After the Floods at Shoalhaven Heads

Like many NSW rivers the Shoalhaven on the state’s south coast has been in flood a number of times this year. At Shoalhaven Heads the high water levels have opened this intermittent second channel of the river up to the ocean, reducing the area on which migratory and other water birds can roost. Despite this it was encouraging to see 12 of the endangered Eastern Curlews roosting on a distant sand bar during last week’s visit.

This Superb Fairy-wren was making the most of the prolific insect life amongst the debris washed up from the river during recent floods

While I was watching this large log travelled down the river at considerable speed, then slowed as it met the waters of the incoming tide.

Another of the many Superb Fairy-wrens feeding amongst the washed up logs.

This Red-capped Plover skips quickly away to be safely out of the reach of this photographer. It was feeding on a small sand-bar, shared with a number of fishermen taking advantage of the changed conditions.

Another Red-capped Plover on the sand-bar..

A Little Pied Cormorant dries his wings on another large log washed down the river during the floods.

Cowra Winter Survey

The Cowra Woodland Bird Program winter survey took place in July, another successful event after three years of disruption from drought and Covid restrictions. The skies were blue and pastures green following two seasons of very good rain across the region. Bird numbers were up on many of the survey sites. The local farmers are happy, enjoying simultaneously good harvests and good prices, an unusual combination.

Despite the good conditions there were not a lot of raptors to be seen. This Nankeen Kestrel was hunting at the Europa rest area on Cowra’s outskirts.

Black-shouldered Kites made up the balance of our raptor sightings for the weekend.

This White-necked Heron was landing in a farm dam across from the Morongla Cemetery, one of a number of this species seen over the weekend.

Water Birds at Lake Wallace

Lake Wallace is a convenient stop over for lunch on the way from Sydney when travelling out to Cowra to take part in the Cowra Woodland Bird Survey. This lake was formed when the Cox’s River was dammed to feed the Wallerawang Power Station and it has become a reliable spot to see a variety of water birds.

Large numbers of Australian Wood Ducks were at Lake Wallace last week as well as on many farm dams, streams and rivers in the farmlands west of the Blue Mountains. Female on the left, male on the right.

The ungainly male Musk Duck. Musk ducks are often seen at Lake Wallace.

Blue-billed Duck feeding among the reeds at Lake Wallace. In this photo the blue of the bill gives a surreal look to this unusual duck.

A Darter, showing off a very floppy looking foot.

Parrots eating clay

It is well documented that parrots in particular will eat clay, though the reasons for it remain obscure. A leading theory is that it provides a source of minerals, especially sodium, while others claim that the clay binds toxins in the bird’s diet. Clay is too fine to aid in grinding of food but some think it could line the digestive tract? Whatever the reason these Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were enjoying their muddy meal.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos enjoying a meal of clay at Bull’s Camp Reserve, Blue Mountains, NSW

Ahhh! That’s good!

Black Kite in the East

Driving on the Princes Highway after a morning bird watching with the MUD birders group I saw this kite circling up ahead. It landed in an area of bush that had been burnt two years ago, in the huge Currowon bushfire. I pulled down a side road, grabbed the camera, and managed to get some distant shots. Then walked back to the highway and along inside the barricade around a long curve to get close for the picture below.

Expecting a Whistling Kite it was a surprise to see that this bird was a Black Kite, unusual in this area. There were no previous Birdata sightings showing around Lake Conjola for Black Kites and there have been only occasional sightings in the Shoalhaven. Having said that another Black Kite (the same bird?) was spotted some 24 km away at Bherwerre Beach in Booderee NP around the same time as my sighting, a first in that area for the experienced birders involved.

Black Kite photographed at Yatte Yatta near the Lake Conjola turn off on the Princes Highway, South Coast NSW.

MUD Birders visit Conjola Creek

The Milton-Ulladulla Birdwatchers, known locally as the MUD Birders, are an active group making fortnightly trips to local hotspots. Conjola Creek flows into Lake Conjola on the NSW South Coast. It forms winding waterways and lagoons with low lying farmland surrounded by Conjola National Park.

The Eucalypt forests of Conjola National Park surround Conjola Creek farmlands and littoral Casuarinas line the waterways. The picture shows Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Australian Ravens roosting.

A Laughing Kookaburra. Both waterbirds and bushbirds are seen in this area with 36 species counted at last week’s visit. Highlights included a White-necked Heron, numerous Chestnut Teal, Wood Ducks and Pacific Black Ducks, Cattle Egrets, a White-bellied Sea-Eagle, and Red-browed Finches.

The locals got involved in proceedings as well.

A group of Chestnut Teals. This wonderful swamp and pond is fenced and protected by the land-owner. Unfortunately we did not see the Lewin’s Rail recently reported here.

Superb Fairy-wren. Much of this area was under water in recent floods and the land is still water-logged but looking good and green. Recent months have seen small birds return in numbers, especially large flocks of Red-browed finches which completely vanished after the 2019/2020 bushfires. Groups of Superb Fairy-wrens have also reappeared.

The creek broadens as it get closer to the lake. At the other end the lake sporadically opens to the sea at its mouth.

Colourful South Coast Parrots

As I have indicated previously I only feed the parrots when asked and this has not been often due to a recent abundance of food following the rain. The trees and planting in our garden provide a variety of natural seed sources. But “asking” consists of King Parrots squawking at the back door or Rosellas who will sometimes feed from your hand. The parrots were hungry this week, it was the King Parrots who did the asking but before long it was Galahs who took control of the seed bowl.

King Parrots are not backward when it comes to asking for food and their approach indicates that they are used to being fed around the village.

But is not long before the Galahs arrive.

And Crimson Rosellas, this bird showing a beautiful mix of colours as it gains its adult colouring.

The Galahs take over and the other birds leave!

Another variation on the Crimson Rosella ‘transition to adult” colouring.

The Birds of Maleny

Maleny is a peaceful farmland village in hills above the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. During a recent stay, our cabin on the Maleny - Montville road was surrounded by an extensive garden with large gum trees in a park-like setting. At the foot of an extensive lawn was a swampy field formed by drainage from a natural basin.

This Wonga Pigeon reflects the peaceful vibe of the garden, designed in memory of the Australian landscape designer – Edna Walling.

The garden was home to many bird species but parts were dominated by the unholy trio of Noisy Miners, Rainbow Lorikeets and the Grey Butcherbird (above).

Parrot species included the Blue-chinned Rosella (pictured), King Parrots, Galahs and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets as well as Rainbow Lorikeets.

Magpie-lark parents were regularly changing over nest duties, the nest was close to a large farm dam.

The swampy paddock at the bottom of the garden is grazed by cattle, accompanied by numbers of Cattle Egrets. Welcome Swallows swooped across the wet areas and a Lathams Snipe flushed and crossed the paddock.

After making numerous calls during the morning this Buff-banded Rail finally put it’s head up above the vegetation..

Silvereye families identified

There are seven sub-species of Silvereye recognised in Australia plus the ‘Capricorn White-eye’ which some think should be a separate species. The sub-species can be difficult to separate, made more so by the migration of some birds. A helpful pamphlet on bird identification is published by the Australian Bird Study Association Inc. on their website. Link to “Silvereye” pamphlet

This Silvereye was photographed at Sydney’s Centennial Park last week. After considerable discussion it was concluded that this bird was from the resident Sydney population, the South-eastern Silvereye belonging to the Zosterops lateralis westernensis sub-family. The key identification criteria were its tawny flanks and its yellow chin.

Also photographed in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last May, this bird was identified as the Tasmanian Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis lateralis. This was based on its rufous brown flanks and its grey chin. Many Tasmanian Silvereyes migrate north in the late summer and can be seen as far north as Queensland. They “island hop” across Bass Strait and join flocks of other Tasmanian and local birds.

This Western Silvereye was photographed in Albany on the southern coast of Western Australia. It has a distinctive olive-green back compared to the grey back seen on other sub-species.

Related to the Silvereye is the Yellow White-eye, Zosterops luteus, a mangrove dweller seen across the north of Australia. This Yellow White-eye was photographed from the famous Streeter’s Jetty in Broome, WA.

East Coast Low fills pond at Randwick Environment Park, Sydney

The normally full pond at Randwick Environment Park in Sydney dried up at the start of the 2017-2019 drought and apart from some brief interludes has been dry ever since. East Coast Lows are described as extratropical cyclones by the weather bureau and despite Sydney missing the full force of this week’s storm there was enough rain on top of previous wet weather to fill the pond. The pond is now well above previous levels. Hopefully this will provide a basis for continued water and will again attract the wide range of birds that have been seen in this city haven.

This view from the western viewing platform shows the water level well above normal.

A handfull of water birds have already arrived and yesterday’s survey included Pacific Black Ducks, Australian White Ibis, two Chestnut Teals, a Purple Swamphen and an Australasian Grebe, seen here.

More "Bush Birds" in South Coast, NSW township

My garden bird species list in the coastal township of Bendalong is still growing as birds adapt to changes due to the Currowan Bushfire and the heavy rains that have followed.

The Brown Thornbill (10 cm) is the most common of the “Small Brown Birds” that frequent the Shoalhaven area and is currently visiting the garden more often than before.

Figbirds are reasonably common near the coast during summer but this female and her mate were the first I had recorded.

The Eastern Spinebill is a regular visitor but it has been having a tough time recently due to a build up in numbers of Little Wattlebirds, who compete for the nectar from these Salvia flowers.

The Eastern Koel is a regular over the summer. This rather ragged young male is losing the last of his (brown) juvenile colours. Together with the Figbirds the Koels should be making their way north at this time of the year. Koels, being a cuckoo, are often raised by Red Wattlebirds in this area but this is a species that has almost disappeared locally losing out to the Little Wattlebirds after the bushfires.

Brisbane bird-watching

With borders reopening it was time for a Christmas trip to Brisbane to see family and friends. There was’t any bird-watching planned but it proved impossible to ignore the locals in Brisbane’s suburban west - at Brisbane’s Mount Coot-tha Botanical Gardens and Fig Tree Pocket. Fortunately the binoculars and camera had been packed and the birds were co-operating!

A lot of chatter down a side fence revealed these beautiful Rosellas, the Blue-cheeked race of the Pale-headed Rosella species.

There were lots of Lorikeets feeding on this ornamental palm in the back garden. The Rainbow Lorikeets (one seen in this photo) seem to be in equal numbers to the Scaly-breasted Lorikeets (next photo) and take turns feeding in the palms.

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet feeding in an ornamental palm. It was sending a continual shower of the fruit onto the path below.

The Blue-faced Honeyeater was the only Honeyeater seen other than the ever present Noisy Miners.

A trip to Fig Tree Pocket on the Brisbane riverbank was rewarded with views of this male Red-backed Fairy-wren. The photo of the male a pleasing addition after only finding females on a previous excursion.

Bush birds come to town

After the fires two years ago there have been more bush birds in the coastal townships on NSW’s South Coast. In Bendalong last week I recorded my first Grey Shrike-thrush within the township. Other visitors last week were a Brown Cuckoo-Dove, a Dollarbird, a pair of Noisy Friarbirds, and an Olive-backed Oriole. All of these are uncommon visitors to town gardens. There have been a lot more Grey Fantails, Whistlers and Scrubwrens in the town over the past year.

This Grey Shrike-thrush was a visitor to this Pittosporum tree most mornings last week.

The Dollarbird is an infrequent visitor in the town. Here it perches in a tree that was scorched during the Currowan Bushfire two years ago.

The Pittosporum is host to a host of bird species. An Olive-backed Oriole pays a visit.

Bushfire devastation made worse

The need to protect trees remaining after the Currowan bushfire seems obvious. However for some the bushfire has given reason to cut down more trees.

On returning after the NSW lockdown to two survey sites in Conjola National Park I was dismayed at the first to find a large shelterbelt had gone and that the roadside treeline had been cut back a further ten to twenty metres from the road. This occurred some time between June 2021 and October 2021, during the lockdown period - over a year and a half after the fires!

The Bendalong Mountain Road Birdata survey site extends from this point close to the Bendalong Road corner to the far corner 200 metres down the road. On the left hand side of the road a shelterbelt of mature eucalypt trees has been totally removed and replaced by the barbed-wire fence. On the right hand side of the road the treeline has been cut back ten to twenty metres from the power lines.

At the second site on nearby Nerringillah Road the trees had again been cleared a further ten to twenty metres from the road. In addition there has been extensive clearance of trees along the Bendalong road, for approximately two kilometres the bush has been cleared 10 to 20 metres back from the road.

On enquiry it seems that this clearance is legal. There are a number of regulations that might have allowed removal of these trees. Electricity companies have powerful “rights” to clear land where there are above-ground powerlines. Under the Electricity Supply Act 1995 and even the the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, they have an absolute power to remove trees.

Then in August this year the NSW government introduced new rules that allow landowners to clear rural land within 25 metres of their boundary with very few restrictions; the Rural Boundary Clearing Code under the Rural Fires Act 1997. If the land has not been previously protected there is little requirement to consider environmental impact and no need to offset the loss of vegetation.  

The Bendalong Mountain survey site is a standard Birdata two hectare site for conducting 20 minute surveys. This older map of the site was prepared on Google Maps. It shows the shelter belt at the road side and the bush on the left hand side, part of Conjola National Park.

The reason for this clearing is likely to be given as “ bush fire risk management” but it seems highly unlikely that these clearances would have protected anything or in any way changed the course of the devastating Currowan fire last year.

I started monitoring these survey sites after the fires, to get an idea of bird numbers in the central area of Conjola National Park. At that time the park was still closed so road-side sites were the only way you could do this.

There are not a lot of birds in this area, at least this has been the case during the surveys I have done since the fires. The most recent survey, conducted after tree removal, counted eight and seven total birds on the sites respectively in a 20 minute count. It will be difficult to see if the removal of trees has any effect on bird numbers in this small area. Nevertheless clearances like this are part of the insidious decline in habitat, responsible for the decline of bird species generally.

Bird recovery after the Currowan fire

The Currowan fire of New Year’s Day 2019/2020 reached the shores of Lake Conjola and pressed close against the villages of Cunjurong, Manyana and Bendalong. Only small fragments of bush were untouched. In the burnt out areas the good rains of the past two years have seen good recovery of the undergrowth. In other areas totally dead trees intersperse with those that are gradually recovering their crown foliage.

This area near Lake Conjola entrance was badly burnt in the Currawon fire. Despite good rain and plenty of water around recovery of the bird population has been slow.

A Chestnut Teal duck takes advantage of this pond’s food offerings; a pond that was often dry in previous years.

A young Grey Fantail feeds on insects attracted to the pond.