Seals and their habits

A group of seals is seen regularly around Red Head peninsula on the New South Wales South Coast - most often drifting near the rocks with their fins erect to adjust body temperature. Recently, and for the first time, I saw several seals basking on the rocks, and also some signs that they may have been feeding on seabirds.

The seals at Red Head have previously been identified as Australian Fur Seals.

This is the rock on which the following photographs were taken, all within a few metres of each other at the flat ridge near the top of the rock.

Remains of a seabird, its body largely eaten.

A hollow about 75 cm diameter forming a ‘‘nest” lined with feathers. A nice size for a resting seal?

Deposits - regurgitated or scats? with a high content of feathers.

Another seal resting.

Rose Lagoon

Rose Lagoon is a small wetland near the intersection of the Hume and Federal Highways in New South Wales, not too far from Goulburn. To the east is the very much larger Lake George. This lagoon is reported to periodically support large numbers of waterbirds, including Australasian Bitterns, crakes and rail. Last week there were very few water birds present, presumably due to their western migration to take advantage of the current floods on the inland rivers.

A solitary Black Swan in the extensive reed beds a Rose Lagoon. Other than some Musk Ducks, a couple of Coots and a handful of Purple Swamphens the waters were desserted.

Mother and young Musk Ducks travelling in tandem at Rose Lagoon, not far from the John Edmondson VC rest area.

A Brown Thornbill photographed close to the rest area..

Cowra Woodland Birds Program Spring 2022

The consistent rains of the past three years set the scene for the 2022 spring bird count. Flooding of the Lachlan river did not directly affect proceedings but it was wet underfoot and some survey sites were inaccessible due to washed out roads. Bird numbers were up again after the previous years of drought. And farm crop yields are again expected to be high, as long as the ground isn’t too wet for harvest.

A highlight was the numbers of Superb Parrots present. On one site we saw a flock of eight and four of the eight sites surveyed had Superb Parrots. The numbers have definitely rebounded and there was talk as to whether they would retain their status as vulnerable in New South Wales given their success. This bird was photographed feeding at the Seed Orchard at Back Creek Reserve Road.

This Grey Shrike-thrush was calling early in the morning at the Cowra Holiday Park and seen later in the day on the old railway line behind the camp. Species seen at this site included Grey and Rufous Fantails, Rufous Whistlers, Noisy Friarbirds, Peaceful Doves, Double-barred and Red-browed Finches, Yellow-rumped Thornbills, a Dollarbird, a Black-shouldered Kite as well as introduced sparrows, blackbirds and starlings.

This Rufous Whistler offered some good opportunities for a photo, staying in the one tree for about fifteen minutes.

We saw several Black-shouldered Kites over the weekend. There was one ranging over the Common, in the centre of Cowra just to the north of the Japanese Gardens.

These Peaceful Doves were enjoying the early morning sun on the old Cowra rail line.

Dollarbirds had just arrived from the north and were seen on two sites over the weekend.

Back to the Landing Lights Wetland

With the forecast for rain later this week the best thing to do was to head out in the sunshine on Tuesday to have a better look at the Landing Lights Wetland, near Sydney Airport. This very productive site has quite a reputation and it proved a very worthwhile visit.

There were a number of Golden-headed Cisticolas calling and it looked like some nest building was underway.

Also calling was this Australian Reed-Warbler.

A feature of the site is the number of small birds including this Yellow-rumped Thornbill.

The honeyeaters were represented by a number of Brown Honeyeaters and there were also White-plumed Honeyeaters around.

A Yellow Thornbill, difficult to photograph as they prefer to frequent the tops of trees.

Also calling and making the briefest of appearances, the Buff-banded Rail.

The Cuckoos Arrive

We heard the first Koel calling in our area of Sydney about two weeks ago and since then a number of cuckoos have arrived. At Bendalong on the NSW South Coast there have been several Channel-billed Cuckoos, as well as Common Koels. A first Fan-tailed Cuckoo was sighted nearby. On the Bendalong headland there was a group of around six cuckoos squabbling and calling; from fleeting glimpses, the trilling and chorus of descending calls they were identified as Shining Bronze-Cuckoos. The very poor picture below appeared to confirm this identification.

What appears to be a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo sighted at Bendalong on the NSW South Coast. It was one of a group of six squabbling and calling together.

Latham's Snipe arrives at Centennial Park

Birdwatchers celebrate the arrival of the first Latham’s Snipe after the long flight from Japan and mainland Asia. The Snipes head north during the Australian winter to breed. They return for the Australian spring and summer, first returners arriving late in August to early September. Their flight time from Japan can be as short as three days! They are found in the vegetation and on the shore around wetlands such as found in Sydney’s Centennial Park, feeding on both plant material and worms, spiders and insects.

This Latham’s Snipe was the first sighted back in Sydney’s Centennial Park after returning from the northern hemisphere breeding season. It was seen in the park’s “Duck Pond” which as expected from the name usually supports large numbers of ducks: Pacific Black Ducks, Hardheads and Grey Teal as well as regular visits from Pink-eared and Freckled ducks. This year nearly all the ducks have gone, presumably to the flooded areas in the west of NSW.

Landing Lights Wetland near Sydney Airport

I made my first visit to the Landing Lights Wetland near Sydney Airport last week. These wetlands are one of the few remnants of saline wetland on the Cook River that flows into Botany Bay. The site contains threatened salt-marsh ecosystem and is under restoration by the Bayside Council and many volunteers. Both mangroves and weeds have been removed to encourage the salt-marsh. The site attracts a variety of water birds, migrants and others with over 150 species listed on the Ebird list. On my short stay I saw Chestnut Teal, Black-winged Stilts, White-faced Herons, many Red-browed Finches, New Holland Honeyeaters as well as magpies, starlings, white ibis and Magpie-larks.

The later afternoon light casts impressionistic hews over these Chestnut Teal at Landing Lights Wetland near Sydney Airport.

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.