October 2011

 In October a very good  99  species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  This is 2 less than the remarkable total in September this year and 2 more than October 2010.  Several observers have noted a high level of diversity.

Thanks to several observers in: the Molonglo Valley, Captains Flat Rd, Hoskinstown, Radcliffe and Widgiewa Road.    There have been two records of dead  Barn Owls – most likely hit by vehicles – on Plains Rd (as noted last month this species irrupted into Canberra this year as the mouse plague declines in the West of the State).   At least 3 (live) Barn Owls have been present on Plains Rd in mid November.

Similarly, Black-shouldered Kites have continued to be sighted by a number of observers with the flock at the head of the Hoskinstown Plain reaching 16 birds towards the end of the month.  There are continued observations of up to 10 Brown Falcons and 4 or more Nankeen Kestrels, in a small area which is also likely to be due to feasting on mice.  

A Cattle Egret was also seen in the area, only the second seen on that property in the last 10 years (and the first reported since I started doing these reports).

Migrants are shown in italics below.  Note that most of the regularly reported migrant species have begun to return already.  While there are a few more to come to Carwoola, they have been reported in Canberra.  21 species which have recorded breeding (broadly defined) this month are underlined.  I’d welcome records of any breeding activities seen in the area as well as first arrivals of any migrants not recorded below.

1  Waterbirds:  Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; Cattle Egret; White‑faced Heron; Dusky Moorhen;  Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing; Latham’s Snipe,

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

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

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Stubble Quail; Brown quail; Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Painted Button-quail; Shining Bronze‑cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan‑tailed Cuckoo; Southern Boobook; Eastern Barn Owl; Laughing Kookaburra;

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

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler; Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Hooded Robin; Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow; Fairy Martin; Tree Martin

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill; Western Gerygone; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Olive‑backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Australian Reed-warbler; 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

September 2011

 In September an astonishing 101 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  This is 11 more than in August this year and 15 more than September 2010.  I have noticed a significant increase in the diversity on our property in the past few weeks and other observers have noticed things ‘picking up’, especially with some dry country birds arriving.  

This graph has been added to show the growth in number of species recorded each September since we moved here.  The trend is a little bogus since observer effort has increased.

Thanks to several observers in: the Molonglo Valley, Captains Flat Rd, Hoskinstown, Radcliffe and Widgiewa Road.   

There have been a number of notable sightings in the month.  A King Parrot was reported from the Hoskinstown Plain: this is the third month in a row that this species has been reported instead of the usually infrequent reports. (I regard this as a positive!)   

There has been another record of Barn Owl (which have irrupted into Canberra this year as the mouse plague declines in the West of the State).   It is likely that the increased sightings of Black-shouldered Kites are also due to this cause.  These sightings have included an unusually large group of 6 hunting around 2 properties overlooking the Hoskinstown Plain which by 29 September had risen to an extraordinary (I am beginning to run low on superlatives) 14 birds in a single tree.

It is also noteworthy that after a shortfall for several months waterbirds especially White-necked Herons are returning 

Migrants are shown in italics below.  Note that most of the regularly reported migrant species have begun to return already although there are a few more to come.  16 species which have been seen to have commenced breeding (broadly defined) this month are underlined.  I’d welcome records of any breeding activities seen in the area as well as first arrivals of any migrants not recorded below.

1  Waterbirds:  Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; White‑faced Heron;; Australian White Ibis;; Dusky Moorhen;  Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing;

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; 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: Stubble Quail; Brown quail; Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Painted Button-quail; Horsfield's Bronze‑Cuckoo; Shining Bronze‑cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; Eastern Barn Owl; Laughing Kookaburra.

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

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

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Olive‑backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Australian Reed-warbler; 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

August 2011

 In September an astonishing 101 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  This is 11 more than in August this year and 15 more than September 2010.  I have noticed a significant increase in the diversity on our property in the past few weeks and other observers have noticed things ‘picking up’, especially with some dry country birds arriving.  

Thanks to several observers in: the Molonglo Valley, Captains Flat Rd, Hoskinstown, Radcliffe and Widgiewa Road.   

There have been a number of notable sightings in the month.  A King Parrot was reported from the Hoskinstown Plain: this is the third month in a row that this species has been reported instead of the usually infrequent reports. (I regard this as a positive!)   

There has been another record of Barn Owl (which have irrupted into Canberra this year as the mouse plague declines in the West of the State).   It is likely that the increased sightings of Black-shouldered Kites are also due to this cause.  These sightings have included an unusually large group of 6 hunting around 2 properties overlooking the Hoskinstown Plain which by 29 September had risen to an extraordinary (I am beginning to run low on superlatives) 14 birds in a single tree.

It is also noteworthy that after a shortfall for several months waterbirds are returning 

Migrants are shown in italics below.  Note that most of the regularly reported migrant species have begun to return already although there are a few more to come.  16 species which have been seen to have commenced breeding (broadly defined) this month are underlined.  I’d welcome records of any breeding activities seen in the area as well as first arrivals of any migrants not recorded below.

1  Waterbirds:  Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; White‑faced Heron;; Australian White Ibis;; Dusky Moorhen;  Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing;

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; 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: Stubble Quail; Brown quail; Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Painted Button-quail; Horsfield's Bronze‑Cuckoo; Shining Bronze‑cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; Eastern Barn Owl; Laughing Kookaburra.

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

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

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; White-throated Gerygone; Striated Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Olive‑backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Australian Reed-warbler; 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

July 2011

In  July 2011 78 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  This is 13 more than in June this year and one more than July 2010.  Thanks to several observers in: the  Molonglo Valley, Hoskinstown, Radcliffe and Widgiewa Road.   

There have been a number of notable sightings in the month.  4 female King Parrots were sighted in Radcliffe – the first at that site.  They are very rarely reported in the area generally.  Scarlet Robins have appeared again in my site and a property overlooking the Hoskinstown Plain.  I suspect they are moving through, as normal  in preparation for Spring in the higher country.  A huge flock of at least 50 immature/female Satin Bowerbirds was seen in the Plain on 31 July following a similar earlier sighting in Hoskinstown: extraordinary records.

Migrants are shown in italics below and species for which breeding (broadly defined) has been observed this month are underlined.

1  Waterbirds:  Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White-faced Heron; Australian White Ibis; Purple Swamphen; Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little 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

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Brown quail; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; 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; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Flame Robin; Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow;

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Striated Pardalote; Silvereye; Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow;

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Common Blackbird; 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

.Breeding Records

There have been very few breeding records in recent months (as expected).  However August is the month when some of the locally resident species begin their breeding activity.  These initial stages will typically comprise observations of

• Breeding Displays: usually males strutting their stuff to impress females, which can be impressive flights by raptors or intricate ‘song and dance routines’ by the smaller birds; or
• Nest Building: in many cases this will be indicated by seeing the birds flying about with beaks full of nesting material.

I’d welcome any observations of such activities (or more flagrant breeding activity).

June 2011

Thanks to Julienne and John for pinch hitting for me this month while I visited the North Coast!!

In June 2011, 64 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette. Thanks go to observers in Hoskinstown, Forbes Creek and Widgiewa Road. Two species were recorded as breeding. A Black Swan with 3 dependent young was seen on Foxlow Lagoon and an Australasian Grebe also with 3 dependant young was observed on a dam in Hoskinstown. In the coming weeks we may be fortunate enough to see Black-shouldered Kites. Sightings of these kites have been noted in nearby locations where the number of mice has increased.  (Did we ever! see a post in my main blog for events in September -which carried on more on less into November.)

Bird species of June are listed below. Migrants are shown in italics below and species for which

breeding (broadly defined) has been observed this month are underlined.

1.Waterbirds: Musk Duck; Black Swan; Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; White-faced Heron; Dusky Moorhen; Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing.

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

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: Brown quail; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Laughing Kookaburra.

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; White-eared Honeyeater; Noisy Miner; Red Wattlebird;

Brown-headed Honeyeater.

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler; Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush;

Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Welcome Swallow.

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species: Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren;

Speckled warbler; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff-rumped Thornbill;

Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Silvereye; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch.

8 Other, smaller birds: White-throated Treecreeper; Varied Sittella; Dusky Woodswallow;

Common Blackbird; 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.

Winter Birds

During the cooler months birds tend to „mob up‟ to form larger flocks for protection as they seek winter feed.

The larger birds are most likely to join with other families of their own species to roam. During the last 6 weeks there has been local sightings of groups of 50 -200 Little Ravens, up to 100 Aust. Wood Ducks, 200-300 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, 30-40 White-winged Chough, up to 50 CrimsonRosella and 25 Gang-gangs.

Mixed Feeding Flocks (MFFs) are the go for the smaller birds that are happy to form loose groups of mixed species. Amongst the trees in timbered country you may see a MMF of Varied Sittella, Whiteeared Honeyeater, White-throated Treecreepers, Superb Fairywren, Red-browed Finch, Buffrumped, Striated & Brown Thornbill, Weebill, Silvereye, White-browed Scrubwren and Scarlet Robin.

While on the Plain the MMF may be Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Superb Fairywren, Silvereye, Buffrumped  & Brown Thornbill, Flame Robin, Southern Whiteface, Red-browed Finch and occasionally Double-barred Finch and Diamond Firetail. The largest number noted recently was a MMF of 100.

However it is likely that rural properties will have experienced smaller groups

May 2011

In  May 80 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  This is 5 more than in April this year and the same as May 2010.  Thanks to several observers in: the Molonglo Valley, Hoskinstown and Widgiewa Road.   

Only 1 species – Nankeen Kestrel  - was recorded as breeding.  The birds were seen involved in great affection, which in this species can occur some months prior to eggs being laid.  Juvenile Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos continue to be heard begging as they fly over, or sit in pine trees, but I regard this as evidence of indolence rather than breeding in the area. 

Flocks of finches feeding on grass-seeds, and sometimes mixed in flocks of several small bird species have been frequently noted.  On a couple of evenings our windows have been visited by hordes of moths, providing food for 'our' Tawny Frogmouths. 

Migrants are shown in italics below and species for which breeding (broadly defined) has been observed this month are underlined.

1  Waterbirds:  Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Wood Duck; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White-faced Heron; Eurasian Coot; Black‑fronted Dotterel; Masked Lapwing;

2 Birds of Prey:  Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown 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: Stubble Quail; Brown quail; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; 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.

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

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species:  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill; Western Gerygone; 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; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Dusky Woodswallow; Skylark; Common Blackbird; 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

Nightbirds

There has been a bit of action for this group in the recent past which presumably explains why I have given the nightbird group a second run!

This group includes the birds that are usually active by night, roosting quietly by day.  Not surprisingly they are not commonly reported (anywhere).  Most reports are of the calls of the bird, which carry long distances.  A hint for spotting them is to watch for the mobbing activities of small birds, giving a hint to the whereabouts of a roosting owl or frogmouth.

The exception to ‘unusual reporting’ in this area is the Tawny Frogmouth.  That reflects the presence of a breeding pair in our garden and I have recorded where they roost most days.  (They have 15 roost trees, of which about 5 are commonly used.)

The other more commonly reported species Southern Boobook, has the well known ‘more-pork’ call, frequently heard in September- October.  On two occasions I have found this species hiding in dense foliage in Cummbeun Nature Reserve.

Australian Owlet-nightjars have been reported in 10 months, typically sighting in the mouth of the tree hollows in which they live. 

4 species of Owl have been reported in the area.  Eastern Barn Owl has been reported 3 times while Powerful Owl has been reported once.  Barking Owl has only been reported once in the 4+ years I have been recording the birds but several longer-term residents have reported occasionally hearing the ‘murdered woman scream” of the bird in earlier years.