colonelboris
Right way up again
Found out today that it's not uncommon for for tibicen Magpies to have offspring with white backs due to recessive genes...
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Sydney Birding Diary (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter colonelboris
- Start date
colonelboris
Right way up again
Another trip to Bicentennial Park with the family. We've noticed that there's a lot more around in terms of big spiders with Golden Orb Weavers (of whichever of the 100-odd species) everywhere at the moment. There was also a multitude of milipedes.
In terms of birdlife, I was greeted at the entrance to Mason's Park by a female Darter drying out on a bridge. A few Pacific Golden Plovers were around and a few more Black-fronted Dotterels. At the other end of the park, two beuatifully-coloured parrots took off from the long grass just next to the path and four more of the same followed suit a minute later. From the ropey photos, I could see they were Red-rumped Parrots, which was a nice year tick. In Bicentennial Park itself, we saw a Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike (another lifer), a few White-faced Herons, Black-winged Stilts (by far the commonest wader at the moment) and Bar-tailed Godwits. Otherwise, a fairly quiet trip.
Hoping to go on a pelagic trip next Saturday, which will hopefully kick-start the year list with a few lifers. Just reading up on the various near-identical seabirds that I stand a chance of seeing.
In terms of birdlife, I was greeted at the entrance to Mason's Park by a female Darter drying out on a bridge. A few Pacific Golden Plovers were around and a few more Black-fronted Dotterels. At the other end of the park, two beuatifully-coloured parrots took off from the long grass just next to the path and four more of the same followed suit a minute later. From the ropey photos, I could see they were Red-rumped Parrots, which was a nice year tick. In Bicentennial Park itself, we saw a Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike (another lifer), a few White-faced Herons, Black-winged Stilts (by far the commonest wader at the moment) and Bar-tailed Godwits. Otherwise, a fairly quiet trip.
Hoping to go on a pelagic trip next Saturday, which will hopefully kick-start the year list with a few lifers. Just reading up on the various near-identical seabirds that I stand a chance of seeing.
colonelboris
Right way up again
Crikey, that was some trip.
Went out on the Halicat for a pelagic trip off of Sydney with Rob Hynson and another chap called Ed.
Not long after getting outside of the harbour entrance, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters started to appear, looking quite a bit larger than I'd imagined. As we went on, the sea began to get a bit choppy, but not too bad. The next species I could get to grips with was a group of Australian Gannets, including some adults and juveniles. Around this time, the fish bits being chucked over were attracting quite a crowd and a good number of Flesh-footed Shearwaters turned up. These were followed by one, then four, Pomarine Skuas, occasionally pestering the Shearwaters for scraps.
The next species was a grand one - up to four Black-browed Albatrosses. Suddenly, those Shearwaters looked pretty small. A group of Crested Terns appeared, hovering over. Even the Black-browed Albatross was dwarfed by the arrival of an adult Wandering Albatross, which followed us for a little way.
As we made our way, a pod of Pantropical Spotted Dolphins were playing with the ship, diving underneath us and jumping a little out of the waves.
Not too long after, we reached the edge of the continental shelf, at which point we saw Great-winged Petrels and a Shy Albatross. A juvenile Wandering Albatross also came along and robbed some shearwaters of some food.
One of the other birders got pretty excited and everyone turned to look at a Gould's Petrel, moving fast over the water. It showed up periodically and we moved the bboat to have a closer look. It came across the stern a few times, fairly close. Later, we noticed there were in fact two of them, which a few people had suspected. A few Wilson's Storm-petrels floated by, feet paddling on the sea.
A big shout went up - a White-bellied Storm-petrel - quite a rarity by all accounts. Everyone who had a camera was shooting (me included) as pictures would help a submission on this.
After a while, we set course back to Sydney. As we'd run out of fish bits, we had less of a crowd following us on the way back, but a few Fluttering Shearwaters were spotted, although I managed to miss them.
A very good trip with twelve lifers.
Went out on the Halicat for a pelagic trip off of Sydney with Rob Hynson and another chap called Ed.
Not long after getting outside of the harbour entrance, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters started to appear, looking quite a bit larger than I'd imagined. As we went on, the sea began to get a bit choppy, but not too bad. The next species I could get to grips with was a group of Australian Gannets, including some adults and juveniles. Around this time, the fish bits being chucked over were attracting quite a crowd and a good number of Flesh-footed Shearwaters turned up. These were followed by one, then four, Pomarine Skuas, occasionally pestering the Shearwaters for scraps.
The next species was a grand one - up to four Black-browed Albatrosses. Suddenly, those Shearwaters looked pretty small. A group of Crested Terns appeared, hovering over. Even the Black-browed Albatross was dwarfed by the arrival of an adult Wandering Albatross, which followed us for a little way.
As we made our way, a pod of Pantropical Spotted Dolphins were playing with the ship, diving underneath us and jumping a little out of the waves.
Not too long after, we reached the edge of the continental shelf, at which point we saw Great-winged Petrels and a Shy Albatross. A juvenile Wandering Albatross also came along and robbed some shearwaters of some food.
One of the other birders got pretty excited and everyone turned to look at a Gould's Petrel, moving fast over the water. It showed up periodically and we moved the bboat to have a closer look. It came across the stern a few times, fairly close. Later, we noticed there were in fact two of them, which a few people had suspected. A few Wilson's Storm-petrels floated by, feet paddling on the sea.
A big shout went up - a White-bellied Storm-petrel - quite a rarity by all accounts. Everyone who had a camera was shooting (me included) as pictures would help a submission on this.
After a while, we set course back to Sydney. As we'd run out of fish bits, we had less of a crowd following us on the way back, but a few Fluttering Shearwaters were spotted, although I managed to miss them.
A very good trip with twelve lifers.
Attachments
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colonelboris
Right way up again
Have a few more photos....
The five above are:
1) Wedge-tailed Shearwater
2) Australian Gannet
3) Flesh-footed Shearwater
4) Pomarine Skua
5) Black-browed Albatross
The five below:
6) Crested Tern
7) Wandering Albatross
8) Pantropic Spotted Dolphin
9) Great-winged Petrel
10) Gould's Petrel
The five above are:
1) Wedge-tailed Shearwater
2) Australian Gannet
3) Flesh-footed Shearwater
4) Pomarine Skua
5) Black-browed Albatross
The five below:
6) Crested Tern
7) Wandering Albatross
8) Pantropic Spotted Dolphin
9) Great-winged Petrel
10) Gould's Petrel
Attachments
colonelboris
Right way up again
colonelboris
Right way up again
Well, a bit of a break from Sydney for a few days as I'm a little outside Melbourne at Monash University. Managed to pick up a lifer in the form of Musk Lorikeets and two year ticks: Eastern Rosella and Little Wattlebird. There's also supposed to be a very tame Tawny Frogmouth near the chemistry department, but no luck yet, although everyone keeps assuring me it's there nearly all the time...
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Murray Lord
Well-known member
While in Melbourne...
If you're passing through Melbourne airport, see if you can find any flowering gum trees around the carparks or the entrance road as they are as good a site as any for Purple crowned Lorikeets.
If you're passing through Melbourne airport, see if you can find any flowering gum trees around the carparks or the entrance road as they are as good a site as any for Purple crowned Lorikeets.
colonelboris
Right way up again
Hi Murray,
I did have a good look round the airport (having a half-hour to kill), but didn't manage to see anything more than Starlings and House Sparrows. There's a good chance that I'll be sent down that way again soon, though.
I did have a good look round the airport (having a half-hour to kill), but didn't manage to see anything more than Starlings and House Sparrows. There's a good chance that I'll be sent down that way again soon, though.
colonelboris
Right way up again
Friday was a very quick trip to Berowra and a walk into the bush with the family. Fairly quiet and we turned back before too long as a) it was getting late as we'd set out several hours later than we'd planned and b) several people told us that there were a pair of Eastern Brown Snakes on the path further down. On the way back up, the Mrs saw a smallish bird with a black-and-white face and yellow on the wings. I stayed still for a bit and within a couple of minutes, three or four White-cheeked Honeyeaters (a lifer) came out to feed on a Banksia, followed by a few Eastern Spinebills.
Another day trip to Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River today. It's a bit touristy, but a few good birds about. First up was a female Australian Brush-turkey in a garden. The Mrs scored a lifer with a few Greater Crested Terns. While the kids were collecting shells, a 1st-year White-bellied Sea-eagle flew over, followed by an adult. Plenty of pelicans about, several of which were soaring along high up.
At the train station on the lagoon, I saw a lifer: a Eastern Curlew and just before the train pulled in, I saw a Striated Heron.
Another day trip to Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River today. It's a bit touristy, but a few good birds about. First up was a female Australian Brush-turkey in a garden. The Mrs scored a lifer with a few Greater Crested Terns. While the kids were collecting shells, a 1st-year White-bellied Sea-eagle flew over, followed by an adult. Plenty of pelicans about, several of which were soaring along high up.
At the train station on the lagoon, I saw a lifer: a Eastern Curlew and just before the train pulled in, I saw a Striated Heron.
colonelboris
Right way up again
Off ill today with some sort of galloping lergie, but needed air, so birdwatching was obviously the best idea so I walked over to the abandoned quarry near us. For some reason, it's always better for birds there when it's overcast, as it was today.
Not too long in, I came across a small group of Brown Thornbills and among them was a single Striated Thornbill, which was a lifer. A Grey Fantail (a year tick) flew into the thornbills' tree. A few seconds later an Eastern Whipbird dived into the base of a scrubby bush and started calling, as were several others. Another lifer, a White-browded Scrubwren, was drinking out of a puddle.
Two lifers and two more for the year list.
Not too long in, I came across a small group of Brown Thornbills and among them was a single Striated Thornbill, which was a lifer. A Grey Fantail (a year tick) flew into the thornbills' tree. A few seconds later an Eastern Whipbird dived into the base of a scrubby bush and started calling, as were several others. Another lifer, a White-browded Scrubwren, was drinking out of a puddle.
Two lifers and two more for the year list.
Azzy
Well-known member
Sounds like you're having a good time with your birds. I've been struggling lately to ID between brown and inland thornbills, but I just need to get a longer squizz at the bird and some decent shots to help me out, only time will tell. The eastern curlew is certainly a nice lifer. Would love to see and hear a whipbird too, lucky you 
colonelboris
Right way up again
An unexpected lifer yesterday morning on the train. Just before Eastwood, I saw what looked like a small flock of large, dark Starlings with long tails that flared out at the ends - Spangled Drongos!
Of course, this made me happy - anyone whose early education on Australia came from sitting in the same room as their mother while she was watching Home and Away will recognise the name of this bird as one of two Austrslian native species used by Alf as a mildly derogative - "Ya drongo!" and "Ya flamin' galah!"
I now have both of these hallowed species.
Of course, this made me happy - anyone whose early education on Australia came from sitting in the same room as their mother while she was watching Home and Away will recognise the name of this bird as one of two Austrslian native species used by Alf as a mildly derogative - "Ya drongo!" and "Ya flamin' galah!"
I now have both of these hallowed species.
Azzy
Well-known member
Haha, good old Alf
Never seen a drongo myself. Great looking bird though, certainly a nice lifer.
colonelboris
Right way up again
Aye, I was quite happy with that. Got another lifer today - a pair of Azure Kingfishers at Homebush Bay, just outside the Ikea. A pair of Bar-tailed Godwits and three Royal Spoonbills were nosing around the same mudflat.Haha, good old Alf
chowchilla
Maderator.
They're everywhere in Cairns. I often see one perched on my neighbour's rotary clothes line from this very desk.Haha, good old Alf
colonelboris
Right way up again
I thought I'd take the afternoon off work and go look for a Black Noddy and an Osprey that had been seen at Long Reef, a little way up the coast from Sydney. I didn't hold out high hopes as it had been last reported a few days back, but not doing synthesis was an idea that appealed, so off I went.
Walking along the beach around the headland, the tide was starting to go out over the rock shelf that makes Long Reef what it is. A few shapes were bobbing about near the far edge and closer inspection turned up some Grey-tailed Tattlers. A few Greater Crested Terns were flying along the shore and further out to sea while Australasian Gannets were further out still. Along the beach was a low rocky island with a number of terns over it. As well as the flying terns, there were a few dozen sat on rocks as well as a few more lifers: six or seven Sooty Oystercatchers and a large group of Red-necked Stints. A pair of Ruddy Turnstones were in with the stints - first time I'd seen them here (I use bold to denote year ticks, in case you were wondering).
Apart from the lovely beaches and the stunningly-coloured rocks along the cliff bottom, the rock shelf itself was quite a sight. An almost completely flat expanse of rock with fine parallel cracks all over it where a harder material had filtered in and set, giving a slightly raised line wherever it occurred. A second set of lines occurred at ~ 30 degrees to those to create a geometric pattern. All along the tide line was the most impressive collection of shells I've seen in the wild - large, small, massive, ridged, coloured, plain, mother-of-pearl, cockles, limpets, all sorts.
As I was on the way back to the bus stop (missed it by two minutes...), I stopped to look out in case the noddy was airborne. Way out over the sea, well past the rocks, I could see the small shapes of Silver Gulls through the bins and the considerably larger shape of an albatross, maybe only a few hundred metres from shore. From the wing pattern, shape and the amount of yellow beak showing, I'd have said a Black-browed, but couldn't be sure at that distance.
Walking along the beach around the headland, the tide was starting to go out over the rock shelf that makes Long Reef what it is. A few shapes were bobbing about near the far edge and closer inspection turned up some Grey-tailed Tattlers. A few Greater Crested Terns were flying along the shore and further out to sea while Australasian Gannets were further out still. Along the beach was a low rocky island with a number of terns over it. As well as the flying terns, there were a few dozen sat on rocks as well as a few more lifers: six or seven Sooty Oystercatchers and a large group of Red-necked Stints. A pair of Ruddy Turnstones were in with the stints - first time I'd seen them here (I use bold to denote year ticks, in case you were wondering).
Apart from the lovely beaches and the stunningly-coloured rocks along the cliff bottom, the rock shelf itself was quite a sight. An almost completely flat expanse of rock with fine parallel cracks all over it where a harder material had filtered in and set, giving a slightly raised line wherever it occurred. A second set of lines occurred at ~ 30 degrees to those to create a geometric pattern. All along the tide line was the most impressive collection of shells I've seen in the wild - large, small, massive, ridged, coloured, plain, mother-of-pearl, cockles, limpets, all sorts.
As I was on the way back to the bus stop (missed it by two minutes...), I stopped to look out in case the noddy was airborne. Way out over the sea, well past the rocks, I could see the small shapes of Silver Gulls through the bins and the considerably larger shape of an albatross, maybe only a few hundred metres from shore. From the wing pattern, shape and the amount of yellow beak showing, I'd have said a Black-browed, but couldn't be sure at that distance.
birdingintas
Well-known member
Love your pelagic photos. This month I attended a few pelagics off the East coast of Tassie, and had good numbers of Wilson's, Grey-backed and White-faced Storm-Petrels, but no White-bellied! Nice find.
colonelboris
Right way up again
Thanks! More here: http://www.tonykeenebirds.co.uk/trips/pelagic_1.html
Went to the Hawkesbury River again today (for want of anything better to do cheaply). Not much around at first, although we did see a single Eastern Curlew near the train station. A while later, a very distant pair of White-bellied Sea-eagles went over Dangar Island and we got some closer views of up to three Whistling Kites (year tick 100), one of which made a swoop down from some height at a fish, but left the water empty-clawed.
colonelboris
Right way up again
Went for a trip with Rob Hynson at Castlereagh NR and Scheyville NP - thirteen lifers and a year tick.
More here: http://www.tonykeenebirds.co.uk/trips/castlereagh_1.html
More here: http://www.tonykeenebirds.co.uk/trips/castlereagh_1.html
colonelboris
Right way up again
I've got a couple of days off, so went for a walk over Hornsby Quarry again. It's a small area of grass and bushes, but it often turns up lifers for me. It started off well enough with a pair of juvenile Satin Bowerbirds, watching me warily from the trees. A Red Wattlebird and maybe a dozen Laughing Kookaburras were making a fair bit of noise, so I wandered on. A large flock of small birds was moving through the trees, quite low down, and consisted of Striated Thornbills, Brown Thornbills, two Golden Whistlers and a White-throated Treecreeper. Being a lovely day - clear sky and fairly cool for these parts - I was already quite happy. There were huge butterfiles everywhere and a multitude of dragonflies and grasshoppers.
The scrub was alive with Red-browed Finches - more than I could count - mixed in with a few Superb Fairy-wrens and three subspecies of Silvereye. From what I could see, there were the local birds, with pale brown flanks, Tasmanian birds with deep chestnut flanks and another set with no flank colouring.
Lewin's Honeyeaters were flitting around and calling with the Blackbird-like chr'r'r'r'r'rp sounds they make and a pair of Crimson Rosellas came to sit near me in a gum tree. Birds come out much more if you're happy to stand stock-still for a bit, so I covered maybe 500 m in an hour. Eventually, I got to the end of the track and heard a call I didn't recognise. I waited for some minutes before I saw a shape flit behind some gum leaves. I was probably a bit hasty bringing the bins up as it quickly swooped downwards into cover, but waiting again paid off as it and another perched on a brach in clear sight, calling 'orry-orry-ole': Olive-backed Orioles - a lifer. It was rather satisfying to compare the call against that in the guide and find they match.
On the way back, there were plenty more of the small birds mentioned above as well as a Grey Fantail and an Eastern Yellow Robin.
Only a short walk, but nice, nonetheless.
The scrub was alive with Red-browed Finches - more than I could count - mixed in with a few Superb Fairy-wrens and three subspecies of Silvereye. From what I could see, there were the local birds, with pale brown flanks, Tasmanian birds with deep chestnut flanks and another set with no flank colouring.
Lewin's Honeyeaters were flitting around and calling with the Blackbird-like chr'r'r'r'r'rp sounds they make and a pair of Crimson Rosellas came to sit near me in a gum tree. Birds come out much more if you're happy to stand stock-still for a bit, so I covered maybe 500 m in an hour. Eventually, I got to the end of the track and heard a call I didn't recognise. I waited for some minutes before I saw a shape flit behind some gum leaves. I was probably a bit hasty bringing the bins up as it quickly swooped downwards into cover, but waiting again paid off as it and another perched on a brach in clear sight, calling 'orry-orry-ole': Olive-backed Orioles - a lifer. It was rather satisfying to compare the call against that in the guide and find they match.
On the way back, there were plenty more of the small birds mentioned above as well as a Grey Fantail and an Eastern Yellow Robin.
Only a short walk, but nice, nonetheless.
