Ulverstone "Listers" Recent "Tick".

John Tongue writes: My wife and I are self-confessed "listers--we keep all sorts of lists of the birds we see....on holidays, on a trip, from the yard, across the state, and so on. One bird that had eluded us for our Tasmanian list was the Nankeen Night Heron. Despite searching for it on King Island (a supposed stronghold) during our 2005 holiday, and calling many times at Bell's Parade at Latrobe (where they are also supposed to reside), we hadn't been able to chance upon one anywhere. We'd seen lots when living on the Mainland, but never one in Tassie. That was until we met Peter and Hazel Britton. They are also of Ulverstone (where we have recently moved to), but hadn't caught up with them until the recent North West wader count. We got talking about various 'bogey birds' (those that seem to elude us), and for us, one of these was the Nankeen Night Heron. Hazel said she'd photographed them, quite easily, just a few days before, at Bell's Parade. It seems we'd been searching the wrong trees! With a little bit of first hand knowledge, and a beautiful Summer's afternoon, we set off back to Bell's Parade, and within a few minutes searching, had found two! We are not sure how many regularly roost here, but these two were a very welcome sight indeed. Neither was in a particularly easy spot for photography, hence the fairly mediocre accompanying shot. But thanks to Peter and Hazel, this is now one 'bogey bird' we can finally "tick" on our Tassie list.

Spurs Revealed.......Masked Plover

Suffering a recurring chest complaint that has laid me low, I've had to confine most of my birding and photography, to what I can see from and near the car. In reality, the car is a great hide ("blind" to some readers), and often birds will allow a close approach not possible on foot. It also means that you often spend time observing the common species in more detail, as here, the Masked Plover.
For much of the year the 'spurs' are seldom seen (top image), and it wasn't until, many years ago, I found a dead one, that I realised just how big (and sharp) these spurs are. At the moment, with their breeding season imminent, if not already started, there is much aggression shown among 'spurwings'.
I noticed the 2 birds in the lower image, feeding quietly among the weed covered local rocks. They were approached by a group of their own species, which attempted to land close by. Bad choice! The 'resident' pair immediately took flight and engaged the flock in spectacular aerial combat, driving the interlopers off, before returning to feed. The intruders obviously enjoyed the fight, because they shortly reappeared. This time the residents resorted to posturing, including displaying their weaponry, combined with raucous calling. After a few flybys, the intruders had second thoughts, and flew off. Obviously in the mating game, showing the weaponry is everything!!
I must confess that I still call these birds "Spurwings", and they're still generally known by that name locally. However the similarly named species of Africa takes preference in the naming stakes, so I'll just have to keep reminding myself that they're now Masked Plover.

Early Morning Raid

Saturday morning dawned wet and heavily overcast, so I had, what for me is a very rare event, a lie in. 8.30 found me dressing and pondering over the day ahead, when I heard a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo call. Knowing that a local Starling gives a very good rendition of the Yellowtail's call, I continued to dress. Almost immediately I heard a shout "there are cockatoos in the garden". What followed would have made an interesting video, as I chased around for the camera, then realising I was still only half dressed and no condition to be charging round the garden. Reaching the back door sockless, but past caring, pulling on my still drying gumboots (from my Lauderdale excursion), I stepped out. Back inside! It was pelting down with rain! Try again with bush hat and coat! I was at least relieved to see 2 of what proved to be a flock of 7 birds, still feeding on the nearest banksia. Rather belatedly, I found the conditions for photography to be close to useless, but I'm beginning to conclude that I'm a serial bird photographer, so I pressed on. I was actually able to get quite close to them, as you can see in the accompanying shots, but that couldn't make up for the poor conditions. Watching them feed, I found that they were clipping the flower heads off and 'licking' the nectar, sometimes flying briefly, still holding a flower. Several times they flew between our two Banksia integrifolia, often only a few feet above my head, and it was this that attracted a neighbour. He rushed outside (still in shirt sleeves!), shouting to his wife (loud enough for most of the neighbourhood to hear) , marvelling at their size and grace. I've never heard a non birding person get quite so excited! I suspect that it was all this commotion that finally caused the birds to move on. I hope that before the Winter's over, they'll pay another visit, perhaps in better photographic conditions. If you're wondering why I referred to their visit as a 'raid', you should see the pile of banksia flowers under the trees.
As I towelled myself and my gear down, back inside, I wasn't sure what I had derived more pleasure from. The presence of the Yellowtails in the garden, or the genuine excitement that my neighbours had got from seeing them so close for the very first time!
[Upper shot shows male Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, lower, female]

Once More unto the Spit

Earlier this week, I set off for Pipeclay Lagoon, hoping that on the early morning high tide I might get a sighting, or better still, some photographs of the waders on the high tide roost. In the event the tide failed to reach any great height, and I retraced my steps to the Lauderdale Spit. This proved to be a good option as the waders reported to be at Pipeclay, had moved to this venue, (got to get lucky sometimes).
As I dodged the traffic to cross the road to the spit, I could already see waders. These were almost certainly the same birds I had mentioned in the previous blog, Double-banded and Red-capped Plover, so I decided to concentrate on getting photos of the Double-banded. As I closed on the loose flock feeding on the edge of the incoming tide, I realised that a little further along the spit were several Bar-tailed Godwit. I must have got a little over excited at this point, as I managed to step into the only deep pool on the saltmarsh! Now sporting water filled gum boots, but eyes still firmly fixed on the 'sleeping' Godwit, I used a storm cast dead tree trunk as scant cover to get closer. They didn't move, although they were obviously well aware of my presence. I sat down on the tree trunk and in the next twenty minutes, took the accompanying shots.
There proved to be 5 Bartails and a lone Whimbrel. The Whimbrel was a bit nervous and at one stage flew off several metres, landed, looked round, realised that the Bartails hadn't moved, and ran back to join them. I like to think it was embarrassed!
I did consider staying at this spot and letting the rising tide move the birds ever closer, but in the event decided to let them be. I did get one bonus, because as I walked back, a small flock of waders flew past and I took a shot of them. The flock consisted of Redcaps and the solitary Grey-tailed tattler that I had 'shot' on my previous visit. Photographing birds in flocks is a difficult proposition at the best of times and rarely really works. But luck was on my side, as the only bird that proved to be in focus was the Tattler! It dawned on me later, as I divested myself of wet gumboots and socks, that I never did photograph the Double-bandeds! Oh well, next time perhaps
[Images: Top, Bar-tailed Godwit and Double-banded Plover; middle, Whimbrel; lower, Grey-tailed Tattler]

Another "Overwinterer"--Grey-tailed Tattler

A brief e-mail from Priscilla Park alerting me to the presence of a Grey-tailed Tattler 'awakened' me from my recent lethargy, which has curtailed my blogging. In my defence, I have had a computer melt down, photographic equipment failure and more than a touch of mid Winter blues! But back to the Tattler. Priscilla mentioned that she had seen it on the northern side of Lauderdale Spit at high tide, but described it as "v. nervous". So as the sun was rising the following day, I could be found wandering through the salt marsh that backs the spit. I could already see that there were a number of small waders feeding on the edge of the rising tide, their white parts standing out in the early sun. I stopped and scanned them with my binoculars. There were probably around 60 or so birds, made up of Red-necked Stint, Double-banded and Red-capped Plovers, but no other waders. I scanned around the shoreline. Two flocks of Pied Oystercatcher totaling around 80 birds, many hundreds of Silver Gulls and odd Kelp and Pacific Gulls, but that was about it. I could at least take the opportunity to get a few shots of the Double-banded Plover, now in a wide range of plumages ranging from almost no chest bands to almost full breeding plumage, as seen in the lower image. I closed on the spit, taking care not to disturb the roosting Oystercatcher flock. At this point I noticed a yellow legged wader running out of the marsh and onto the sand--the Grey-tailed Tattler! It's the first I've seen for some few years, so I was more than a little pleased. There was a time when small groups of up to 6 birds, could regularly be seen at Sorell and Orielton Lagoon area, and occasionally at South Arm, but the numbers recorded have declined in recent years. So this Tattler is an uncommon Summer visitor to Tasmania, and rarely recorded in Winter, and I don't know of another Winter record from southern Tasmania. I spent much of the next half hour trying to get close enough for a reasonable shot. In the past, I've nearly always found Tattler easily approached, although this was the first time I've tried photographing them. This individual had effectively "embedded" itself in among the plovers, so if they became edgy, so did the Tattler. I never managed to get as close as I would have liked, but the benefits of digital imaging came to my aid, as you can see in the upper image. Later, I did spend a good while comparing it with images of Wandering Tattler, an as yet unrecorded species in Tasmania I believe. I now know why many field guides say that the 2 species are not easily distinguished in Winter plumage! I live in hope.

Striated Pardalote......Overwintering

Read many of the bird books and the general consensus is that the Striated Pardalotes migrate across Bass Strait to mainland Australia for the Winter. However, from my observations of recent years, increasing numbers don't. Perhaps we might put this down to global warming, but standing, watching and photographing the accompanying birds a few days ago, there was a noticeable lack of any warming!
I had gone to the nearby grounds of the old gun battery atop Bellerive Bluff. These grounds afforded an excellent view of the snow covered flanks of Mt. Wellington, but this wasn't a day to stand around admiring the view, as there was a stiff westerly blowing and a temperature around 4C. My first sighting on arrival was the resident pair of Yellow Wattlebirds, giving their guttural contact call as they independently feed in the tall gums. I headed for the southern side of the bluff, knowing there were several Yellow Gums just starting to flower. While not an endemic Tasmanian species, the Yellow Gum euc. leucoxylon (red flowering form), is an excellent bird attractant, with a long flowering period, and widely grown here--I have 3 in my garden. I was not disappointed. As I approached I could see several Spotted Pardalotes, a Crescent Honeyeater, briefly an Eastern Spinebill and a large flock of Silvereyes that erupted from the trees and flew off as I arrived. As I stood in the shelter of the battery's defensive wall and watched the flock of Spotted Pardalotes through my binoculars, I noted first one, then several Striated Pardalotes among them. I was interested to see what the interactions were, as the slightly larger 'Striateds', are often accused of bullying, at least during the breeding season. In fact they appeared to be feeding close together in complete harmony, the only interactions seemed to be among the 'Spotted', and appeared to be males chasing off other males, usually accompanied by a chattering call that I'd not heard before. Every now and again, a few would start to feed on the ground under the gums, and they would quickly be joined by others of both species. They appeared to be feeding on lerps that had presumably been dislodged from the underside of the gum leaves, but they were finding the odd insect too.
The arrival of the female Yellow Wattlebird, temporarily caused the pardalotes to fly off, at which point they quickly formed into separate species flocks. The 'Striateds', which had previously been silent, gave a contact call similar to that of the European Greenfinch, as they formed into a flock. The presence of Spotted Pardalotes is often noticed only by their constant calling, as they feed high in the outer foliage of eucalypts, and perhaps the lack of calls by the 'Striateds' may be a factor in the relative paucity of wintering records.
I took many shots of both species, as well as the wattlebird, in the sunny breaks between showers. Pardalotes are difficult subjects to photograph when they're feeding in the foliage. They have amazing agility (as the centre shot shows) as they feed, often inverted, on the sugar covered lerps on the underside of the leaves. Pardalotes are among the smallest of Tasmania's birds.

.........more Frogmouths

Michael Dempsey sent the accompanying photos in. He comments: We have 3 Tawny Frogmouths living about 5 minutes away in the bush in the Knocklofty Reserve (West Hobart). The birds are at the end of the Poet's Road track, in a Native Cherry tree. (he added more precise details which I've omitted). Lots of other birds around, plus it's worth visiting to see the new John Glover painting trial.

Another Garden Visitor

No sooner had I written up Mona's article, than I too added another species for my garden. I glanced out of the kitchen window, mentally lamenting the fact that it was still windy with frequent showers, when I noticed a parting Forest Raven. Wondering what had drawn it there in the first place, I suddenly realised that in the same tree as the raven had just left, was the unmistakable shape of a Brown Falcon, and most definitely on the prowl. (A mad dash for the camera ensued at this point, but I had to be content in photographing it through the window). I suspect its interest was in the House Sparrows enjoying the lawn seed my neighbour had 'kindly' sown for them! As you can see, it's a young bird, possibly finding its first Winter a bit hard going in the food stakes. It stayed only briefly, before disappearing towards the unsuspecting sparrows, but I didn't see the outcome. In the past, I've had both Collared Sparrowhawk and Brown Goshawks in the garden, but this is the first "Brownie", although I do see them infrequently, flying over. From previous experience with the other hawks, it will return occasionally during the cold weather.

South Hobart Birding

Mona Loofs Samorzewski writes: A few days ago, while deep in a discussion with my husband, Meika, about why he hadn't passed on a message to me about an important appointment that was cancelled that I had tried to go to, he suddenly pointed over my shoulder and said "what's that bird!" I thought it was a desperate attempt to change the subject, but instead it turned out to be a Tawny Frogmouth (pictured) ! It's the first time I've seen one at the Cohousing Co-op where I live, and only the second time I've seen one since I've lived in Tasmania. As you can see it was perched near one of the houses in full daylight. We were wondering if it would be interested in the many Eastern Spinebills that frequent the pineapple sage nearby, and whether it would hunt during the day. Interestingly, that morning I heard many Blackbirds doing alarm calls right in that area, but couldn't spot the source of their concern. Perhaps the presence of the Tawny Frogmouth explains it. Spotting it has brought my list for the "Cohousing" to 47. I'm constantly amazed that I keep adding new birds after living here for over 7 years. Birding out your window must be one of the most satisfying activities I can think of!
Another bird of note here a few weeks ago, was a White Goshawk, perched on one of our guinea pig hutches, two days in a row. Another person who lives here had the best views, I only caught the occasional glimpse, but later had a good sighting while walking to the South Hobart Primary School. I haven't seen them much in this area before, Has anyone else noted them flying over South Hobart? Meika and I also saw a pair perched above a chook yard near Longley at the weekend. It's funny how sightings of birds go, I hadn't seen a White Goshawk at all until this year, and now I've seen them three times in the space of a few months.

Great Cormorant Breeding

Over the weekend I made an early morning start to look at Gould's Lagoon. As I neared 'Gould's", I realised that the lagoon would be covered in an early morning fog and diverted to the nearby Derwent Marshes. As I drove towards the Bridgewater Bridge from Granton, I noted a flurry of activity over the water and pulled off to investigate. Almost immediately I spotted a White-breasted Sea Eagle being noisily pursued by 2 Kelp Gulls. Thinking that this might prove to be a photo op. as the eagle was getting ever closer, I took my eyes off the action to pick up my camera. This proved to be a mistake because when I looked back, no eagle! I got out of my car and scanned the area with my binoculars. The conditions were very still with low sun penetrating the thin mist over the water. While scanning, I noted a number of cormorants on an old river washed tree that had grounded in the shallows several hundred metres away. As I looked more closely, I realised that there were several Great Cormorants nests, some with sitting birds (see photo). It's not that unusual for them to breed in the Winter months, and I've recorded them doing so in the Derwent Marshes before. I assume that the timing of their breeding is tied to the availability of suitable food resources. I have seen a general increase in the numbers of Great Cormorants around the Hobart area recently, many of them immature birds. Just as I was getting back into the car, the Sea Eagle reappeared, floated across the water, picked up something off the surface and flew back. Never quite close enough to get the sort of shot I was after, I took a shot anyway, as you can see. This time I kept my eyes on it. It alighted in a large pine tree on the river bank overlooking the marsh and it then became clear that this is where it had 'disappeared' to earlier. Interestingly, although the eagle flew close to the cormorants, they seemed unfazed. This probably indicates that they're sitting on eggs, as I imagine there might be a different reaction from them if they had young.

Snug Falls Track.

A decent morning for a change! I opted for a long overdue excursion to Snug Falls. Well I say overdue, but I can't ever remember visiting this site before. I've certainly birded the general area, just never visited the falls. It's accessed by a track from the road that passes through country that starts off being almost heath and gets ever wetter as you descend, until you reach the valley floor where it's virtually rainforest, with many tree ferns lining the creek. The trip to the falls takes about 20 minutes from the road. The bad news is that it's all uphill coming back, but hey! I was passed by a young woman with a child in a push chair, although I wouldn't recommend anyone emulate her!
By far the commonest bird in here at the moment is the Eastern Spinebill, I recorded them from the track start to nearly the valley floor, undoubtedly drawn here by the pink and white flowering Common Heath Epacris impressa, that's prolific. A few flowering Banksias attracted mostly Crescent Honeyeaters, and a few Brown Thornbills. About halfway down I came onto several groups of Strong-billed Honeyeaters (photo lower right)., mostly feeding on the trunks of eucalypts. It was while I was photographing the Strongbills, that a solitary Olive Whistler appeared among the foliage of a nearby Native Cherry. Eventually it fed closer, occasionally dropping to the pathway. This is only the second time I've managed to photograph this whistler. It's not that it's uncommon, just that it generally keeps to the thicker scrub. Although the light wasn't great for photography, I eventually got the shot at top right. At times it came almost within arms length of me, but always in cover. As I descended further I passed a small flock of Tasmanian Thornbills, a few Tasmanian Scrubwrens, and several Grey Fantails. The latter were mostly feeding on the track, possibly because the cool morning had 'grounded' much of the insect life. The valley floor produced little bird life, but the falls are worth the walk. I guess they're about 20 metres or more high and no doubt in full flow they look spectacular. Other species noted on the walk included Green Rosella, a lone male Scarlet Robin, a few Grey Shrike-thrush, Superb Fairy-wren, and Yellow-throated Honeyeater. I would expect to find Scrubtits and Pink Robins around the valley floor, and possibly White's Thrush. Not a large list, but worth the visit. A trip to this area could complement a visit to the Peter Murrell Reserve at Kingston, only a few kilometres away, for those looking for Tasmanian endemic species. To get there, turn right (as you head South), at the school in the centre of Snug and take the left fork at the next junction. The road is virtually single lane and for the most part unsealed, but there are plenty of passing bays, and the car park is signposted.