Due
to my absence overseas in late June the birding column for June was compiled by other observers. I thank them for filling in for me.
In August 80 species of birds were recorded in the
catchment area of the Gazette. Thanks to
several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley and Widgiewa Road. Highlights
for the month have been the return of several migrant species (including 3 of
the 6 likely cuckoo species) and waterbirds returning to the (well-filled) dams
and swamps of the area.
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;
Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little
Pied Cormorant; White-faced Heron; Purple Swamphen; Dusky Moorhen; Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing
2 Birds of Prey: Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed 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: Rock Dove;
Spotted Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo;
Fan-tailed Cuckoo; Brush Cuckoo; 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; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet
Robin; Flame Robin; Hooded Robin; Welcome Swallow;
7 Thornbills,
Finches and similar species:
Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill;
Striated Thornbill; Yellow Thornbill; Yellow-rumped Thornbill; Buff-rumped
Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Southern Whiteface; Spotted Pardalote; Striated
Pardalote; Silvereye; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch
8 Other, smaller
birds: White-throated Treecreeper; Varied
Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike;;
Olive‑backed Oriole; 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
Birding Locations
The location this month is
the road South from Hoskinstown to the Foxlow Bridge. The land through which the road passes is
private property and must not be entered but the roadsides and area
visible from the road are very good for birding (taking care to leave the road
clear). Several species regarded as at
risk in the area can often be seen along here.
A first “hotspot” is the
sharp left hand bend about 2.5km South of Hoskinstown. The hawthorns here provide good shelter for
finches (Red-browed and Double-barred) and Diamond Firetails. Going up the hill after the bend often
produces sightings of Southern Whiteface and coming down towards the Rossi
turnoff the sky is often graced with Nankeen Kestrel.
Taking the right fork, and
climbing up the hill (steep if on a push bike) gives a chance to look down onto
Foxlow Lagoon. This can be particularly
rewarding when other dams in the area are low: it is the only site in the area
where I have seen Black Swans, Black‑winged Stilts and Musk Ducks. At times up to 4 White‑necked Herons have
been seen here. Continuing southwards
other dams can produce less common waterfowl including Australian Shoveler and
Australian Shelduck.
Approaching the Foxlow Bridge
the paddocks have some fallen timber in them.
These areas may produce Brown Treecreeper (not known elsewhere in the
area); Hooded Robin and Southern Whiteface.
The surrounds of the bridge have held high numbers of Flame Robins on
occasion.
