [1]

I have referred above to an ephemeral swap on the Plain.  The presence of water - and waterbirds – in the swamp was noticed in about March 2012 following 2 months of very heavy rain.  At its greatest extent the water covered about 10Ha. 

While the water was present the swamp was notable for the presence of a number of species in larger than usual numbers and several others which are not common in Carwoola. 

As noted above, White-necked Heron are frequently reported as individual birds but for a period there were up to 20 birds present in this swamp, with a similar number of White-faced herons (Egretta novaehollandiae).  Similarly Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) are seen irregularly, but not in numbers such as the 35 seen in this location on 29 October 2012!  Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) numbers peaked at an estimated 100 birds

Hoary-headed Grebes (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) were added to the area list here, with up to 20 birds.  2 Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) were the first (and so far only) reports for the area.  Single Eastern Great Egret and Yellow-billed Spoonbill seen in this event were also the first for the area.

Figure 6 A selection of birds on the Swamp

Of course, commoner species were also present including 100 each of Pacific Black Ducks (Anas superciliosa) and Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), 10 Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis), 20 Hardhead (Aythya australis) and a family of 5 Black Swans (Cygnus atratus).  Although Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) are common in the area generally, this habitat was not favoured by them: they were recorded infrequently and in small numbers.

The water had more or less completely gone by mid 2013, leave a mass of reeds and other vegetation.  While doubtless still enjoyed by the resident Tiger Snakes (Notechis scutatus) the birds had all departed.

Raptors

Carwoola has very good diversity of both diurnal and nocturnal raptors.  Following a sighting of a Black Kite (Milvus migrans) in 2014, all diurnal raptors (except Eastern Osprey Pandion cristatus) listed in the most recent Annual Bird Report have been sighted in the area.  All four Owls listed in the report, and Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) and Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus) have been sighted (or, more frequently in the latter case, heard).

Six species in this group have been recorded breeding in the area.

Highlights of records of this group have been:

• ·         Frequent sightings of 1-3 Spotted Harriers (Circus assimilis) on the Plain, especially in wetter periods.  The group of 3 included one apparently juvenile bird, but no nest site has been located;
• ·         Spotted Harrier hunting with Black Falcon (Falco subniger) possibly cooperatively, although one observer described the Falcon as ‘bullying’ the Harrier;
• ·         Large numbers of Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris up to 16 birds[2] in a single tree –all checked carefully to ensure it was this species) and Brown Falcon (Falco berigora possibly 20 individuals perched on and hunting from fence posts around one paddock) were seen during a mouse plague on the Plain in 2011

Figure 7 Flock of Black-shouldered Kites, Carwoola 2011

• ·         Up to 4 Eastern Barn Owls (Tyto javanica) were seen hunting along Plains Rd in one drive following the end of a mouse plague ‘further West’.   The Hawthorns along that road provided convenient roost sites for the owls.

Eastern Yellow Robin

The basic situation of Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) is stated by Wilson 1999 “The stronghold of this species is the moist forest of the western ranges but it occurs in smaller numbers wherever there is dense vegetation in wet gullies and along watercourses.”  A prime example of the latter habitat is given by the Australian National Botanical Gardens (ANBG): it is almost impossible for an alert birder to visit ANBG without seeing or hearing this species.

However references to “moist gullies” do not immediately conjure up an image of the Grassy Box woodland (at best) of Carwoola.  For the first three years of the project it was hardly recorded, and I think the few sightings made were in the more densely vegetated areas of Yanununbeyan SCA. 

Then starting in September 2010 a member of the species was reported from a property in Widgiewa Rd (about 1km up Whiskers Creek from our property).  In December 2010 I recorded a single bird in a clump of dense Cypress at our house.  I have recorded 1 or 2 birds most months since then (there is no discernible pattern in the missing months).

Table 7  Eastern Yellow Robin Number of months recorded x year

year	# months
2007	1
2008	2
2009	2
2010	4
2011	10
2012	10
2013	10
2014	11
2015	3

In December 2013 I observed a bird carrying food, and in December 2014 4 birds were present in the Cypress, but no exchange of food was seen.  However I am confident that they are now breeding in the dense foliage of the Cypresses.

I am not sure whether it is possible to extrapolate from this observation and generalise about the benefits of small islands of habitat-type as a basis for range expansion.

Tawny Frogmouth

I have reported several times (eg Butterfield 2011) on my observations of a pair of Tawny Frogmouths which reside and breed in our garden and a summary of observations follows.  (In passing, I have no way of knowing if they are the same birds but as they use the same daytime roosts year after year it seems sensible that at least one of the pair is the same bird.)  I have also sighted other members of this species on more distant parts of our property, and several other observers in other parts of the study area have reported sightings of the species from time to time.

As I have become more familiar with their habits I have had greater success in locating the birds – Typically I find the male on about 75% of days on which I am home and of these about 25% are when he is brooding (and thus guaranteed to be on the nest).  The female tends to be a little more of a free spirit although on 90% of the days when located (outside the breeding period) the two birds are snuggled together.  When they have had ‘a domestic’ and are roosting separately I have found them up to 70m apart.

They have been very successful in breeding raising 2 chicks to independence 6 years out of 7.  In the other year one chick fell out of the nest and died before it was discovered.

I have now found them using 33 different daytime roost sites within my GBS site.  They have roosted in ornamental Hazels and Elms and Acacia dealbata.  The two nest sites have been Eucalyptus meliodora (5 years) and E. macrorhyncha (2 years) and those species have been their preferred daytime roosts with occasional visits to E. mannifera. 

While not an extensive survey, such as those reported by Kaplan 2007 or blogged by Stuart Rae, hopefully the daily observations, made possible by my being retired, contribute somewhat to an understanding of the species.

Introduced species.

I have used this heading to refer to a group of 6 species native to Europe or Asia found in the ACT and Carwoola.  In terms of their perception by many birders they could be described as “pest species’.  Notes on each species follow.

Spotted Dove  This species is becoming increasingly common in the ACT, but has only been reported 3 times in Carwoola.  It is unclear to me why the species is not recorded more often in the study area as:

• ·         Crested Pigeons have spread here as readily as elsewhere in the COG AOI; and
• ·         I believe the Spotted Dove has self-introduced to the ACT and must therefore have bridged over the gap to other populations.

House sparrow (Passer domesticus): A species in world-wide decline, which is still in the top 10 in terms of abundance in the GBS.  While reported in 94/97 months most observations are very close to housing, usually properties with fed stock such as horses.

Common Myna (Sturnus tristis): The species continues to decline in the Canberra area (GBS rank in the high teens) and has not thus far become established in the Carwoola area.  It has only been recorded in 17/97 months and again mainly associated with fed livestock.

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris):  Numbers are declining in Canberra, but still very common in Carwoola (seen every month), but more so on the Plain than in the wooded areas (although an area of very old Eucalyptus mannifera on the edge of the Plain provides many nest hollows well used by this and other species).  Often sighted in huge flocks especially when the Hawthorns are in fruit.

Common Blackbird (Turdus merula): Quite common, being seen in 82 months.  It seems to prefer areas close to houses with dense garden plantings.

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis): Quite common, being seen in 87 months. The species appeared to be in decline in the area, only being reported in 8 months in 2010.  That may have been a response to the drought as it has since recovered and is reported nearly every month.  A broadly similar pattern is evident for the COGAOI (although the current reporting rate is still well below the levels achieved in the “Atlas years” of the late 1980s.)

Summary

This review of my records has shown considerable similarity between the avifauna of the Carwoola area and rest of the COG AOI.  Given the small number of observers and the relatively brief time frame of this project I believe that having at least one record for 188 species is a good result.  Noting those constraints and the lack of some habitats in the area, recording approximately 150 species per year compares satisfactorily with the record of 241 species recorded in the COGAOI  in 2012-13 (COG 2014).

Most of the noticeable differences can be attributed to differences in habitat including absence of forested areas.  Within the Carwoola data there is an apparent relationship to weather, especially for the waterbirds group, reflecting the ephemeral nature of larger waterbodies.

As might be expected in compiling the report I have gained insights to what has been recorded over the period.  In particular the analysis has emphasised the number of species for which the grassland, both native and introduced, of the Hoskinstown Plain is an important location.  Another important factor has been the fact that many people in the area spend a relatively high proportion of their time “out on the block” and report on the birds seen.  In contrast some parts of the AOI get no visits in a year (at least not from people prepared to put in a record of the birds seen).

It would be good to have more data so as to be able to analyse the birds of the area more rigorously (for example to compare the birds seen in reserves with those on the rural residential blocks with those on the commercial properties).  That isn’t the case and so it is hoped this overview has given a summary of the situation as it has been observed.

To provide a level of privacy for observers  I do not attribute names in my reports.  However I offer my thanks for the contributions to this project by  the observers and landholders  in Captains Flat Rd  Hoskinstown (Plain and village); Knox Close, Pony Place, Radcliffe Circuit, Walga Close, Wanna Wanna Rd and Widgiewa Rd.

References

Butterfield M. 2011 Tawny Frogmouth and Pied Currawong nesting at Carwoola 2011, Canberra Bird Notes v36, No.3

COG 2014 Canberra Bird Notes: Annual Bird Report 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013

Kaplan G 2007 Tawny Frogmouth

Marchant S and P J Higgins (eds) 1990 Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Atarctic Birds Vol 1 Ratities to Ducks, pt B

Wilson S 1999 Birds of the ACT Two Centuries of Change

Appendix 1: Complete list of species recorded in Carwoola;

 February 2007 – April 2015

The species marked with a hash (#) are those recorded in every month.

Emu

Stubble Quail

Brown quail

Plumed Whistling Duck

Musk duck

Freckled Duck

Black Swan

Australian Shelduck

# Australian Wood Duck

Pink-eared duck

Australasian Shoveler

Grey Teal

Chestnut Teal

Pacific Black Duck

Hardhead

Australasian Grebe

Hoary-headed Grebe

Rock Dove

Spotted Dove

Common Bronzewing

Crested Pigeon

Wonga Pigeon

Tawny Frogmouth

Australian owlet-nightjar

White-throated Needletail

Fork tailed swift

Darter

Little Pied Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Little Black Cormorant

Australian Pelican

White-necked Heron

Great Egret

Intermediate Egret

Cattle Egret

White-faced Heron

Nankeen Night Heron

Glossy Ibis

Australian White Ibis

Straw-necked Ibis

Royal Spoonbill

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Black-shouldered kite

White-bellied Sea-eagle

Whistling Kite

Black Kite

Brown Goshawk

Collared Sparrowhawk

Grey Goshawk

Spotted Harrier

Swamp Harrier

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Little eagle

Nankeen kestrel

Brown Falcon

Australian Hobby

Black Falcon

Peregrine falcon

Purple swamphen

Australian Spotted Crake

Spotless Crake

Dusky Moorhen

Eurasian Coot

Black-winged Stilt

Black-fronted dotterel

Red-kneed Dotterel

Banded Lapwing

Masked Lapwing

Painted Snipe

Latham's Snipe

Painted button-quail

Whiskered tern

Silver Gull

Glossy Black-Cockatoo

Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo

Gang-gang cockatoo

# Galah

Little Corella

# Sulphur-crested cockatoo

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

Australian King-parrot

Superb Parrot

# Crimson Rosella

# Eastern Rosella

Red-rumped parrot

Australian Koel

Channel-billed Cuckoo

Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo

Black-eared Cuckoo

Shining Bronze-cuckoo

Pallid Cuckoo

Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Brush Cuckoo

powerful owl

Barking Owl

Southern boobook

Eastern Barn Owl

# Laughing Kookaburra

Sacred Kingfisher

Rainbow Bee-eater

Dollarbird

Superb lyrebird

# White-throated treecreeper

Brown Treecreeper

Satin bowerbird

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

Eastern spinebill

Yellow-faced honeyeater

# White-eared Honeyeater

Yellow-tufted honeyeater

Fuscous Honeyeater

White-plumed Honeyeater

# Noisy Miner

Red wattlebird

Scarlet Honeyeater

Crescent Honeyeater

New Holland Honeyeater

Brown-headed honeyeater

White-naped honeyeater

Noisy friarbird

Painted Honeyeater

Spotted quail-thrush

Varied Sittella

Black-faced cuckoo-shrike

White-winged triller

Golden whistler

Rufous whistler

Grey shrike-thrush

Olive-backed oriole

Masked Woodswallow

White-browed woodswallow

Dusky woodswallow

# Grey butcherbird

# Australian Magpie

# Pied Currawong

Grey currawong

Rufous Fantail

Grey fantail

# Willie wagtail

# Australian Raven

# Little Raven

Leaden flycatcher

Satin Flycatcher

Restless Flycatcher

# Magpie-lark

White-winged chough

Jacky Winter

Scarlet robin

Red-capped Robin

Flame robin

Rose Robin

Hooded Robin

Eastern Yellow Robin

Horsfields Bushlark

Skylark

Golden-headed Cisticola

Australian Reed-warbler

Rufous songlark

Brown Songlark

Silvereye

# Welcome swallow

Fairy Martin

Tree Martin

Common blackbird

# Common starling

Common Myna

Mistletoebird

Zebra Finch

Double-barred finch

Red-browed finch

Diamond Firetail

House sparrow

Australasian pipit

European goldfinch

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[1]  For additional commentary see http://carwoolabirds.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/glossy-ibis-on-plain.html and http://carwoolabirds.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/a-swampy-day.html

[2] http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/large-flock-of-black-shouldered-kites.html