July 2009

In July, 65 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette, including the species reported by an observer in Hoskinstown, and other observers in the Molonglo Valley, Widgiewa, and Plains Roads.   This has ended up not a bad haul considering the time of year and the dryness.

1  Waterbirds:   Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Darter; Little Pied Cormorant; Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Peregrine falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang-gang  Cockatoo; Galah; Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella;

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Laughing Kookaburra.

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

 6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Flame Robin; Welcome Swallow.

 7 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff-rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Varied Sitella; Silvereye; Common Starling; Red-browed Finch; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

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

Bird of the Month

From the Greening Australia book “Bringing Birds Back”.   Comments in brackets are by this author.  

White-browed Scrubwren:   Sericornis frontalis

Appearance:.Small  dark brown bird with strong white eyebrow and whisker, black shoulder with white markings and buff underparts. 

Voice: Loud harsh scolding, also clear penetrating calls (the latter are very variable).

Habits: Singly or pairs.  Associated strongly with scrubby habitat (hence the name).  Searches actively on the ground, amongst litter, around logs, in shrubbery.  Bold and Inquisitive, gives harsh scolding when disturbed and will often approach to check out the intruder.

Food: Insects and other invertebrates.

Nest: Untidy, domed of grasses, twigs , leaves, fine roots, well hidden in shrubbery or under grass tussock.  (The nest is always very low down – no more than 50cm from the ground.  This account of nesting is not quite correct: since it was presented many examples have come to light of nesting in items such as clothing and coils of rope hung on walls in sheds etc - sometimes up to 2m off the ground. )

Occurrence in revegetation: Found in 27% of sites.  More common in direct-seeded sites where dense gowth provides suitable habitat after 3 years if growth is rapid but more commonly after 5 years.  Found in narrow windrows and large sites.

(Garden Bird Survey: Undertaken by COG in the gardens of members of that Group records this species as moderately  common.  It is recorded in about  40% of sites. It is recorded in all weeks. )

June 2009

In June, 64 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette, including the species reported by an observer in Hoskinstown, and other observers in the Molonglo Valley, Widgiewa, and Plains Roads.  

1  Waterbirds:  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White-faced HeronMasked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Wedge-tailed Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang-gang Cockatoo; Galah;

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; Australian King-parrot; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella.

4  Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Laughing Kookaburra.

 5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; White‑plumed Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; New Holland Honeyeater; Brown‑headed Honeyeater.

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

7 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff-rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Silvereye; Common Blackbird; Common Starling; Double-barred Finch; Red-browed Finch; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

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

Bird of the Month

From the Greening Australia book “Bringing Birds Back”.   Comments in brackets are by this author.  

Striated Thornbill:   Acanthiza lineata

Appearance:.Small grey-brown bird, greenish back, pale face, breast and underparts with fine black streaks.  (Easily confused with related Brown Thornbill.  Distinguish most easily by voice.)

Voice: High pitched, insect-like ‘tzit, tzit. (Brown thornbill is more ‘mellow, bubbly.) .

Habits: Small groups, feeds in tops of trees searching amongst leaves and bark or hovering around the foliage. Often with other small birds such as the Yelow Thornbill.  (Brown Thornbill tends to be in smaller groups and usually lower in the vegetation.)

Food: Insects or other invertebrates.

Nest: Neat rounded with side-entrance, of grass and bark bound with spider web; hung from outer small branches among the leaves, from 1 – 20 metres above the ground..

Occurrence in revegetation: Found in 27% of sites from very small narrow windbreaks to large sites, from 5 years of age onwards, but more common in older sites as the trees gain height..

(Garden Bird Survey: Undertaken by COG in the gardens of members of that Group records this species as not common.  It is recorded in about  30% of sites, possibly reflecting the difficulty of identifying a small brown bird high in trees. It is recorded in  nearly all weeks.  )

May 2009

In May2009, 83 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette, including the species reported by an observer in Hoskinstown, and other observers in the Molonglo Valley, Wanna Wanna, Widgiewa, and Plains Roads.  

1  Waterbirds:  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; Australian White Ibis; Purple Swamphen; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; Peregrine falcon.

3 Parrots and Relatives:  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo; Gang-gang cockatoo; Galah; Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella; Red-rumped parrot

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Brown quail; Rock Dove; Spotted Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Laughing Kookaburra;

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

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

7 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff-rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Spotted  Quail-thrush; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Dusky Woodswallow; Silvereye; Common Blackbird ; Common Starling; Zebra Finch; Double-barred Finch; Red-browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; Richards Pipit; European Goldfinch

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

Bird of the Month

From the Greening Australia book “Bringing Birds Back”.   Comments in brackets are by this author.  

Common Starling: Sturnus vulgaris

(This species is introduced to Australia, and is sometimes referred to as a “rat with wings”.)

Appearance: Shiny black plumage with bronze-green and purple sheen.  In Autumn-Winter feathers are tipped buff-white giving a finely spotted appearance.  (Juveniles are much plainer brown).

Voice: Variety of rates, whistles, wheezes clicks.  Harsh alarm call.  Good mimic.

Habits: Flocks large (often hundreds of birds) in Autumn.  Bold, jaunty walks or runs with rapid jabs of bills into ground.

Food: Omnivorous: insects, fruit, carrion.

Nest: In hollow of tree, also holes or cavities in buildings .

Occurrence in revegetation: Found in 27% of sites but nearly always observedin mature remnant trees incorporated within the revegatation.

(Garden Bird Survey: Undertaken by COG in the gardens of members of that Group records this species as very common.  It is now usually recorded in about 80% of sites.  However both abundance and frequency have dropped recently, possibly due to competition from the Common Myna – which has fortunately not appeared in this area.)

April 2009

Alas, also missing.  The list of birds will be re-created from my database in the near future.

March 2009

In March 2009, 75 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette, including the species reported by an observer in Hoskinstown, and other observers in Widgiewa Road, Radcliffe and the Molonglo valley.   The one new species is a worrying one: Spotted Turtle Dove (or Spotted Dove as it is now to be known).  This is a very invasive species which takes over from other pigeons and doves.  It has been seen in Radcliffe Estate and (possibly) near the Community Hall.  If anyone else sees it, please let me know.

Waterbirds: Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; Masked Lapwing; White-faced heron; White-necked Heron; Australian Wood Duck; Pacific Black Duck; Grey Teal,.

Birds of Prey: Brown Goshawk; Collared Sparrowhawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle; Brown Falcon; Black-shouldered Kite; Nankeen kestrel.

Parrots and Relatives: Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo; Gang-gang Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; Galah; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella;  Red-rumped Parrot.

Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Common bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Feral pigeon;  Southern Boobook;   Laughing Kookaburra; Pallid Cuckoo; Shining Bronze-Cuckoo; Painted Button-quail.

Honeyeaters:  Brown-headed honeyeater; Eastern spinebill; Yellow‑faced honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red wattlebird; Noisy friarbird.

Flycatchers and similar species: Welcome swallow; Grey fantail; Willie wagtail; Leaden flycatcher; Rufous whistler; Grey shrike thrush; Magpie-lark

Other, smaller birds: Black-faced cuckoo-shrike; White-throated gerygone; Western gerygone; Weebill; Striated thornbill; Brown thornbill; Buff-rumped thornbill; Yellow‑rumped thornbill; White-browed scrubwren; Superb Fairy-wren; Dusky woodswallow; White-throated treecreeper; Spotted pardalote; Striated pardalote; Silvereye; Common blackbird; House sparrow: Red-browed Finch; European goldfinch; Common starling.

Other, larger birds: White-winged chough: Pied Currawong; Grey currawong: Grey butcherbird: Australian Magpie; Australian Raven; Little Raven

Bird of the Month

From the Greening Australia book “Bringing Birds Back”.  This species is becoming  particularly noticeable at this season as they feed on the fallen wattle seeds.  Comments in brackets are by this author.  

Common Bronzewing:  Phaps chalcoptera

Appearance:  Large plump pigeon.  Chest and underparts  pinkish buff.  Wings iridescent (bronze!) changing colours (as the light strikes) at different angles.

Voice: Deep penetrating ‘ooom- ooom.

Habits: Singly, pairs or loose groups.  Feeds on the ground under wattles and other shrubs and around grass tussocks.  Usually detected when it bursts from the ground with a loud clapping of wings.  Flies some distance up into a tree where it sits motionless apart from head-bobbing

Food:  Seeds, berries, also invertebrates.

Nest:  Flimsy saucer of few twigs on horizontal branch or fork in shrub or tree from 1 – 12m high.  (It is often possible to see through the nest and count the eggs!)

Occurrence in Revegetation:  Recorded  in 28% of sites but most common in direct seeded sites where the higher proportion of wattles provides an abidant seed source.  Not found in the smallest or narrowest sites, but occurs in broader, less dense windbreaks where it can feed on the ground between the rows.

(Garden Bird Survey: This Survey, run in the gardens of members of COG, now records this bird as very variable in occurrence.  In some years there is an average of  0.01 birds per site week, in others 0.12 birds per site week.  It is appearing in a greater proportion of sites (rising from less than 1% of sites in 1981 to about 20% of sites in recent years.  This almost certainly relates to gardens maturing to provide suitable food sources .)

February 2009

Alas, this report appears to have gone missing!  The list of birds will be re-created from my database in the near future.

January 2009

Happy New Year!  It is also Happy third year for us as residents of the area.  To celebrate completion of two years in the area I have put a brief reportsummarising these reports for the last two years on my core blog.

In January 2009, 85 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette, including the species reported by an observer in Hoskinstown, and other observers in Widgiewa Road and the Molonglo valley.   We have also added 1 more species to the list: White-plumed Honeyeater

Waterbirds: Black Swan; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; Masked Lapwing; Black-fronted Dotterel; White-faced heron; White-necked Heron; Australian Wood Duck; Pacific Black Duck; Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal.

Birds of Prey: Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Brown Falcon; Peregrine Falcon; Nankeen kestrel.

Parrots and Relatives: Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo; Gang-gang Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo; Galah; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella;

Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Brown Quail; Common bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Feral pigeon;  Southern Boobook;  Tawny Frogmouth; Dollarbird; Laughing Kookaburra; Sacred Kingfisher;; Brush Cuckoo; Shining Bronze-Cuckoo; Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo; White-throated Needletail; Painted Button-quail.

Honeyeaters:  Brown-headed honeyeater; Eastern spinebill; Yellow‑faced honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red wattlebird; Noisy friarbird.

Flycatchers and similar species: Welcome swallow; Fairy Martin; Tree Martin; Grey fantail; Willie wagtail; Leaden flycatcher; Rufous whistler; Grey shrike thrush; Magpie-lark

Other, smaller birds: Black-faced cuckoo-shrike; White-throated gerygone; Western gerygone; Weebill; Striated thornbill; Brown thornbill; Buff-rumped thornbill; Yellow‑rumped thornbill; White-browed scrubwren; Superb Fairy-wren; Dusky woodswallow; White-throated treecreeper; Mistletoebird; Spotted pardalote; Striated pardalote; Silvereye; Richards Pipit; Skylark; Common blackbird; House sparrow: Diamond Firetail; Red-browed FinchEuropean goldfinch;  Common starling.

Other, larger birds: White-winged chough: Pied Currawong; Grey currawong: Grey butcherbird: Australian Magpie; Australian Raven; Little Raven

Bird of the Month

From the Greening Australia book “Bringing Birds Back.  Comments in brackets are by this author.  

Magpie-lark:  Grallina cyanoleuca

(Depending upon where in Australia you come from you might also know this species as: Peewee, Mudlark, Murray Magpie or Peewit!  Note that it isn’t a Magpie nor a lark but an aberrant flycatcher!)

Appearance:  Conspicuous black and white bird.  Male has white eyebrow and female has vertical black band through eye from crown down to chest.

Voice: Usually sung in duet by male and female ‘pee-wee, peewee, each opening and closing wings in rhythm.  Loud alarm call ‘ pee, pee, pee’

Habits: Pairs or loose groups.  Bold, tame, aggressive near nest (will attach own reflection in car mirrors).   Feeds mostly on ground, walking with back and forward head motion.

Food:  Insects, (other) invertebrates, small reptiles, frogs, birds, mammals.

Nest:  Deep bowl of mud lined with hair, grass, feathers.

Occurrence in Revegetation:  Found in 29% of sites.

(Garden Bird Survey: This Survey, run in the gardens of members of COG, records this bird as very common.  It is usually observed in nearlyall sites, and in every week of the year – albeit not every week in every site. )