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