Birds SA Newsletter No 214 May 2010

Birds SA is the operating name of The South Australian Ornithological Association Inc. c/- South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000

The Aims of the Association are: To promote the conservation of Australian birds and their habitats. To encourage interest in, and develop knowledge of, the birds of . To record the results of research in regard to all aspects of bird life. To maintain a public fund called the "Birds SA Conservation Fund" for the specific purpose of supporting the Association’s environmental objects. PRINT POST APPROVED PP532699/00009

Photos From Members — Some Well Camouflaged Birds

2 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 CONTENTS SAOA COMMITTEE 2010- 2011 Birds SA Notes & News ...... oo oo•········oo .. .4 President Jeremy Robertson 8278 1217 Miscellaneous Items 000000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00006 Vice President Stuart Hull 8391 0007 Giving them Wings ...... 00 ... 00 ...... 7 Vice President Rodney Attwood 8264 1527 Past and Future Meetings 0000 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00000000.8 Secretary Brian Blaylock 8370 3349 Treasurer Brian Walker 8263 3433 Past Excursions 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0000 00 00 00 0010 Assistant Secretary Robert Rowland 83881790 Future Excursions 00 00 00 00 0000 00 00 00 00 0000 00 00 00 0012 Journal Editor John Hatch 8362 2820 Bird Records ...... 00 00 ...... 00 .. 00. 00 0000. 00 .13 Newsletter Editor Cynthia Pyle 8264 5778 News from the Library 0000000000000000000000000016 Field Program Coordinator Trevor Cowie 8263 2531 Photo Pages 00 00 00. 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0018 Bird Record Secretary Colin Rogers 8336 3325 Since Penny Paton is away, there is no SAOA Member Lou Bartley-Clements 0418858037 HISTORICAL SERIES article. Member Merinda Hyland 83373616 Member David Robertson 8278 7866

DIARY Member Merilyn Browne 8339 6839 Following is a list of Birds SA activities for the next few months. Further details of all these activities are given later in the newsletter. OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS Librarian Karen Donkin 0402123960 May30 Sunday Excursion to Winninowie CP Image Librarian John Spiers 8333 0272 ********** email john_ b_ [email protected] June 12 Saturday Excursion to Narrinyeri Hills Ongoing Atlas Pat Bowie 8278 6048 June 17 Thursday Excursion to Kaiser Stuhl CP June 25 Friday General Meeting June 27 Sunday Excursion to Nurragi CP RELATED ASSOCIATIONS Birds South-east ********** Chair Bryan Haywood 8726 8112 July 10 Saturday Excursion to Jenkins Scrub Publicity Officer Bob Green 8725 0549 July 15 Thursday Excursion to Kenneth Stirling CP Email [email protected] July 30 Friday Winter Members' Night Fleurieu Birdwatchers Contact Person Judith Dyer 8555 2736 ********** Email [email protected] August 1 Sunday Excursion to Anstey Hill Augl4 Saturday Excursion to Scott CP WEBSITE www.birdssa.asn.au Aug 19 Thursday Excursion to Brown's Rd. Monarto Aug27 Friday General Meeting 2010 SAOA SUBSCRIPTIONS Aug29 Sunday Excursion to Rocky Gully Single membership $45 Family/household membership $55 Cover Photo: Brolgas, photographed by Teresa Jack Single concession* $40 on 19/04/10, at from Magpie Road SE. Family/household concession* $50 Student members (full-time students under 25 years) $10 General meetings are held in the Hawker Centre at the *Pensioners and people experiencing financial hardship can Waite Institute, Waite Road, Urrbrae at 7.45pm. Doors obtain concessions. Apply in writing to the Treasurer, Birds SA. open at 7. OOpm. Committee meetings are held at the above venue on the ABN 76 339 976 789 second Monday ofeach month, starting at 7.30pm. ADVERTISING IN THE Birds SA NEWSLETTER SAOA relies on the integrity of advertisers for the quality and Donations to the Birds SA Conservation Fund nature of their products and services. We cannot guarantee are tax-deductible them. Advertising is charged as follows: $1.00 per line, up to $20.00 per quarter page and JOe per inserted leaflet (single New Members sheet). The committee reserves the right to lower or waive these fees. We welcome a pleasing number of 19 new members who have recently joined the Association. Their names are COPY DEADLINE listed on p9. Copy for the August Newsletter is due by the July General Meeting (July 30). Contributions, 'Word' format preferred, can be made on CD, or emailed to either of my email addresses:

• cynthia [email protected] • [email protected]

or typed/handwritten neatly. Printed by Abbott Printers and Stationer

Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 3 Birds SA Notes & News

BIRDS SA Honorary Membership American migratory shorebirds at Pardalote occurred in the upper The Constitution of Birds SA allows the Universidad de la Republica in southeast of South Australia and in for the election of up to ten Honorary Uruguay from 1994-97. October 1965 confirmed with Mr Members. Those elected hold that His research is museum-based Herb Condon (then Curator of Birds privilege for life. The present evolutionary biology especially in at the South Australian Museum) that Honorary Members are: the integration of systematics, the Western Whipbird occurred at Robert F. (Bob) Brown, Dr Andrew population genetics, phylogeography, Pondalowie Bay. For four years Max Black, Dr David Paton AM, Penny biogeography and ecology of worked as an Honorary Assistant to Paton AM and Dr Richard Schodde Australian and Neotropical birds, Mr Herb Condon virtually on a full OAM. All have been elected to (e.g. habitat specialisation; time basis. Honorary Membership on the basis migration; host specificity in brood Max recalls with some distaste the of their outstanding contributions in parasites). He maintains a special unsavoury work of banding the field of ornithology. Birds SA is interest in phylogeography, Cormorants but with pleasure the proud to be in a position to recognise conservation and natural history. voluntary work he did with inmates outstanding contributions made by its From May 1997 to June 2005 he was from the Magill Reformatory Honorary Members. Assistant Curator, and then Chair, teaching the boys the skills necessary Your Management Committee has Department of Ornithology, to set and operate banding nets identified a further four persons for Academy of Natural Sciences, In 1990 he received a Medal of the Honorary Membership on the basis Philadelphia (Acting Chair Order of Australia (OAM) for his of their outstanding contributions in December 1997 to September 1999). service to ornithology. the field of ornithology and will Since November 2005 he has been Max has published articles in the allocate part of our normal General the Director, Australian National South Australian Ornithologist, The Meeting on 25th June 2010 as a Wildlife Collection, CSIRO, Australian Bird Bander, Corella and Special General Meeting at which Canberra. Emu. these four persons can be confirmed Leo has published over 130 papers as Honorary Members. For each of and reviews. LYNN PHILIP PEDLER the candidates, the Constitution A childhood interest in birds requires the approval of two thirds of MAXWELL HOWARD included trying to identify species the attendees at the Special Meeting. WATERMAN OAM using Cayley’s ‘What Bird is That?’ The four candidates are: Max Waterman joined the South The best reference then available. Dr Leo Joseph Australian Ornithological Soon after leaving school in 1973 Lynn Pedler Association in the 1950s. He was a Lynn joined the SAOA where he was Max Waterman member of the Management advised by Bob Brown to attend Graham Carpenter Committee for many years and was excursions and campouts and to Citations for each of these candidates Treasurer for four years. report observations. He was also follow From 1961 to 1996 Max was the encouraged by Shane Parker to help Rodney Attwood Regional Organiser of the Australian fill gaps in knowledge of the Bird and Bat Banding Scheme distribution and taxonomy of LEO GEORGE JOSEPH (ABBBS), in South Australia. As Australian birds and to support this Leo first became associated with The coordinator of bander training, and as with detailed data and specimens SAOA as a teenage student in 1971. a valued technical adviser to the where needed. He has provided He completed a Bachelor of Science ABBBS, he was an important link hundreds of specimens to the South (majoring in Zoology and Genetics), between working banders and the Australian Museum either as at the University of Adelaide, South ABBBS. He is probably South salvaged road kills or collected by Australia in 1979 and an Honours Australia’s most prolific bander, with permit. In collaboration with Dick degree in Genetics, also from the over 350,000 bandings attributed to Schodde and more recently with Leo University of Adelaide, in 1981. In him and his team during his active Joseph he has provided tissue 1994 he was awarded a Ph.D. from period from December 1961 until the samples for DNA research to CSIRO the Department of Zoology, early 1990s. He was Vice-President Australian National Wildlife University of . His (1965-1966) and President (1967) of Collection. doctoral thesis was entitled “A The Bird Banders’ Association of Lynn’s photographs of birds have molecular approach to species Australia. been used extensively in many diversity and evolution in eastern Through his banding activities in articles and publications. Through his Australian rainforest birds”. He September 1963 he established that efforts in investigating various clues undertook postdoctoral research on the eastern Australian race and reports of grasswrens from the Phylogeny, evolution of migration (Pardalotus striatus striatus, Yellow- Flinders and Gawler Ranges and and population structure in South tipped Pardalote) of the Striated much searching of likely habitats

4 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 Birds SA Notes & News (cont) over some years has resulted in a plans for various government and early 80s. This may well be better understanding of the Short- agencies and has written and/or co- largely due to loss of habitat along tailed Grasswren. In 2008 the Gawler authored many articles for the South the flyways between the northern Ranges subspecies was named in his Australian Ornithologist. hemisphere breeding grounds and honour – Amytornis merrotsyi their summer destinations in the pedleri Migratory Shorebirds southern hemisphere. The situation is In 1995 he began working with Conservation and Management extremely serious for some species. Glossy Black–Cockatoos on Workshop, May 5th 2010 I came away from the workshop Kangaroo Island with the project The Adelaide and Mount Lofty knowing that Birds SA has a vital initiated by Terry Dennis (following Ranges Natural Resources role to play in advocacy with respect brief participation in Leo Joseph’s Management Board (NRM) to the protection and maintenance of earlier surveys). Success in organised a Workshop held at the migratory shorebird habitats in Gulf increasing cockatoo numbers is ‘Watershed Function Centre’ in the St Vincent and that the ongoing through reducing possum predation Greenfields on May 5th. I involvement of our members in the in nests. This work continues part- was invited to speak at the Workshop annual 2020 shorebird count is time, maintaining nests and artificial on behalf of Birds SA. The NRM had critical. If you are not yet involved in hollows and identifying long-term targeted an interesting range of this and wish to take part please trends from over 350 cockatoos organisations to attend this workshop make yourself known to Trevor banded as nestlings, by reading band including Councils, Government Cowie who will be delighted to bring numbers with a telescope. agencies, Developers, private you into the project. Lynn is currently a member of the landholders and business The workshop was an excellent Birds SA Vetting and Rare Birds representatives. The speakers were opportunity for me to meet and talk Sub-committee. He has written arranged by Birds Australia and apart to people who I would not normally and/or co-authored many articles for from me representing Birds SA there interact with and to learn something the South Australian Ornithologist, were speakers from about how the problems we may the World Wide Fund for Nature and representing Melbourne Water, Parks soon face at Dry Creek and government departments. Victoria and Birds Australia and elsewhere have been tackled from South Australia Delta interstate. GRAHAM ALFRED Environmental Consulting (Authors Rod Attwood CARPENTER of ‘Shorebird Management and Vice President Conservation Graham Carpenter joined The SAOA Conservation Report’ copies of as a junior in 1977. At that time there which are now held in our Library). were a number of younger members The morning was taken up with in the Association, which has led to presentation from the interstate many long lasting friendships and speakers who reported on the eventful field trips to such iconic challenges tackled at the Werribee birding areas as the Gawler Ranges. Sewage Treatment Works and at the He obtained a Bachelor of Science abandoned Cheetham Salt degree (Botany and Zoology) from Evaporation . The the University of Adelaide in 1985. encroachment of the urban His main interest is in bird habitats environment into what had become and their distribution. Graham was prime Migratory Shorebird habitat Bird Records Secretary of the was, and is, a matter or real concern Association from 1985 to 1995. He matching closely the developing served on the Editorial Panel of the situation in South Australia. South Australian Ornithologist from The afternoon presentation covered 1996 to 2008 and served on the identification and mapping of Committee of Management during Shorebird habitats in Gulf St 2007-2008. He is currently a member Vincent, the threats and opportunities of the Birds SA Vetting and Rare for migratory shorebirds and the Birds Sub-committee. Graham was work done by the many volunteers responsible in part for the latest including those from Birds SA on the edition of the Field List of the Birds Birds Australia annual 2020 of South Australia and has made Shorebird Count Project. available a great deal of his birding It is clear that migratory shorebird knowledge for inclusion in biological numbers are declining in Gulf St survey reports and management Vincent after peaking in the 1970s

Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 5 Miscellaneous Items

NOMAD INVASION OF THE Blue Gum. Many immatures of both estimated, breeding information and CLARE VALLEY DURING woodswallow species were seen. The specific notes against each species LATE OCTOBER TO appearance of a few birds of these and the weather conditions that may NOVEMBER 2009 two species is not uncommon but have influenced the number of During spring 2009 a number of bird these large numbers are. The White- species identified. We record species migrated in large numbers to browed Woodswallows in particular numbers to give a better indication as the Clare Valley no doubt due to the were quite noisy with their to the state of the species in that area. very dry conditions further inland. chatterings. The more sedentary A small number can indicate an Thousands of Black-tailed Native Dusky Woodswallows seemed uncommon species or a vagrant. A Hens were observed, with at least overpowered by so many of their large number may indicate a 2,000 birds grazing around one dam relatives. By mid December the common species or perhaps an adjacent to the Riesling Trail about 8 numbers of the migratory irruption. The weather and the km north of Clare. Many immature woodswallows had decreased to just duration (start and finish) at the time birds were seen which I presume a few but the numbers of Dusky of the observation are just as were hatched in the Valley. Many Woodswallows had also dropped, to important. Wind and rain usually birds became road kill. By early me, below their usual numbers. indicates that not many species will December all the hens had gone. Perhaps their food had been eaten be observed, so a low species and Three species of honeyeaters not down to such a level that they had to individual count is more meaningful usually recorded for the area were migrate back north. if the weather conditions are also seen. Probably hundreds of Every year is different. I can’t wait to reported. As more data is gathered Black and Pied Honeyeaters were see what next year brings. the more useful it becomes for observed, generally feeding together Dave Potter predicting trends. You should include on Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp every species seen or heard. pruinosa (SA Blue Gum) blossom BIRDPEDIA — FIELD TRIP If you frequent a site regularly don’t from 10 km north of Clare to the REPORTS forget to add a report even if you see Polish Hill area. A pair of Black Do you make lists when you go nothing or nothing new. The absence Honeyeater stragglers was also seen birding? Why not let others know of a species is just as important as its feeding on the same subspecies of what you are seeing by posting a presence. Recording organisations SA Blue Gum at Leasingham. This Field Trip report on Birdpedia? like Birds SA and Birds Australia subspecies of SA Blue Gum has a Birdpedia handles two types of Field (Birdata) can use this data to argue long flowering period starting from a Trip Report: for or against inappropriate few in March through to a few First: The most common are those developments or push for protection stragglers flowering in early that concern a particular birding site of a region or species. December. There was a heavy spring (or Reserve as we call them on All Birdpedia members can flowering in 2009 and many Birdpedia). The region for the report communicate directly with the immature Black Honeyeaters were is a defined area and corresponds contributor of the Field Trip Report seen. A local naturalist reported he with one of the birding sites that can via Birdpedia without having to had not seen Black Honeyeaters in be selected in the Reserves section request permission or personal the area for 25 to 30 years. I (see top or left menu). We call these information from Birdpedia. understood that he had never ‘Reserve Field Trips’. Reports that can be downloaded previously seen Pied Honeyeaters in If you cannot find the birding site in include a list of locations (POIs), the area. I had seen two Black the list you can add one. You then complete species lists for a birding Honeyeaters in spring 2008 on a become the initial owner of that site site, single field trips or even a list western ridge. Only a couple of Pied and can help by giving details of how created from merging several field Honeyeaters were seen by mid to get there, advice on locations to trips, Reserve descriptions, etc, in December 2009, feeding on see particular species, upload several different orders and formats. Eremophila longifolia flowers. photographs, etc, of site areas. You A complete list of Birdpedia birding Also seen was the odd White-fronted can add a full description of the site, sites is also available for download Honeyeater and one was helping as an Administrator or as a POI file that can be uploaded photographed sitting on a nest in a Owner to maintain the site. into most GPS devices. dense one metre high olive sapling in Second: This type of field trip covers N.B. If you report species that SA Blue Gum woodland. The nest many aspects/areas (e.g. a drive from members or Special Interest Groups contained three eggs. Clare to Gawler) or an area that are following (e.g. Black-chinned White-browed and Masked cannot be defined, such as your Honeyeater, Hooded Plover, Orange- Woodswallows also appeared in travels, a pelagic seabird trip, or a bellied Parrot, White-bellied Sea many hundreds if not thousands visit to see a particular species, Eagle, Osprey, etc), an email will throughout the whole area. A White- where a travel log has been recorded. automatically be sent alerting them browed Woodswallow was We call these ‘General Field Trips’. of a sighting. photographed on a nest in loosely In both cases you can add a full Martyn Price peeling bark of E. leucoxylon, SA species list with numbers seen or (www.birdpedia.com)

6 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 A message from Rachel Sims, the in the plan. The important actions for important so we can tell if our Communications Coordinator for the next 18 months include: recovery efforts are having an impact the Orange-bellied Parrot • Improving the genetic on the population. Already, Recovery Team. representation of the wild individual birds have been spotted at You may have heard in the media population in the captive Lake Connewarre and the Western that the OBP is not doing as well as population, by bringing new Treatment Plant. This highlights the we’d like. Monitoring by volunteers ‘founder’ individuals in from the importance of doing opportunistic and researchers at key sites indicates wild. Two new birds have already surveys when you can, and not just that there are now only 50 wild been collected from , limiting the search effort to count Orange-bellied Parrots and that the with more captures anticipated on weekends. Immediate notification of species is likely to go extinct in the the mainland this winter. sightings is vital, even a day could wild in the next three to five years. However, the major target will be mean a missed chance to follow up There is a captive population of juveniles produced in Tasmania on sightings. Please contact your around 160 birds; however the next summer. A genetically Regional Coordinator promptly if genetic variation (gene pool) of these healthy captive population is you find OBPs. We will explain the birds is too small for long-term important to allow for re- current situation in more detail at survival of a healthy captive introductions into the wild in the regional workshops (locations and population. future. dates to be confirmed). The support Our goal is therefore to boost the • Attempting to improve the rate of of volunteers as always is highly genetic variation of the captive breeding in the wild in the short valued and extremely important. It is population with the addition of more term. This will help us to capture the quality of data collected by birds, caught from the wild suitable founders for the captive volunteers that helps us to be able to population. In the longer term, a population. Key activities are detect this problem, which gives us a genetically healthy captive likely to include supplementary chance to respond to it. More population gives us the opportunity feeding, managing competition information will be presented to you to release more birds into the wild in for nest boxes, and continuing at a regional workshop just before the future. existing activities and the winter survey season. There will Research suggests that many females implementing new activities also be an article in the next issue of in the wild are not breeding every aimed at improving habitat Trumped Up Corella (due out soon). year, so not enough young are quality. This is the time for action, and as produced to replace birds that die. Hundreds of volunteers have assisted always, the efforts and dedication of Fortunately almost all females in the Recovery Team to monitor the our valued volunteers will play a captivity breed every year. population, collect important large part. We will continue to keep It is important to act urgently. The ecological information, and restore you informed as new information Recovery Team has recommended habitats. This work has contributed comes to hand. key actions to respond to this significantly to the success of the Bob Green situation over the next 18 months. recovery program. Because of the Regional Coordinator The Commonwealth Minister for many hours of volunteer work we South East, Coorong and Murray Environment Protection has endorsed now understand how the population Lakes regions this plan, as have the Victorian and is faring, and how we need to [email protected] South Australian environment respond. We now have new priorities Ph. 08 87250549 agencies. Owing to recent elections, and the help of volunteers is essential Mob. 0407649909 the Tasmanian environment agency to implement our new urgent actions. Feel free to ask me any questions is currently considering the plan and What this means for you: Volunteer you have about this news. will brief their incoming monitoring of winter populations is environment Minister as soon as essential. We need to know where practical. In the mean time, the the birds are so our new high priority Tasmanian Government has already winter actions can be achieved. In made progress on some vital actions addition, on-going monitoring is

Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 7 Past & Future Meetings

PAST GENERAL MEETINGS b. compare data with earlier . Locations are, not population estimates to assess for surprisingly, never too far from a Friday February 26 stability and regional trends; seabird rookery or shearwater Stuart Hull introduced the speaker e. identify prevailing threats in key colony. There are only two sea-eagle for the evening, Terry Dennis, to talk habitats; and to nest sites over approximately 850km on ‘Birds SA – Threatened Coastal f. increase community awareness of of coastline between Ceduna and Pt Raptor Survey Project 2009-10’. these species and their habitat Culver in WA. Prior to presenting his talk Terry requirements. Threats to sea-eagle breeding habitat thanked and acknowledged Birds SA How was the project actually sanctity include 4WD tracks hugging Management Committee for their carried out? the cliff-edge, residential support in the project, Peter Copley, a. by a literature search; looking for development e.g. Boston Island and Threatened Species Unit, Department breeding records and examining tourism development e.g. Cape for Environment and Heritage, Sharie museum oology records etc Wiles. In the Detmar, Coastal Management b. building project awareness bushwalkers reported eggs in a sea- Branch, (CMB) DEH, Eyre through contact with community- eagle nest in July. In October the nest Peninsula, Natural Resource based groups such as the Pt was found abandoned and a Management regional staff on Eyre Augusta BOCA and Southern ‘frustration’ nest had been built Peninsula and the , the Eyre Peninsula Bird Group, 600m further west. volunteers who have contributed together with NRM and DEH On all continents Ospreys have more than 750 hours, his partner for offices; adapted well to man-made structures IT and logistic support and the c. establishing a volunteer network and to artificial nest platforms. One photographers. and project publicity. nest is less than 250m from a row of Surveys started in 2008 west of d. dthe survey pre-planning phase shops in Coffin Bay township and Ceduna supported by DEH e.g. using aerial imagery made has been in constant use since 1988. Threatened Species Unit and the available to the project through Artificial nest platforms have been in Alinytjara Wilurara NRM. In 2009 the Coastal Management Branch use at Denial Bay since 1991 and at Birds SA was successful in winning of DEH Streaky Bay since 2007. Osprey will an Australian Government e. Then, following a minimum readily choose a man-made structure Community CoastCare scheme grant disturbance protocol, putting the when suitable trees/sites are scarce or to survey the remaining mainland boots on and getting out there and already occupied! coastline but not including Kangaroo doing it! So what does all this tell us? Island which had been surveyed in • arranging private property or The project has confirmed the 2005. National Park management population status of both the White- Why did Birds SA support a track access; bellied Sea-Eagle and Eastern Osprey coastal raptor survey project? • then the fun part – short and in SA. Although there is always more a. in recognition of their small and extended foot traverse cliff- to discover, this study provides a isolated populations, both the edge surveys and/or near- baseline against which future White-bellied Sea-Eagle and shore boat surveys; monitoring and research can be Eastern Osprey moved onto the Extensive use was made of CMB compared. There is much evidence Endangered Species listing in SA oblique aerial coastline images and it that increased human activity in the in 2008. was possible to do a ‘virtual re-visit’ landscape has resulted in a loss of c. degradation and loss of to survey locations and actual nest wilderness quality in remnant wilderness quality is of wide sites and to plot actual nest site breeding refuge habitat causing sea- concern in remote coastal areas. locations literally onto the correct eagles in particular to be displaced. d. population monitoring to rock using seamless aerial imagery The Eastern Osprey appears to determine stability and trends is (accuracy ±10m)! Surveying the demonstrate an ability to habituate to fundamental to threatened species Bunda Cliffs was made easier by a human activity, but still requires a conservation and management. boat charter out of Elliston, which refuge area around ‘wild nests’ in Birds SA project brief was to: enabled 56km of coast to be remote areas. a. re-assess the status and surveyed before lunchtime. Boat- So what can Birds SA do? distribution of the White-bellied based surveys are the least intrusive a. Lobby for the development of Sea-Eagle and Eastern Osprey on means of surveying remote coastlines habitat management mainland SA by determining the and islands. prescriptions, which include the number of occupied territories There are some tree nests of the concept of refuge buffer-zones (pairs) for each coastal region; White-bellied Sea-Eagle in the upper around breeding sites. Sea-eagle Murray region and then there are the refuge radii should be at least ‘needle-in-the-haystack’ nests in 2000m and 1000m for osprey.

8 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 Past & Future Meetings (cont) b. Lobby for breeding refuge buffer- The pelagic trip to Mexico in were – Cook’s Petrel, White-faced zone prescriptions to be adopted December 2008 was centred on Storm-Petrel, Fluttering, Buller’s and into planning policy and Puerto Angel on the west coast in Little Shearwaters, Fairy Prion and regulations at all levels of southern Mexico. The target was to Grey Ternlet. Government. observe Townsend’s Shearwater, What was learnt from the trips? c. Support an ‘IBA concept which is on the IUCN Red List and is • December is a bad month for equivalent’ to gain recognition critically endangered. Although they twitching rare seabirds for remnant threatened coastal did not see this bird, they saw many • Check the breeding cycle raptor habitats in SA. other bird species, including large • Check the local conditions d. Consider commencing a fund to flocks of Galapagos and Wedge- • Ensure that the berley is up to support the construction of osprey tailed Shearwaters, Black and standard nest platforms across SA. Common Terns, Laughing, Sabine’s and Franklin’s Gulls, Grey and Red- FUTURE GENERAL MEETINGS Friday March 26 necked Phalaropes, Brown, Red- Stuart Hull introduced the speaker footed and Blue-footed Boobies, General meetings are held at 7.45pm for the evening Dr Colin Rogers, Magnificent Frigatebird, Black and in the Hawker Centre at the Waite who is an Associate Professor at the Least Storm-Petrels, Black and Least Institute on the last Friday of each University of Adelaide, School of Shearwaters. They also observed month except December, (provided Economics. Colin has served for a turtles, sea snakes and a Blue Whale. there is no clash with a public number of years on the Birds SA In December 2009 they made a trip holiday). The doors open at 7pm. The Committee as Bird Record Secretary. to the Chatham Islands to target the speakers and topics for the next four Colin came to birding in a focused Chatham Albatross, and two petrels – months meeting are given below. way about 20 years ago. His passion Chatham and Magenta. Species and skill for birding were soon observed were Northern Buller’s, Friday June 25 evident to all who twitched with him, Salvin’s and Chatham Albatrosses. Adelaide Optical – “Optics for Bird particularly when it came to sorting Chatham Petrel young are being watching.” out the confusing formations of relocated to nearby Pitt Island. This waders that invade our shores each is carried out at night prior to the Friday July 30 summer. He has currently seen 409 young being fledged. The target Winter Members’ Night South Australian species. Colin’s talk species in the Hauraki Gulf was the was called ‘Global pelagics, Mexico, New Zealand Storm-Petrel which has Friday August 27 December 2008, Chatham Island and recently been rediscovered. It was TBA New Zealand, December 2009’. not seen but the following species

We welcome the following new members, who have joined the Association in the past few months.

Michelle & Jerry Foster STRATHABLYN Eric James Taylor & Judith Clare Roinich WEST BEACH John Seymour BANKSIA PARK Joanna & Gerald Gloster NETHERBY Samantha Mary Rothe NAIRNE David & Pauline Mann GREENWITH Barry Ian & Jennifer Whittington NORWOOD Bronwyn Williams & Rodney Dyke CRAFERS Peter, Robert & Sue Gilchrist GRANGE Trixie Tan ENFIELD

If your name has inadvertently been omitted from this list, please contact or treasurer. His ‘phone number is on page 2.

Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 9 Past Excursions

Saturday February 13 have been recorded as Brown Quail Thursday March 18 Dry Creek Salt Fields (AP) it was agreed to list these as quail Hindmarsh River (MLR) It was yet another good day in the species only. As always, Goolwa This was a new area for Birds SA salt fields with 33 birders and a provided us with an excellent and members. The walking trails along convoy spread out over a couple of relaxing morning’s birding. the Hindmarsh River in Victor km. The number of species was less Bob Snell Harbor are unknown to many than on previous visits as many of visitors, so fifteen members were the larger waders seem to have found Sunday February 28 excited to make a number of parts of the Gulf more suited to their Browns Rd, Monarto (MLR) interesting discoveries along these needs. Nevertheless, it is always a It was a pleasure to be at Monarto trails. Before we left the cars at 8.30 pleasure to find the unexpected and that morning as the temperature was a.m., a Nankeen Night Heron was we were quite surprised to see such ideal for birding. As is usual for this seen flying around a pine tree across large numbers of Blue-billed Ducks. site people went forth in all the river where on later inspection The numbers of the usual waders — directions until lunchtime, when we three were found. Within minutes of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Red-necked found that we had again managed not leaving the cars Black-chinned Stints, Red-capped Plovers were in to lose any of the 25 birders. The Honeyeaters were heard then two the mid to low hundreds with around species count for the day was 42 and sightings were confirmed. After two hundred Curlew Sandpipers after weeks of very little rain this was walking along the beach and nearby being identified. It is apparent that a unexpected. Some of the highlights tea tree board walk, everyone headed large number of birds had flown off were Stubble Quails, Owlet Nightjar, upriver, to see two Spotless Crakes to the northern flooded areas. There Variegated Fairy-wrens, Diamond feeding in a small next to the were however a few Banded Stilts, Firetails, Varied Sittellas, Restless river, a pair of Mistletoebirds and Red-necked Avocets and Great Flycatchers and Rufous Whistlers, four Crested Shrike-tits, which had Crested Grebes for us to see and one of which had a complete white cameras working overtime. The enjoy. The species count for the day breast rather than the rufous colour variety of attractive habitats was 62, which unfortunately included one expects to see. This bird kept us produced a very interesting list of 51 more than 500 Common Starlings. occupied for some time as we species. It is particularly noteworthy Trevor Cowie confirmed what we thought we had that this is in the middle of Victor seen from a distance. Harbor, surrounded by houses. Thursday February 18 Trevor Cowie Members agreed that this needs to Goolwa Barrage (MLR) become a regular excursion on the Sixteen members of Birds SA Saturday March 13 Birds SA list. attended this Field Trip. We visited Laratinga Wetlands (MLR) Peter Gower the area between the Yacht Club and This proved to be yet another good the 19th Beacon. It was a fine and day for birdwatching, with 34 Sunday March 28 mild morning, with a cool southerly birders, a number of whom were new Dry Creek Salt Fields (AP) breeze. The water on salt side of to this location and to Birds SA. This was the last of the season’s trips Barrage was very low, so waders Although the ponds were being into Dry Creek Salt Fields for this were thinly spread over large areas of drained to remove polluting migration and it has been a pleasure sand, mud and rocks. Three Lewin's substances, it made little difference to be back at the Salt Fields to record Rails performed well, providing to the number of species seen as the the numbers of species and excellent views, as did a Common final count was 61 — exactly the individuals, which appeared to be Sandpiper. Fifty Great Egrets above same number as were seen on a walk down for most species. The 17 rd birders in attendance did manage to the Barrage made an impressive here on 23 Jan 2010. To the surprise record a total of 64 species. However sight. Mixed rafts of Pelicans, of some we did record Spotless and only one Bar-tailed Godwit, five cormorants and Silver Gulls were Baillon’s Crakes. Three Yellow- Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and three very busy feeding, so presumably billed Spoonbills patrolled back and Curlew Sandpipers did leave a large there were plenty of fish about. Fifty forth feeding on the being gap of open ground. Terns were also one species were recorded before drained moving non-stop onto the missing with just two Caspian and lunch, and two more were added by mud being exposed as the water level two Crested being seen, although 10 visiting the Barrage Island after dropped. Seven duck species, which Fairy Terns were feeding well. lunch. included Australian Shoveler, Fourteen of the species seen were A group of three quails was seen Chestnut Teal and Hardhead were represented by just a single bird. between the Barrage and the 19th busy feeding. We also recorded However one of these was a Greater Beacon. These were reported by their Black-shouldered Kite, Australian Sand-Plover — a bonus. Because of observer as Stubble Quail, but since Hobby, Nankeen Night Heron and the big wet in the north it seems previously all quail seen in this area Greenfinch. Trevor Cowie likely that many birds have departed

10 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 Past Excursions (cont) for better feeding areas. We await group of course split into two groups Fairy-wrens, Inland Thornbills, their return next summer. at the T junction by the shipping White-browed Babblers and Golden Trevor Cowie container with a few doing their own Whistlers, along with the local thing, checking out the more spinebills whose calls included one Saturday April 10 secluded areas that exist at this reminiscent of a Gerygone in Fantail Porter Scrub CP (MLR) location. The rewards comprised 53 style. Perhaps the most interesting It was a wet morning and only 12 species being recorded. Most of these area was at higher elevation to the members defied the rain clouds and were of course the expected species north in unmodified ‘heathy’ basically succeeded. The species but some interesting species were sclerophyll woodland extending to count was just 28 with Crimson still about such as a Horsfield’s the dividing ridge and boundary with Rosella being the most visible Bronze-Cuckoo, two Fan-tailed Telowie Gorge CP. Elegant Parrots, species, thanks to its size & colour. Cuckoos and 10 Eastern Spinebills. Brush Bronzewings, Fantail Cuckoos Conditions were overcast and dull Most people also saw a Crested and Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters but White-throated Treecreepers as Shrike-tit — always a delight to spot. were features, as were Scarlet and well as Yellow-faced and Crescent We recorded just 6 species of Red-capped Robin pairs in the one Honeyeaters gave themselves away honeyeaters, which included Yellow- place. A Black Honeyeater, a by calling. Eight Red-capped Robins faced and Brown-headed. Other Hooded Robin pair and a possible and numerous Grey Fantails were species seen included Red-capped Crested Bellbird were all recorded found throughout the park. At the car and Hooded Robins, Dusky near the crest, representing birds of park we saw 3 Fan-tailed Cuckoos Woodswallow, Brown Treecreeper, drier habitats on the western slopes. and 2 Mistletoebirds. Red-rumped Parrot, Golden & Several observers had good views in Lunch was enjoyed in a little bit of Rufous Whistlers. The largest a Callistemon-lined gully of the local sunshine. Trevor Cowie number of an individual species was Heathwren, Hylacola pyrrhopygia 50 Striated Pardalotes. Lunch and pedleri and may have noted Thursday April 22 bird count were taken by the gate, the distinctive features, a more extensive Sandy Creek CP (MLR) only space left apart from the middle supercilium and a duller, less defined Martyn Price was leader of this field of the road! We had all enjoyed a but more extensive rump patch trip in which 18 members saw 43 very good day in good company. compared with others of this species. species. Blossom was sparse and Trevor Cowie From the forest area the 65 species only a few lorikeets, Rainbow and with only three raptors and no Musk, and Honeyeaters were Easter Campout at Wirrabara wetland birds was a fair observed. These included Red Forest, 1-6 April 2010 representation of its residents, Wattlebirds, Brown-headed and New We last camped at Wirrabara Forest summer visitors, including Bee- Holland Honeyeaters. Only three in October 1988 so a re-visit was eaters, having mostly departed only a White-plumed Honeyeaters and three overdue. Most campers came for four few days earlier. We did not locate Eastern Spinebills were seen. A to five days and a total of 19 people the Bassian Thrush, recorded in the Little Wattlebird was heard calling attended. The weather was warm and region between 1968 (B Glover, S A but eluded any attempt to observe it. still with cool nights until Monday Orn. 25: 58) and 1999 (D Harper, W Crimson Rosellas, White-winged evening when lightning struck all Klau, S A Orn. 34: 147, L Pedler - Choughs, Grey Currawongs and around us, the rain came and several DEH), or (except by calls) the White-browed Babblers were trees were heard to fall nearby. Southern Scrub-robin. The DEH abundant, as were Grey Fantails (10) The Ippinitchie Campground is in Biological Survey of November 1999 and Red-capped Robins (8). We also Grey Box-Blue Gum open forest recorded a total of 45 species with an saw a pair of Hooded Robins. with Red Gums along the creek, additional 13 from the NCS Survey Several raptors were seen circling occasional Sugar Gums on higher of Beetaloo Valley in October 2001. fairly high overhead, including ground and an understorey of grasses Gepp and Fife (S A Orn 27: 15-17) Peregrine Falcon, Brown Goshawk and heavy litter. Purple-crowned in a survey from Pines and native and Whistling Kite. Yellow-rumped Lorikeets were abundant as were forests recorded 42 species in and Yellow Thornbills were Dusky Woodswallows (with young) Wirrabara Forest. The total from all common. After lunch a couple of us and Brown Treecreepers. On Good named sources is 80. Our additions went for another stroll hoping to Friday an appropriately subdued were Rainbow Lorikeet, Yellow- catch a glimpse of a Square-tailed twelve Apostlebirds were seen at the rumped Thornbill, Spiny-cheeked Kite. However, luck was not with us. King Tree in similar habitat with and Black Honeyeaters, Dusky Martyn Price adjacent plantation areas of Pinus Woodswallow, both Australian and radiata. Beyond the Ranger Station Little Ravens and Apostlebird. Sunday May 2 and between the Old Nursery and the Returning on the Tuesday Adelaide Altona CSR Landcare Reserve start of the Bluff Track the woodland appeared freshly washed after 30-50 (MLR) had a more generous understorey of mm of rain had fallen that morning. It was good mild day for a walk and Dog Wattle, Bursaria, Exocarpus Andrew Black 36 birders enjoyed the walk. The etc. that accounted for Variegated

Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 11 Future Excursions

Sunday May 30: Winninowie CP the morning in the park, looking into Sunday August 1: Anstey Hill (NW) (287km) the ponds later in the day. RP/CP (MLR) Meet at 8.45am at the junction to Anstey Hill is a park of hills and Chinamans Creek on Highway 1 to Sunday June 27: Nurragi CP & gullies. It is close to the city so we Port Augusta, approximately 18km Milang (MM) (80km) can make an early start at 8am. We north of the right hand turn into Meet at 8.30am at the western end of meet at Gate 3 on Perseverance Mambray Creek CP. Camping the waterfront park in Milang. We Road, Tea Tree Gully (0.8km from facilities are available at Mambray will look for birds on and near the the North East Road end). Creek. Contact the Ranger on 8634 lake before going onto Nurragi CP. 7068 to make bookings. Winninowie Saturday August 14: Scott CP has a wide and varied habitat. Saturday July 10: Jenkins Scrub (MLR) (79km) Camping in Chinamans Creek (MLR) (61km) Meet at 8.30am at the right-hand Township is also available but there Meet at 8.30am. Travel about 10km turn-off into Gould Road (not Deep are no facilities. from Williamstown towards Creek Road). This is off the Springton, turn right onto Mount Rd, Strathalbyn/Ashbourne Road to Saturday June 12: Narrinyeri Hills which is directly opposite Wirra Goolwa. If you reach the Canoe (MLR) (72km) Wirra Rd on the left. We meet at the tree/railway crossing, you will have This site is part of the Monarto entrance to the scrub on the left missed the turn–off by about 1.5km. Forest old growth area. Birds SA has opposite Murray Vale Rd. been given access Thursday August 19: to record sightings Browns Road, on behalf of CAMPOUT IN AUGUST Monarto (MLR) Forestry SA Land (60km) Management as Birds SA members have been invited to join Meet at 8.30am at well as for birders from the Southeast at a Campout Browns Road, ourselves. We will Monarto, just off the meet at 8.30am /Outing to Messent Conservation Park from old Murray Bridge pulling off as much the 20th to 22nd August 2010. This would be a Road. Leave the SE as possible along good opportunity to not only meet some of Freeway at the the road side, as no our birding colleagues from the Mt Gambier Callington exit. Drive actual car park through Callington and exists. To get there district but also some from western Victoria. turn right onto the old starting from the Messent (near Meningie) is an excellent Murray Bridge road. South Monarto location to find Malleefowl as well as other The junction is on the cross roads on the left at the top of the (old) Princes mallee birds. Please register your interest in hill. Highway, travel this activity by contacting Bryan Haywood by towards Murray phone on 8726 8112 or by email at Sunday August 29: Bridge for approx Rocky Gully (MLR) 5km. Turn left into [email protected] (70km) Maurice Rd and This site is part of the less than 2km along this road you Thursday July 15: Kenneth Monarto Forest old growth area will note the you are beside a railway Stirling (Wotton Scrub) CP & Mt Birds SA has been given access to line. The site starts approximately George CP (MLR) (27km) record sighting on behalf of Forestry 2km further from here on the right. If Meet at 8.30am. Take the SE SA Land Management as well as for you miss the entry point you will see Freeway and leave it at the ourselves. We will meet at 8.30am. a lot of commercial buildings on Bridgewater exit. Turn left towards Starting from the South Monarto your left. The entrance is not obvious Carey Gully, travel about 3km and cross roads on the (old) Princes unless you are on foot. turn right into Gum Flat Road. Travel Highway, travel towards Murray about 1.6km to gate 2 on the right. Bridge for approx 5km. Turn left into Thursday June 17: Kaiser Stuhl We will move onto Mt George CP Maurice Rd, less than 2km along this CP & Tanunda Ponds (MLR) for Lunch. road you will note that you are beside (71km) a railway line and a rail crossing. Meet at 8.30am on Bethany Road, Pull off here as this is the meeting Tanunda just east of rail crossing by point for Rocky Gully. the Lutheran church. We will spend

12 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 Bird Records

Records included here are species Royal Albatross 31/10/2009. One was just north of listed as rare, uncommon or not 14/02/2010. One was near 38S 140E Lake Frome Conservation Park, SE. recorded for SA or a region of SA on the pelagic trip from Port Sue Black et al. (refer to the SAOA Field List for the MacDonnell, SE. 12/03/2010. One was at Pick Swamp, birds of SA) Also included are Colin Rogers et al. SE. interesting breeding or ecological Teresa Jack. notes, new records for a well known Buller’s Albatross locality, and first of the season 14/03/2010. Three were near 38S Intermediate Egret records of migratory species. 140 E on the pelagic trip from Port 31/10/2009. One was near the These reports are not all MacDonnell, SE. Glencoe-Kalangadoo Road, SE. authenticated records: researchers Colin Rogers et al. Bob Green et al. are advised to check with the 09/05/2010. One was over the observers before citing them. Send all reports to C Rogers at continental shelf on the pelagic trip Square-tailed Kite [email protected] or from Port MacDonnell, SE. 19/02/2010. One was near 83363325 or MOB 0417 896 977 Colin Rogers et al. Coppermine Road, Williamstown, MLR. Malleefowl Sooty Albatross Amanda Pearce. 13/11/2009. Two were 2km NW of 09/05/2010. At least four were over Midgee, EP. the continental shelf on the pelagic Grey Falcon Andrew and Margaret Black. from Port MacDonnell, SE. 29/04/2010. Two were at 22/11/2009. One was tending a Colin Rogers et al. Algebuckina Waterhole, NW. mound at Parrakie Wetlands, SE. Soft-plumaged Petrel Phil Barron. Birds SE. 09/05/2010. One was over the 07/01/2010. One was on the northern continental shelf on the pelagic from Brolga boundary of Martin Washpool CP, Port MacDonnell, SE. Over the period October to mid Coorong. Colin Rogers, et al. December 2009 there were ten Andrew Black. reports of breeding pairs across the 26/01/2010. Three, two adults and a White-headed Petrel SE. juvenile, were in Innes NP, YP. 11/12/2009. A beach-washed Birds SE Newsletter number 51. Greg & Alana Dare. specimen was recovered near 18/11/2009. Thirty-three were at 07/02/2010. One was on private Blackfellows Cave, SE. , SE. property near Ferries MacDonald Jean Haywood. Ken Jones. Conservation Park, MM. 26/12/2009. Eighty were at Bool Rachel Weston. Gould’s Petrel Lagoon Game reserve, SE. Previously sighted on this property 14/02/2010. One made several passes Jack & Pat Bourne. on 20 December 2009. near the boat on the pelagic trip from 21/01/2010. Twenty were at Bool 16/03/2010. Two were working the Port MacDonnell, SE. Lagoon Game Reserve, SE. mound on the Salt Creek Loop track, Colin Rogers et al. Peter Tucker. Coorong. 26/01/2010. Sixty-six were at Moyall Teresa Jack. Common Diving Petrel Road, Naracoorte, SE. 31/01/2010. One was near 38S 140E Jack & Pat Bourne. Brown Quail on the pelagic trip from Port 29/01/2010. Four were at Red Bank, 11/01/2010. One was in the scrub MacDonnell, SE. Mount Burr. behind Thompson’s Beach, AP. Colin Rogers et al. S. Ballantyne. Colin Rogers. 27/03/2010. Fifty-five were at 07/03/2010. Five were near beacon Australian Bittern Magpie Swamp Road, SE. 19, Goolwa Channel, MM. 17/10/2009. Two were at Pick Kay Parkin et al. Teresa Jack. Swamp, SE. 19/04/2010. One hundred and fifty Three were at this location on 14 Bob Green & Jeff Campbell. were on Magpie Swamp Road, SE. These birds were reported regularly April. Teresa Jack. at this site over the summer and four, 24/04/2010. One was at Butcher Gap a pair with two young, were recorded CP, SE. Lewin’s Rail on 15 November by Bryan Haywood 25/02/2010. Two were on the Teresa Jack. and Ken Jones. 08/05/2010. Six were along Salt saltwater side of the barrage at 24/10/2010. One was at Bool Lagoon Goolwa. Creek Road, Coorong. Game Reserve, SE, and again on 1 Win Syson. Colin Rogers & Stuart Hull. November. Jack & Pat Bourne.

Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 13 Bird Records (cont)

11/03/2010. One was just south of Hooded Plover 02/04/2010. Five were at Cape the barrage at Goolwa, MM. 31/10/2009. Two were at French Rouge, KI. Teresa Jack. Point, Port MacDonnell, SE. Chris Baxter. 11-12/04/2010. One was in the creek Peter Barrand et al. near Watson’s Gap, near Port Elliot. 31/10/2009. Two were in Piccaninnie Eastern Curlew Alan Burns. Ponds Conservation Park, SE. 16/02/2010. Nine were at Port Bryan and T. Haywood. Arthur, Clinton Conservation Park, Spotless Crake 30/01/2010. Two were at Stony YP. 31/01/2010. One was on pond 4 Point, Port MacDonnell, SE. Teresa Jack. Laratinga Wetlands, Mount Barker, Colin Rogers. 20/02/2010. Forty one were at Port MLR. 13/03/2010. Ten were in the Coorong Arthur, YP. Bob Snell. 6 km north of 42-mile Crossing. Teresa Jack. Helen Monterola. 11/03/2010. One was south of the Australian Bustard 13/03/2010. Two were near Woods Barrage at Goolwa, MM. 27/11/2009. One was in Mokota CP, Well, Coorong. Teresa jack. MN. Teresa Jack. 19/03/2010. Six were in Dry Creek Andrew Black. 01/04/2010. Six were at Sleaford Saltfields, AP. Conservation Park, EP. Colin Rogers & John Hatch. Bush Stone Curlew Teresa Jack. 14/03/2010. At least three were near 18/03/2010. Two were at the Terek Sandpiper the Wildlife Park, Bordertown, upper Hindmarsh River Estuary, Victor 18/03/2010. Two were in Dry Creek SE. Harbour. Saltfields, AP. Edward Smith & Kay Parkin. Cynthia Pyle and Di Wiskich. Colin Rogers. 23/03/2010. Thirty-two were 10/04/2010. One was at Orchard Lesser Sand Plover between Pt Marsden and Cape Point, Port Augusta, NW. 11/01/2010. Three were at Rouge, KI. Peter Langdon. Thompson’s Beach, AP. Chris Baxter. Colin Rogers. 03/04/2010. Six, including two Grey-tailed Tattler 15/01/2010. Ten were at Thompson’s juveniles, were at Sleaford Mere, EP. 10/04/2010. Two were at Orchard Beach, AP. Teresa Jack. Point, Port Augusta, NW. Colin Rogers & John Cox. 17/04/2010. Two were at Woods Peter Langdon. 23/03/2010. Five were at Well, Coorong. Thompson’s Beach, AP. Teresa Jack. Pectoral Sandpiper Teresa Jack. 11-12/04/2010. Two were at 19/02/2010. One was in Dry Creek Hayborough, near Port Elliot. Saltfields, AP. Greater Sand Plover Alan Burns. Colin Rogers. 31/10/2009. One was at Stony Point, 28/03/2010. One was on St Kilda Port MacDonnell, SE. Plains-wanderer in front of the hotel, AP. Bob Green et. al. 27/11/2009. One, a male, was on the Martyn Price. 08/03/2010. One was at Black Point north-western boundary of Mokota Reef, YP. CP, MN. Ruff Margaret Tiller. Meg Robertson & Pam O’Malley. 01-04/01/2010. Ruff was still present This bird had been present since 23 near the bird hide at Goolwa, FP. December 2009. Little Curlew Michael Wood. 12/03/2010. Two, one in breeding 16/02/2010. Three were in a paddock plumage, were at Thompson’s on Bird Island Road, Wallaroo, YP. Long-tailed Jaeger Beach, AP. Teresa Jack. 14/03/2010. One was near 38S 140E Jeff Philcox. These birds were seen at this site on the pelagic trip from Port over a period of two weeks. MacDonnell, SE. Oriental Plover Colin Rogers et al. 12/02/2010. Four were in a paddock Whimbrel just south of Price Saltfields with 80 19/03/2010. One was in Dry Creek Little Tern Banded Lapwing, YP. Saltfields, AP. 07/11/2009. One was at Danger Ian May. Colin Rogers & John Hatch. Point, Port MacDonnell, SE. These birds remained at this site for 01/04/2010. Twenty were at Price Colin Rogers. several weeks and were joined by Saltfields, YP. another in mid- March. Colin Rogers.

14 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 Bird Records (cont)

07/12/2009. Two were reported Scarlet-chested Parrot 13/02/2010. At least three were at breeding at Danger Point, Port 14/08/2009. A male was 8km north Mount Monster Conservation Park, MacDonnell, SE. of Wilmington, FR. upper SE. Jeff Campbell. Wally Klau. John Turner. Still present on 15 December. One was also present in Kelvin Fairy Tern Dollarbird Powrie CP near Keith. 01/04/2010. A flock of at least 300 26/04/2010. One was in a small patch was in Price Salt fields, YP, at high of scrub north east of Brown’s Road, Blue-faced Honeyeater tide. Monarto, MLR. 26/11/2010. Six were near Atlantic Colin Rogers. Mike Potter. Heath-Millicent Road, SE. 09/04/2010. A flock of 32 was at F. Ford. Point Sturt, Lake Alexandrina. Powerful Owl 13/03/2010. Four, two adults and two Nathaniel Doecke. 19/10/2009. One was calling in Snow juveniles were near the service Gum Native Forest Reserve, SE. station on the Bordertown Mount Gull-billed Tern Bryan Haywood et al. Gambier intersection, Keith, upper 19/03/2010. One in non-breeding SE. plumage was in Dry Creek Salt Short-tailed Grasswren Colin Rogers et al. fields, AP. 08/02/2010. Several were in Triodia Although recently fledged young Colin Rogers & John Hatch. habitat on Mt Ive Station, EP. were present the adults appeared to Phil Barron & Nathaniel Doecke. be sitting on a second brood. These White-winged Black Tern birds were also present at this 09/01/2010. One in partial breeding Chestnut-breasted Whiteface location on 27 March. plumage was near Point Sturt, Lake 04/04/2010. A small flock was near Two adults, two immature birds and Alexandrina. the old mine shafts on Mt Lyndhurst two juveniles were present on 17 Nathaniel Doecke. Station, NE. April. Edward Smith. White-fronted Tern White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike 31/1/2009. One was west of the Black-chinned Honeyeater 08/10/2009. Several were in Grundy breakwater at Port MacDonnell, SE. 31/10/2009. Several were calling in Land Native Forest Reserve, SE. Peter Barrand et al. Naracoorte Conservation Park, SE. Bryan Haywood. Bryan and T. Haywood. 30/10/2009. One was in Snow Gum Kelp Gull 20/02/2010. Four were along the Native Forest Reserve, SE. 15/11/2009. Seven were at Pick Inman River, Victor Harbour. Bryan Haywood. Swamp, Piccaninnie Ponds area, SE. Greg & Alana Dare. 29/11/2009. At least one was in Ken Jones. 29/04/2010. One was in Joy Street, Telford Scrub Conservation Park, 30/01/2010. Eight were at Danger Lonsdale, MLR. SE. Point, Port MacDonnell, SE. David Newman. John Berggy. Colin Rogers et al. 04/05/2010. At least two were at Middle Creek Strathalbyn, MLR. Little Woodswallow Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Nathaniel Doecke. 07/02/2010. Four were at Peter’s 05/10/2009 At lest twenty were in Pillars, Mt Ive Station NW. Grundy’s Lane Native Forest Fuscous Honeyeater Phil Barron & Nathaniel Doecke. Reserve, SE. 03/02/2010. Two were in K. Richardson. Honeysuckle Native Forest Reserve, Pied Currawong Fifteen were present on 31 October. SE. 31/10/2009. Several were in Dry Bob Green. John Berggy. Creek Native Forest Reserve, SE. 12/10/2009. Two were in Boolara H. Bawden et al. Native Forest Reserve, and one in Black Honeyeater Topperwein Native Forest Reserve, 06/02/2010. Two were at Sugarloaf Satin Flycatcher SE. Hill, Keith, upper SE. 31/10/2009. One was in Snow Gum Bryan Haywood. David Sando. Native Forest Reserve, SE. 09/02/2010. Two were in sGum Bryan Haywood. Princess Parrot Lagoon Conservation Park, SE. 31/10/2009. One was in Telford 02/05/2010. Eight were filmed and David Sando. Scrub CP, SE. photographed at Nyapari, NW. Bob Green & Gwen Young. David Dartland. Reported on Birdline Australia.

Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 15 Bird Records (cont)/From the Library

01- 07/02/2010. A male was 3km NE FROM THE LIBRARY of Langhorne Creek, MM. John Lawry & John Lawton. DVD 22/03/2010. One, a female, was 16 approximately 4km SE of Nairne, Dare, Greg MLR. Bowra bird trip October 2008 Phil Barron. Locally produced, 2010

Bassian Thrush This DVD featu res 36 bird species 19/11/2009. One was in Long Native including the Hall's Babbler, Forest Reserve, SE. Bourke's parrot and Painted Sue Black. honeyeater 20/11/2009. Several were in Telford Scrub Conservation Park, SE. DVD John Berggy. 17 02/02/2010. Several were in Telford Where are … the Barkers? Scrub Conservation Park, SE. Wooragee, Vic.: Wooragee Landcare John Berggy. Group, n.d. 19/04/2010. One was at Telford Entertaining and educational, this Scrub CP, SE. short docudrama features the Teresa Jack. ‘endangered’ Ba rking Owls of North East Victoria. Beautiful Firetail In this film we meet Betty, a Barking 08/05/2010. Two were in Deep Owl, wildlife ecologist Dr Natasha Creek CP, MLR. Schedvin and local residents and Ester Breed. children of the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park area near Beechworth Painted Finch and Chiltern. 13/11/2009. One was at Warraweena Filmed on location in the Chiltern-Mt HS, NFR. Pilot National Park and surrounding S. Steiner. area, this short local film is based on 08/02/2010. Eleven were at a the research of PhD student Natasha waterhole on Mt Ive Station, NW. Schedvin and the owls she came to Phil Barron & Nathaniel Doecke. know and love.

16 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 From the Library (cont) FIE-N 7 Roberts, Peter Sydney birds and where to find them : From Wollongong to the Central Coast and west to the Blue Mountains Crows Nest,, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 2009.

This book features the 30 top bird watching localities in and around Sydney. Each locality entry lists the key species to look out for and how to access the location. Precise details about where to look for certain birds is contained in the main section of this book.

FIE-V 13 Where to See Birds in Victoria Edited by Tim Dolby, Sally Symonds, Penny Johns Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 2009.

This book features the very best places in Victoria for seeing birds. Despite being Australia's smallest mainland state, its varied landscapes provide habitat for more than 500 bird species. It provides information on how to get to each destination, what facilities and accommodation to expect and, importantly, precisely where to look for those special or rare birds. The book also provides a comprehensive and up-to-date list of birds, with degree of rarity and where to see each species.

BIR 62 Dooley, Sean Anoraks to Zitting Cisticola: A whole lot of stuff about birdwatching Crows Nest, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 2007.

Everything you wanted to know about bird watching but didn't know who to ask (in a convenient A-Z format). ISBN: 9781741752724 ISBN-10: 1741752728 Number Of Pages: 276 Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty., Limited

BIR 61 Rosenthal, Elizabeth J. Birdwatcher: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson Guilford, Connecticut. : The Lyons Press, 2010.

Roger Tory Peterson — the Renaissance man who taught Americans the joy of watching birds and who also invented the modern field guide. His 1934 landmark Field Guide to the Birds was the first book designed to go into the field and help people identify the elements of nature. Birdwatcher is a comprehensive, illustrated biography of Roger Tory Peterson — a hero in the conservation world.

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Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 17 Large Wings!

18 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 Birds of More Arid Regions

Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010 19 Woodland Birds

20 Birds SA Newsletter, May 2010