THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 42 ------

NOTES ON EYRE PENINSULA BIRDS By JOHN ECKERT

During January, 1971, I visited Eyre records were later withdrawn, subsequent Peninsula, spending a week at Tumby Bay events appear to have confirmed the presence where Lipson, Warunda, Coffin Bay and of both species. the coast south of Port Lincoln were visited Condon, in A H andlist of the Birds of Sth. and a week at Arno Bay, where Cleve, Australia 1969, appears to have overlooked Cowell, Midgee and Hincks National Park some of the records of the three early writers. were journeyed to. The birds of Eyre The A.O.V. campout at Warunda, (Hall Peninsula have not been as intensively studied 1909) , listed the following species which as those in many other parts of South Condon does not indicate as being repre­ Australia, because of a seeming lack of sented on Eyre Peninsula. resident ornithologists. Articles by Hall Banded Landrail Rallus philippensis­ (1909), White (1912), Cleland (1925) and Seen at Wanilla. Rix (1947) are useful references whilst Blue-winged Shoveler Anas rhynchotis-A mention must be made of the work by Storr pair closely observed on a small lagoon by (1947) which listed the Square-tailed Kite Capt. S. A. White. (See also following list.) Lophoictinia isura and the Southern Emu­ Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus-Seen at Wren Stipiturus malachurus. Although these Kellidie Bay. This record might be con-

The drawing of the Magpie on the cover is by John Cox. THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 43 sidered doubtful were it not that Hall was species seen while at Tumby Bay will be better versed in waders than most ornitho­ referred to as in the south, while 'north' logists of his day, having field experience will refer to those seen while at Arno Bay. in Siberia as well as Australia. The following 36 species were seen frequently Little Wattle-Bird Anthochaera chrysop­ in both localities and require no special tera-A pair seen, apparently near the comment. ~ittle Black Cormorant Phala­ Warunda camp. The Red Wattle-Bird crocorax sulcirostris, Black-faced Cormorant Anthochaera carunculata was listed also, so P. [uscescens, Pied Cormorant P. uarius, the record cannot be regarded as an error for Little Pied Cormorant P. melanoleucos, that species. White-faced Heron Ardea nouaehollandiae, Four other species mentioned by Hall also Black Swan Cygnus atratus, Brown Falcon warrant comment. Falco berigora, Nankeen Kestrel F. cen­ Brown Songlark Cinclorhamphus cruralis chroides, Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus -A male was recorded in cultivated land at ostralegus, Sooty Oystercatcher H. unicolor Wanilla so the species has been present on Spur-winged Plover Vanellus mites novaehol~ Eyre Peninsula for many years, although landiae, Red-capped Dotterel Charadrius Condon's Handlist may give the impression alexandrinus, Silver Gull Larus nouaehol­ that it has only recently been recorded there. landiae, Pacific Gull L. pacificus, Caspian Western Grass-Wren Amytornis textilis­ Tern Hydroprogne tschegraua, Crested Tern Seen at Mortlock. Condon refers to this Sterna bergii, Fairy Tern S. nereis Common sighting in the S.A. Orn., 20, 51, but sub­ Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera: Crested sequently appears to have disregarded it. It Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes, Rock Dove Co­ is of interest because of its distance south lumba livia, Welcome Swallow Hirundo of other known records. • tahitica, Pipit Anthus nouaeseelandiae, Black­ Blue-and-white Wren Malurus leucopterus faced Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina novaehollan­ -Seen at Mortlock. This is considerably diae, White~browed Babbler Pomatostomus further south than indicated by Condon's superciliosus, White-fronted Chat Ephthia­ Handlist. nura albifrons, Yellow-tailed Thornbill Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris-Condon's Acanthiza chrysorrhoa, Willie Wagtail Rhipi­ text in both his 1962 and 1969 Handlists dura leucophrys, Silvereye Zosterops lateralis, gives no indication of the presence of the Singing Honeyeater Meliphaga oirescens, Weebill on Eyre Peninsula, although his Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus bre­ distribution map in 1969 shows the species virostris, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acantha­ well represented there. It was recorded by genys rufogularis, House Sparrow Passer the A.O.V. party at Mortlock and has since domesticus, Starling Sturnus vulgaris, Murray been recorded on numerous occasions by Magpie Grallina cyanoleuca, Grey Butcher­ other writers, notably Sutton. bird Cracticus torquatus, White-backed Other overlooked records include the Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen leuconota. Painted Quail Turnix varia, not listed for Eyre Peninsula by Condon in his 1962 ANNOTATED LIST Handlist but included in 1969 from recent sightings in the Sleaford area. S. A. White, Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae-Seen at 1912, recorded seeing the species twice near Wanna and at Hincks N.P. Droppings and Pt. Lincoln. (See also following list.) The tracks suggested that it was fairly numerous Double-banded Dotterel Chdradrius bicinctus south and south-west of Port Lincoln. is not mentioned for Eyre Peninsula by Little Penguin Eudyptula minor-One Condon; but several were seen near Port swimming near the wharf in Port Lincoln Lincoln in late May, 1923, by Cleland (1925), harbor. and a specimen obtained, See also Eckert Little Grebe Podiceps novaehollandiae­ (1971) Emu, 71, 62. Cleland's record of Several at Big Swamp. the G~ldfinch Carduelis carduelis is men­ Hoary-headed Grebe Podiceps poliocepha­ tioned in the following list. lus-Common at Big and Little Swamps. Also Several species not recorded for Eyre seen at Tod Reservoir. Peninsula in Condon's Handlist (1969) are Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis included in the following list and comments -A flock of four seen twice near Little are made on many others. For convenience, Swamp. 44 THE SA ORNITHOLOGIST

Hambidge N.P. Cleve Hills Aindersrl Cleve. Is. t-r

Hincks N.P. Wharminda.

N 1

EYRE 'PENINSULA

10 10 20 30 o, I , , I Scale in Miles

Cape Barren Goose Coreopsis novaehol­ White-eyed Duck Aythya australis-About landiae-About twenty were seen on several fifteen on Big Swamp. occasions feeding along the grassy margins Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata-Flock of of Little Swamp. twelve on a dam near Koppio, Black Duck Anas superciliosa-At least Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis-A male fifty on both Big and Little Swamps. in full colour on Big Swamp, the reddish Chestnut Teal Anas castanea-A pair on body, dark head and pastel-blue bill being a: small creek at Lipson. clearly seen. Grey Teal Anas gibberifr.ons-Several Musk Duck Biziura lobata-Several on hundred on Little and Big Swamps. Tad Reservoir. Blue-winged Shoveler Anas rhynchotis­ Whistling Kite H .aliastur sphenurus-One Condon (1969) does not list this species for only seen at Big Swamp. Eyre Peninsula but flocks of about thirty Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus-One were present on both Little and Big'Swamps, large accipiter seen near Koppio. several of the males being in full colour. Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrhoce­ Pink-eared Duck Mclacorhynchus mem­ phalus-Small accipiters, thought to be this branaceus-Flock of about fifty on Little species seen several times in scrub south and Swamp. west of Port Lincoln. THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 45

Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax-Seen Bay at about the same time. Condon (1969) twice in the Koppio hills and also at Hincks does not record this species for the Eyre N.P. Peninsula mainland although it is known White-breasted Sea-Eagle Haliaetus leuco­ from Reevesby Is. gaster-One over the coast at Wanna. Hooded Dotterel Charadrius rubricollis­ Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis-Seen A pair at Arno Bay. twice near Arno Bay. Large Sand-Dotterel Charadrius lesche­ Swamp Harrier Circus approximans-One naultii-A .single bird was seen feeding with near Big Swamp. several Red-capped Dotterels on a pebbly Little Falcon Falco longipennis-Seen part of the beach, exposed at low tide, just several times in the south. south of Arno Bay. The long, heavy bill, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus-One long legs and white wing-bar in flight made over the cliffs at Cape Wiles. me certain of its identity. When flushed, it Mallee-Fowl Leipoa ocellata-Only seen flew back into the tidal swamp. I hoped to in Hincks N.P. but said to be still present gain further field experience with this rare near Arno Bay and Midgee Rocks. species, which had not previously been re­ Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis-Heard ported on Eyre Peninsula, but could not calling and one seen at Little Swamp. locate it again during the remainder of my Painted Quail Turnix varia-Several seen stay. near the Coffin Bay lookout .and two Black-fronted Dotterel Charadrius mela­ flushed in mallee scrub near Midgee Rocks, nops-Two seen at Tod Reservoir. which is only a few miles from the northern Australian Dotterel Peltohyas australis­ limit of the mallee in this area. T. Sim Two were present on some fairly bare took a female specimen of this species in ground on the property of Mr. Dean Newell scrub near Mt, Wedge in 1969. This at Wharminda. He and his neighbour Mr. specimen is now in the S.A. Museum. It is E. Jericho, state that some of these birds obvious therefore that the range of the have visited the Wharminda district annually Painted Quail on Eyre Peninsula is much -in recent years, sometimes staying until May. more extensive than that indicated by Turnstone Arenaria interpres-At least Condon (1969). The tentative record of twelve were seen around Tumby Is. the Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophorus by Eastern Curlew Numenius madagasca­ Storr (1947) seems more likely to be riensis-Three were seen on Tumby Is. and referable to the Painted Quail. a flock of nineteen were resting on a sand­ Spotted Crake Porzana fluminea-One bar at the mouth of a tidal inlet south of seen in the mangroves at Arno Bay. Tumby Bay. Eastern Swamphen Porphyria porphyrio­ Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes-Two Several at Little Swamp. frequented some rocky headlands south of Coot Fulica atra-Several on Big and Arno Bay. The uniform colour of the upper Little Swamps. Plentiful on Tod Reservoir. surface in flight plus the chrome-yellow legs Banded Plover Vanellus tricolor-A pair placed them as tattlers, the designation on fallow at Lipson were the only ones brevipes being based on the two-note call seen. which was heard on one occasion. Tattlers Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola-A small were previously unrecorded on Eyre Penin­ group of three to six birds frequented Tumby sula. Is., but the species was much more plentiful Greenshank Tringa nebularia-Odd birds in the Franklin Harbor where a scattered seen at many places along the coast and a flock of thirty-nine Grey Plovers was seen flock of about twenty present at Little feeding on January 18. This was the Swamp. largest group of Grey Plovers seen together Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis­ in S.A. up until that time. Condon (1969) About ten were present with the Greenshanks gives no indication of the presence of the at Little Swamp, thus enabling the smaller species on Eyre Peninsula. body size to be clearly seen. The very long Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica-Two legs trailing well beyond the tail in flight, were regularly seen along the coast about and the 'yipping' call were also noted. This a mile south of Arno Bay and R. R. Cleggett species was another addition to the Eyre saw three in a tidal marsh south of Tumby Peninsula List. 46 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST

Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos­ of this species in captivity. It had been hit A single bird was often seen along a rocky by a car a few days previously about ten part of the coast south of Arno Bay and miles north of Cleve on the Kimba road. A several more frequented the tidal creeks flock of about fifty had been in the area among the mangroves in the Arno swamp. at the time. Storr (1947) recorded elegans Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis­ with a query, but Condon (1969) lists neither Small flocks often seen along the coast. for Eyre Peninsula. As the range of elegans Plentiful at Little Swamp and three seen at includes south-western Western Australia it Tod Reservoir. is not surprising that it should also occur Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta-Two on Eyre Peninsula. were present at Little Swamp where there Rock Parrot Neophema petrophila-Seen was some mud with short green weeds and on several occasions along the coast in the grass similar to its favoured habitat on Lake south and about six inhabited the samphire Alexandrina. The yellow legs were seen and coastal dunes at the Arno swamp. and both Red-necked Stints and Sharp-tailed Horsfield Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx Sandpipers were nearby to enable the neces­ basalis-Seen in the Koppio hills and also sary size and colour comparisons to be made. in coastal scrub near the Arno swamp. Storr This species was also previously unrecorded (1947) listed the Black-eared Cuckoo for Eyre Peninsula. Chrysococcyx osculans, but it is obvious from Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata his description that the bird was an immature -Small flocks seen at Tumby Is., Coffin Bronze-Cuckoo, most likely this species. Bay, Little Swamp, Arno Bay and Franklin Barn Owl Tyto alba-One dead on the Harbor, but large flocks were not seen any­ road south of Tumby Bay. where on the trip. Boobook Owl Ninox nouaeseelandiae-« White-headed Stilt Himantopus himan­ One dead on the road at Tulka. topus-At least fifty on Little Swamp. Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguinae-Often Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus seen in the Sugar Gum country of the south. -About thirty on Little Swamp and several Sacred Kingfisher Halcyon sanctus-One hundred in Franklin Harbor. Brush Bronzewing Phaps elegans-Plen­ in the Koppio hills and others in the mangroves of the tidal swamps at Tumby tiful south of Port Lincoln and a few in the and Arno Bays. coastal sand-dunes at Arno Bay. Galah Cacatua rosiecapilla-Plentiful Horsfield Bushlark Mirafra javanica­ Seen in stubble at Warunda and Wharminda. everywhere. Several hundred were feeding Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans­ on the road near Port Lincoln, apparently Only seen occasionally in the south. on grain spilt from trucks. Although nearly twenty had been killed by traffic, the flock Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel-One on was very reluctant to rise from the path of telephone wires at White Flat. oncoming vehicles. Blackbird Turdus merula-Several heard Rainbow Lorikeet· Trichoglossus haema­ singing at Wanna. todus-A pair at Big Swamp. Southern Scrub-Robin Drymodes brunneo­ Musk Lorikeet Glossopsltta concinna­ pygia-Seen at Point Bolingbroke, Midgee Fairly plentiful in the Koppio hills where and in the Cleve hills. Sugar Gum was flowering. Some 2-300 Chestnut Quail-Thrush Cinclosoma casta­ were seen. notum-Present in mallee a few miles north Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta of Cowell and seen again at Moonabie just parphyrocephala-Plentiful also in the before the mallee gives way to bluebush. flowering eucalypts near Koppio, Little Grassbird Megalurus gramineus­ Port Lincoln Parrot Barnardius zonarius­ Seen and heard in a creek near Tod Re­ Very numerous in the south. Seldom seen servoir. in the north but three pairs were present in Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus­ Hincks N.P. Several frequented a bamboo thicket near an Mulga Parrot Psephotus varius-Seen orchard at Little Swamp and, although occasionally north of Cowell. quite active, did not call until nearly sunset. Elegant Parrot Neophema elegans­ Condon (1969) doubted the presence of this Pastor I. B. Wittwer of Cleve had a bird species on Eyre Peninsula. THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 47

Brown Songlark Cinclorhamphus cruralis­ Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Meliphaga A male and female seen in stubble at Whar­ ornata--Seen only near Lipson. minda close to Hincks N.P. White-eared Honeyeater Meliphaga leu­ Brown Thornbiil Acanthiza pusilla-Very cotis-Seen often near Cleve and Midgee. Yellow-winged Honeyeater Phylidonyris plentiful, particularly in the south. novaehollandiae-Occasionally seen in the Scrub-Wren Sericornis frontalis-Common south. in the south, seen also in coastal scrub near Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Phylidonyris Cowell and in the Hincks N.P. melanops-Seen frequently near the coast. Shy Heath-Wren Hylacola cauta-Often Yellow-throated Miner Myzantha fiavigula seen in mallee near Cleve, Cowell and -Common in the north down as far as Port Midgee. Neill. Rufous Field-Wren Calamanthus fuligi­ Red Wattle-Bird Anthochaera carunculata nosus-Plentiful in coastal heath at Wanna -Seen occasionally, but abundant in the and Cape Wiles. Koppio hills where the Sugar Gum was Blue Wren Malurus cyaneus-Common in flowering. the south. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis-A pair Blue-breasted Wren Malurus pulcherrimus were nesting in a Norfolk Island Pine at -Seen at Point Bolingbroke (specimens) Coffin Bay. Condon (1969) does not list and Hincks N.P. A chestnut-shouldered this species for Eyre Peninsula but it has Wren in the Cleve hills was not seen well been recorded previously on occasions and enough for positive identification. was apparently present in the vicinity of Port Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa-Seen Lincoln as early as 1923 (Cleland, 1925). occasionally in the Koppio hills and near Diamond Firetail Emblema guttata.-Seen the Tod Reservoir. near Sleaford Mere and near Koppio. Western Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis White-winged Chough Corcorax melanor­ -Seen frequently in the south, mainly in hamphus-A flock in the Koppio hills. wetter areas, but also in drier coastal scrub Black - faced Wood - Swallow-Artamus at Coffin Bay and Point Bolingbroke. cinereus-A small group were seen in blue­ Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis bush country just north of Moonabie. (The -One near Tod Reservoir. species was then seen several more times Western Thrush Colluricincla harmonica before reaching Port Augusta). -Often seen, but only in the south. Dusky Wood-Swallow Artamus cyanop­ Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis-Two terus-A few seen in the south. A pair were seen on Hincks N.P. present on Tumby Is. Yellow-tailed Pardalote Pardalotus xantho­ Brown Currawong Strepera versicolor­ pygus-Seen in mallee near Midgee. Widespread but not plentiful. Striated Pardalote Pardalotus substriatus Raven Corvus coronoides-A pair near the -Recorded occasionally in the south. Cowell jetty were listed as coronoides because Purple-gaped Honeyeater Meliphaga era­ of the long drawn-out, wailing call. titia-Seen only near Lipson. Little Raven Corvus mellori-Plentiful.

REFERENCES

Cleland, J. B. (1925), Notes on the Birds Rix, C. E. (1947), The Blue-breasted of the Port Lincoln District. S. Aust. Orn., Wren in South Australia. S. Aust. Orn., 18, 8,46-50. 52-3. Condon, H. T. (1969), A Handlist 'of the Storr, G. M. (1947), Some Birds observed Birds of South Australia. S. Aust, Om. on southern Eyre Peninsula. S. Aust, Orn., Assoc., 3rd ed. 18,31-7,54, 70. Hall, Robert (1910), The Birds of Eyre White, S. A. (1912), Field Ornithology in Peninsula, S.A., Emu, 9, 123-133. South Australia, Emu, 12, 1-8.