Eremaea Birdlines
Interesting and unusual bird observations
Birdline New South Wales

Birdline NSW is a site for the reporting of rare or unusual birds outside their normal range, unusually high or low numbers, early or late arrivals or departures for migrant species and interesting behaviour or unusual habitat usage. We may also consider publishing unusually-plumaged birds (e.g. albinistic/leucistic/melanistic) if they are considered interesting or are uncommonly seen.

Birdline New South Wales is supported by Birding NSW, Birdlife Southern NSW and Cumberland Bird Observers Club and moderated by Alan Morris, Liam Murphy, Mick Roderick and Simon Blanchflower.

We support ethical birding .

28/11/2021

Moderators' Note

Birders are encouraged to post lists to eBird Australia, where sightings are incorporated into the BirdLife Australia Atlas. To do this you need to register with eBird Australia then login. All Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot reports should be forwarded to Mick Roderick to assist in the recovery of these severely declining species: mick.roderick@birdlife.org.au. Note we will not be publishing reports of Accipiter raptors (Collared Sparrowhawk, Grey/Brown Goshawks) or Square-tailed Kites unless they are in unusual locations or are seen with unusual prey etc.

Recent Sightings

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Reports published in the past 30 hours.

highlightHighlight
June 2025
Sun 22highlightSwift Parrot
Crawford Rd, Cooranbong
Just starting out on my morning walk before 7am this morning when a pair of Swifties flew out of the remnant forest on the north side and across the road above me. Very misty so colour muted but shape, size, flight and contact calls very distinctive. Been a while since I've seen some so immediately went on line and checked calls. Nice start to my day
Paul Schofield 22/6 #272569
Sat 21Magpie Goose
Wetland along Big River Way, Clarenza
Number of Geese now estimated to be 500+, probably largest ever count at this site. Photo only shows about half of flock.
Greg Clancy 22/6 #272568
Possible Regent Honeyeater
Awaba St Morisset
I'd crossed the creek that intersects Awaba St and spent 20 minutes looking at the various birds there feeding on the Swamp Mahogany (been flowering for several weeks now). I'd just gotten back on my bike to go home when something the right size, shape and colour flew overhead into the sun. By the time it landed in a Mahogany, one of the many Noisy Friarbirds there dived into the tree and it disappeared before I could get a decent look at it chased off by the Friarbird. Fairly sure it was a Regent as they've moved through there the last few years when the Mahogany is flowering well but I didn't get a good enough look to confirm
Paul Schofield 21/6 #272564
highlightSwift Parrot
Mulgoa Valley - Private property
First heard by Raghav Sharma and subsequently picked up by Martin Snowball on Mark Fuller's monthly CLC survey. ~25 Swift Parrots lerping in A. subvelutina, E. crebra & E. microcarpa. Edge of Bell Miner colony.
Raghav & Veeraj Sharma, Mark Fuller, Martin Snowball, Les Cormack 21/6 #272563
Fri 20highlightSwift Parrot
Mt Olive Trail, Popran National Park
2 Swifties heard calling and then seen briefly flying low through the bush. Unmistakeable call and flight. Green body, red underwing, long maroon tail. Another record for the Hawkesbury sandstone this season! eBird checklist
Nick Carson 20/6 #272561
Thu 19highlightDouble-banded Plover, Red-necked Stint, Marsh Sandpiper
Morrisons Lake, 20km Sth of Ivanhoe
Another shallow ephemeral western lake on the Willandra Ck that is just starting to be filled with environmental flows. Surveying there this morning I found four more Double banded plover, six Red neck Stint, 100 plus Australian Shelduck and two Sea Eagles building their nest. Thats a total of 6 DBP at these two lakes that are 25 km apart. Todays birds were not in breeding plummage. I returned to Lake Kattabritoi this afternoon and the DBP were still there along with a lone Marsh sandpiper. Other birds of note were Red necked Avocet and Gull billed Tern. (Moderator's Note: Many years ago in the 1960s when John Hobbs was the police officer at Ivanhoe, a natural flood sent water into Morrison's Lake and he reported on Double-banded Plovers at that same site. AKM)
Warren Chad 19/6 #272558
Pilotbird
Southern end Lady Carrington Drive Royal National Park
Two birds observed at close range foraging just south of where Lady Carrington Drive crosses creek and Forest Walk intersection. Seen about 3.30 pm right side (eastern side) of track. Bassian Thrush and Yellow-throated Scrubwrens also present
Deryk Engel 19/6 #272557
Wed 18highlightDouble-banded Plover, Red-necked Stint, Pied Currawong
Lake Kattabritoi, 25km Sth of Ivanhoe on The Willandra Ck
This site is a drying lake with only inches of water left creating a vast area of mudflats. There were about 100 Red capped Plover, 14 Red necked Stint and two Double banded Plovers feeding along the shoreline. The two DBP were still in breeding plumage. Also very surprised to see a Pied Currawong at this site. (Moderator's Note: Great inland reports of both species! MR).
Warren Chad 18/6 #272554
Sun 15Double-banded Plover
Shoalhaven Heads Inlet
C.145 Double-banded Plovers plus c.90 Red-capped Plovers, 30 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Pacific Golden Plovers and 5 Red-necked Stints in the last light at Shoalhaven Heads. (Moderator's Note: Good numbers for DBP.AKM)
Michael Ellison 16/6 #272549
Fuscous & other Honeyeaters
Ground Parrot Site, Hyams Beach Rd, Jervis Bay
A wet and miry morning at Hyams Heath which was full of hundreds, quite possibly thousands of honeyeaters zipping about. 7+ spp noted including Fuscous, Brown-headed and Scarlet amongst more common Yellow-faced, New Holland etc. Great supporting cast of c.25 Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, marauding male Peregrine & pair of Grey Goshawks (one grey, one white) and an Eastern Bristlebird within 2 metres. Quite a spectacle and well worth a visit if you’re in the area (Moderator's Note. Perhaps because of the drought in southern NSW, there are more Fuscous Honeyeaters at more sites in coastal NSW this winter? AKM).
Michael Ellison 16/6 #272548
highlightSwift Parrot
Mount Annan Botanic Gardens--Banksia Garden
returning to the same location for the last few seasons. up to 15 birds noted, could be more scattered around the gardens
Paul Heath 15/6 #272547
Thu 12White-headed Pigeon
Crn Jamison and Tench Rd Penrith
About +20 White-headed pigeons eating privet berries and camphor laurel berries and resting on the power lines.
Joe Deluca 13/6 #272543
Wed 11highlightEastern Yellow Wagtail (evidence of overwintering)
Hexham Swamp
Lene Parashou recorded one Eastern Yellow Wagtail on the 8th May 2025 along the old pipeline track in Hunter Wetlands National Park (Hexham Swamp). This was following a late record of two birds there by Paul Fuller on the 22nd April after there being reports from February onwards. Lene subsequently found one bird there on the 5th and 6th June, then saw two birds there yesterday (11th June). There have been May/June records of Eastern Yellow Wagtails over the years in the Hunter Estuary, including 10 birds on the 24th May 2019 (Ian Benson https://birdata.birdlife.org.au/survey?id=2928624&h=1c776af1). But this is the first year there have been sustained summer/autumn/winter reports of what appears to be the same individuals and as such should be regarded as overwintering individuals. As far as I'm aware, there is no evidence of overwintering Eastern Yellow Wagtails anywhere in Australia. This will be researched further! The photos attached are both by Lene Parashou; the bird on the left is from the 8th May and the bird on the right from the 5th June.
Lene Parashou per Mick Roderick 12/6 #272542
Sat 7White-headed Pigeon
Monash Reserve East Hills NSW
One bird seen by Col Gibson while bushworking. Not seen by him at that site before but recorded in eBird four times since 2015. The species is recorded as 'rare' at Yeramba Lagoon, within Georges River National Park. eBird checklist
Col Gibson per Ian Bailey 15/6 #272545
Fri 6highlightSwift Parrot
Rocky Ponds Trail, Brisbane Water National Park
1 Swift Parrot burst out of scrub and flew fast and straight showing red underwing and maroon tail. Eventually came closer 15 minutes later allowing good views of red markings on face. Called quietly. Recordings taken. My second Swiftie sighting at this site. The other in 2023. Other interesting winter observations at this site included 3 Dusky Woodswallows and New Holland Honeyeaters feeding young in a nest. eBird checklist
Nick Carson 6/6 #272534
Wed 4White-headed Petrel.
Sydney Harbour National Park North Head Manly
Highlight of a seawatch from North Head this afternoon was a close in White-headed Petrel flying south into the southerly gale also seen this afternoon 4 Giant Petrel sp, 4 Grey-faced Petrels and 2 Fairy Prions.
Michael Ronan 4/6 #272522
Mon 2Topknot Pigeon
Lidcombe NSW
A flock of about 20 Topknot Pigeons are sitting in my lemon scented gum and iron bark. I have never seen these before in the 40 years I have lived in this built up suburban area that has limited canopy. (Moderator's Note: there has been an unusually large number of Topknots reported from suburban Newcastle as well. I have personally seen them landing in Swamp Oak (Casuarina) in Wallsend which is very unusual. MR).
Lee Courtwood 3/6 #272518
Sun 1highlightBlack-breasted Buzzard
Narran Lakes Nature Reserve (restricted access)
Black-breasted Buzzard flying over whilst we were kayaking North Arm. Other raptors seen over weekend on reserve included: Little Eagle, White-bellied Sea-eagle (on nest), Swamp Harrier, Black Kite, Whistling Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Nankeen Kestrel. eBird checklist
Pat Johnston 5/6 #272532

May 2025
Fri 30Musk Lorikeets
Agnes Banks Nature Reserve
Five Musk Lorikeets were first heard and then seen in Agnes Banks Nature reserve. They were obviously attracted to sparse blossom on a large old Ironbark which seemed to be alone in the flowering state. This observation was intended for entry into the iNaturalist site, Cumberland Woodlands Seasonal Nectar Project to match with bird presence in the future. eBird checklist
Ian Bailey 31/5 #272514
Thu 29Satin Bowerbird
West Pennant Hills - tennis courts
Played comp tennis at the courts today and 2 females or juveniles played and ate privet in the scrub between the creek and our court for the entire day. They were calling all the time and easy to see. I've been playing there for 35 years and have never seen or heard this species there before.
Judy Clark 29/5 #272513
Mon 26highlightRose-crowned Fruit-dove
Sydney Harbour National Park--North Head
Immature Collins Beach Road. High in canopy within Littoral rainforest. eBird checklist
Nicci & Bill Raffle 28/5 #272510
Sun 25Australian Bustard
Bald Hill Road Edgeroi
Three individuals opportunistically observed in a stock route along Bald Hill Road in the late afternoon. Looks to be a male, female and a juvenile. eBird checklist
Lauren Eather 26/5 #272509
Report
Outside normal range
Early arrival; late departure
Interesting behaviour
Threatened
Hard to see
Unusual habitat
Uncommon in area
Highlight
Rare
Endangered
Vagrant
Irruption
Unusual numbers
Mega
Rare vagrant
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