July 2017

I thought I'd start this month with a breeding reference.  In this case it's a Little Raven's nest about 30m up an elm tree along Briars-Sharrow Rd.  (I decided it was a Little Raven based on the calls coming out of the nest.)

When I submitted my copy to the Editor of the Gazette I commented about the quiet birding around the area.  Almost immediately I'd sent it off I recorded a flock of 20 Crested Pigeons fly over us on Widgiewa Rd: not only were their whistling wings not quiet but this was the biggest flock of the species I have seen out this way.

Then I went to have a look into Foxlow Lagoon from the road and immediately spotted a White-breasted Sea Eagle sitting in the willows between the Lagoon and the railway line.  At one point it seemed to be calling but I couldn't see a second bird: it would be rather very exciting if there were 2 birds and they nested!  On the surface of the Lagoon 3 group of Australasian Shovelers contained 27 birds in total: again a large number of birds of this species, especially as most other ducks appeared to be hiding from the gale blowing at the time.

Overall diversity (70 species recorded) has been effectively average for July:

The number of species seen in July has been particularly variable in the past few years, being affected by the amount of time observers have remained in the area in this cold month.

There is no sign of migrants returning to the area yet (which is quite normal).  Some breeding activity has been noted with 5 species (marked in red below)  undertaking some stage of the breeding cycle.  Masked Lapwings were the most advanced with dependent young being observed: according to the COG website this is right on time for this species.  I have done a post with a poorly formatted table showing the breeding activity by month and species.

As always, thanks to the observers who have provided reports to me for the month.  These have covered sites in Whiskers Creek Rd, Wanna Wanna Rd, and Hoskinstown Village. 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 Wood Duck;  Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑faced Heron; Eurasian  Coot; Masked Lapwing.

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; White-bellied Sea-eagle; 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): Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Laughing Kookaburra; 

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

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler Grey Shrike-thrush; 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; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Silvereye; Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Dusky Woodswallow; 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

Breeding birds by month

The tables below are actually images as I can't (at this stage) work out how to save the table with the  columns shaded (which makes it a whole lot easier  to work out which month is what).

The numbers in each cell are the number of years (max = 11) in which the species has been recorded breeding.

The next image shows the situation for August 2017.

June 2017

Before getting to happenings in our local area, readers may be interested in this post from my other blog about Bungendore.

I have updated what follows after getting a few more observations after initial publication.

In the usual area of the catchment of the Stoney Creek Gazette it has been a pretty quiet month in terms of birds.  I became quite excited on seeing a White-bellied Sea-Eagle on Foxlow Lagoon, and another observer was astonished to find a Southern Boobook tapping on a bedroom window, but otherwise it has been a very quiet month.  Diversity was a little above average (78 species recorded rather than the average of 77).

Perhaps reflecting the rather cool weather when small birds have been see it has been in flocks on the principle of many eyes spot much food.  In most cases the flocks have been Yellow-rumped or Buff-rumped Thornbills with Superb Fairy-wrens in numbers on our lawn.  Our morning dog-walks have usually been enhanced by a pair or more of Scarlet Robins.

Migrants are continuing to vote with their wings and awaiting warmer weather (and insects) before returning.  Breeding has not greatly picked up, although a Little Raven was sitting in a nest in the elms along Briars-Sharrow Rd.  In July a good range of species will start displaying and nest building and a post will be included on my blog noting the history of breeding in that month.

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, 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; Pink-eared Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Chestnut Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; White‑faced Heron; Straw-necked Ibis; Eurasian  Coot; Masked Lapwing.

2 Birds of Prey:  White-bellied Sea-eagle;Collared Sparrowhawk;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; Eastern Barn Owl; Laughing Kookaburra

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

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler;Grey Shrike-thrush; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet 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; Double‑barred Finch;  House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Dusky Woodswallow; 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