March 2018

It is important to remember that it isn't only the rare and exotic birds that are good to see.  I was reminded of this by a recent email which read in part:

"I very very rarely see a kookaburra here, mainly I think because of lack of native trees.  Yesterday I noticed one.  Today to my joy and excitement I had six sitting on our TV antenna and singing  along wonderfully , both of us stood outside watching and listening."

The most unusual observation has been of Powerful Owls.  I have used the plural deliberately as the male and female birds have slightly different calls both of which were heard.  I'm getting expert advice about this, but if anyone is driving home after dark along Captains Flat Rd in the Wanna Wanna area and sees a huge owl fly the road across please let me know.

Another observation, which would be unusual at any other time of year was hearing Rainbow Bee-eaters fly down Whiskers Creek.  I have heard them do this about this time of year in the past.  Unfortunately I didn't get to see them.  

The final "less usual" observation was that the Red-necked Avocets and Black-winged Stilts were still visible - from the road - in Foxlow Lagoon.  Water level in the Lagoon, and everywhere else is getting pretty desperate.

That sort of leads on to species not seen.  I have mused on that in this post!

Over the month of March we recorded 89 species.

There were no breeding activities recorded in the month. (Interestingly I did see - and hear - Great Cormorant chicks in a nest in Beard ACT over the weekend.  So there is still a bit of action.)

Outwards migration of honeyeaters is beginning to happen over our house.  Comments on other species movements are in this post (which will hopefully be updated by the time you read this.

As always, thanks to the observers who have provided reports to me for the month.  These have covered sites in Whiskers Creek Rd, Captains Flat 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): Australian Wood Duck; Pink-eared Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe;  Little Pied Cormorant;   Little Black Cormorant; White‑faced Heron; Australian White Ibis; Eurasian  Coot; Black-winged Stilt; Red-necked Avocet; Masked Lapwing; 

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; Australian Hobby; Peregrine Falcon

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo; Gang‑gang Cockatoo; Galah;  Sulphur‑crested Cockatoo; Australian King‑parrot;Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Hybrid Crimson-Eastern Rosella; Red-rumped Parrot

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds (Pt 1) (Pt 2) (Pt 3): Stubble Quail; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon;  Australian Owlet-nightjar; Southern Boobook; Powerful Owl; Laughing Kookaburra; Rainbow Bee‑eater; 

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; Leaden Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Welcome Swallow; 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‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill;Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; 

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike;  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