September 2016

The first month of Spring has sprung some good sightings on us. 2 Jacky Winters were reported from Wanna Wanna, the fourth sighting in this project. Two Banded Lapwings have returned to the site just North of Hoskinstown where up to 15 were recorded last year. A single Cattle Egret was living up to its name by hanging with Herefords on the Plain.

A couple of other records are noteworthy.

• An observer thought they could have seen a Channel-billed Cuckoo on Briars-Sharrow Rd.  However as it wasn't heard calling, and the view not great, it was agreed this wouldn't be included in the database.  However it would be worth keeping an eye open for this species (and an ear for this call - described by one local naturalist as like Miles Davis in his most experimental days).
• An Apostlebird has turned up in Watson ACT, about 150km SE of its usual range.  If one has been blown/washed down here others may also be around.

Migrants (orange for Summer migrants, blue for the few Winter species) are returning on schedule and 11 species, marked in red below, have been observed breeding. (Of course the very evident bird song is evidence of either declaring breeding territory or attracting a mate, but more physical evidence is required to count as a confirmed breeding record.)  Breeding activity seems to have decreased during the incessant rain (or perhaps we haven't been going out in it).

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; Grey Teal;  Pacific Black Duck;  Australasian Grebe;  Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant;   Cattle Egret; White‑faced Heron; Eurasian  Coot; Masked Lapwing; Banded Lapwing; 

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

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):  Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth;  Horsfield's Bronze‑Cuckoo; Shining Bronze‑cuckoo; 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; White-naped Honeyeater; Noisy Friarbird; 

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler;Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Jacky Winter; Scarlet 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;Olive‑backed Oriole; Skylark; Common Blackbird; Common Myna; 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