July 2017

I thought I'd start this month with a breeding reference.  In this case it's a Little Raven's nest about 30m up an elm tree along Briars-Sharrow Rd.  (I decided it was a Little Raven based on the calls coming out of the nest.)

When I submitted my copy to the Editor of the Gazette I commented about the quiet birding around the area.  Almost immediately I'd sent it off I recorded a flock of 20 Crested Pigeons fly over us on Widgiewa Rd: not only were their whistling wings not quiet but this was the biggest flock of the species I have seen out this way.

Then I went to have a look into Foxlow Lagoon from the road and immediately spotted a White-breasted Sea Eagle sitting in the willows between the Lagoon and the railway line.  At one point it seemed to be calling but I couldn't see a second bird: it would be rather very exciting if there were 2 birds and they nested!  On the surface of the Lagoon 3 group of Australasian Shovelers contained 27 birds in total: again a large number of birds of this species, especially as most other ducks appeared to be hiding from the gale blowing at the time.

Overall diversity (70 species recorded) has been effectively average for July:

The number of species seen in July has been particularly variable in the past few years, being affected by the amount of time observers have remained in the area in this cold month.

There is no sign of migrants returning to the area yet (which is quite normal).  Some breeding activity has been noted with 5 species (marked in red below)  undertaking some stage of the breeding cycle.  Masked Lapwings were the most advanced with dependent young being observed: according to the COG website this is right on time for this species.  I have done a post with a poorly formatted table showing the breeding activity by month and species.

As always, thanks to the observers who have provided reports to me for the month.  These have covered sites in Whiskers Creek Rd, Wanna Wanna Rd, and Hoskinstown Village. Please pass on interesting sightings to me by email to martinflab@gmail.com.  


1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4): Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Wood Duck;  Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑faced Heron; Eurasian  Coot; Masked Lapwing.

2 Birds of Prey:  Black-shouldered Kite; White-bellied Sea-eagle; Wedge-tailed 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; Red-rumped Parrot

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds (Pt 1) (Pt 2) (Pt 3): 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 Grey Shrike-thrush; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Flame Robin; Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow; 

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species (Pt 1) (Pt 2):  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Silvereye; Double‑barred Finch; Red‑browed Finch; Diamond Firetail; House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; 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

Breeding birds by month

The tables below are actually images as I can't (at this stage) work out how to save the table with the  columns shaded (which makes it a whole lot easier  to work out which month is what).

The numbers in each cell are the number of years (max = 11) in which the species has been recorded breeding.

The next image shows the situation for August 2017.

June 2017

Before getting to happenings in our local area, readers may be interested in this post from my other blog about Bungendore.

I have updated what follows after getting a few more observations after initial publication.

In the usual area of the catchment of the Stoney Creek Gazette it has been a pretty quiet month in terms of birds.  I became quite excited on seeing a White-bellied Sea-Eagle on Foxlow Lagoon, and another observer was astonished to find a Southern Boobook tapping on a bedroom window, but otherwise it has been a very quiet month.  Diversity was a little above average (78 species recorded rather than the average of 77).

Perhaps reflecting the rather cool weather when small birds have been see it has been in flocks on the principle of many eyes spot much food.  In most cases the flocks have been Yellow-rumped or Buff-rumped Thornbills with Superb Fairy-wrens in numbers on our lawn.  Our morning dog-walks have usually been enhanced by a pair or more of Scarlet Robins.

Migrants are continuing to vote with their wings and awaiting warmer weather (and insects) before returning.  Breeding has not greatly picked up, although a Little Raven was sitting in a nest in the elms along Briars-Sharrow Rd.  In July a good range of species will start displaying and nest building and a post will be included on my blog noting the history of breeding in that month.

As always, thanks to the observers who have provided reports to me for the month.  These have covered sites in Whiskers Creek Rd, Widgiewa Rd, Wanna Wanna Rd, and Hoskinstown Village and Plain. Please pass on interesting sightings to me by email to martinflab@gmail.com.  


1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4): Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Pink-eared Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Chestnut Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Pied Cormorant; Great Cormorant; White‑necked Heron; White‑faced Heron; Straw-necked Ibis; Eurasian  Coot; Masked Lapwing.

2 Birds of Prey:  White-bellied Sea-eagle;Collared Sparrowhawk;Wedge-tailed 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; Red-rumped Parrot

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds (Pt 1) (Pt 2) (Pt 3): Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Southern Boobook; Eastern Barn Owl; 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; Willie Wagtail; Magpie-lark; Scarlet Robin; Eastern Yellow Robin; Welcome Swallow; 

7 Thornbills, Finches and similar species (Pt 1) (Pt 2):  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill; Striated Thornbill; Yellow‑rumped Thornbill; Buff‑rumped Thornbill; Brown Thornbill; Double‑barred Finch;  House Sparrow; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; 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

Which Grey bird is that?

Paul Conn posted an image of a bird new to his house on the Carwoola Community Facebook page.

My very first thought was that this was a Grey Butcherbird, but the colour pattern was definitely not right for that.  My second thought was that it was a Grey Shrike-thrush - although it looked rather large in comparison to the ducks - and I put this as a response to Paul's post.

Then two other contributors suggested Grey Currawong was more likely.  For some reason I hadn't thought of that species but on looking again at the image it seemed a good suggestion which I endorsed.  A further member of the group then put in another vote for Grey Shrike-thrush based on colouring and general shape.

This led me to ask Paul for an original of the photo which he provided by email.  After looking at this I sent him images of Grey Currawong ...

 ... and Grey Shrike-thrush.

I asked Paul which he thought closer to the bird he'd seen noting:

1. The colouration looks to me more like the Shrike-thrush (which I why I went there initially) but shadows etc can be very tricky.  The shape of the bill looks more like Grey Currawong than GST.
2. The matter of size is a tad difficult as they are different distances away (and how to measure the length of a bird is tricky) but consider this:

• Pacific Black Duck  is roughly 50cm long
• Grey Currawong roughly 45cm long
• Grey Shrike-thrush roughly 25cm long.

I couldn't do the geometry to prove it but allowing for the ducks to be about 1m further from the camera I'd rate the bird in question to be close to the same size, or at least significantly more than half the size of the ducks.  So that is a vote for the Currawong.

GST are quite common around the area (nest in people's sheds etc) but Grey Currawongs have been around our place regularly in the past few weeks.   

Paul responded " ... it really is about as big as the full grown ducks and is strong enough to scare off the magpies and rosellas when it is after seed on the lawn.  This matches with the size information you have given me."

So my conclusion is that it is definitely a Grey Currawong.

May 2017

The most exciting sighting this month was watching 2 Australian Hobbies hunting bats over a dam on Wanna Wanna Rd.  In the course of 30 minutes the two falcons killed 6 bats.  A couple of days later a single Hobby was observed making 8 attacks but failing each time!

Later in the month a dead Southern Boobook was also found in that area (but unlikely to have been Hobby-prey).  Speckled Warblers are seen moderately often, but I was surprised to see 3 at once feeding as part of a flock.  Another bird that is quite uncommon in our area (but quite common in Lake Burley Griffin) is the Australasian Darter.  2 immature birds were seen on Foxlow Lagoon (from the road).

In total we recorded 84 species over the month.  This the expected seasonal drop from April, but is slightly above the average recorded for May.

Migrants have largely migrated although a sighting of an immature Olive-backed Oriole was a large surprise. Breeding has stopped, as expected for the time of year in this area.

As always, thanks to the observers who have provided reports to me for the month.  These have covered sites in Whiskers Creek Rd, Widgiewa Rd, Knox Close, Captains Flat Rd,   Wanna Wanna Rd, and Hoskinstown Village and  Plain. Please pass on interesting sightings to me by email to martinflab@gmail.com.  

1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4): Black Swan; Australian Wood Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead; Australasian Grebe; Darter; Little Pied Cormorant;White‑faced Heron; Australian White Ibis; Straw-necked Ibis; Eurasian  Coot; Black‑fronted Dotterel; Masked Lapwing

2 Birds of Prey:  Brown Goshawk; Collared Sparrowhawk;Wedge-tailed 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; Red-rumped Parrot

4 Kingfishers and other non-songbirds (Pt 1) (Pt 2) (Pt 3): Stubble Quail; Rock Dove, Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon;Tawny Frogmouth; Southern Boobook;  Laughing Kookaburra; Superb lyrebird

5 Honeyeaters: Eastern Spinebill; Yellow-faced Honeyeater; 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 (Pt 1) (Pt 2):  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill; 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; European Goldfinch

8 Other, smaller birds:  White-throated Treecreeper; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike; Olive‑backed Oriole; ; 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

April 2017

It seems to me that the diversity of bird species observed in the area has picked up a tad towards the end of the month.  Overall we have recorded 95 species - effectively the same as the 94 species recorded in March.  This is well above the average (for 2010 -2016) of 87 species (but below the remarkable 102 species seen in April 2016.

Although Wedge-tailed Eagles are relatively common in the area it was rather ‘special’  to see a group of three young, “talkative” birds glide over the second Garden Aid day at Douglas Close.  For less common species the "standouts" were:

• A Powerful Owl continues to be heard on Wanna Wanna Rd except when I turn up.  
• Flame Robins – usually restricted to the Plain – are turning up in the higher country of the fire ground.  I have seen them on our property, elsewhere on Whiskers Creek Rd; and on Widgiewa Rd.
• A Barn Owl has been seen several times on Plains Rd
• The Spotted Harrier continues to be seen on Plains Rd.

The number of Waterbird species has declined dramatically since the return of waterbirds from the Western floods.  I is quite impressive to have records for 3 Owl species this month!

Many migrant species departed, on schedule in March, but the most impressive movement, of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, was very evident in April.  Driving through the flocks moving on Briars-Sharrow Rd was like going through a locust swarm.  The fire ground didn’t seem to have had much effect on the movement. Less common sightings of migrants have been:

• a very late Olive-backed Oriole seen on Wanna Wanna Rd late in the month; and
• 5 Fuscous Honeyeaters (uncommon in this area at any time) seen on Widgiewa Rd on 29 April. flying towards the Plain 

I have created an ad-hoc post about the departure of migrants, and will update that to include April doings in the next couple of days.In the list below Summer mgirants are marked in orange and those which arrive in Winter in blue.

As always, thanks to the observers who have provided reports to me for the month.  These have covered sites in Whiskers Creek Rd, Widgiewa Rd, Knox Close, Radcliffe Circuit, Captains Flat Rd, Molonglo Valley,  Woolcara Lane  Wanna Wanna Rd, and Hoskinstown Village and  Plain. Please pass on interesting sightings to me by email to martinflab@gmail.com. 

1  Waterbirds (pt 1):  (pt 2); (Pt 3); (Pt 4):  Musk Duck; Black Swan;  Australian Shelduck; Australian Wood Duck; Australian Shoveler; Grey Teal; Chestnut Teal; Pacific Black Duck; Hardhead;  Australasian Grebe; Hoary-headed Grebe; Little Black Cormorant; Little Pied Cormorant; White‑necked Heron;  White‑faced Heron; Eurasian  Coot;  Masked Lapwing;

2 Birds of Prey:   Brown Goshawk; Collared Sparrowhawk;Spotted Harrier;  Wedge-tailed Eagle; Little Eagle; Nankeen Kestrel; Brown 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 (Pt 1) (Pt 2) (Pt 3): Stubble Quail; Common Bronzewing; Crested Pigeon; Tawny Frogmouth; Southern Boobook; Eastern Barn Owl; Powerful Owl;  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; Noisy Friarbird. 

6 Flycatchers and similar species: Golden Whistler;Rufous 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 (Pt 1) (Pt 2):  Superb Fairy-wren; White-browed Scrubwren; Speckled warbler; Weebill; 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; 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

Migrant departures 2017

I have posted a couple of times in recent years about the months of first reporting migrants.  The obvious sequel to this is to do the same for departures.

However it isn't quite so easy: once a species has been spotted it is definitely here and future sightings (or lack thereof) don't matter.  However with departures it is only really possible to say the bird has gone some time after the last sighting.   For example a species is seen January, but not in February: have they left the area or were they just missed?  If they are subsequently observed in (eg) March it is the latter.

However I thought it worth a try.  I have used the COG classification of migrant species (some of which show a somewhat different pattern of movement here) and classified them according to month in which they are usually last seen here.  I have deleted some species (eg Masked and White-browed Woodswallows) as they are too unusual here to be commented on.

 As at the date of writing (4 April) 9 species have departed early while only 1 has been recorded after the expected date of departure.  My hypothesis is that this reflects the very dry Summer leading to a dearth of insects leading to many species going elsewhere to seek food.