The BLSH flyer Volume 9 Number 4, 2020 Silvereye by Erna Llenore Juvenile Australian King-Parrot Photo by Alan Edwards Contents From the President ................................................................................. Page 2 Outing– Shangri La Road, Bundanoon, 8 August 2020 ................................ Page 3 Outing– Tugalong/Guula Ngurra, 16 August 2020 ....................................... Page 4 Outing– Jerrara Dam, 7 October 2020 ................................................. Pages 5-6 Outing– Paddy’s River, Canyonleigh, 11 October 2020 ................................ Page 7 Raptor Discussion ................................................................................... Page 8 Science Corner. Number 1 ....................................................................... Page 8 Aussie Backyard Bird Count ............................................................... Pages 9-10 Conservation Officer’s Report ................................................................. Page 11 New Members ...................................................................................... Page 11 Pictures and sounds from a Lyrebird Nest ................................................ Page 12 Worth a Look ....................................................................................... Page 12 Birdlife Twitchathon 2020: The Origma Enigma ........................................ Page 13 Bird Strike ........................................................................................... Page 13 Members’ Photography.................................................................... Pages 14-16 November 2020 From the President Nigel Hartley 15/10/20 Following good rains through the last six months we are all looking at a very different environment to the same time last year in the Southern Highlands. Brown lawns have been replaced by verdant pad- docks, dams are again full and those trees that did not perish in the drought and bush fires are fighting back. With COVID-19 still a very large part of our lives it is good to have some optimism, and we are see- ing it with the spring migrants coming back to us in good numbers and singing their hearts out, in- cluding two species, Satin Flycatcher and Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, that at least around Penrose were virtually absent last year. We have been thankfully able to recommence members outings, which are now capped at 20 people, and we have had some crackers. These include a first visit to Tugalong Station (now named Guula Ngurra) for many, when Jacky Winters and New Holland Honeyeaters were added to our survey totals which now stand at 59. I was lucky enough to be on the Jerrara dam outing, brilliantly led by Bob Ashford, where there was huge excitement when we not only saw two Noisy Pittas, but had one of the birds posing in a low tree in a very un-Pitta like way. We are still waiting on recommencing members evenings at East Bowral and Peter Madvig will be in touch with you about any progress there. Surveys have also been going ahead, including a very interesting Snipe Count in September, and a round of Travelling Stock Reserve surveys. It continues to be the perfect time to complete Birdata surveys in and around the back “yard”, and I hope many of you will have completed at least one 20 minute survey during the Aussie Backyard Bird Count between 19-25 October. In the meantime stay safe and enjoy your birds. Noisy Pitta by Nigel Hartley November 2020 2 Outing— Shangri La Road, Bundanoon, 8 Au- gust 2020. Leader; Mel Cady Written by Nigel Hartley A group of 12 members and guests met at Shangri La Road to walk around Josh Thomas and Meredith Hughes’ beautiful horse farm, Lisheen, situated in Shangri La Road, just off Penrose Road and about half way between Bundanoon and Penrose. The centrepiece of the bird outing was a large dam, although with the weather no-one was tempted to dip a toe in. It was absolutely freezing, and only a few of us made it right through the morning. The wind was biting cold and it is the first BLSH bird walk I’ve done where there have been sheets of ice on the wetland. Not surprisingly about half the birds seen were waterbirds, with a displaying Musk Duck the highlight for most of us. There were five species of duck in all, including a Hardhead . A magnificent Wedge- tailed Eagle also put in an appearance. After walking around the dam and surrounding wetland we huddled out of the wind with our morning tea. To round the morning off we drove a little further down Shangri La Road, where we parked and then walked north into a delightful eucalypt forest. Birds were quiet but did include White-throated Treecreepers. Musk Duck by Nigel Hartley Hardy BLSH members with eyes on the waterbirds by Alan Edwards Bird species- Hardhead 1, Pacific Black Duck 2, Grey Teal 5, Musk Duck 2, Australian Wood Duck 2, Purple Swamphen 9, Eurasian Coot 8, Masked Lapwing 4, White-necked Heron 1, White-faced Heron 1, Straw-necked Ibis 1, Wedge-tailed Eagle 1, Sul- Wood Duck and Straw-necked Ibis by Alan Edwards phur-crested Cockatoo 2, Crimson Rosella 2, Eastern Rosella 4, White-throated Treecreeper 1, Eastern Spinebill 1, Red Wattlebird 1, Brown Thornbill 3, Australian Magpie 2 nest building, Australian Raven 1, Eastern Yellow Robin 1. Pacific Black Duck by Nigel Hartley November 2020 3 Outing—Tugalong/Guula Ngurra 16 August 2020. Report by leader Jennie Wiles As there was a gap in program it was suggested to offer a second visit to Tugalong because the first visit was filled quickly due to restricted numbers. On this occasion 11 hardy members braved the cold and windy weather which is more than can be said for most of the birds. The first area we explored was around the area where all the buildings have been demolished and it is mostly paddocks. The main birds of interest here were two Australasian Pipits, one of which posed close to us for some time, a Jacky Winter and a Wedge-tailed Eagle enjoying the wind. We continued down to the flat rocky area where there are rock grooves and admired the view from the edge of the precipice here. After a short drive down the hill we stopped at a usually birdy area but there was not a bird in site as the wind was whipping up from the south. A bit further on we stopped again and sought the shelter of trees in the lee side of the hill to have morning tea. A walk from here along a track brought us to the stunning lookout overlooking a u-bend gorge of the Wingecarribee River. Thank goodness for the view because the birds were still hiding. We finally got a good look at a White-eared Honeyeater which had been calling to its friend in a sheltered creek sec- tion of the track. Species list- Welcome Swallow 4; Australasian Pipit 2; Jacky Winter; Red Wattlebird (h); Australian Magpie 2; Wedge-tailed Eagle 2; Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike 2; Willie Wagtail 2; Red-rumped Parrot 3; New Holland Honeyeater 3; White-eared Honeyeater 2; Eastern Spinebill (h); Spotted Pardalote (h); Grey Shrike-thrush (h) On the drive out to the locked gate- Pied Currawong 1; Raven sp 1; Yellow-rumped Thornbill 3; Aus- tralian Wood Duck 9 Sulphur –crested Cockatoo; Crested Pigeon 2; Wedge-tailed Eagle by Alan Edwards Part of the group enjoying a sheltered morning tea by Jennie Wiles Australasian Pipit by Alan Edwards White-eared Honeyeater by Alan Edwards November 2020 4 Outing Jerrara Dam – 7 October 2020 Report by leader Bob Ashford Rain stopped play on the 20 September! It looked as though our second attempt on 7 October might be cancelled too! But six hearty souls determined otherwise and what a great day it turned out to be! Club members Sandra and Andrew, Alan, President Nigel and guest Graeme, brought their good hu- mour and sharp eyes and off we set. Jerrara Dam is a great birding site. A mix of rainforest, creeks, open forest, grassland and, funnily enough, a dam. We were optimistic. Right at the start the raucous calls of three Channel-billed Cuckoos caught our attention and then a following fourth one. A Topknot Pigeon, White-headed Pigeons and a couple of Brown Cuckoo-Doves set the pace in the sky. In the trees and shrubs Grey Fantails, Golden Whistlers, Brown Gerygones and Superb Fairy-wrens built the list and were soon joined by a Bar- shouldered Dove. As we strolled alongside the creek into the forest newly returned Black-faced Monarchs enticed us to greater efforts. Then!! – “That’s a Noisy Pitta calling!” You could almost hear the “Yeah! Right!” being mumbled, but every eye turned to the creek and then Graeme spotted the bird move behind a tree trunk before it flew off. Fortunately, Andrew saw A very happy group Photo by Bob Ashford it land on a large branch about five metres up and perch. What a view, a Noisy Pitta in full cere- monial colours. A cacophony of rattling camera shutters drowned all other bird calls. Well, that and cries of “Cor” and “Blimey”. And then, quick as a flash a second Pitta joined it. No 1 Pitta flashed its wings, blue shoulders glistening, and bobbed its tail showing its bright scarlet red vent and undertail and No 2 shot back into the bush. Add “Wow!” to the previous. In fact, make that two “Wows!” There was a momentary lapse of mood as we all thought that was it for the trip. What could beat it? Then the tinkling of Scarlet Honeyeaters, Eastern Spinebills and the sharp eyes of Alan spotting a White-cheeked Honeyeater decided it. A target of 40 species was set. A little further along the trail that was upped to 50. And as we approached the Dam Nigel spotted three Variegated Fairy-wrens, Australian Reed Warblers and a Willie Wagtail. We upped the target again to 60! In all we saw 61 species. A credit to the site, the team’s enthu- siasm and humour and very little rain! Other highlights included an unconcerned Wedge -tailed Eagle, spotted by Sandra, sitting on a fence post being harassed by a Pied Currawong ( I confess I had dismissed it as an unconcerned Currawong being harassed by a Satin Bower- bird!!! I only redeemed myself by spotting a Tawny Grassbird!), a Swamp Harrier lazily float- ing over the dam, the invisible, but heard, Green Catbird, large numbers of delightful Red-browed Finches and Silvereyes, and last but not least the only White-browed Scrubwren of the outing.