Scamander

Hi all,

What a great morning birding and luckily the weather was favourable apart from a few wind gusts! Thanks to all with the beach clean up, we will have the fence put up around this area within the next week.

Thanks to Jo and Ted for leading the day and providing a friendly venue for morning tea.

Kind regards,

Liz

Scamander Golf Club to River bird list:

BLACK SWAN	Cygnus atratus
LITTLE PIED CORMORANT	Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT	Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
BLACK-FACED CORMORANT	Phalacrocorax fuscescens
EASTERN GREAT EGRET	Ardea modesta
WHITE-FACED HERON	Egretta novaehollandiae
AUSTRALIAN PIED OYSTERCATCHER	Haematopus longirostris
MASKED LAPWING	Vanellus miles
SILVER GULL	Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
GREEN ROSELLA	Platycercus caledonicus
FAN-TAILED CUCKOO	Cacomantis flabelliformis
SUPERB FAIRY-WREN	Malurus cyaneus
TASMANIAN SCRUBWREN	Sericornis humilis
BROWN THORNBILL	Acanthiza pusilla
SPOTTED PARDALOTE	Pardalotus punctatus
STRIATED PARDALOTE	Pardalotus striatus
EASTERN SPINEBILL	Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
YELLOW-THROATED HONEYEATER	Lichenostomus flavicollis
WHITE-FRONTED CHAT	Epthianura albifrons
CRESCENT HONEYEATER	Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus
NEW HOLLAND HONEYEATER	Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
BLACK-HEADED HONEYEATER	Melithreptus affinis
BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE	Coracina novaehollandiae
GOLDEN WHISTLER	Pachycephala pectoralis
GREY SHRIKE-THRUSH	Colluricincla harmonica
DUSKY WOODSWALLOW	Artarnus cyanopterus
GREY FANTAIL	Rhipidura fuliginosa
FOREST RAVEN	Corvus tasmanicus
FLAME ROBIN	Petroica phoenicea
DUSKY ROBIN	Melanodryas vittata
SILVEREYE	Zosterops lateralis
WELCOME SWALLOW	Hirundo neoxena

Scamander Sand Spit bird list:

BLACK SWAN	Cygnus atratus
AUSTRALASIAN GREBE	Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
AUSTRALIAN PELICAN	Pelecanus conspicillatus
EASTERN GREAT EGRET	Ardea modesta
SWAMP HARRIER	Circus approximans
AUSTRALIAN PIED OYSTERCATCHER	Haematopus longirostris
RED-CAPPED PLOVER	Charadrius ruficapillus
FAIRY TERN	Sternula nereis
CASPIAN TERN	Hydroprogne caspia
CRESTED TERN	Thalasseus bergii
PACIFIC GULL	Larus pacificus
SILVER GULL	Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
WHITE-FRONTED CHAT	Epthianura albifrons
WELCOME SWALLOW	Hirundo neoxena

New Holland Honeyeaters from Annette

Such busy birds, darting from one honey-filled flower to the next, and using their long curved beaks to suck out every little drop of honey. When there's no honey at hand, little bits of left over fruit are to their liking too. 

At times they don't mind sharing space with the sparrows, but their arch enemy - especially in spring time - is the Yellow Throated Honeyeater. Both species being rather aggressive and chasing each other at incredible speed. 

They often arrive with a partner, but once the fledglings arrive the whole family stick together for quite a while.  Took this photo when at least 5 were having a lovely dip in the birdbath. 

A very intense and joyful time, both for the birds and for us
bird-watchers! One after the other dives in and when they come out  a lot of shaking with a shower of water droplets flying everywhere. 

Their favorite flowers seems to be the Hebes, probably a lot of honey inside and they get really involved with half their head disappearing inside the flower. Got one lucky shot showing the beautiful  yellow patterned wing pattern when he flew away.
Yes, New Holland Honeyeaters are birds we love having around our garden. 

Story and Pics by Annette

 

Trout Creek into the evening

Hi all,

What a great night it was, a big crowd of nocturnal birdos, a BBQ dinner, great company, the winter chill on the face and the excitement of what may be lurking in the bush......
Unfortunately no owls were around, perhaps because it was a near full moon, who (who who who!) knows? Anyway, we will be doing this again. The highlight was the juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle being pursued by the Wedge-tailed eagle just before sunset and the many Black-headed Honeyeaters.

Thanks once again to Annette and Nick for organising the BBQ and Des for the bird list. The attached photos are also from Annette :)

Best birding wishes,
Liz

 the List
 

WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE
Haliaeetus leucogaster
WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE
Aquila audax
MASKED LAPWING
Vanellus miles
PACIFIC GULL
Larus pacificus
GREEN ROSELLA
Platycercus caledonicus
SUPERB FAIRY-WREN
Malurus cyaneus
TASMANIAN SCRUBWREN
Sericornis humilis
YELLOW-THROATED HONEYEATER
Lichenostomus flavicollis
CRESCENT HONEYEATER
Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera
YELLOW WATTLEBIRD
Anthochaera paradoxa
BLACK-HEADED HONEYEATER
Melithreptus affinis
GREY SHRIKE-THRUSH
Colluricincla harmonica
BLACK CURRAWONG
Strepera fuliginosa
FOREST RAVEN
Corvus tasmanicus
HOARY-HEADED GREBE
Poliocephalus poliocephalus