Bird
Observers of the North East (BONE) began a little over three years ago. Initially
a small dedicated group of birders with the full range of knowledge and skills
from the beginner to the very experienced, it has grown and has become an
exciting focal point for anyone interested in birding regardless of prior
experience. For each of us it has been richly rewarding and even socially
challenging due to our need to show a degree of restraint at our post
observation outing morning teas. These are of such a high and competitive
standard that the normally reserved bird observers risk turning into ravenous
Neanderthals with the way the array of food is attacked.
BONE meet
once a month, usually at a rich avian environment. The locations are decided
well in advance and cover the full range of habitats. A list is made of all
sightings and the regular members are becoming very skilled at recognising our
Tasmanian birds using whatever indicators are available i.e. birdsong, flight
patterns, size, plumage, beak shape, colour and habitat etc.
Last summer
we had our first twitchathon which was hugely successful. We began at 9.00am
outside the Bayside Hotel in St Helens and went till 11.00am. We had two groups
of approximately five members each. The aim being to positively identify as
many birds as possible within the two hour time frame. To confirm a sighting at
least two people had to agree with the identification. One point was given for
each bird observed and an extra point for those species sighted by one group
and not the other, an extra point was also awarded for rare species. There were
fifty seven different species identified at this event with several common
species not seen, the highlight on this occasion was a Grey-tailed Tattler seen
at Beer Barrel Beach.
Due to its
initial success it was decided to run another twitchathon in the first week of
winter as it would make an interesting comparison with that run at the onset of
summer. Although the beautiful sunny days of early June made it difficult to
accept that the season had changed we went ahead with our winter twitchathon.
There were a similar number of people bound by the same rules, with the
addition of prizes and other related paraphernalia provided as further
incentive. However most would argue that this was unnecessary as the excitement
and camaraderie of those events are rewards in themselves.
Des, the
master of Tasmanian bird sound led group A, and Liz our founder and shorebird
guru headed group B. On the dot of 9.00am we began. The scribes scribbled madly
as both teams were surrounded by Sparrows, Blackbirds, Starlings, Silver gulls,
Black Swans, Pacific Gulls, Chestnut Teal and many other regulars that work the
estuary of Georges Bay. A frenetic beginning as all eyes had been scanning
prior to the 9.00am start. After the initial rush we went our separate ways to
whatever locations the groups decided would produce the greatest variety. Our
first stop (group B) was a couple of hundred metres from the start. All binoculars and a spotter scope were
trained on the waders in the shallows of Georges Bay. This resulted in several
more additions including Bar-tailed godwits, unfortunately their frequent companions
the Red Knots were not there. From here we drove within the speed limit to Stieglitz
where we saw several woodland species then on to the sewerage ponds where many
water birds were waiting. The highlight here was a Freckled Duck which we knew was
in the area. Anatomically ancient this dinosaur of ducks is a rare mainland
visitor and a jewel on our list. A couple of days later we may well have been
able to add a Blue-billed Duck. While at this location we were amused at the
courtship antics of a male Musk Duck who persisted in splashing his
irresistible charms trying to attract a half-submerged (female I presume)
plastic bottle.
Then it was
back in the car and off towards The Gardens. We’d no sooner passed the St
Helens sewerage ponds on the road to Binalong when Cherylyn’s voice came
clearly from the back seat “what’s that big bird in the paddock?” One could be
forgiven for thinking it was a scene from “Sesame Street” as for a few seconds
pandemonium reigned. The car skidded to a halt and Liz tumbled from the vehicle
trying to untangle her seat belt and focus the camera at the same time when Cherylyn’s
voice came clearly from the back seat again “you know I’ve never heard Liz
swear before!” As it turned out the excitement was justified as frogging in the
rushes was another mainland visitor, the beautiful White-necked Heron. The last time I had seen one of these in
Tasmania was at Falmouth during cyclone Larry’s devastating onslaught onto
Australia’s east coast. Further sightings of this bird or a friend have
occurred recently in the area since then including St Marys.
With some
excellent pictures we again headed towards The Gardens spotting more species
along the way especially some raptors. We parked in the Swim Cart Beach car
park and headed along the old tramline over swampy low coastal scrub. We
sighted many Beautiful Firetails and Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters but were
disappointed not to confirm Southern Emu-wrens. We know they are there and
thought we could hear them but could not confirm the fact for this event. This
was also the case with the beautifully camouflaged Ground Parrot, we knew it could
possibly be there as previous sightings have confirmed it’s presence on the
east coast but today it was not meant to be, early morning and dusk being the
best time to experience both these wonderful species.
Two hours were rapidly being used up and we
were due at Deny and Joy’s for morning tea at 11.00am sharp. As we approached
the oyster lease facility we stopped the car to see if we could register some
more shorebirds as there were many common species we had not yet scored. As we
alighted we flushed a bevy of Brown Quail, a species we had hoped to see but had
all but given up on.
With our
lists combined with Deny, Joy and Nat’s garden list we had positively
identified sixty two species in the St Helens area in the two hour period with
many common species not sighted. During the presentation and the après feast it
was decided that twitchathons are so much fun that the times be extended for
our next venture, hopefully with more groups.
On the way
home Jo dropped me off at Paddy’s Island as it was low tide it was a great
opportunity to walk to Scamander. It was as though I had arrived at shorebird
heaven, too late to add to the list but a delightful bonus to add to the day’s
activities. There were several Red-necked Stints, the smallest of our migratory
species and well past their leave by date, also some families of Hooded Plovers
and Red-capped Plovers, not to mention six sightings of Sooty Oystercatchers,
particularly at Shelly Point. Between Shelly and Scamander there was a Swamp Harrier
working the dunes and an immature Pacific Gull displaying Crested Tern like
behaviour lifting a couple of metres from the surface and plunging head first
into the shallows, making me fantasize on his being fostered by Caspian Terns. At Wrinkler’s Lagoon there were four Kelp Gulls
possibly having a scrub up after leaving the Scamander tip where competing
tribes of Pacific Gulls and Kelp Gulls are often seen scrabbling for the
scraps. The one common species that seems to appear at long weekends and
holiday periods which I did not see on the beach was the ‘red necked turkey’,
usually perched on a trail bike or quad bike and even clasping the wheel of a
four wheel drive seemingly searching out shorebirds as they tear all over the
beach above the high tide line. Although an unwelcome feral species they are
very hard to control.
What a great
day it was and enjoyed by all who participated. We eagerly await our next
twitchathon date and duration yet to be announced. Why not join us or have your
own as you will be amazed at the number of birds around us every day.
Ted Thornley.
Scamander.
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