April 2011

In  April  75 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  This is 13 less than in March this year and 3 less than in March 2010.  I suspect a reduction in reporting may explain some of that! Thanks to several observers in: the Molonglo Valley, Captains Flat Road, and Widgiewa Road.   

Only 2 species were recorded as breeding.  The dependent young Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were late, but the nest with young Red-browed Finch was surprising as I had n’t noticed a quite large nest being constructed until the young squawked.  Juvenile Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos  are heard begging as they fly over but I regard this as evidence of indolence rather than breeding in the area. The regular events of Autumn/Winter have been noted: flocks of finches feeding on grass-seeds, mixed flock of several small bird species, and  flocks of migrating honeyeaters.

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

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

2 Birds of Prey:  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; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Shining Bronze-cuckoo; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; Southern Boobook; Laughing Kookaburra;

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

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler; Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Rufous Fantail; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin;, Flame Robin; Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow; 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; Dusky Woodswallow; Common Blackbird; Common Starling; Mistletoebird;

9  Other, larger birds: Grey Butcherbird; Australian Magpie; Pied Currawong; Grey Currawong; Australian Raven; Little Raven.

Parrots and Relatives

The list for the area includes 11 species in this group, which includes the Parrots and Cockatoos

4 species are very common and seen every month.  These are Crimson and Eastern Rosella, Galah, Sulphur‑crested Cockatoo.  A fifth species, the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo has only failed to be reported in 1 of the 49 possible months.  Gang‑gang Cockatoos are also pretty common being recorded in 42 months.

The small Red-rumped Parrot is moderately common being recorded approximately 50% of the time.  This may reflect its liking for the grassy habitat of the Hoskinstown Plain and if we don’t spend time down there tend to miss it.  

The remaining species are rarely recorded.  The beautiful Australian King-parrot has only been recorded in 8 months and the Superb Parrot in 4.  The observations of the Superb Parrot have all been in early Summer as the species moves out from its core territory near Boorowa (although they are becoming much commoner in Canberra).  Little Corellas have only been recorded in 3 months, but as the Canberra population is exploding they are likely to become more common out here.

March 2011

In  March  2011 a good score of  88 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  This is 9 more than in February 2010 and an increase of 10 species on the year before that.   Only 3 species were recorded as breeding (and while the vocalising cuckoos may suggest that they too have love on their mind I think this is more hope than eexpectation).  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Captains Flat Road, and Widgiewa Road.   

The calls of Stubble Quail continue to be heard, but far less prominently, around the area.  Unusual sightings this month have included Painted Button-quail at 2 sites, Little Corella on Widgiewa Rd and at least 2 Eastern Yellow Robins at Whiskers Creek Rd.  The regular events of Autumn/Winter have been noted: flocks of finches feeding on grass-seeds, mixed flock of several small bird species, and  flocks of honeyeaters beginning to migrate.

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; Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing.

2 Birds of Prey:  Brown Goshawk; Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown Falcon; Australian Hobby.

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

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Stubble Quail; Brown quail; Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Australian Owlet-nightjar; Painted Button-quail; Horsfield's Bronze‑Cuckoo; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; Laughing Kookaburra;

 5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared 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; Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow; Tree Martin

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

Waterbirds

The list for the area includes 27 species in this group, which includes ducks, herons, waders and the rails.  .    

7 species are very common and seen nearly every month.  These are Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal,  Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Little Pied Cormorant, White-faced Heron and Masked Lapwing.

Only the Eurasian Coot could be considered to be moderately common being seen in about half the months for which records have been kept. 

Most of the other species have been recorded in a small number of months, in part reflecting whether specific dams or waterways have been checked in the month.  Herons and their relatives have been very had to find in the last year as they have returned to the flooded wetlands in the major river systems.

February 2011

In  February  2011 a good score of  89 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette.  This is one more than in February 2010 and an increase of 10 species on the 2 years before that.   11 species were recorded as breeding (and possibly the vocalising cuckoos suggest that they too have love on their mind!).  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Captains Flat Road, and Widgiewa Road.   

The calls of Stubble Quail continue to resonate around the area, particularly on the Hoskinstown Plain.  The Fairy Martins that reside along Plains road appear to have departed.

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

1  Waterbirds:  Australian Wood Duck; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; White-faced Heron; N  Eurasian Coot; 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: Stubble Quail; Brown quail; Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Australian Owlet-nightjar; Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo; Shining Bronze-cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; Southern Boobook; Laughing Kookaburra; Dollarbird.

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; White-eared Honeyeater; White‑plumed 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; Red‑capped Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow; 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; Varied Sitella; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Olive‑backed Oriole; Dusky Woodswallow; 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

Birds of Prey

The list for the area includes 12 species in this group, which is restricted to the day‑hunting (or diurnal) raptors.    (In November 2011 a 13th species, Black Falcon, was added from the Hoskinstown Plain.)

The commonest species are the Wedge-tailed Eagle and the Nankeen Kestrel.  The former species is seen either singly or in groups of up to three and has been recorded in 40 of the 48 months for which I have records.  Their presence is often signalled by the Magpies in the area rising- often to great heights to give battle.   

The Kestrel has been seen in 43 months usually as a single bird but sometimes in pairs. They are usually spotted hunting by hovering or sitting on convenient perches watching prey in the paddocks.

Brown Falcon and Brown Goshawk have also been seen in more than half the months.  The Goshawk has been seen nesting in the area, while most of the raptor tend to nest out of the places people often go.

January 2011

In  January 2011 a good score of  94 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette with a very pleasing 17 species recorded as breeding.  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Captains Flat Road,  and Widgiewa Road.   

There continue to be reports of a good number of cuckoo species in the area.  As they call frequently they, and thus their host species, may still be breeding.  Waterbirds continue to be very low in diversity.  Apparently all the ibis at least are breeding in the Riverina! 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; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant; White-faced Heron; Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing

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

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

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Emu; Stubble Quail; Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Australian Owlet-nightjar; White-throated Needletail; Horsfield's Bronze‑Cuckoo;Shining Bronze-cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; Brush Cuckoo; Southern Boobook; Laughing Kookaburra;Sacred Kingfisher;

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

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; 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; Rufous Songlark; 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

A brief annual summary

The list for the area now totals 161 species.  We added 16 species to the list in 2010.  In part this reflects an increasing number of people reporting, and increasing familiarity with the birds of the area.  Reports for other areas indicate a decreased diversity of birds in 2010 as they followed the floodwaters to the inland areas.

In 2010, 144 species of birds were recorded at least once in the Gazette catchment area.  40 of these were recorded breeding (using a wide definition, covering all stages from “Display” to “Dependent Young”).  

We recorded 42 species in every month of this year while 21 species have been recorded every month since we moved here in 2007.  

Text of Bulletin Article 2011

This is the (slightly edited) text of the second article I composed for the local Newspaper now known as the District Bulletin (since it is distributed beyond its original ambit of Palerang Shire).

Following the wonderful rains of the past 12 months there have been many reports of bird diversity decreasing as those forced East by the drought return home.  In contrast, the Carwoola area is still full of birds, with 146 species recorded in 2010.  Over the last 4 years, I and several other observers, have recorded a total of 161 species in the Carwoola area.  

In 2010 we recorded 42 species every month of the year.  It is convenient to group these common birds according to categories: waterbirds (4 species); birds of prey (2 species); parrots and cockatoos (6 species); Kingfishers and other non-songbirds (3 species); Honeyeaters (6 species); Flycatchers and similar species (5 species); Thornbills, Finches and similar species (7 species); Other smaller birds (2 species); and Other larger birds (7 species).

Over the 4 years of recording we have also recorded 64 species as breeding - defined rather broadly - in the area (40 breeding species in 2009).   Although some nests are found, such as the Grey Fantail chicks shown in the image, many of the breeding observations in the area are of dependent young (for most species, this is when the adults are seen feeding the young birds).    

Again a pair of Tawny Frogmouths raised 2 chicks in a nest visible from the author’s study .  When the chicks leave the nest they travel around with their parents for a few months “learning to be Frogmouths”.  Sometimes this provides great photo opportunities!. A Grey Shrike‑thrush again raised 2 chicks in an opportunistic site in a garage in Radcliffe Estate and White-browed Scrub-wren utilised a coil of rope hung in a shed on Hoskinstown Plain.  

The deluge of 2010 caused many species of waterbirds  to head for the (no-longer-dry)  inland swamps and lakes.  Pacific Black Ducks and Australian Wood Ducks continued to be common, and many small dams are still occupied by Australasian Grebes (often breeding).   As the floods retreat the waterbirds will come back to the dams, emphasizing their importance as refuges of last resort for some birds as well as the stock they were installed to serve.

Parrots and Cockatoos are common (and colourful) in the area.  The two Rosella species and 4 species of Cockatoos were recorded every month in 2010.  Two species of naturally occurring pigeons are frequently seen in the area, including the very colourful Common Bronzewing. 

Possibly reflecting the relatively warm winter and good rainfall (foreshadowing an early start to a promising breeding season for their host species) the Fan-tailed Cuckoo and Pallid Cuckoo began to be seen and heard from July onwards.

 One of the obvious outcomes of the good season has been a huge amount of flowering grass.  As this goes to seed it is likely that the finches which feed on grass seeds, such as the Red-browed Finch will have a bumper season in 2011.

 

The Canberra Ornithologists Group website includes a very comprehensive range of photographs and recordings of the calls of many of the species found in the area.  A website launched last year by the Atlas of Living Australia  provides very useful features including an ability to obtain a list of species recorded within 5 km of your address.

December 2010

In  December  2010 a good score of  95 species of birds were recorded in the catchment area of the Gazette with 10 species recorded as breeding.  Thanks to several observers in: Hoskinstown; the Molonglo Valley, Radcliffe,  and Widgiewa Road.   

There continue to be reports of a good number of cuckoo species, perhaps balanced out by waterbirds being very low in diversity.  Apparently all the ibis are breeding in the Riverina!

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

1  Waterbirds:  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Pacific Black Duck; Australasian Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; White-faced Heron; Eurasian Coot; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Brown Goshawk; Collared Sparrowhawk; 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; Australian King-parrot; Superb Parrot; Crimson Rosella; Eastern Rosella

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds: Emu; Stubble Quail; Brown quail; Rock Dove; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Common Koel; Channel-billed Cuckoo; Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo; Shining Bronze-cuckoo; Pallid Cuckoo; Fan-tailed Cuckoo; Southern Boobook; Laughing Kookaburra;Sacred Kingfisher; Dollarbird;

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: Rufous Whistler; Grey Shrike-thrush; Grey Fantail; Willie Wagtail; Leaden Flycatcher; Magpie-lark; Scarlet 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; Rufous Songlark; 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

Birding Locations: Yanununbeyan   

There are two large Reserves (a State Conservation Area –SCA - and a National Park –NP) and a smaller, largely inaccessible, Nature Reserve.  The SCA is accessible from the southern end of Woolcara Lane (be careful to stick to the road, and watch out for stock, when traversing private property). Some distance into the SCA, Spring Creek trail runs off eastwards to the NP (before hitting a gate to private property which should not be entered).  The NP can also be accessed from Captains Flat Rd at the Wombat Bridge (just after Sinclair Rd) although that involves some steep ridges.

71 species of birds have been recorded in these areas during my forays (usually >30 species in a visit) and other reports to the Atlas ofNSW Wildlife.  Many of these are the common birds reported through the area with the few waterbirds possibly reflecting the absence of large dams in the Reserves.  Nankeen night-heron and Eastern yellow robin have been reported from the Queanbeyan River which traverses the SCA.

There are a few birds reported which are not common – or are unreported -in the wider area.  These probably reflect the Reserves being a large area of woodland/forest (eg Powerful owl, Spotted quail-thrush, Crested shrike-tit, Brown treecreeper) or being somewhat higher than the area in general (Wonga pigeon, Red-browed treecreeper).