Western Australian Bird Notes Quarterly Newsletter of the Western Australian Branch of BirdLife Australia No. 166 June 2018 birds are in our nature These two maps are included as examples of the data being available for the Black-Cockatoo Conservation Project. (see report, p20) Left: Figure 4. Projection of satellite data for the Coomallo Creek transmitter birds for the month of January 2018. Fledgling CC 88 (green), Adult CC 51 (orange) and Adult CC 90 (red). Above: Figure 11. Projection of GPS data for CC 57 for the month of January. Leucistic Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Bunbury. Photo by Alan Burdett (see report, p39) Front cover: Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Rushy Point, Albany. Photo by Rod Smith (see report, page 13) Page 2 Western Australian Bird Notes, No. 166 June 2018 Western Australian Branch of ExECuTiVE COMMittee, 2018 BirdLife Australia Office: Peregrine House Chair: Mr Viv Read 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat WA 6014 Vice Chair: Dr Mike Bamford Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30 am to 12.30 pm Telephone: (08) 9383 7749 Secretary: Felice Morcombe E-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: vacant BirdLife WA web page: www.birdlife.org.au/wa Chair: Mr Viv Read Committee: Alasdair Bulloch, Max Goodwin, Jan Grimoldby, Mark Henryon, Lou Scampoli, Jennifer Sumpton and one BirdLife Western Australia is the WA Branch of the national organisation, BirdLife Australia. We are dedicated to creating a vacancy brighter future for Australian birds. General meetings: Held at the Bold Park Eco Centre, Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat, commencing 7:30 pm on the 4th Monday of the month (except December) – see ‘Coming events’ for details. Executive meetings: Held at Peregrine House on the 2nd Monday of the month. Communicate any matters for consideration to the Chair. Western Australian Bird Notes Print ISSN 1445-3983 Online ISSN 2206-8716 Joint WABN Editors: Allan Burbidge Tel: (08) 9405 5109 (w) Tel/Fax: (08) 9306 1642 (h) Fax: (08) 9306 1641 (w) E-mail: [email protected] Suzanne Mather Tel: (08) 9389 6416 E-mail: [email protected] Production: Margaret Philippson Printing and distribution: Daniels Printing Craftsmen Tel: (08) 9204 6800 danielspc.com.au Notes for Contributors Southern Scrub-robin, Hopetoun campout. Photo by Alan Watson (see report, p43) The Editors request contributors to note: • WABN publishes material of interest to the WA Branch; • contributions should be written or typed with double spacing—a copy on disk or emailed would assist, especially if in MS Word as a document without styles; do not embed pictures or graphics in MS Word; • contributions to be sent direct to the Editors, either at the office or by email: Sue Mather: [email protected] C o n t e n t s Allan Burbidge: [email protected] 4. Waterbird observations at 25. Members’ contributions • WABN uses BirdLife Australia recommended English names; Wheatbelt lakes • except for Observations, contributions will be published 33. Crossword unless the contributor is informed to the contrary; 7. Letters to the Editors 34. Notices • Full Editorial Policy is in WABN 74:10-12; 9. Book review 36. New members • WABN is not peer reviewed. 11. Observations 37. Country branches 15. BirdLife WA reports 42. Excursion reports Printing Deadlines (at BirdLife WA Office) 22. Across the Nullarbor: 47. Observatory reports September 2018 issue: 1 August News from National Office 49. Coming events December 2018 issue: 1 November 23. Naming of birds March 2019 issue: 1 February 53. Crossword answers June 2019 issue: 1 May 24. Obituaries 54. Calendar of events Western Australian Bird Notes, No. 166 June 2018 Page 3 Waterbird observations at Wheatbelt lakes The start of 2017 brought heavy rainfall throughout the ground. The water level (15 cm) around the islands was wheatbelt, resulting in widespread flooding. Further rain in dropping at an incredible rate. the winter ensured the ground was saturated and all the inland lakes were full, with water extending well into the Lake Grace was revisited on 13 March 2017. My first surrounding vegetation. observations were that water levels had dropped and on the exposed wet, muddy surface i could see fox prints leading Bird life responded to these ideal conditions by breeding to the island. All nests had been abandoned with no sign of extensively and i went out surveying these lakes to observe Red-necked Avocets. these events closely; after all, we do not get this opportunity often. The lakes are generally only partially filled or dry, which is more often the case. i recount some of my findings Lake Newdegate and observations made during the year 2017/2018. Surveys were carried out throughout the extensive Lake King Newdegate Lake Systems with many lakes filling for the first time since the 1980s. i have surveyed one particular lake extensively and monitored this from 6 March 2017 to 26 My first visit to Lake King was on 27 February 2017 where November 2017. i visited this lake every second Saturday i found a small Banded Stilt colony of 200 pairs attempting and witnessed many amazing breeding events. to nest on a small island approximately 1 km north of the causeway. The causeway was surrounded by water with On my arrival at the lake on 6 March 2017 water levels were a depth of 1.4 m at its deepest point. i decided to canoe high and a canoe was required to reach an isolated island to the island and located approximately 80 fresh, shallow which measured 350 metres in length and 25 metres at its unlined Banded Stilt nests with one nest containing three widest point. The island had an incredibly diverse and rich freshly laid eggs. On the same island, though separate from population of Australian shorebirds and waterbirds. the Banded Stilt colony, were 21 Red-necked Avocet nests scattered along the eastern section of the island with most Hoary-headed Grebes were found nesting in fairly tight nests between 2 and 3 metres apart and supporting full colonies with some nests only 1 metre apart. All nests clutches of four eggs. Only one nest contained two eggs and were anchored to partly submerged samphire. Around the four nests contained three eggs. I noticed, whilst conducting entire island a total of 75 Hoary-headed Grebe nests were the surveys, that Red-necked Avocets were also breeding on recorded with clutches consisting of between four and six other islands although in smaller, less concentrated numbers. eggs, all a chalky blue-white colour indicating the first week When i checked these other small islands, they revealed of incubation. As the incubation period progressed the eggs two to four Red-necked Avocets nests per island, all with full become darker and darker. clutches of four eggs. No Silver Gulls were observed during Pied (Black-winged) Stilt was found to nest in large, loose the surveys. colonies on the island supporting mixed open samphire. Red-necked Avocet nests were located on exposed samphire Many nests were within pecking distance of other pairs. A clumps and contained full clutches of four eggs. Based on total of 110 pairs was identified with 52 nests ranging in first my surveys and counts i estimate 150 pairs of Red-necked day of nest construction to nests with full clutches of four Avocets were nesting. it should be noted that pairs were still eggs. Red-necked Avocet pairs were nesting amongst the arriving at the Lake King system. colony of Pied Stilts with 18 nests identified, with two to four eggs per nest. A follow up survey was conducted at the Lake King site on 6 March 2017. i revisited the Banded Stilt colony but there Towards the north-eastern section of the island, and at its was no sign of Banded Stilts and the breeding attempt narrowest point of 10 metres, a compact colony of nesting looked abandoned. Reece Pedler, who is conducting research Red-kneed Dotterels was located with 15 nests containing into Banded Stilts, mentioned he had found small breeding full clutches of four eggs and one nest with five eggs. This attempts of less than 500 pairs, although all the ones he is the first time i have ever recorded a Red-kneed Dotterel had observed had subsequently been abandoned prior to clutch of five eggs. All Red-kneed Dotterel nests were well hatching. He had never seen a successful Banded Stilt colony camouflaged, being placed under samphire shrubs and lined with less than ~2,000 pairs. with small pieces of dry samphire. The Red-necked Avocets were now supporting newly hatched A further search of the island revealed two Black Swan nests young, indicating a successful breeding attempt as the young each with seven eggs. The nesting mounds were approx. were everywhere, especially on the islands where there was 380- 400 mm high and placed on the middle of the island. no evidence of predatory activity. The lake was receding, but Searches of the flooded samphire towards the western not at a rapid rate, with much of the water being over 1 m in section of the island revealed a well camouflaged nest of depth. Several other isolated islands were checked for other six eggs belonging to the Australian Spotted Crake. On a breeding activity with two Grey Teal nests located in dense section of the island supporting extensive open white sandy samphire; one clutch contained 12 eggs and the other eight soils, four Red-capped Plovers had nests each with two eggs. eggs. These were in open areas with no cover and all four Red- capped Plover nests were lined with small rocks and dry vegetation. Lake Grace A visit made to the Newdegate Lake system on 15 December On 5 March 2017 surveys were conducted on the Lake Grace 2017 resulted in the discovery of a small loose colony of system, resulting in the recording of 12 Red-necked Avocet Musk Ducks nesting within a 20 metre radius of flooded nests.