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