[Birding-Aus] Birdline Australia Weekly Update
Eremaea Birds
Published sightings for the week ending 4 Jul 2010.
Thu 1 Jul Possible Flock Bronzewing Booberoi Creek - nr Round Hill
, New South Wales
Large flock - more than 100 - of bulky pigeons flying away from the road
south of Booberoi Creek - they seemed to fit Flock Bronzewing ID.
Nevil Lazarus per Simon Blanchflower
Tue 29 Jun White-winged Black Tern Eastern Treatment Plant,
Victoria
The outstanding highlight was a White-winged Black Tern (see photo), the
first on any SE Melbourne wetland in winter, photos attached. Other
highlights shown in red included an abnormally high number of Black
Swans with perhaps the highest ever number of nests at 47, the most-ever
Common Bronzewings (6) and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters (15) . New Holland
Honeyeaters (6) are unusual here.
Mike Carter, Dawn Neylan, David Stabb & Andrew Wood
Mon 28 Jun Yellow-rumped Mannikin & White-quilled Rock-Pigeon
Escarpment Walk, Victoria R. section - Gregory Nat. Park, Northern
Territory
At the start of the walk, a flock of 40+ Yellow-rumped Mannikins were
feeding beside the creek there. Most were adults and all appeared to be
purebreds. With the flock was one Crimson Finch, one Chestnut-breasted
Mannikin and one Golden-headed Cisticola. 3 White-quilled Rock-Pigeons
(r. boothi) were then found on the top of the escarpment. Excellent
close views were obtained - all had rusty tonings and, when flushed,
exhibited NO white at all across the outer wings. {This was in strong
contrast to the many we've seen across most of the Kimberleys in recent
weeks - they were considerably darker with lots of white in the wing.}
Brian & Meg Johnson
Sun 27 Jun Black Falcon Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Australian Capital
Territory
One bird seen taking off from the trees adjacent to the Dairy Road
carpark, flying towards to footbridge where it disappeared among the
trees.
Niel Bruce
Sat 26 Jun Salvin's Prion, Grey-headed Albatross etc Port
MacDonnell pelagic, South Australia
>From photos, 4 individual Salvin's Prions seen, identified from desolata
by large deep bill with flat profile, very small maxillary unguis, some
had dark bills with bluish sides to latericorn. Distinct smile with dark
lamallae showing. Hard to get good front on photo, but on angle, clearly
shows a bowed profile. Nowhere near large enough for a Broad-billed
Prion. Also shows strong M, broad tail band for a non-Fairy type, big
collar, greyish lores & steep forehead. 3 other species of prions
(definitely Fairy & perhaps Slender-billed & Antarctic) suspected. A
juvenile Grey-headed Albatross also seen & photographed. Other
highlights a Brown Skua, several Wandering Albatrosses, several Sooty
Shearwaters & large flocks of mostly Fluttering Shearwaters with a few
Hutton's mixed in.
Kevin Bartram
Gouldian Finch Bird Billabong - carpark and walking track,
Northern Territory
Flock of 100-150 at carpark 8am 26/6/10, another 30-50 400m from
billabong itself as well.
Mat & Cathy Gilfedder
Tue 15 Jun Semipalmated Plover Clonmel island, Corner inlet,
Victoria
Still present on eastern tip of Clonmel island. Boat access only. Other
birds present, most of which were assumed to have assembled to roost at
high tide were Black-faced Cormorant (7), Australian Pied Oystercatcher
(120), Sooty Oystercatcher (105), Grey Plover (19), Red-capped Plover
(30), Double-banded Plover (220), Greater Sand Plover (5), Hooded Plover
(1), Bar-tailed Godwit (3,000), Eastern Curlew (1), Ruddy Turnstone (2),
Red Knot (220), Sanderling (20), Red-necked Stint (250), Fairy Tern
(19), Caspian Tern (1), Crested Tern (10), Pacific Gull (60) and Silver
Gull (50+). In spite of the abundance of other shorebirds, the only one
observed in close proximity to the Semi-palmated Plover was a Greater
Sand Plover. [Moderator note: there was some debate over identification.
The bird has now been confirmed as a Semipalmated Plover. Thanks Andrew
Silcocks for the attached photograph. Note other images of the Victorian
bird can be seen at the bottom of wildlifeimages gallery in the further
information link.].
Mike Carter, Rohan Clarke, Andrew Silcocks
Birdline Australia is sponsored by Birds Australia
<http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au> and co-ordinated and hosted by
Eremaea Birds <http://www.eremaea.com> .
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Eremaea Birds
Published sightings for the week ending 11 Jul 2010.
Wed 30 Jun Grey Falcon Bladensburg National Park, Winton,
Queensland
Sitting low in a small tree beside the main road running beside
Bladensburg. Flew off close to the car when I stopped, but clear view of
front and then wings as it flew.
Elna Kerswell & Beth Snewin
Tue 29 Jun Striated Grasswren Mt. Walker, Hughenden, Queensland
Seen in spinifex on the Mesa plateau, clear view. About 12 km south of
Hughenden, appears to be at least 200km outside the northern end of its
range.
Elna Kerswell and Beth Snewin