May 2018

An observer sent me this image of a juvenile Brown Goshawk which killed a mouse beside their back door.

It is a very appropriate image to kick off with as one of the highlights of the month has been the number of raptor species, with 9 species reported. As shown in this chart that is well above average for any month

The most exciting was a Black Falcon* seen on the Plain near Briars Sharrow Rd.  This our 9^th record, with 6 of those coming from 2011-12.   As this observation follows a sighting in Bungendore a few weeks earlier a bird may have taken up residence in the broad area.

Overall we recorded 86 species, the most ever recorded in May.  As several of the regular reporters (including the author) spent a fair proportion of the month elsewhere that is a very good outcome.

Other less common birds include Pink-eared Ducks and the continuing flock of Red-necked Avocets and Pied Stilts (formerly known as Black-winged Stilts) and continued reports of Banded Lapwings from the Plain.  An unusual sighting, in terms of the number of birds, was a flock of 12-15 Gang-gangs overflying Walga Close although I have also received a report of a regular flock close to that size on Radcliffe.  (That site is also being visited by King Parrots, "feeding on left-over tomatoes". )

Little action this month on migrants and no breeding activity.

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, Radcliffe, Walga Close, Captains Flat Rd;  and Hoskinstown Village and Plain.  Readers might also be interested in this post about a (modest) Big Day on 5 May.  Comments welcome to martinflab@gmail.com.

1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4):  Black Swan; Australian Wood Duck; Pink-eared Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant; White-necked Heron; White‑faced Heron;  Eurasian  Coot; Black-winged Stilt; Red-necked Avocet; Red-kneed Dotterel; Masked Lapwing; Banded Lapwing; 

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; White-bellied Sea-eagle; Whistling Kite, Brown Goshawk; Collared Sparrowhawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; Black 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):  Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Australian Owlet-nightjar; Laughing Kookaburra; 

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

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler;Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Red‑capped Robin, Flame Robin;  Welcome Swallow;

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species (Pt 1) (Pt 2):  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren;  Weebill; ; Striated Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow;

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Skylark;  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

* Yes, I am convinced it wasn't a dark grey Commodore.