August 2016

Hoary-headed Grebe

I have commented elsewhere that Carwoola's weather in August was pretty much close to average (for August).  So it was with bird diversity, with the total number of species (86) right on average.

The same largely applies to the 9 bird groups I use in the species list below.  In most cases the number of species reported is less than 1 different (sometimes above, sometimes below) to the average for August.  The biggest difference is for waterbirds with 16 species reported this month compared to an average of 14.5. However, the numbers of each species at each location were quite low as the birds have spread out across the many water bodies evident in the area.

Migration has started to happen in earnest.  Of the 6 species expected to arrive in August, 5 have appeared on time and are highlighted in orange in the list below.  The one late species is Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, which is balanced by Tree Martins and Olive-backed Oriole being early.  Expectations are covered in a special post.  (The species in blue are ones that spend the Winter here and (mainly) go elsewhere in Summer.)

They are not migrants, but reports of Skylarks always jump up in Spring as they begin their ascending song-flights.  Late in August there were at least 4 singing their hearts out as I walked on the Plain.

Of course we are now in Spring which means fecundity.  16 species, (red text in the list below) have been reported as undertaking some form of breeding activity this month.  That is very much above average - more similar to the number expected in September.  Of course many of those observations were of nest building or breeding display but Black Swans were seen on a nest as was a Hoary-headed Grebe.  (That species is uncommon in the area so a breeding record is very pleasing.)  The Marsh in Hoskinstown Plain is now replete with water and 3 Australian Shelduck ducklings were see there, and 4 Masked Lapwing chicks (aka running fluff-balls) were nearby.

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; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron;  White‑faced Heron; Australian White Ibis;  Eurasian  Coot; Black‑fronted Dotterel; Masked Lapwing; 

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Collared Sparrowhawk;Wedge-tailed Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel;  Australian Hobby; 

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo; Gang‑gang Cockatoo; Galah;  Little Corella; 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; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan‑tailed Cuckoo; Laughing Kookaburra;

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed 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‑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; Olive‑backed Oriole;  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

Migration expectations 2016

As with other recent years I have looked at our records to see when the species defined by COG as migrants to this area have been recorded in the past.  I have slightly adjusted the list to exclude:

• 2 raptor species (Australian Hobby and Collared Sparrowhawk) since they seem to be recorded here more or less evenly through the second half of the year;
• Both local pardalotes as they are recorded nearly every month of the year; 
• Australian Shelduck, since they migrate away in Summer to breed in the higher country. and
• Black-eared Cuckoo and Pink Robin, since both are very unusual in the COG area and have both only been reported once in the Carwoola area.  Rufous Fantail, Satin Flycatcher and Rose Robin have only been reported a few times and no pattern is visible so they have gone too!  Of course, I am keen to hear of any observations of any of these species!

The table is below.  Note that:

• it is in "Extra-large" format so some of it may be off the screen: click the image to see the whole lot; and 
• it is an image not a table so can't be copied to spreadsheets.  (If you'd like a spreadsheet copy drop me an email).

The numbers in the table are the number of years in which the species has been reported since I started the project.  The maximum possible is 9 (except for July when 10 is theoretically possible, but for these species extremely unlikely!

The cells in yellow are the main months in which species have been recorded in the past when they stay on after arrival.  The green cells are the species which are to pass through the area on their way to somewhere else.

July 2016

This month suffers a little, or perhaps a lot, from some regulars, including this author, seeking better weather elsewhere, such as the Atherton Tablelands.

The resultant reduced effort, and the grotty weather, have been factors in a reduced level of diversity compared to last year and the longer term average number of species. A particular factor may be that water is freely available so waterbirds have been dispersed and harder to spot.

Less common birds that have been reported to me include Brown quail, Superb Lyrebird, Spotted
Quailthrush (becoming a regular this year!) and Speckled Warbler.

Despite the weather I have had reports of Laughing Kookaburras inspecting a nest hollow and Australian Magpies nesting (with an electric blanket thought to be installed).

Thanks to observers in Wanna Wanna Rd, and Hoskinstown Village and Plain for keeping the reports going in my absence.  If anyone has any species not listed below for July, they can be added to the database for use in the future.  I'm always interested in unusual sightings, at this time of year especially breeding records or returning migrants, by email to martinflab@gmail.com

1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4):   Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck;  Australasian Grebe;  Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; White‑faced Heron; Masked Lapwing;

2 Birds of Prey:  Wedge-tailed Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon;

3 Parrots and Relatives:   Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo;  Galah;  Sulphur‑crested Cockatoo; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Red-rumped Parrot

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

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

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Grey Shrike-thrush; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin;  Flame Robin; Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species (Pt 1) (Pt 2):  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Striated Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; ; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Spotted  Quail-thrush;  Common Blackbird; Common Starling; Australasian  Pipit;

9  Other, larger birds: Satin Bowerbird; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven; White-winged Chough