Sightings on the Plain

I have just returned from a small lap of the Hoskinstown Plain.  I went searching for an Australasian Pipit or a Brown Falcon to advance my BirdaDay project.  I was unsuccessful in both of those endeavours but did see some interesting birds.

The first was a flock of 21 Red-rumped Parrots sitting in the top of a Hawthorn bush.  Here is part of the flock.

 In case you wonder about the name!

The most interesting bird was an albinistic (I don't think the eye is pink so won't call it albino)White-winged Chough.

It appeared to be well integrated with the rest of its clan and joined in the defensive posture when they were monstered by some Australian Magpies.

 There were 10 birds in this group and a further 14 in the paddock on the opposite side of the road.

While the Red-rumps seemed to be just roosting/perching in the hawthorn bush the Rosellas (Eastern and Crimson) and Gang-gangs were munching.  Here is the female ...

 ... and the male.

 In another paddock near Mills Cross a pair of Flame Robins were hawking off a fence.  The female disappeared before photographed, but the male demonstrated how the "flames go up" in reference to the colour going much higher than with Scarlet Robins:

May 2016

Some very interesting birds have appeared late in the month.

• 2 Spotted quail-thrushes were seen on Wanna-Wanna Rd, presumably having emerged from Cuumbeun Nature Reserve.  They were subsequently - at much the same time from a property on Bernallah Rd. On checking my database they have been reported most years, but I can't recall them from the Cuumbeun area before.
• A Scarlet Honeyeater: I have sought further details on this.  This is a relatively common species at the Coast in Summer but has only been reported in this area once before, from the middle of the Hoskinstown Plain.
• An albinistic White-winged Chough seen and photographed beside Briars-Sharrow Rd.   

Earlier in the month, it was good to hear of a Frogmouth calling in the Molonglo Valley.  Southern Whiteface were seen again, this time feeding in one of their favourite spots on the road near Foxlow Bridge.  Also in that vicinity were a largish flock of Pink-eared Ducks on the Lagoon (they have also been present in good numbers at the Fyshwick Sewage Works and nearby Jerrabomberra Wetlands).  Gang-gang Cockatoos are in good-sized flocks feeding on Hawthorns (mainly on the Plain) and Australian King-parrots have been seen at a site there for the first time.

With all that good stuff going on it is not surprising that the total tally of species for the month is above average at 85.

Migrants have largely migrated (most Summer ones have left and Winter ones have arrived) and breeding has shut down for the season (although a Great Cormorant is sitting on a nest at Queanbeyan Sewage Works so reproduction is happening close to the project area).

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, Douglas Close, Wanna Wanna, and Hoskinstown Plain and Village. I'm always happy to receive reports, my email address is martinflab@gmail.com.

1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4): Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Pink-eared Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant; White‑necked Heron;  White‑faced Heron; Eurasian  Coot; Black-winged Stilt; Black‑fronted Dotterel; Red-kneed Dotterel; Masked Lapwing; 

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Brown Goshawk;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): Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Laughing Kookaburra;

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; Scarlet Honeyeater , Brown‑headed Honeyeater; White-naped Honeyeater; 

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin;  Flame Robin;  Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow;Tree Martin

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species (Pt 1) (Pt 2):  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Spotted  Quail-thrush;; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; ; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; 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

April 2016

In contrast to March with few unusual birds, April has been a stream thereof .  The most exciting sighting was a Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, seen by a member of COG  on Spring Range Rd in Yanununbeyan SCA.   That is closely followed by a Powerful Owl which called for most of the month on Wanna Wanna Rd.  These birds plus Southern Whiteface, White-plumed Honeyeater and Varied Sittella are reviewed in a special blogpost.

We also had a mystery bird which seemed to be like a Painted Honeyeater, but we didn’t get a good enough look to claim such an unusual bird (in fact your author was busy on something else and didn't see it at all).  And no one else has seen it since.

So with all of that going on it is not surprising that diversity has been well and truly evident.

The 102 species recorded amount to  12 more than March 2016; 11 more than April 2015 and 15 more than the average for April.  As well as the species described in the post linked above a couple of migrant species were added: Flame Robins have moved down from their breeding territory to stay for Winter and White-naped Honeyeaters tagged on behind the Yellow-faced Honeyeaters on their way to wintering grounds.  The remaining additional species were birds that may often get missed as they are not common but probably present in the area throughout the year  but skulking - eg 12 Brown Quail at Hoskinstown - just not where observers happen to have gone).

Tawny Frogmouths are very regular sightings in the area (not least because a pair roost each day in our garden).  It was unusual however to receive a report of one squatting on Wanna Wanna Rd.  I presume it was feeding on road killed moths.  Fortunately the observer was able to get it off the road without injury to bird or observer.

The migration has basically happened: by the end of the month the streams of honeyeaters had dried up and few of the other Summer migrants remained (although quite a few migrant species are included - highlighted in orange for Summer migrants and blue for those that come in Winter - in the list this month).  Breeding also appears to have ceased in this area.

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, Douglas Close, Wanna Wanna, and Hoskinstown Plain and Village. I'm always happy to receive reports, my email address is martinflab@gmail.com.

1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4):Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Darter; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant; Australian Pelican;  White‑necked Heron;  Eastern Great Egret: White‑faced Heron; Australian White Ibis; Eurasian  Coot;Black‑fronted Dotterel; Masked Lapwing.

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Brown Goshawk; Collared Sparrowhawk;Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; Peregrine Falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo; Gang‑gang Cockatoo; Galah;  Little Corella; Sulphur‑crested Cockatoo; Australian King‑parrot; Superb Parrot; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Red-rumped Parrot

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds (Pt 1) (Pt 2) (Pt 3): Stubble Quail; Brown quail; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Powerful Owl; Laughing Kookaburra;

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; White‑plumed Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; Brown‑headed Honeyeater; White-naped Honeyeater;

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

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species (Pt 1) (Pt 2):  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Chestnut-rumped heathwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill;  White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye;  Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Golden-headed Cisticola; 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