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.

highlightHighlightmegamegaMega
April 2024
Tue 16highlightRoseate Tern
Flat Rock (Ballina)
1st year Roseate Tern resting at Flat Rock this afternoon. (Moderator's Note: Roseate Tern is a NSW rarity and on the NSW ORAC Review List. It would be great if a submission could be made. MR).
Steven McBride 16/4 #270407
Sun 14Grey-tailed Tattler
Greenwell Point Jetty NSW
Solitary bird sighted on rocks along breakwater near trawler wharf.
Ian Brown 14/4 #270400
Sat 13highlightRed-backed Button-quail
Near North Street, Grafton
Adult female brought in by cat, rescued by neighbour, now in care.
Greg Clancy 15/4 #270404
Superb Parrot
Eulah Creek
At the junction of Eulah Creek Road and Box Gully Road, 20 km E of Narrabri; 1 bird flying over westward, first heard then seen (no photo). An early arrival for the winter season. eBird checklist
Michael Dahlem 13/4 #270395
Fri 12highlightSwift Parrot
Wyee central coast nsw
6 Swift Parrots around 0800 hrs in gums, possibly Swamp Mahogany and Spotted Gum, sorry I don't know my trees. (Moderator's Note: Mid April is a usual time for Swift Parrots to return to NSW providing that the Box Woodland sites in Victoria are not heavily in blossom and on such occasions, the Parrots then don't bother to cross the Border! AKM)
Leonie loewe 13/4 #270396
Barn Owl
Newtown
Single bird in tree by Iverys Lane, next to Eveleigh railway land. 6:20am. Mobbed by miners, currawongs and butcherbirds. Seen briefly, before it flew off towards Erskineville. A terrific inner-west record.
Lorne G Johnson 12/4 #270393
Thu 11Malleefowl
Nombinnie East - Round Hill NR
Single bird leisurely crossing Round Hill Road at 2:30pm, approx. 7.7km north of the railway crossing.
Rolf Grether 16/4 #270406
highlightSwift Parrot
Gilwinga Drive, Bayview
2 Swift Parrots heard calling and seen briefly as flying over. Lots of Swamp Mahogany blossom in surrounding areas but not much flowering in KCNP
Jayden Walsh, Brynley Pfull and Nicky Wellard 14/4 #270399
highlightSwift Parrot
Eurobodalla Shire
After a record of a single Swift Parrot in late March at Moruya Heads, we have had 4 at Dalmeny on April 8-9 and a flock of about 10 today just south of Batemans Bay. (Moderator's Note: Great to see a few Swifties appearing on the NSW coast. There were six birds found on southern Lake Macquarie today as well. MR).
Julie Morgan and other local bird observers 11/4 #270392
Wed 10highlightWilson's Storm-petrel.
North Head National Park,Manly.
Highlight of a seawatch today from North Head was a close in Wilson's Storm-petrel also good numbers of Albatross turning up including 16 Shy (type) Albatross and 35 Black-browed (type) Albatross.
Michael Ronan 10/4 #270390
Mon 8highlightAustralian Bittern
Tabbigai Gap Trail Ponds, Kurnell
Huge Bittern flushed as I approached fence at 15:30 and flew to other side of pond where I relocated it and ID photos confirmed on Facebook.by Australian Bird Identification team. eBird checklist
Nick Giles 8/4 #270384
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Yarrowyck Crossing Rd
Minimum of 4 juvenile birds seen feeding in grass with Red-browed and Diamond Firetails, by corner of Reid Rd and Yarrowyck Crossing Rd. A bit late in the season to suggest local breeding, and no adults seen. Record shot attached.
John Grant 8/4 #270383
Gould's Petrel
Booderee National Park--Bherwerre Beach
Recently washed up Gould's Petrel on Bherwerre Beach (Moderator's Note: The bird was banded and confirmed to be a fledgling from this season that was raised in a nest box in the north gully of Cabbage Tree Island. MR).
Martin Schulz 8/4 #270382
Sat 6Eastern Osprey
Gore Cove, Greenwich
Interesting sight of an Osprey settling on a submerged sandbank in the middle of the cove, and drinking at length from the muddy brown water, presumably now only marginally brackish, if at all, after the recent deluge. A pair were cruising over the cove on the 4th, before the heavy rains, but I didn't expect to see one return when fishing conditions were not exactly ideal!
Ted Nixon 7/4 #270381
highlightSwift Parrot
Bawley Point, Tingira Drive
Swift Parrot calls heard from stand of tall Eucalyptus botryoides in garden on three occasions between 16:30 and 17:30. Bird/s not found. Single Swift Parrot then seen flying south, calling , across to bushland crown reserve. Subsequent searches didn't locate birds. No flowering of eucalypts, no lerp apparent. Record to Bionet Atlas.
Debbie Andrew 7/4 #270379
Australian Shelduck
Central Coast Wetlands (Tuggerah)
Female Shelduck present this morning on the flooded driving range paddock. (Moderator's Note: Presumably one of the pair of Shelducks that have been present at the Tuggerah WWTP since 8/3/3034. AKM)
Andrew Robinson 6/4 #270377
Thu 4Black Bittern
Tucabia.
single bird calling, east side of village
Clive Heywood Barker 5/4 #270376
highlightRadjah Shelduck
Byron Bay - Cavanbah sports centre
Single bird dabbling about in flooded swale next to the bottle recycling station in the car park. Disturbed by a car and flew off towards the STP. This at 6.15 pm - a chance it’s on the STP ponds tomorrow maybe. Note that the bird was originally sighted by Tonyn Heida Phelps from North Coast Birds and Wildlife..
Ian Colvin 4/4 #270372
Mon 1Honeyeaters and Lorikeets (feeding on flowering Grey Box)
Scheyville NP Longneck Creek trail. RW KBA regular transect
Habitat sighting: ALERT: Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot primary food source Grey Box blossoming. The Grey Box woodland to the north of the NPWS HQ and the old silos is starting to bloom well for the first time since 2019. Many lorikeets and seven species of honeyeater had found the food source and it is important to alert birders to this food source for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot. Regents have found flowering banksia and grevillea close to Scheyville in the last couple of years.
Ian Bailey (Bails) 2/4 #270367
Eastern Osprey, Striated Heron
Prospect Reservoir
This morning saw an Osprey perched beside the reservoir being the first time I have seen one at this site and within the Blacktown LGA (this being my 254th bird for the Blacktown LGA).. Also seen was a Striated Heron (only my 3rd location for this species in the LGA), at least 5 Great Crested Grebes, a Spotless Crake, at least 4,000 Coots, 2 Silver Gulls etc.
Edwin Vella 1/4 #270364
Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird
Crawford Rd., Cooranbong
Last few days there have been flocks of up to 20 Friarbirds moving north. This morning the Honeyeaters have appeared, including one flock of near 80 Yellow-faced with a few White-naped thrown in. Usually don't see either of them moving through this early in April and certainly not in the numbers they've appeared today.
Paul Schofield 1/4 #270362

March 2024
Sun 31Pacific Swift
Round Hill Nature Reserve--railway line at -33.04922, 146.21281
3 Pacific Swifts seen around railway track, kept high . easily ID with swept back wings , long thin tail ( occasionally forked ) white patch on rump. Photos taken for ID purposes eBird checklist
Paul Heath & Cary Lewis 2/4 #270366
Australian Brush Turkey
Phillip St fire trail, Thirroul
I lived in the area most of my life.( I moved away 7 years ago but return to visit family a few times every year) The first turkey I’ve ever seen in the area. I spoke with a lady during my walk. She said she first noticed them about 6 months ago.
Michael Crosland 31/3 #270357
Sat 30Ground Cuckooshrike
Corinella Road, 3km east of Manna Crk
3 birds foraging in a paddock of old canola stalks where the trash remaining from harvest had been burnt recently. At Manna Creek hundreds of White-browed Woodswallows roosting in Red Gums.
Rosemary Stapleton 31/3 #270358
Fri 29Ground Parrot
Beecroft Weapons Range
4-5 birds over a few days, seen foraging on Carpet Grass and Cyperus sp. on a recently slashed firetrail , adjacent to low heathland. Heard calling only once in the afternoon from the heathland, birds on the track weren't shy, the word was out cos birdwatchers were there both times I went, once at 8am (Good Friday) and once at 5pm (Easter Sunday)
Lucas McKinnon 3/4 #270369
highlightBlue-winged Parrot
Beecroft Peninsula
Along Little Target Firetrail flushed initially from trail approximately 150m in from carpark. Flew along firetrail and landed 2 more times allowing distant record photographs. eBird checklist
Sebastian Stachurski 29/3 #270352
Juvenile Wandering Albatross
Long Reef Aquatic Reserve
Great start to the Albatross season this morning had a Juvenile Wandering Albatross all dark chocolate brown with a white face travelling south it is at least 10 years since I have seen a juvenile from shore off Sydney,also seen 3 Black-browed Albatross.
Michael Ronan 29/3 #270351
Wed 27Australian King Parrot
Goobang Ck, 5 km East of Condobolin
Around 6pm while fishing on the Goobang Creek, three King Parrots flew over calling loudly as they headed west along the creek. My first ever recording of these birds in the Lachlan Shire
Warren Chad 28/3 #270347
Magpie Goose, Black-necked Stork, Plumed Whistling-Duck, White-necked Heron, Masked Lapwing
Dam on Armidale Road at Elland NNE of Coutts Crossing
Approximately 40 Magpie Geese at edge of dam, with 3+ Plumed Whistling-Ducks, 1+ Masked Lapwing and one White-necked Heron. Adult Black-necked Stork present on 26 March. Geese have been present from at least 17 February while up to 100 Geese are still at the regular location on the Big River Way (Old Pacific Highway) at Clarenza, near South Grafton.
Greg Clancy 27/3 #270345
Tue 26Buller's Albatross, Wilson's Storm-petrels (+ pod of Pygmy Killer Whales)
Offshore--Port Stephens pelagic
A reasonable late March day out of Port Stephens with 15 species of birds recorded outside of the heads (and not associated with the islands). Nothing really outstanding, but good to see a couple more autumn Buller's Albatrosses - this species is cementing itself as an "any month" bird. Moderate (~50) numbers of Wilson's Storm-petrels were present but nothing different could be distinguished among them. The day belonged to the sea monsters though, with six species of cetacean identified, plus an unidentified distant whale. We had our first Risso's Dolphin since June 2015 and our third ever pod of Pygmy Killer Whales, which showed well right alongside "Imagine". We also had a Striped Marlin free-jumping not long before the Risso's showed, plus a group of five Mahi Mahi and a Remora swimming at the stern, clearly seen by all at the rear of the boat.
Mick Roderick and all aboard 'Imagine' 2/4 #270368
Mon 25Marsh Sandpiper
Brick Pit Wetland Bathurst
A single Marsh Sandpiper has been seen for the last few days. It feeds at the front of the wetland sometime flying to the back to get away from the many Masked Lapwings. There are also many Black-fronted and Red-kneed Dotterels.( Moderator'sNote: A rare bird on the Central Tablelands, however 3 Marsh Sandpipers were recorded at nearby The Lagoon, south of Bathurst on 10/2/24 by Bernadette Mulcaney. AKM)
Rolf Grether 27/3 #270343
Sat 23Scarlet Robin, Red-capped Robin, Turquoise Parrot
The Falls Reserve, Mullion Range SCA, Orange
At least two pair of Scarlet Robins, and a pair of Turquoise Parrots, along with many Honeyeaters and Thornbills (Brown, Yellow, Striated and Buff-rumped and Weebills) and a few other common birds for the area were seen. At nearby 4th Crossing in the SCA was an adult male Red-capped Robin. A pair of Flame Robins were seen at the Falls Walking Track, in the Mt Conobolas SCA. eBird checklist
Graham Nelson, Alan Morris & 25 members of the Central Coast Group, Birding NSW 28/3 #270348
White-throated Nightjar
Shallow Crossing, Mogood, west of Kiola
Two hawking over the campground just after sunset A very vocal Rose Robin was also present throughout the next day and a pair of Jacky Winters briefly visited. eBird checklist
Joel Poyitt 26/3 #270341
megamegaSouth Polar Skua
Terrigal Pelagic
South Polar Skua seen on the return trip approx. 10 miles from shore. Initially seen loafing on the water along side a Flesh-footed SW before both species took flight at which point the Shearwater became something of a target of the SPK with several close passes being made. Both eventually re-settled close to the boat allowing excellent views. Apparently a first record for the Central Coast, NSW. (Moderator's Note: Terrigal strikes again! Cracking looking bird too. South Polar Skua is on the NSW ORAC Review List so hopefully a submission can be made. MR).
Central Coast Pelagics (16 on board) 23/3 #270337
Lewin's Rail
Bushells Lagoon
Immature Lewin's Rail sighted on the dirt road along with a Buff-banded Rail and Brown Quails. Very uncommon bird for this site. eBird checklist
Michael Rutkowski 23/3 #270335
Fri 22White-throated Nightjar
'Berigora' Kangaroo Creek Road, Kangaroo Creek
Three nightjars heard calling in different directions at night.
Greg Clancy 27/3 #270346
Wed 20Glossy-Black Cockaoo
Flinders Drive Laurieton NSW 2443
Observed flying overhead calling, single bird
Stephen Gallivan 30/3 #270355
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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