September 2017

The most exciting sighting this month is a Grey Goshawk seen between Stony Creek NR and the Molonglo.  This is only the second sighting of this species in the area. 

A number of other less common species have also been recorded including White-bellied Sea-Eagle (flying over Whiskers Creek), Black-winged Stilt (seen from the road at Foxlow Lagoon), Powerful Owl (Wanna Wanna, flying into Cuumbeun) , Red-capped Robin (Whiskers Creek), Yellow Thornbill (Whiskers Creek) and Varied Sittella (Whiskers Creek).  

In total 90 species have been recorded, a little below average for the month.

It is tempting to ascribe the reduced number of species in recent months to the weather.  Very low rainfall will have reduced the food resources and horrible strong winds make birds seek shelter and thus be hard to spot.  That being said one observer reported:

 ... the upside of the wind at our place is that we have watched some kestrels do some amazing aerial acrobatics! Remaining in a stationary hover in 50k/h winds and then diving in a straight line and swooping low to return to 100m... it's truly amazing. ""

In terms of breeding, I have received reports of 14 species at various stages of the breeding cycle (marked in red text below), mainly nest building.  On average this cycle appears to be happening about on schedule, with the number of early records balancing the number of late species.  The records are a little "thin" so I'd welcome any additions. I haven’t yet found a nest of Flame Robins but they are still around in the same places, after being difficult to spot mid-month.  

Linking the breeding cycle and migration, Fairy Martins are a little early returning and are building nests in the usual spot.   An unusual element of migrant return were the large (by Whiskers/Widgiewa standards) flocks of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters heading West.  We recorded 150 on one dog walk, which is more like Autumn departure than the more gradual return.  Of the regular migrants 11 of the expected species have returned on time, two are late and four have been early returners (so on average everything is normal - or perhaps a tad early).  Those seen have orange highlight 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, Wanna Wanna Rd, Molonglo Valley, Forbes Creek and Hoskinstown Village and Plain. Please pass on interesting sightings to me by email to martinflab@gmail.com.  

Before getting to the list you might enjoy a snap of a Striated Pardalote, taking a break from gathering nesting material.

1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4):Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal;  Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant;  White‑faced Heron; Eurasian  Coot; Black-winged Stilt; Masked Lapwing; 

2 Birds of Prey:  White-bellied Sea-eagle; Collared Sparrowhawk;Grey Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Peregrine 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): Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth;  Horsfield's Bronze‑Cuckoo;  Pallid Cuckoo; Fan‑tailed Cuckoo; Southern Boobook;  Powerful Owl; Laughing Kookaburra

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; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Red‑capped Robin, Flame Robin Welcome Swallow; Fairy Martin; 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 Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double‑barred Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike;  Olive‑backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Common Blackbird; Common Starling; Australasian  Pipit;

9  Other, larger birds: Satin Bowerbird; Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven; White-winged Chough