Weekends That Were - July 2017

23-28.7.17

Yatala

A week of no birding - but making nestboxes and ‘finding’ a Bush Stone Curlew nesting in my daughter’s front yard I felt I was still contributing.

The Curlews had been hanging around since they moved in, seen occasionally during the day and heard regularly at night. On Sunday 23^rd – my grandson’s 4^th birthday – we noticed one of the birds sitting in the middle of the front garden. ‘She’ sat tight all day and into Monday, allowing very close approach, simply stretching her neck out to lower her profile. (I call her a female as an assumption – as I don’t believe there is any way to differeniate the sexes.) We subsequently saw the first egg when she left the site to feed in the evening. On Wednesday 26^th a second egg had appeared. Incubation is a month so we have a bit of a wait, hoping for a successful hatch.

Bush Stone Curlew 'nest'

My nestbox construction continued meanwhile…..

Rosella nestbox

Brush-tail Possum box 

Grey Shrike Thrush nestbox 

Laughing Kookaburra and Owlet Nightjar nest boxes 

Pardalote nestbox

The next challenge will be installing them in appropriate trees in the yard and hoping for the best. If only one box is used I’ll be happy!

22.7.17

Norman Creek, Holland Park West

A last minute decision to check out my patch had a decent outcome. A small flock of 6 Nutmeg or Scaly-breasted Mannikins was my fifth record and the first since 2011 for the site – of course I didn’t have my camera with me so they sat up well at short distance.

 I know some people dismiss this species as ‘just an escape’ but I’ve always been happy to have them on my list and the presence of at least two juvenile birds this morning suggests successful breeding of at least one generation!

A flock of 10 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos was the biggest number I have seen here and a total list of 20 species in 45 minutes was above average for winter.

20.7.17

After a few days making nestboxes for installation on my daughter’s property I decided an outing was necessary and headed for Oxley.

There was enough activity along the track to keep interest but nothing unusual or outstanding. At the ponds Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels were in evidence and the bird of the day flew over without stopping – my third Gull-billed Tern in 148 visits for the site.

The return trip was much the same, a decent list but nothing to write home about.

15.7.17

Minnippi - again

Off to Minnippi again, this time with the assistance of Mr D and Mr P.

A start at 7 may have made a difference or the birds just chose this morning to wake up and get out – the activity around the M1 track was noticeably improved, though few extra species showed. Plenty of Scarlet Honeyeaters – all apparently male and singing, Mr D pulled an Eastern Spinebill out, much to Mr P’s delight – a new annual species for his Patch Challenge list – and spotted an Australian Hobby perched up above the canopy warming itself in the sun.

Australian Hobby

Up the Alley, nothing of any consequence – on the water a sharp increase in the number of Hardheads was immediately noticeable – up from 16 two days ago to 38 or 40 depending on who was counting, we played the ‘ID the Egret’ game and agreed on 2 Great, 2 Cattle, 3 Intermediate and 1 Little Egret along with the 3 ‘almost resident’ Magpie Geese, the single Great Cormorant and a Royal Spoonbill perched in the trees.

Mr D chose to sit out the Airfield Track along which Mr P and I found a couple of additional species including Bush Turkey and Eastern Yellow Robin.

After spending a fruitless 10 minutes or so at the raptor lookout we headed back towards the carpark and along the path Mr P spotted a ‘Kingfisher’ perched up. Unfortunately, it flew before we could positively ID it, but size seemed to indicate Sacred to me. The Frogmouths were again in their sun lounge back-up tree.

Mr P headed for home and parental duties while Mr D and I retired to Belesis again for our usual breakfasts.

Butterflies: 4 Monarchs and 1 each Black Jezebel and Common Crow.

14.7.17

Anstead & Moggill Swamp

A heavy mist shrouded the trees as I started out up the track at 7.30. Noisy Friarbirds calling through the muffled air, but little else around. It was cold and I assume most small birds were sitting it out until the weather cleared.

The ‘fog’ finally lifted at 9.00 and the sun broke through warming everything up. Not that much happened, but there was more activity. A handful of Scarlet Honeyeaters, one White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, small numbers of Whistlers and Grey Fantails and a single Fan-tailed Cuckoo.

I found 2 Fraser’s Banded Snails Sphaerospira fraseri under fallen logs and a small Giant Centipede Ethmostigmus rubripes. 

Fraser’s Banded Snails Sphaerospira fraseri 

There were loads of spiders’ webs outlined by the misty vapour but most appeared to be deserted, one, however, housed a small Humped Golden Orb Weaver Nephila plumipes which was new for me for Anstead. Along the track near the river outlook a Brown Hare Lepus capensis sat up for a poor photograph – also new for me for Anstead so maybe not a complete waste of a morning.

Brown Hare Lepus capensis

On to Moggill Swamp and a total of 57 Grey Teal, Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels and a single White-breasted Woodswallow among the usual occupants.

13.7.17

Minnippi

Started out from the carpark at 7.30. A cool, bright morning turned into an OK morning’s birding - although nothing spectacular, a good list of 53 species.

A number of Scarlet Honeyeaters that all seemed to be male, and most singing, were the major feature of the M1 and Alley. A pair of Striated Pardalotes feeding chicks in a tree termite nest also on the M1 track was interesting, with several other pairs calling on both tracks. On the lake 16 Hardheads was a sizeable increase on my last visit a month ago. A Fan-tailed Cuckoo on the Airfield Track and all three Fairy Wren species throughout topped it off. The Tawny Frogmouths were in their back-up tree - probably to catch the morning sun.

Butterflies – 4 Monarchs struggling with the cool conditions were the only ones seen.

8.7.17

JC Trotter

On site with Mr D at 7 to a cool, clear morning following rain in recent days and a heavy fog last night. Wandered down the track o the lake seeing mostly the usual stuff – as usual also in small numbers. The water level had increased a little since my last visit, covering the muddy foreshore and thus limiting options for any waders. A single Black-fronted Dotterel, a single White-faced Heron and 2 cold looking Little Egrets the only occupants. The latter evinced some discussion due to their bi-coloured bills, but final decision, based mostly on their size, we agreed they were non-breeding Little.

On up under the pylons and again still little activity relative to the apparent habitat. A single Rose Robin along the return track was only my fifth record for the site, but apart from that nothing much to report.

Butterflies – none noted. Mammals – two Swamp Wallabies moving quietly away were the only warm blooded animals, apart from ourselves, seen before we retired to Belesis for breakfast.

3.7.17

Oxley

I chose Oxley as an easy morning’s walk – my left ankle is still slightly swollen and sore – and arrived on site at 7 to a cool, slightly misty morning. There wasn’t much about apart from the usual hordes of Brown Honeyeaters, but I did end up with a reasonable list. Nothing out of the norm, nothing worth really highlighting. I met a young birder from Michigan on his last day in Australia looking for Variegated Wren – which I had not seen – and pointed him towards a couple of other birds he was keen to try for. Apart from that? Nada.