April 2017

It seems to me that the diversity of bird species observed in the area has picked up a tad towards the end of the month.  Overall we have recorded 95 species - effectively the same as the 94 species recorded in March.  This is well above the average (for 2010 -2016) of 87 species (but below the remarkable 102 species seen in April 2016.

Although Wedge-tailed Eagles are relatively common in the area it was rather ‘special’  to see a group of three young, “talkative” birds glide over the second Garden Aid day at Douglas Close.  For less common species the "standouts" were:

• A Powerful Owl continues to be heard on Wanna Wanna Rd except when I turn up.  
• Flame Robins – usually restricted to the Plain – are turning up in the higher country of the fire ground.  I have seen them on our property, elsewhere on Whiskers Creek Rd; and on Widgiewa Rd.
• A Barn Owl has been seen several times on Plains Rd
• The Spotted Harrier continues to be seen on Plains Rd.

The number of Waterbird species has declined dramatically since the return of waterbirds from the Western floods.  I is quite impressive to have records for 3 Owl species this month!

Many migrant species departed, on schedule in March, but the most impressive movement, of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, was very evident in April.  Driving through the flocks moving on Briars-Sharrow Rd was like going through a locust swarm.  The fire ground didn’t seem to have had much effect on the movement. Less common sightings of migrants have been:

• a very late Olive-backed Oriole seen on Wanna Wanna Rd late in the month; and
• 5 Fuscous Honeyeaters (uncommon in this area at any time) seen on Widgiewa Rd on 29 April. flying towards the Plain 

I have created an ad-hoc post about the departure of migrants, and will update that to include April doings in the next couple of days.In the list below Summer mgirants are marked in orange and those which arrive in Winter in blue.

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, Knox Close, Radcliffe Circuit, Captains Flat Rd, Molonglo Valley,  Woolcara Lane  Wanna Wanna Rd, and Hoskinstown Village and  Plain. Please pass on interesting sightings to me by email to 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; Chestnut Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead;  Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron;  White‑faced Heron; Eurasian  Coot;  Masked Lapwing;

2 Birds of Prey:   Brown Goshawk; Collared Sparrowhawk;Spotted Harrier;  Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon;

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): Stubble Quail; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Southern Boobook; Eastern Barn Owl; Powerful Owl;  Laughing Kookaburra;

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Fuscous Honeyeater; White‑plumed Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird; 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; 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; Weebill; 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;  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

Migrant departures 2017

I have posted a couple of times in recent years about the months of first reporting migrants.  The obvious sequel to this is to do the same for departures.

However it isn't quite so easy: once a species has been spotted it is definitely here and future sightings (or lack thereof) don't matter.  However with departures it is only really possible to say the bird has gone some time after the last sighting.   For example a species is seen January, but not in February: have they left the area or were they just missed?  If they are subsequently observed in (eg) March it is the latter.

However I thought it worth a try.  I have used the COG classification of migrant species (some of which show a somewhat different pattern of movement here) and classified them according to month in which they are usually last seen here.  I have deleted some species (eg Masked and White-browed Woodswallows) as they are too unusual here to be commented on.

 As at the date of writing (4 April) 9 species have departed early while only 1 has been recorded after the expected date of departure.  My hypothesis is that this reflects the very dry Summer leading to a dearth of insects leading to many species going elsewhere to seek food.

March 2017

The number of species reported in March (94) has declined as expected due to seasonal change.  We have recorded a few more species than in January 2016 but are exactly on the average.

The reports include a number of less common species, headed up by a Powerful Owl, heard calling on Wanna Wanna Rd on a couple of mornings. Other less common sightings (for some reason the first three are from Wanna Wanna Rd) have been:

• a flock of 11 Rainbow Bee-eaters  - almost certainly on migration; 
• Dollarbirds (a late record); 
• Satin Flycatcher - again almost certainly migrating from the high country; and
• from the Plain,  5 Australian Hobby - often rated as a migrant species although our records have then through the year.

It is rather more difficult to assess the situation of migrants (shown in orange below) departing than those arriving as they may also be recorded in later months (and thus not have departed).  However it seems that a number of migrant species have not been reported for the last two months and may thus be thought to have migrated.  In a number of cases, particularly cuckoos, this has been earlier than expected.  I suspect this may be due to the lack of rain in January and February reducing availability of insects for food. 

On the subject of feeding habits I found this report from Wanna Wanna "both interesting and amusing:

"... the roadworks people put netting down along some of the verges and then sprayed it with seed.   The parrots had several picnics.   But I did see seven Bronze Wings.

There have been a few sightings of dependent young birds which count as breeding records (these species marked in red below).

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, Knox Close, Radcliffe Circuit, Captains Flat Rd, Molonglo Valley, Wanna Wanna, and Hoskinstown Village and  Plain. 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; Hardhead;  Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron;  White‑faced Heron; Nankeen Night Heron; Australian White Ibis; Straw-necked Ibis; Eurasian  Coot;

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; Australian Hobby;

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): Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon;  Tawny Frogmouth;  Southern Boobook; Powerful Owl; Laughing Kookaburra; Sacred Kingfisher; Rainbow Bee‑eater; Dollarbird; 

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

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Satin Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Scarlet 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; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike;Dusky Woodswallow; Australian Reed-warbler; 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