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