The BLSH flyer

Volume 6 Number 3, August 2017

Silvereye by Erna Llenore

Hybrid Musk Lorikeet taken at Yowie Bay NSW Photo by Anthony Katon. Contents

From the President ...... Page 2 Lake Alexandra Reserve Walk ...... Page 3 Liaison Officer’s Report ...... Pages 4-6 Kell’s Creek/Box Vale Track Outing ...... Page 7 Picton Weir Outing ...... Page 8 Visit to North Thailand ...... Pages 9-13 Charleston Dam Outing ...... Page 14 A Little Help Needed ...... Page 14 Bungonia National Park Outing ...... Page 15 Trip to the Farne Islands ...... Page 16 Research Abstract ...... Page 16 Worth Viewing ...... Page 17 Lake Nerrigorang Outing ...... Page 18 Members Photography ...... Pages 19-21

August 2017

From the President Christine Kelly

S ome winter treasures have been sighted by our keen members who have been out and about during this most recent spell of cold weather. In this newsletter, we will again be entertained by the interesting reports of the recent club outings. Even in the cold and windy Highlands our fearless members are out and about looking for elusive wintering birds. Thank you to all the leaders who have contributed to this edition. Whilst out looking during the cooler months it is increasingly difficult to find even the most common of the smaller species. In fact, a very well received theory is that many of our endemic species “fly north for the winter”. This is not always correct. Most of the local birds are still able to be found in the local birding area but they are slightly more difficult to identify as they tend not to call as much and are often not as active while the weather is cold, only becoming more active and vocal as the weather begins to improve. In the Highlands during the cooler months members have reported seeing White Headed Pigeons, Straw-necked Ibis in large numbers, along with large flocks of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. Our Li- ason Officer, Col, appreciates all reports of unusual sightings in and around the Highlands. Please contact him on [email protected] to report your sightings. Many of us already provide a suitable, protected habitat for our native species. By ensuring that there are native plantings and regular fresh water for the birds that visit our gardens we are already con- tributing to a safe habitat but is there more that we could be doing? On 23 May Ms Jenny Schabel addressed our members about her work with the Local Land Services providing Hollows for Habitat. Simply put, this means instead of removing trees that appear to be dead and worthless from many public areas, including parks, we can, with the help of experienced people, modify these trees to provide a protected habitat for birds and mammals. The success of the Swift parrot project in Tasmania is a testament to this idea. Jenny illustrated her talk with slides of arborists using a variety of techniques to provide nesting plac- es for our native species. In some cases, the arborists attached purpose built boxes to trees in local parks. In other cases, they were able to skilfully, using chainsaws, prepare nesting places which rep- licated hollows that could be found in trees. All of these nesting spots were then able to be monitored to gauge their success. Many of these techniques can be replicated in suburban back yards to provide refuge for birds and animals. There are many plans available on the internet for building boxes suita- ble for a variety of local birds and mammals. These can be built by any handy person. http:// www.birdsinbackyards.net/Nest-Box-Plans The week following our meeting with Jenny, Wingecarribee Council held a nesting box work- shop at Mansfield Park. Some of our members were able to attend that workshop. Nesting box- es have been installed in the park area to be monitored by Council staff and volunteers. Nest- ing boxes have also been installed on trees along the Bong Bong Cycle path which can easily been seen as you walk along the pathway. Our special thanks to Jenny for sharing her time and expertise with our group. A special welcome to all the new members since our last newsletter. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of you at a recent outing and I look forward to meeting all new members soon. Jenny Schabel speaking to members and guests By Erna Llenore

August 2017 2

Lake Alexandra Reserve Walk, behind the Mit- tagong Pool and Recreation Centre Walk organiser Helen Erskine reports

19 February 2017. Three intrepid, early morning walkers – Linda, Louise and Christine - joined me after the hailstorms of the previous day and the threat of more rain. A wet walk became increasingly unlikely, fortunately for us! “We few, we happy few!” Once we had all gathered, we headed down the path toward the northwest. There were Kookabur- ras, Grey Butcherbirds and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos all calling. We also heard some Noisy Min- ers as we left. Along the walk, we saw Magpies, Grey and Rufous Fantails, King Parrots, White-throated and Red- browed Treecreepers, as well as White-eared and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Brown and Striated Thornbills.

The White-eared honeyeater was first described by From the left: Louise, Helen and Christine trying to English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 as Turdus identify the call. Photo by Linda Hoelle leucotis. It has been reclassified several times. Photo by Helen Erskine

Spotted Pardalotes, Eastern Yellow Robins and White-browed Scrubwrens were on the way, which wandered above the creek. There were some sounds we could not identify, but when the sun came out, many birds moved about the sun- ny patch – including Grey Fantails, Rufous Fan- tails, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Corellas, a Grey Shrike-thrush and a small group of White- eared Honeyeaters. We stood, enjoying the fren- zy of activity here, until it was time to return to the carpark. 20 species were noted and a Pied Currawong saw us leaving the area. Species list: Laughing Kookaburra, Grey Butcherbird, Noisy Miner, Australian Magpies, Brown Thornbills, East- Eastern Spinebill by Helen Erskine ern Spinebills, Crimson Rosella, White-eared Honeyeaters, Spotted Pardalote, White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Yellow Robin, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Striated Thornbill, King Parrots, Sul- phur-crested Cockatoos, Rufous Fantails, Grey Fantails, Little Corellas, White-browed Scrubwren, Golden Whistler young, Pied Currawong. (Apologies to Helen. This trip report was overlooked for the last newsletter—Editor)

August 2017 3

Liaison Officer’s Report Col Kohlhagen

BirdLife Logos and Badges

At the 2017 BirdLife Australia Branch Forum, held in Melbourne during the last week of May, the Na- tional Executive devoted a considerable amount of time to stressing the importance of Branches making sure the organisation was “visible” in the community. The profile of BirdLife Southern Highlands has been raised over the years and our branch logo now appears on signage around the area. E.g. interpretative signs at Cecil Hoskins and at the Boardman Road Drainage Ponds. However, individual members can do much by wearing the logo with pride as they are out and about:

Bill Plastic Name Badges Smith

Embroidered Logo Sew-on Cloth Badges

Branch T-Shirts with Branch Logo These are available from Highlands Work Wear at 115 Lackey Road, Mittagong. The Branch adopted Navy Blue, Royal Blue and Green in the Biz Collection as their official style. Embroidered Logos Highlands Work Wear will also embroider the Branch Logo directly onto other items such as shirts, jumpers and spray jackets, provided either by Highlands Work Wear, or pre-purchased from other outlets by the member. This costs about $8.00. Sew-on Cloth Badges For difficult to embroider items such as back packs, binocular cases, the Branch has a supply of cloth badges which can be sewn on my hand or glued in place. They are usually available at Member and Guest Speaker Nights and cost $5.00 Plastic Name Badges

August 2017 4

BLSH Bird List

One of the earliest publications produced by this group was a bird list for the local area which was put together when we were still operating as a Bird Observation and Conservation Australia [BOCA] branch. Peter Dewey, one of our founding members, compiled a list of potential sightings based on the Bird Atlas of Australia’s one degree grid which took in most of the Wingecarribee Shire and adjoining ar- eas. The Bird Atlas of Australia was first produced in the 1980s and updated by Birds Australia [BA] in 2003. BOCA and BA merged in 2012 to become BirdLife Australia [BLA] and we now function as branch of the merged body. When BirdLife Southern Highlands came into existence, our branch was allocated all centres in the post code range of 2570-2580.

Last year, BLA updated Birdata, its digital recording system, where bird atlassers from all around Australia lodge their records. One of the great advances in the new systems is its capacity to generate a map of each branch area and a list of species found there. The designated BLSH Branch Area currently takes in all or part of the local government areas of Goulburn- Mulwaree, Lachlan, Oberon, Cam- den, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, and Shoalhaven Shires, but the area covered does not completely equate with the established geographic re- gion known as the Southern High- lands of New South Wales. The Birdata System is now able to produce maps and other data for all the individual species recorded across our branch area. However, our branch area now covers a far greater area than that covered by Peter Dewey’s original list. Along with Peter, a handful of our more experienced birders recently attempted to both update and refine the BLSH list so that it is more help- ful to our members and a more valid indication of what birdwatchers might expect to see in our area. A few of the species listed by Birdata are obviously extremely rare va- grants or in some cases may be aviary escapees which have been recorded only once or twice since the Birdata system was created. Therefore in compiling the list for use by to BLSH members, the Birdata-based list has been adjust- ed to account for local knowledge and experience. The BLSH list will be reviewed regularly in re- sponse to changes in habitat and distribution as reflected by Birdata records. The status rating of the 260+ species listed has also been improved. Within the region defined by Birdata as being the administrative area of the BirdLife Southern Highlands Branch, the current sta- tus of species is shown thus:

August 2017 5

C = Common [Abundant, and regularly seen across the entire area]

U = Uncommon [Less abundant and only occasionally seen] R = Rare Species [Seen only by chance or if using specific information about recent sightings] ER = Extremely Rare [Rarely seen even when very narrow habitat and seasonal conditions prevail] H = Require specific Habitat s = Seasonal Visitor Peter’s original list, and the 2017 updated version, were produced as a guide, and not as a definitive statement, and by its very nature, the BLSH List is somewhat subjective and will in some cases, con- tinue to change. However, the data set for each species available from Birdata now provides a more scientific basis on which to work. The challenge now for all of us is to undertake and encourage more bird surveys, especially in the western sector of our branch area so that the maps and graphs become more statistically sound. The data set for Jacky Winters, for example, suggests there have been a large number of surveys under- taken in the north near Camden, the eastern half of the Branch area has been well covered but the western section needs more bird surveys.

The full list can be seen on the branch webpage on the BLA Website at www.birdlife.org.au by follow- ing the links to:  Branches and Locations [at the bottom of the BLA Home Page]  New South Wales  BirdLife Southern Highlands  Publications

August 2017 6

Kell’s Creek / Box Vale Track Outing This walk was held on 3 May 2017 and led by Peter Dewey.

In his details of the walk he describes the area where Kell’s Creek crosses the Box Vale Walking Track and surrounds as “a great area for just looking and listening. Expect to sit quietly and ob- serve, or walk a few kilometres along the fire trail or through cuttings on the disused coal mining rail track.” Talking to a number of members who attended it was a very enjoyable walk and as promised Peter shared his expertise on the area that he has been spent much time visiting and studying. It was also a very well attended walk as the accompanying photos show. – Editor

Some of the members at Kell’s Creek. By Helen Erskine Peter Dewey sharing his knowledge. By Helen Erskine

Female Scarlet Robin. By Erna Llenore What do you think it is? By Helen Erskine

Those bird's are high and the light is against them. By Helen Erskine

August 2017 7

Picton Weir Outing, 21 MAY 2017 Report and images by walk organiser Sandra Reynolds.

After wet weather during the week, Sunday 21 May proved to be perfect weather for our bird watch- ing walk on the Picton Weir Track. A small group of six members and one visitor attended the walk with a couple of cancellations on the day. Four members met at Bargo Railway Station, the balance waiting at the park at the bottom of road leading up to the walk. Those waiting at the park had already started their morning with Fairy Wrens, Eastern Rosellas, Galah, Magpie and an Eastern Whipbird. No sooner had we parked our cars up the road near the start of the track than a Yellow-faced Hon- eyeater was spotted and a Peaceful Dove. A small flock of Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters also made an appearance landing on the fence just near us, giving those with cameras a photo opportunity.

Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters Orange coloured rock

Other Birds spotted or heard during the walk were: Eastern Spinebills, Red Wattlebirds, White- browed Scrubwrens, Striated Thornbills, New Holland Honeyeaters, Noisy Miners, Golden Whistlers, Crimson Rosellas, Grey Shrike-Thrush, Fantail Cuckoo, Grey Fantail, Australian Ravens, Red-browed Finch, Pied Currawong, White-throated Treecreeper. At approximately the same spot as last year we again heard a Lyrebird giving many different calls. This year it was on the same side of the river as us but in the bush where we couldn’t see it but could certainly hear it. This walk is an easy walk though in our time frame we don’t reach the weir. When not looking at birds we admired the plants, river and rock formations on both sides of the river, one orange coloured rock attracting a lot of attention. As we arrived back at our cars it was noticed with interest that through the tree, across the track, we could see the outline of the moon framed between branches.

Some of the participants enjoying the Picton Weir walk

August 2017 8

Visit to North Thailand Report and images by Nigel Hartley- 2017

I n February this year I visited North Thailand with a birdwatching friend from England. I have bird- ed in Thailand on a few occasions but always knew the North Thailand mountains held probably the most exciting birding in the country. We flew into Chiang Rai at about 2pm on 15 February and were met by our excellent guide, ‘Green’, and driven up to our first hotel at Mae Kok near Thaton marshes. Our itinerary took in Doi Lang, Doi Angkhang and finally the most famous of the mountains, Doi Inthanon. Before arriving at our excellent hotel, Mae Kok Resort, we stopped for some evening birding at Tha- ton Marsh and had excellent views of Pied Harrier and Bluethroat.

DOI LANG EAST I had thought that Doi Inthanon was the number 1 birding spot in North Thailand but I was wrong , it was Doi Lang that was the holy grail. We made a very early 5am start and after a long drive ar- rived at the bridge into the Doi Lang East area about 7am, when breakfast and coffee were broken out. We were at about 1,100 metres here and soon drove slowly up to the top of the park at about 2,060 metres. The birding just took off. The holy trilogy of birds here are the Silver-eared Laughing Thrush, the Spectacled Barwing, and the Scarlet-faced Liocichla, and we saw all three within 10 minutes. There was also a Chestnut-throated Partridge, Dark-backed Sibia, Yellow Fantail, Marten’s and Da- vidson’s Leaf Warblers, Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, Himalayan Bluetail, Short-billed Minivet and Rufous- gorgeted Flycatcher. This was one of the best hours birding I have ever had in Asia.

Scarlet-faced Liocichla

August 2017 9

Spectacled Barwing We drove to the edge of the park and saw the local Fire-tailed Sunbird and then worked our way back and spent more time at the summit. It was already lunchtime and over sandwiches we added Mountain Hawk Eagle, Pale Blue and Tickell’s Blue Flycatchers, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker and many other birds before wending our way back down the mountain, before finally seeing the elusive Blue-bearded Bee Eater further down the mountain. DOI LANG WEST The next morning we were up with the nightjars again and headed for Doi Lang West on the Bur- mese border. We needed to be there early to see Hume’s Pheasant and Mountain Bamboo Partridge and we then moved to the border where Green knew of a Hodgson’s Frogmouth. We actually walked into Burma and saw a few birds there including Crimson-breasted Woodpecker and Spot-winged Grosbeak. A Rusty-naped Pitta jumped across the road and gave us brief views.

Ultamarine Flycatcher

August 2017 10

We worked our way back along the road and ran into a number of Taiwanese photographers with humungous cameras and lenses, complete with tripods. There was great excitement when a Spot-billed Parrotbill came in and then in quick succession we saw Ultramarine Flycatcher, a flock of Himalayan Cutia, White-bellied Redstart, Slaty-blue Flycatch- er, Siberian Rubythroat and a Hill Prinia.

Hill Prinia Siberian Rubythroat

We wound our way back to the hotel for a well earned cold beer or two and some delicious Thai food. The following morning we visited the Thaton marshes again and saw two local Buntings , Yellow- breasted and Chestnut-eared, before moving on to Doi Angkhang. DOI ANGKHANG Doi Angkhang is at about 1,800 metres and in an area of ridges and valleys with pine trees and tea plantations. In the pines we saw Giant Nuthatch and White-browed Scimitar Babbler. We moved down past the tea plantations and past a village built on the side of a mountain where everyone spoke Mandarin. We saw a local White-capped Water Redstart. The birding was not as exciting as Doi Lang but the local markets were fun with Thai snacks and lots of hustle and bustle. That afternoon we worked down the valley and were pleased to find an Emerald Cuckoo, always an elusive bird in Asia. Himala- yan Buzzard was also new. The next morning we drove out via the same valley and at last saw a Speckled Piculet. After a long drive we approached Chiang Mai and saw a Burmese Nuthatch, much to Green’s excitement. We lunched in Chiang Mai, Green’s home town and then continued our long drive to Doi Inthanon, non drivers napping for a minute or two.

Burmese Nuthatch

August 2017 11

Late afternoon we approached Doi Inthanon and were lucky to see a Black-backed Forktail on a stream on the lower slopes. DOI INTHANON

Doi Inthanon is famous for its summit trails at about 2,560 metres. We drove up the mountain past a beautiful temple, and reached the summit at about 730am. Time was a bit tight but we saw a good cross section of mountain species, Green-tailed Sunbird, Chestnut-tailed Minla, White-browed Shortwing and Pygmy Wren Babbler.

Slaty-legged Crake

The highlight was no doubt a Slaty-legged Crake, which we had excellent views of. From there we had to dash to Chiang Mai to say farewell to Green, our brilliant guide, and fly on to Bangkok.

Limestone Wren Babbler

August 2017 12

KHAO YAI NATIONAL PARK

We were met by our new guide, nicknamed Poo, and rushed off to try to see a Limestone Wren Bab- bler before dusk at a temple near Saraburi, called Wat Phra Phuttabath Noi. The babblers luckily obliged and two bounced down the limestone behind the temple. It was dark 15 minutes later and we then drove on to the village of Khao Yai where we had a de- lightful hotel almost to ourselves. We found out that the myriad hotels were basically empty during the week but full to bursting at the weekend with Bangkok residents and their families enjoying a country escape. In the morning we headed off at about 6am to enter Khao Yai National Park at opening time. We saw a lovely pair of Silver Pheasants and then stopped at a fruiting tree where we looked unsuc- cessfully for Fruit Pigeons but did see a lovely Heart-spotted Woodpecker. We then stopped for breakfast after hearing a Blue Pitta and our patience was rewarded when the Pitta bounded out of the undergrowth.

Blue Pitta

This beautiful park is famous for its Silver Pheasants but it was also refreshing to see some mam- mals. In the North when we asked after mammals were we told they had all been eaten. Here we saw Muntjac, Sambar Deer, Variable Squirrel and best of all White Handed Gibbons. We didn’t see many more birds in the afternoon but a drive up to a lookout did yield another Silver Pheasant and a Plain-tailed Warbler. The final morning we lucked into a Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo on the road and after a long walk found a flock of Austen’s Brown Hornbills. During the long drive back to Bangkok Airport we reflected on a very enjoyable and fun week in one of the richest bird areas in Thailand, and in fact all of Asia.

New Members We welcome the following people who have joined in the last 3 months Peter Meredith Alan Edwards Leon Nielsen Celia Finnimore

August 2017 13

Charleston Dam Outing Walk leader Peter Dewey reports

7 BLSH members had a great visit to Charleston Dam on 18 June The weather was perfect with no wind and a soft light. The trees were bare and so the only birds were on the water and as the dam was full there were no waders but the ducks were brilliant. Blue- bills, Musk and Pink-eared in profusion, with everything in between just lazing on the water and easy to view. We did learn something in that cygnets cannot fly until 160 to 180 days and then the parents moult all the flight feathers and have to stay put for about 3 to 4 weeks while the new feathers grow, which explains why so many adults are often seen together on large expanses of water. One bird seen at about 600 metres for a few seconds was thought to be a Brown Falcon but photos showed it to be a Peregrine Falcon. Perhaps cameras do have a place! We are so fortunate that the land owners allow BLSH to enter their land to visit the dam and this privilege must never be abused.

Peter’s explanation-Grey Teal in the background, From left front-male Australasian Shoveler, two grebes with yellow eyes that makes them Australasian, Eurasian Coot, Pink-eared Ducks and another Eurasian Coot. The two grebes are very similar in winter clothes. Photo by Erna Llenore. A Little Help Needed. Admin Officer Erna Llenore writes

Hi everyone. I’m experiencing a bit of a shortage of volunteers to help with supper after members’ meetings. Almost all of those who volunteered earlier in the year have already assisted with supper this year, and I’m reluctant to ask them to do it a second time - particularly since many of them al- ready perform other functions in the club. Helping with supper is quite easy…Christine has written some instructions and brings a crate with the supplies (other than the food itself). A number of us have done supper in the past and will hap- pily provide support. Two volunteers for each meeting is ideal. If you would be willing to help us with this please contact me on: [email protected] Oh and by the way…men are not excluded! Thank you

August 2017 14

Bungonia National Park Outing Walk leader Sandy Berry reports This mid-winter (5 July) outing to a new venue for BLSH attracted 21 participants. Several common birds of farmland and road- verge were spotted from the cars along the road from Bungonia village to the National Park. The first stop in the National Park was the De Kerril- leau Picnic Area. From there we walked some of the Green Track through limestone country with open vegetation, and the more wooded Orange Track. The birds eluded us until the sun came out at about 10:30 a.m. then suddenly there were numerous sightings of thornbills, Eastern Yellow Robins and honeyeaters. At about 11:00 a.m. we moved on to the picnic area by the spectacular Adams Lookout for morning tea. Those who were in the right place at the right time sighted a Wedge-tailed Eagle. Unfortunate- ly, after morning tea the wind picked up and the birds once more became elusive. Several people stayed on for lunch, making use of the barbeque Female Scarlet Robin Photo by Christine Kelly provided by NPWS. The general feeling of the group was that we must visit Bungonia National Park again, perhaps in the springtime.

Birds observed between Bungonia village and Bungonia National Park Australian Wood Duck, Australian Raven, Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eastern Rosella, Magpie -Lark, Australian Magpie, White-faced Heron, White-winged Chough, Straw-necked Ibis.

Male Scarlet Robin Photo by Christine Kelly Female White-throated Treecreeper (note the ochre spot on the neck) Photo by Nigel Hartley

Birds observed or heard in Bungonia National Park Laughing Kookaburra, Australian Raven, Eastern Yellow Robin, White-throated Treecreeper, Grey Fantail, Brown Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, Superb Lyrebird, White-eared Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Scarlet Rob- in, Grey Fantail, Grey Shrike-thrush, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Eastern Spinebill.

Now, where have they gone? Photo by Simon Robinson

August 2017 15

Trip to the Farne Islands Val Cooper writes about a wonderful recent trip

We set off from a place called “Seahouses” on the north-east coast of England to visit the Farne Is- lands – a trip which took only about twenty minutes. All the birds seem to congregate mainly on one island. Most of these are Guillemots (hundreds) situ- ated on rocky outcrops near the water. Amongst these were a few Razorbills, similar in colour and size to a Guillemot but with a bigger and different shaped bill. As we alighted on the small island we encoun- tered many Arctic Terns nesting on the grass and quite upset at this intrusion (could not blame them!) We did see the odd Sandwich Tern with the crazy hairstyle amongst them! Then there were my favourites!! Just a few me- tres away on the grass and rocks the Puffins! I had seen them before but from quite a distance so this was such a treat. The area was roped off but we felt we were amongst them and they did not appear troubled by the people there. After some time we reluctantly left these “Clowns of the Sea”, invested in the “puffin cards” at the shop and said goodbye to the many lovely birds of this island, hoping the photographs would be to our liking when we finally made it home!! Research Abstract

Michael and Sarah Guppy were guest speakers at BLSH in late 2016. Below is an abstract of a paper written by them and P. Fullager, taken from Australian Field Ornithol- ogy which is a quarterly journal published by BirdLife Australia. BirdLife Australia members can access all new articles and previous issues simply by logging in to the Australian Field Ornithology website with your username and password.

Parasitism strategies of the Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis

M. Guppy, S. Guppy, P. Fullagar pp. 59-66 Abstract The Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis inhabits thick forest, and nothing is known about how it finds the nests of its hosts, or whether it monitors the nests that it does find. We studied this cuckoo, and its hosts, for 8 breeding seasons between 2007 (August 2007–January 2008 inclusive) and 2014 (August 2014–January 2015 inclusive) on a 10-ha site in a coastal forest of south-eastern Australia, near Moruya, New South Wales. For three of these seasons, nests were monitored with cameras. The Cuckoo was recorded at the nests of only its four putative hosts at the site (White- browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis, Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla, Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus and Variegated Fairy-wren M. lamberti). It parasitised only the nests of the White-browed Scrubwren and Brown Thornbill, but it removed either eggs or young from all other nests at which it was recorded. There was no correlation between any measure of nest activity for a host species, and parasitism of that species, and cameras at nests recorded no evidence of nest monitoring by the Cuckoo. We conclude that individual Cuckoos may be hostspecific, and that the parasitism strategy is enigmatic, but is possibly haphazard and inefficient. As a result, the Fantailed Cuckoo finds most host nests too late for successful parasitism, it spoils them to re-instigate building, and is by default a major nest-predator.

August 2017 16

Worth Viewing 1.The magpie-lark is a musical genius with a surprising talent http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160803-the- strange-reason-magpie-larks-dance-when- nobody-is-looking

2. Thirlmere Lakes is a venue that BLSH members visit for a bird walk.

This video gives an aerial perspective of the 5 lakes. Created by Tony Markham. https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFpXUhO2gvo See his Flickr site for more images https:// www.flickr.com/photos/tony_markham/ sets/72157683118050541

3. Eurobodalla’s Whales and Birds

For those members going on the Moruya Camp this video may be of interest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5-26MNJ9-0

4.Inside Birding: Behaviour

https://www.youtube.com/watch? time_continue=456&v=owZ6bonrOjA This video is from a series of 5 videos produced by LabofOrnithology. It is about North American birds but the theory is the same. Others in the series include: Inside Birding: Size and shape, Inside Birding: Behaviour, Inside Birding: Colour Pattern and Inside Birding: Habitat.

August 2017 17

Lake Nerrigorang – Thirlmere Lakes National Park, 16 July 2017 Walk leader Jennie Wiles reports

A frosty morning didn’t discourage 10 members and a visitor from Hunter Bird Observers Club who had seen information about the BLSH bird walk on the BirdLife website. A gorgeous little bird, the Scarlet Honeyeater, started off the bird sightings. Not just one but a family of three who entertained us for a while! A number of birds were calling but it took a while for many of them to show themselves. In the meantime, a luminous moss (Polytrichadelphus magellanicus), down a wombat’s tunnel had eve- ryone fascinated. A quick visit to the edge of Lake Nerrigorang brought no sightings of birds but showed how little water was in the lake. We enjoyed morning tea in the sun in the compa- ny of a family of Superb Fairy-wrens. After that we followed the track around the edge of the lake where an Olive –backed Oriole was seen (who hadn’t heard it should have migrated for winter). At one point I said “I can hear a bird chewing.” Scarlett Honeyeater Photo by Erna Llenore Geraldine thought it amusing and replied “I can hear one swallowing.” Along the track a lovely grove of banksias contained a variety of fast moving birds, mainly honeyeaters. On the final part of the circuit walk a Rockwarbler showed itself on the dirt road.

Luminous moss down a wombat tunnel Photo by Rockwarbler Photo by Linda Hoelle Louise Egerton

Species list:- Lake Couridjah -Hardheads Lake Nerrigorang- Sul- phur-crested Cockatoo, Scarlet Honeyeater, Striat- ed Thornbill, Crimson Rosella, Yellow-faced Hon- eyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Superb Fairy-wren, Pied Currawong, White-browed Scrubwren (h), Grey Fantail, White-throated Treecreeper, Olive- backed Oriole, Pacific Black Duck (h), New Holland Honeyeater, Eastern Rosella, Brown Thornbill, White-naped Honeyeater, Spotted Pardalote, Yel- low Robin, Rockwarbler, Lewin’s Honeyeater. /22 Enjoying morning tea in the sun Photo by Jennie Wiles

August 2017 18

Members’ Photography The theme is “Don’t you hate queuing”

Next edition’s theme is “Does my bum look big in this?”. Other contributions are very welcome.

Cape Sparrows queuing for a drink in Namibia Photo by Alan Edwards

Little Corellas Qld Photo by Linda Hoelle Their playfulness had already destroyed the previous flags used to warn the medical helicopter of power lines near the hospital. New flags were put up and the attached shot was taken shortly afterwards.

Mum, Dad and Cygnets Photo by Frank Carey

August 2017 19

Mainly Avocets queuing at Bicentennial Park Photo by Erna Llenore

Pelicans Phot by Paddy Donkin

Wood Duck Family Photo by Helen Erskine

August 2017 20

Zebra Finches at Newhaven Reserve Rosellas Photo by Linda Hoelle Photo by Jennie Wiles

People queue Photo by Erna Llenore

Pelicans Photo by Helen Erskine White-plumed Honeyeaters Photo by Helen Erskine

Bar-tailed Godwits at Narooma Photo by Paddy Donkin

August 2017 21

Wattlebird Photo by Peter Meredith Grey Goshawk Photo by Angela Towndrow Budderoo National Park a few years ago. I'd just driven in and parked when this wattle bird flew in through my open side window and perched on my steering wheel. I thought it might be checking the inside of my wind- screen for insects. It didn't stay long.

Newsletter contributions BLSH Committee If you would like to contribute an article to President Christine Kelly the newsletter, please contact Jennie Wiles at [email protected] Liaison Col Kohlhagen Conservation Simon Robinson Articles can be on any aspect of birding, or issue related to birding, that may interest Program Peter Madvig other members. Treasurer John Desmond Photos, in jpeg format, are also very wel- Records Graham Olde come. Admin Erna Llenore The deadline for the next newsletter is Newsletter Jennie Wiles 20 October 2017 Committee support Val Cooper Committee support