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