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. )

December 2008

In December, 83 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette, including the species reported by observers in Hoskintown, Whiskers Creek Road and the Molonglo valley.   We have also added  1 more species to the list: Peregrine Falcon. I have underlined breeding birds (where there has been evidence of this).

Waterbirds: Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; Masked Lapwing; Black-fronted Dotterel; 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; Peregrine Falcon; Nankeen kestrel.

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

Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Common bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Feral pigeon;  Southern Boobook;  Tawny Frogmouth; Dollarbird; Laughing Kookaburra; Sacred Kingfisher; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan‑tailed Cuckoo; Brush Cuckoo; Shining Bronze-Cuckoo; White-throated Needletail.

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; Grey fantail; Willie wagtail; Leaden flycatcher; Golden Whistler; 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; Varied Sitella; Silvereye; Richards Pipit; Olive-backed oriole; Common blackbird; Skylark; House sparrow: Diamond Firetail; 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.  Comments in brackets are by this author.  

Red Wattlebird:  Anthocaera carunculata

Appearance:  Large honeyeater, grey with strongpale streaks, pale yellow belly; red neck wattles (sometimes hard to see), red eye.

Voice: Harsh loud coughs as though clearing throat.  

Habits: Single or pairs when breeding, loose flocks when migrating or congregating on food source. Loud and aggressive (very - I have seen them attack Magpies to defend a nest site).  Bounces around through through trees or shrubs feeding on nectar or chasing insects. 

Food:  Insects, nectar, fruit.

Nest:  Untidy shallow cup of sticks, grass and bark in fork of shrub or branchlet 2-16m high.

Occurrence in Revegetation:  Found in 30% of sites from small narrow sites to large, from 4 years onwards small and large sites from 3 years of age onwards, but not recorded in the narrowest windbreaks.

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

November 2008

In November 2008, 84 species of birds have been recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette, including the species reported by observers in Hoskintown, Whiskers Creek Road and Stoney Creek Place.   We have also added 3 species to the list: Black-winged Stilt, Rainbow Bee-eater and Fairy Martin. I have underlined breeding birds (where there has been evidence of this). An unusual breeding record is a domestic goose adopting some Australian Wood Duck ducklings!  A very pleasing breeding record is the brood of 3 Black-fronted dotterels at a farm dam off Whiskers Creek Road.

Waterbirds: Purple swamphen; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; Masked Lapwing; Black-fronted Dotterel; White-faced heron; White-necked Heron; Australian Wood Duck; Pacific Black Duck; Grey teal.

Birds of Prey: Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Brown Falcon; 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: Brown Quail; Common bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Feral pigeon;  Southern Boobook;  Tawny Frogmouth; Dollarbird; Laughing Kookaburra; Sacred Kingfisher; Rainbow Bee-eater; Pallid Cuckoo; Brush Cuckoo; Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo.

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

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

Other, smaller birds: Black-faced cuckoo-shrike; White-winged Triller; White-throated gerygone; Western gerygone; Weebill; Striated thornbill; Brown thornbill; Buff-rumped thornbill; Yellow‑rumped thornbill; White-browed scrubwren; Rufous Songlark; Superb Fairy-wren; Dusky woodswallow; White-throated treecreeper; Mistletoebird; Spotted pardalote; Striated pardalote; Silvereye; Richards Pipit; Olive-backed oriole; Common blackbird; Skylark; House sparrow: 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.  Comments in brackets are by this author.  

White-eared Honeyeater:  Lichenostomus leucotis

Appearance:  Distinctive olive-green honeyeater with black hood and large white ear patch.

Voice: Variety of calls including loud, full ‘beer-brick, beer-brick’ and rapid but mellow machinegun call.

Habits: Ususally seen singly, active and bold, forages amongst leaves and under bark.  Rapid flight with distinctive “flop-flop’ sound. 

Food:  Insects and other invertebrates, also nectar but less than other honeyeaters.

Nest:  Deep cup of grass and bark shreds bound with spider web, lined with hair and wool; slung from small branches amongst foliage, 1-3 metres high

Occurrence in Revegetation:  Recorded at least once in 32% of sites . Found in small and large sites from 3 years of age onwards, but not recorded in the narrowest windbreaks.

(Garden Bird Survey: This Survey, run in the gardens of members of COG, records this bird as moderately common, being observed in about 40% of sites, and every week of the year.  However it is unusual in the urban area other than in Winter, and most of the records for the rest of the year come from the area covered by this blog.)