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