November 2015

The most unusual observation this month was a report of a Channel-billed Cuckoo.  This is only the second record of the species in the area but the observer is familiar with the unmistakable call of the birds (in Sydney).  There have also been a number of recent reports from Canberra.

Also noteworthy, because of the timing, was a flock of 10 White-throated Needletails over Widgiewa Rd.  They are usually seen in association with thunderstorms in January - March.

Other less common birds have been Restless Flycatcher; Red-capped Robin (the same bird as last month) Yellow-tufted Honeyeater in the Molonglo Valley, Great Egret and Cattle Egret.  The latter were a group of 9 birds foraging with cattle near the entrance to Mills Cross: at least one of the birds was close to breeding plumage and some photos are included in a separate post.  The other noteworthy development is that by the end of the month the Banded Lapwings appear to have moved on from their site near Hoskinstown.  They haven't been seen for about 3 weeks.

Overall the month has generated considerable diversity with 116 species reported.  That is the most (by 8!) species we have ever logged for November.

The migration period has pretty much finished with most of the usual suspects on deck.  Only 1 species of Woodswallow (Dusky Woodswallow) has been reported this year and they have been few and far between.  All the likely Cuckoos (except Australian Koel) have been reported at least once.

The breeding season has really hit its straps with an astonishing 31 species undertaking some form of procreational activity during the month.  'My' Tawny Frogmouths left the nest some time after 8 November while we were interstate and haven't been seen since.  Presumably they went somewhere less infested with bad tempered Pied Currawongs.  The breeding species are shown in red below.

As always thanks to the observers who have provided reports to me for the month.  These have covered sites in  Whiskers Creek Rd, Widgiewa Rd, Wanna Wanna, Bowen Street, Hoskinstown Plain and Village, Captains Flat Rd and Molonglo Valley. 

Summer migrants are highlighted in orange, and Winter migrants in blue.  


1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4): Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Pink-eared Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Chestnut Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Darter; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant;  White‑necked Heron;  Cattle Egret; Eastern Great Egret: White‑faced Heron; Australian White Ibis; Straw-necked Ibis; Eurasian  Coot; Black-winged Stilt; Black‑fronted Dotterel; Masked Lapwing; Banded Lapwing; 

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

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 (Pt 1) (Pt 2) (Pt 3):  Stubble Quail;  Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Australian Owlet-nightjar; White-throated Needletail; Channel-billed Cuckoo; Horsfield's Bronze‑Cuckoo; Shining Bronze‑cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan‑tailed Cuckoo; Brush Cuckoo; Southern Boobook; Laughing Kookaburra; Sacred Kingfisher;  Dollarbird; 

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Yellow-tufted honeyeater, Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed Honeyeater; Noisy Friarbird

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler;Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Restless Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Red‑capped Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow; Fairy Martin; Tree Martin

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species (Pt 1) (Pt 2):  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; White-throated Gerygone; 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; White‑-winged Triller; Olive‑backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Golden-headed Cisticola; Australian Reed-warbler; Rufous Songlark; Brown Songlark; Common Blackbird; Common Myna; 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