| Tue 27 | | Wompoo Fruit-Dove
Ash Island--Scotts Point Way |
| A single fruit-dove seen with figbirds in a fig tree past the start of the walking/bike track on Scotts Point Way. Light was poor but could see its pale head, green upperparts and purple chest. It was feeding in low branches but flew higher up when disturbed. eBird checklist |
| Paul Rowan 27/9 #267391 |
| Mon 26 | | Ground Cuckoo Shrike
Bingara Cemetery |
| One Ground Cuckoo Shrike flew over the cemetery while we were photographing the local Bluebonnets.
It went to ground outside the cemetery near the old sale yards but couldn't be re-located. |
| June Harris 26/9 #267385 |
| | Australian (Pacific) Koel
Eulah Creek |
| Looks like there are no reports yet from the western side of the ranges; the first male of the season was heard calling at 6:10 this morning at the new concrete bridge across Eulah Creek, ca. 21 km E of Narrabri. |
| Michael Dahlem 26/9 #267384 |
| Sun 25 | | White-throated Gerygone
Aumuna Rd, opp Dundundra Falls Reserve, Terrey Hills |
|
| Heard then observed a single White-throated Gerygone in a tree opposite the reserve. (Moderator: As with other spring migrants, White-throated Gerygones are well and truly back, so we won't be publishing more of these unless the circumstances are interesting or significant. MR). |
| Gina McFarlane 25/9 #267383 |
| | Pacific Baza, Oriental Dollarbird, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Spangled Drongo
Orara River, Coutts Crossing |
|
| A pair of Pacific Bazas circled around and landed in a Forest Red Gum, Little Bronze-Cuckoo heard calling briefly with its trilling call and 1-2 Dollarbirds perched in eucalypts, one on dead branch near Spangled Drongo probably a different bird to the one seen earlier in a living tree. First records of the Baza, Cuckoo and Dollarbird for the season although some Bazas do overwinter. |
| Greg Clancy 25/9 #267382 |
| | Whimbrel
Chittaway Point, Tuggerah |
| One Whimbrel present. Uncommon on the Central Coast, especially around Tuggerah Lake. |
| Andrew Robinson 25/9 #267380 |
| Sat 24 | | Rufous Fantail, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo
Armidale Road Coutts Crossing |
| Fantail and cuckoo feeding in a mixed species flock in our front yard with White-cheeked, Brown, Yellow-faced and Lewin's Honeyeaters, Silvereys, and a Golden Whistler, before being scared off by an adult Grey Butcherbird. The Fantail presumably on passage and the Cuckoo was the first recorded locally for many months. Shining Bronze-Cuckoos often over-winter locally but none were noted last autumn-winter. |
| Greg Clancy 25/9 #267378 |
| | White-fronted Tern, Common Tern
Soldiers Point (Norah Head) |
| White-fronted Tern (14), along with a single Common Tern present. Also Red-necked Stint (30+), Ruddy Turnstone (7) and a Grey-tailed Tattler. |
| Andrew Robinson and Dean Purcell 24/9 #267374 |
| | Ground Cuckooshrike
Bewley’s Rd, 100m from corner with Newell Hwy, West Wyalong and recent Glossy Ibis site |
| 3 Ground Cuckooshrikes using gum trees right beside road and flying down to flooded crop field then back to trees repeatedly (at -33.6581772, 147.5769525). Wait near gums and you should see them within a few mins - they remain at this spot even though we drove past a few times. We could not find the Glossy Ibis reported a few days ago. |
| Chris Rehberg - Sydney Birding, with Peter Stevens 24/9 #267366 |
| Thu 22 | | Painted Button-quail
Sandigo, east of Narrandera |
| An adult female Painted Button-quail, did a hurried walk across the Sturt Highway, ahead of our car while we travelliong betwteen Hay ajnd Wagga Wagga. The countryside was basically pastoral with some crop paddoicks, and some scattered Red Gums, hardly Painted Button-quail habitat. eBird checklist |
| Alan Morris & Mike Kuhl 24/9 #267370 |
| | Superb Parrot
Yarrada Rest Area, Sturt Highway, east of Hay |
| a flock of nine Superb Parrots flew across the Sturt Highway near the Yarrada Rest Area. Subsequently other who were following some distance behind were alerted and when they reached the Rest Area, they found the Superb Parrots. The Countryside here is looking wonderful. Every depression is filled with water, the banks of the Murrumbidgee River have overflowed, and there is great conditions for waterbirds. eBird checklist |
| Alan Morris & Mike Kuhl 24/9 #267369 |
| | Regent Parrot
Euston Club Resort and Riverside Track |
| A 20 minute stop here on 18/9/2022 of this known Regent Parrot site, failed to find any birds although two birds were heard calling in a patch of large River Red Gums. However a return on 22/9/22 found 3 birds in the same patch of Red Gums on the bank of the Murray River eBird checklist |
| Alan Morris & Mike Kuhl 24/9 #267368 |
| | Black-faced Monarch, Sacred Kingfisher, Dollarbird
Kurrajong Hills |
| A migrant arrival bonanza today with Dollarbird, Black-faced Monarch and
Sacred Kingfisher all putting in their first appearances in the Hawkesbury hills. These are normal arrival dates except for Dollarbird which has arrived in early Oct for the past 6 years. |
| Eric Finley 23/9 #267365 |
|  | Banded Stilts, shorebirds, site report
Salt Lake, northwestern NSW |
|
| 59 Banded Stilts counted. Also estimated 1,200 Red-necked Avocets (700 counted then extrapolated). Many hundreds Grey Teal and circa 40 Pink-eared Ducks. A small number of Pied Stilts, six Silver Gulls and circa 500 small shorebirds all seeming identical - hopefully photos will reach an ID but they were very distant. Also possibly a half dozen Marsh Sandpipers - again pending photo confirmation. Note - very remote site. 4WD recommended for access. We accessed the lake via a sandy track that joins Silver City Highway at (-30.1383634, 142.1083535) - which is 98km south of Tibooburra. Birds were distant but scoped and we walked a little closer also. (Scope practically mandatory if wanting to observe from end of that track). No mobile coverage. If accessing lake shore, recommend gum boots. Checklist to come in due course. eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg / Sydney Birding, with Peter Stevens 22/9 #267363 |
| Wed 21 | | Curlew Sandpiper
Pindimar |
|
| At Pindimar in the Tea Gardens area, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Eastern Curlew were very close on a small sandy beach near the corner of Curlew Ave and Cook St. Much further away on a mangrove branch was another wader. The light was not good and we didn't have a scope. Upon heavily cropping a photo, it appears, although the cropped image is not good quality, that the bird has the downward curved beak of a Curlew Sandpiper. At this location we also observed an Eastern Osprey come in carrying a fish to its nest on a nearby pine tree. |
| Andrew Wood and Roslyn Atkins 24/9 #267367 |
| Tue 20 | | Eastern Koel, Sacred Kingfisher,
Washpool Road, Clarenza |
| Both birds heard calling. Kingfisher calling with territorial call. First records of both for the season for observer. Koel arrived at Wooloweyah Village a few days earlier (Janet Purcell pers.com.) |
| Greg Clancy 25/9 #267377 |
| | Great Knot
Picnic Point Reserve, The Entrance |
| Single Great Knot feeding with 14 x Bar-tailed Godwit. A rare species for the Central Coast LGA. |
| Andrew Robinson 20/9 #267357 |
| Sun 18 | | Grey Falcon
Ivanhoe-Menindee Rd. |
| Seen at 11:30am. One bird by the side of the road, 5 metres up a dead tree. It flew off when we got out of the car. Clear views of stocky falcon with different shades of grey. Yellow on bill and eyes distinct. Many other birds in this spot, so good hunting opportunities for the falcon. Coordinates: -32.82357, 143.89694 |
| Lorne Johnson and Steve Edwards 27/9 #267389 |
| | Australian Pratincole
Bridge Cres Mascot |
| David Ongley reports that on eBird today, it is reported that overseas birders Richard & Kathleen Prentki observed two Australian Pratincoles fly past that section near the Sydney airport. A good full description is provided in the eBird account, and the birds were seen well. No photographs available. David also notes that the only Sydney Region eBird record is for 2009 but I am aware of other Sydney records. The report is posted in the event that people would be aware and check out airport and Botany Bay suitable locations. The eBird list is S118941726 (Alan Morris, Moderator) eBird checklist |
| R. & K. Pentki per alan Morris 18/9 #267355 |
| | Dollarbird
Terrigal Pelagic |
| A Dollarbird was seen heading for shore approx 7:20am as the Terrigal Pelagic trip headed out to sea - sighting approx 2kms off the coast. Assume a migrant returning for the summer. |
| Tom Wilson et al on the Terrigal Pelagic trip 18/9 #267354 |
| | White-bellied Cuckooshrike,Spangled Drongo,Topknot Pigeon.
Red Hill Sydney |
| Seen a dark morph White-bellied Cuckooshrike at Red Hill this morning this is my first record of this species on the Northern Beaches also an adult Spangled Drongo still hanging around and 10+Topknot Pigeons landed in a Eucalypt on top of the hill. |
| Michael Ronan 18/9 #267353 |
| | Caspian Tern
Lake Wollumboola |
|
| Unusual eye patch and light yellow bill. Red tag on lower right leg eBird checklist |
| john anderson 18/9 #267351 |
| Sat 17 | | Australasian/Eastern Grass-owl, Australasian Bittern
Macquarie Marshes--Monkeygar Crossing |
| We twice spotted an owl on that night - in the first case it flew past and Peter managed a quick snapshot which shows the trailing feet and darkly barred wings. As we later drove off an owl flushed with clearly trailing feet that we both identified as Grass-owl. Note - due to flooding, Gibson Way is impassable from Quambone heading west to the marshes. We drove north from Warren along the west side of the marshes then turned east onto Gibson Way. Gibson Way is seriously corrugated. Aus Bitterns also heard. Single Black-tailed Nativehen seen. Leanne at Willie Retreat provided accommodation nearby and has great local bird knowledge - recommended. (moderator's Note: Inland records of Grass Owls while rare , but are known to occur in very good seasons. I can recall one at Narrabri 1968, Pallamallawa 1978, 5 at Metford Tank, near Brokenm Hill in 1993, Boggabilla & Wee Waa in 1996 & Bellata 2011, so that this report from the Macquarie Marshes follows that pattern. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg - Sydney Birding, with Peter Stevens 28/9 #267399 |
| | Magpie Goose
Newell Highway, near Back Creek |
| One bird not far from highway. Most unexpected. Coordinates: -33.67806, 147.53472 |
| Lorne Johnson and Steve Edwards 27/9 #267390 |
| | Dollarbird
Putta Bucca Wetlands, Mudgee |
| Dollarbird flew over the wetlands. Noted the Terrigal report for 18th and thought I would add this one too. Checklist in due course. |
| Chris Rehberg / Sydney Birding, with Peter Stevens 22/9 #267364 |
| | Barn Owl
Western Sydney Parklands, Quakers Hill |
| Ravens and Currawong chasing it around my house in the day time. Had a good look at it at. Quakers Hill just behind Western Sydney Parklands. |
| Anthony Maltman 21/9 #267360 |
| | Wandering Albatross, NZ Wandering (Gibson’s) Albatross
Terrigal Pelagic |
| An enjoyable trip in reasonable conditions out of Terrigal produced 13 Tubenose species with the highlights being a probable Wandering Albatross and NZ Wandering (Gibson’s) Albatross (1). Also of note were; Buller’s Albatross (1), Black-browed Albatross (2), Shy (White-capped) Albatross (4), Fairy Prion (1), Wilson’s Storm Petrel (2) and 20+ (5) Providence Petrel, some of which were incredibly obliging. As already reported a Dollarbird was seen approx. 4km from the coast heading towards land. |
| Andrew Robinson, Dean Purcell and 11 other participants. 19/9 #267356 |
| | Leaden Flycatcher
Bullawa Creek State Conservation Area |
|
| Several Leaden Flycatchers were heard this morning not far from Mt. Kaputar Road, ca. 300 m east of the entrance to the SCA. The two shown here were singing in a duet and were looking at a potential nest site. There are no records on ebird yet for this season on the western side of the ranges. |
| Michael Dahlem 17/9 #267343 |
| Fri 16 | | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Warriewood Wetlands |
|
| Heard, then saw a pair of channel billed cuckoos in gum tree near water quality pond. |
| Gina McFarlane 17/9 #267349 |
| | Wompoo Fruit- Dove.
Saltwater National Park. |
| 4 Wompoo Fruit Doves In Fig Trees in The Park. Spotted By Allan Johns and Myself eBird checklist |
| Gordon Arthur. Allan Johns. 16/9 #267342 |
| Wed 14 | | Glossy Black Cockatoo
Swan Ave Cudmirah |
|
| Three Glossy Black Cockatoos in casuarinas on the edge of the road at southern end of Swan Avenue (Crown Land opposite houses) for about an hour. |
| Lesley May 15/9 #267340 |
| Tue 13 | | Pacific Golden Plover
Farquhar Inlet, Old Bar |
| 18 Pacific Golden Plovers seen this morning 0730 on northern side of Farquhar inlet. First for the season. |
| Silas Darnell 13/9 #267338 |
| | Pacific Koel
Figtree |
| My 1st Pacific Koel for the season heard this afternoon around 1730. Maybe 1st record for the Illawarra? (Moderator's Note: There is one other report in eBird, a single bird at Farmborough Heightrs, seen by Andrew Woods on 8/9/2022. AKM) |
| Steven Cooper 13/9 #267337 |
| | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Isaacs Lane, Johns River |
| A pair were seen , harassed by Torresian Crows, at Isaacs Lane, Johns River, a location where there are a number of large Moreton Bay Figs on some large dairy farms. These are the first Channel-billed Cuckoos reported for the Mid North Coast, where they usually arrive two weeks after first being reported in Sydney and the Central Coast. eBird checklist |
| Alan Morris 13/9 #267334 |
| Mon 12 | | Sacred Kingfisher
Coopernook Road Swamp, Coopernook |
| A Sacred Kingfisher was heard calling its breeding/territory call at the wetlands today. It was for me, my first sighting for the summer season. It was subsequently pointed out to me that one was seen and heard calling there on 21/8/22 by Phil Shelley, while Karen Smedly (with others) saw and heard one calling at Brimbin Nature Reserve, Wingham, on 2/9/2022. In the past, the spring arrival of Sacred Kingfishers was pretty consistant for the period 15-20 of September each year. Things might be changing. From my personal notes, I can say that I saw more overwintering Sacred Kingishers in mangroves and streamside vegetation this winter, than in previous years, perhaps because of all the rainfall, so this might influence the return of the adult birds. eBird checklist |
| Alan Morris 13/9 #267332 |
| | Dollarbird
Green Point, near Kincumber |
| One single Dollarbird seen on the edge of Kincumber Mountain Reserve on the Green Point side. (Moderator's Note: This is an early datre for the return of a Dollarbird to NSW, usually they arrive after the 3rd week of September. AKM) |
| Luke Ullrich 12/9 #267328 |
| | Wompoo Fruit-dove
9 Pollard Close Holgate |
| Went outside this morning and was immediately attracted by the bright flash of green, two Topknot Pigeons were being chased around by a Wompoo Fruit dove, between the crowns of a couple of Cabbage Tree Palms, It then settled in a blue gum where it is roosting, and I was able to observe with binoculars. Unable to take a photo at that time, as no charge in my camera, but charging my camera in the hope I can get a photo before it flies off. |
| Richard Aichinger 12/9 #267324 |
| Sun 11 | | Spectacled Monarch
Myall Lakes National Park--Mungo Brush |
|
| Seen and heard calling at 1:30pm about 30 metres into the ‘Rainforest walking track’. Entrance to the track is at the Northern end of Mungo Brush campground (Moderator's Note: This is not the first returning Spectacled Monarch, as one bird was seen by Archie Brennan et al on 22/8/22 north-east of Bulahdelah, while another was at Sea-Acres NR, Port Macquarie on 11/9/22 seen by Karen Smedley. AKM) |
| Joe May/Marty Cannon 13/9 #267335 |
| | Black-faced Monarch
Henry Kendall Gardens, Wyoming |
|
| First hearing of Call this summer, then sighted soon afterr 1145 hrs. First return reported for the Central Coast LGA. (Moderator's Note: It is of interest to note that the first return to the Mid North Coast was at Sea-Acres NR Port Macquarie, seen and heard by Peter West, on the same day. AKM) |
| Rob Montgomery 12/9 #267330 |
| | Bush Stone-Curlew
Alstonville, behind Panorama estate |
| Last night about 9.30, heard the distinctive call of the Bush Stone-Curlew calling nearby, about 500meters away, behind the estate I live in. It came closer, so tonight if it calls again, I’ll go searching for it. It continued to call on & off over the next hour. A first for me here. Also heard a Southern Boobook calling, just before the Curlew started. eBird checklist |
| Rose Wisemantel 12/9 #267327 |
| | Whiskered Tern, Glossy Ibis
Mirrool Creek ne of Hay -34.105109, 145.301420 |
|
| About 40 Whiskered Terns hunting over the creek and flooded area. Flying low across the road bridge and giving great views. Glossy Ibis present in the flooded salt bush. One Australian Gull-billed Tern with the flock and lots of other birds around (Brown Songlark, White-winged Fairy-wren etc). eBird checklist |
| David Ongley 12/9 #267326 |
| Sat 10 | | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Tatham, northern rivers region |
| Single bird seen. Being chased by two Torresian Crows Moderator's Note: see that both the Koels and Channel-bills turn up two weeks or more, later on the North and Mid-North Coast, after the birds arrive in Sydney! AKM). |
| David Charley 11/9 #267321 |
| | Curlew Sandpiper
Chittaway Point, Tuggerah |
| Single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper present. Rare these days around closed waters on the Central Coast (Tuggerah Lake etc.), although still regular on the northern rockplatforms i.e Soldiers Point where up to 20 can sometimes be seen. |
| Andrew Robinson 10/9 #267316 |
| Wed 7 | | Rose Crowned Fruit Dove
Cooks River Marrickville |
|
| Spotted on Cooks River |
| PJ 8/9 #267313 |
| | Flock Bronzewing
South Myers Tank, Sturt NP. |
| 19 Flock Bronzewings came into drink between 17.15 and 18.00 |
| Allan Benson, Daniel McKeon & John Reidy 7/9 #267307 |
| Tue 6 | | Banded Lapwing
Windsor Turf Farms, Windsor |
|
| 3 birds were present yesterday and were observed on the main road before being chased by a magpie. It is possible that one of them could have been a young bird, but I did not get the chance to see them all that well. |
| Tony Palliser 7/9 #267306 |
| | Spotted Harrier
Main Weir Road Menindee far west N S W. |
|
| The Spotted Harrier is a rare visitor to Menindee and I have only seen them here three times in the past. I hope to see them again to get a better photo for my files. Many birds are returning to the Menindee area again thanks to the Darling River and the Menindee Lakes receiving welcome flooding. |
| Geoffrey Looney 6/9 #267305 |
| | Ruddy Turnstone, Wood Sandpiper, Australian Bustard
Twelve Mile Creek, Sturt National Park |
| A Wood Sandpiper and a Ruddy Turnstone were viewed through scopes at South Myer Tank and a pair of Bustards were seen at Twelve Mile Creek. (Moderator's Note: the turnstone and sandpiper are very rare in this part of NSW, the former presumably in transit as there are very few records from inland Australia. MR). |
| Allan Benson, Daniel McKeon John Reidy 6/9 #267304 |
| | Rainbow Bee-eater
Eulah Creek |
|
| First sighting of the season this afternoon, at the Bullawa Creek bridge to Eulah Creek, 15 km east of Narrabri.(Moderator's Note: The first reports of the return of Bee-eaters that I am aware of was on 25/8/2022 at Hastings River Drive, Fernbank (Port Macquarie), then birds were seen at the Manning River Wingham on 2/9/22 (Ted Giblin) and I saw two Bee-eaters at Gogleys Lagoon, Camden Head on 5/9/22 (AKM). |
| Michael Dahlem 6/9 #267301 |
| Mon 5 | | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Five Dock |
| Heard my first Channel-billed of the season at about 1pm today at Five Dock (Charles Heath Reserve) (Moderator: This will be the last Channel-bill return we will publish unless there are other circumstances that make the observation significant. MR). |
| Robert Griffin 5/9 #267297 |
| Sun 4 | | White-headed Petrel,Shy Albatross.
Long Reef Aquatic Reserve. |
| Well after a shocking winter for Seabirds off Sydney it was really nice to get at least a few birds to look at today the highlight of a seawatch from Long Reef today was 1 possibly 2 White-headed Petrels, about 35 Shy (White-capped) Albatross, 25 Black-browed Albatross and a single Brown Skua. |
| Michael Ronan 4/9 #267295 |
| Sat 3 | | Black-eared Cuckoos
Round Hill Nature Reserve |
|
| Heard and seen at a few points along Tipping Way along northern edge of Round Hill NR. One photographed at random roadside stop although suspect four more flew through. Two seen at the waterhole near Whooey Tanks and others heard further west. Mallee along north edge of Tipping Way recently bulldozed - between 50m to 200m width. eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg - Sydney Birding with Graham Ryland, Peter Stevens 6/9 #267298 |
| | Eastern Curlew
Picnic Point Reserve, The Entrance |
| A single Eastern Curlew present, a scarce species around the north of the Central Coast LGA i.e Tuggerah Lake and the earliest I’ve observed one here. |
| Andrew Robinson 3/9 #267291 |
| Fri 2 | | Australian Spotted Crake, Spotless Crake, White-necked Herons x20
Lake Cargelligo area |
|
| Two Spotted Crakes showing well in waterlogged field opposite the bird hide near start of Water Treatment Plant circuit, close to track and taking cover in shrubs beside track there. Spotless Crake heard at Chat Alley proper. Murrin Bridge Road just SE of Chat Alley has water over road in various places (passable) with 20+ White-necked Herons. Many places along Lachlan Valley Way between Euabalong and Condobolin have water over road and we saw many 2-foot-long carp floundering on the roads. One section of road massively underwater and closed - clear detour signage in place. eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg - Sydney Birding with Graham Ryland, Peter Stevens 6/9 #267299 |
| | Wompoo Fruit- Dove.
Myall Lakes National Park--Mungo Campground. |
|
| Two Birds Spotted Feeding on Figs in Fig Tree Near The Boat Ramp at Mungo Campground.
Wompoo were in The Fig Tree with Figbirds, Green Catbird and Male Regent Bowerbird. eBird checklist |
| Gordon Arthur 2/9 #267287 |
| Thu 1 | | Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Central Coast Wetlands (Tuggerah) |
|
| 2 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers foraging along the edge of the land spit in the lagoon at Central Coast Wetlands Tuggerah at 2.00pm eBird checklist |
| David Schuemaker 1/9 #267283 |
| | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Kariong |
| Heard calling this morning. (Moderator's Note: this is the 2nd report for the Central Coast, the first one was seen by Marj Kibby on 29/8/22 at Kingfisher Shores, Chain Valley Bay. AKM) |
| Christina Port 1/9 #267278 |