May 2018

The BLSH flyer

Volume 7 Number 2, May 2018

Contents

Silvereye by Erna Llenore ‘The Queen and her Admirers’ Photo by Paddy Donkin

From the President ........................................................................................... Page 2

Berrima River-7 February .................................................................................. Page 3

Missed Birds .................................................................................................... Page 4-6

Fitzroy Falls Walk-18 February ........................................................................... Page 7

Floating bird island invention keeps feathered friends safe .................................... Page 8

New Members.................................................................................................. Page 8

Mt Penang-18 March ........................................................................................ Page 9

Birds in Art, Literature and Everyday Life–food for thought ................................... Page 10

Birds feature in new ‘self guide tour app’ at Eurobodalla Botanic Garden ................. Page 10

Threatened Species Planting Event ..................................................................... Page 11

What’s coming up in May? ................................................................................. Page 11

Berrima River Track-4 April .............................................................................. Page 12

Across the River, Keeping an eye on the birds ..................................................... Page 13-14

Worth Viewing ................................................................................................. Page 14

Wingecarribee Reservoir-22 April ....................................................................... Page 15

Members’ Photography ..................................................................................... Page 16-18

.....................................................................................................................

May 2018 2

From the President Christine Kelly

We have been very fortunate to have enjoyed the expertise of two extremely well qualified guest

speakers to get our program for 2018 off to a great start.

At the February meeting Phil Straw, President of the Australasian Waders Group, shared some inter-

esting insights with us, including some amazing details regarding many of the migratory waders

who arrive in Australia during our summer months, especially the Bar-Tailed Godwit. This remarka-

ble bird flies from Alaska, where it breeds in the summer months, to Australia over a period of sev-

en days without stopping. It gains weight for this journey by doubling its usual body weight before

leaving Alaska and using one gram of fat per hour during the long flight. They arrive in Australia be-

tween August and October and are able to regain the weight loss by feeding on the nutritious mud

flats. They can be found along most of the coastal areas of Australia.

Phil illustrated his talk with a series of charts

and graphs that demonstrated just how im-

portant it is to protect the environment for all

birds. After many years of China “reclaiming”

land in the Yellow Sea, China has now decided

to try to protect the remaining mudflats for the

future use by the wide variety of shorebirds that

have historically been found there.

Phil has been surveying various sites in NSW for

many years but the information that he shared

with us on the area surrounding the Sydney Air-

port was quite disturbing. The construction of

the “new” runway changed the ecology of the

rivers that enter into Botany Bay.

.

In March Andrew Silcocks, Birdlife Australia

Birdata Program Manager, came to discuss the

importance of surveying in providing statistics

for the future. See an interview with Andrew in

the latest edition of Birdlife. Andrew has been

surveying at Edithvale in Victoria for many

years. His statistics have provided the basis for

the Australasian Bittern to be listed as an En-

dangered Species. Andrew showed us in a work-

shop, conducted the following morning, just how

easy it is to us the Birdata App on your smart

phone, iPad or tablet to record all species that

you see. 11 members attended the workshop so

help is at hand for all those who would like to

learn more about the Birdata App.

Our guest speaker and outings program will con-

tinue throughout the year. All members are en-

couraged to join in an activity. Please watch out

for email updates of all the activities.

A Bar-tailed Godwit in full breeding plumage

Andrew Silcocks presenting to BLSH.

Photo by Jennie Wiles

May 2018 3

Berrima River Outing-7 February 2018 Participant Sandy Berry reports

Leader: Penny Madvig

Participants: Helen Hackett, Sandra Reynolds, Pam Reucassel, John Desmond, Lynette Desmond,

Jennie Wiles, Steven Fischer, Linda Hoelle, Suzy Dowsett, Sandy Berry

Start: 8 AM meeting at the Anglican Church in Berrima.

Summer mornings in the Highlands can be too warm or too cool/wet, but we were fortunate to have

ideal weather for birding – sunny with some clouds and a cool gentle breeze. As we followed the

walking track down to the Wingecarribee River White–throated Treecreepers were calling vociferous-

ly. On the river two large white blobs of feathers slowly revealed their identity as domestic geese.

Birds were abundant and over the 75 minutes we spent following the short circuit track we observed

24 species. The platypus were somewhat shier than the fairy wrens and fantails – they refused to

make a showing. We did, however, get a good viewing of an Eastern Water-dragon and a fox.

Birds recorded: Pacific Black Duck, Eurasian

Coot, White-faced Heron, Laughing Kookaburra,

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Galah, Sulphur-

crested Cockatoo, Australian King-Parrot, Crim-

son Rosella, Satin Bowerbird, White-throated

Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Yellow-faced

Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spotted Pardalote,

White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-rumped Thorn-

bill, Brown Thornbill, Pied Currawong, Australian

Magpie, Grey Fantail, Magpie-lark, Silvereye,

Domestic Goose

Following an early morning tea in the nearby

park we drove to the end of Oldbury Street from

which tracks lead to the Wingecarribee River

Weir and upstream. Dollarbirds and Black-faced

Cuckoo-shrikes were in abundance around the

car parking area. We made our way to the weir

then upstream through dry sclerophyll forest with good views of a Satin Flycatcher near the trail. An

Eastern Yellow Robin came to observe us (as they do). We also got up close to an Australasian Dart-

er and were able to observe the beautiful patterning on its outstretched wings and tail feathers. We

recorded seven species along the walk but felt sure that it we had been there earlier in the day we

would have seen many more.

Birds recorded: Dusky Moorhen, Australasian Darter, Dollarbird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Crimson

Rosella, White-throated Treecreeper, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Satin Flycatcher, Eastern Yellow

Robin, Silvereye.

Thanks Penny for a great morning out.

White-faced Heron and Domestic Geese Photo by Ste-

ven Fischer

Australasian Darter. Photo by Steven Fischer Heading Home. Photo by Linda Hoelle

May 2018 4

Missed birds Text and photos by Nigel Hartley

We all enjoy writing and reading about the birds we have seen but what about the birds we have

missed. I’m sure lots of us have those special birds we try to track down from near and far and just

have no luck with.

I thought I would share a few of mine but also throw in a couple where I finally had success, or

which were unexpectedly easy to find.

Naturally for most of these there are no photos.

SABINE’S GULL

I met my sister for a holiday in California and persuaded her she would see more whales and dol-

phins on a full on pelagic from Monterey than a half day whale cruise. We booked on Shearwater

Journeys all day pelagic and ran into ‘Monterey birding festival’ which meant lots of expertise on

board but also a very crowded boat.

We did see lots of whales and dolphins, including Blue, Fin and Humpback Whales and a myriad of

lovely seabirds, including Black-footed Albatross, Rhinoceros Auklet and Tufted Puffins.

Later in the trip, the call went up, “Sabine’s Gull”. This is a sought after gull on many pelagics, in-

cluding those in Australia. I had never seen one. The gull was front starboard, I was aft port. By the

time I had fought my way past bodies, binoculars and enormous cameras the gull was long gone.

Debi Shearwater (yes really) rubbed it in by saying “There goes a Sabine’s, the world’s most beauti-

ful gull”.

GREAT GREY OWL

Another iconic species that has been looked for both in Europe and North America. In 2016 I went

on a birding trip in Finland where Great Grey Owl was the highlight bird for the trip. We saw a myri-

ad of owls, including Ural, Pygmy and Hawk, but not a sniff of the Great Grey. Apparently it was a

bad year for voles.

On the aforementioned trip to California a friend told me a Great Grey Owl had been spotted on the

other side of Yosemite and as part of a sightseeing trip I dragged my sister to hunt for the bird, fol-

lowing the instructions. The traffic was terrible and when we finally got to a likely spot she waited,

somewhat terrified of bears, whilst I wandered off, unsuccessfully looking for the owl. Two days later

I received much more specific instructions, including that the owl was close to the petrol station at

the western end of Yosemite (2000 metres), near some squawking jays. We duly drove 2 kms from

the service station, found a likely field, and scanned every fir tree for the owl. No squawking jays

and no owl. When we later contacted my friend he said “Oh no, I meant the owl was at 2000 metres

elevation”.

GOLF BALL ON LEGS

We were trying to see a Grey-bellied Tesia in South Vietnam. The guide kept seeing this ground

skulker and pointing frantically. I just could not see it. Eventually my colleague saw it fly across a

small stream, naturally I was looking in the opposite direction at that moment. My friend rather ac-

curately described the bird as a golf ball on legs.

WHITE-THROATED GRASS-WREN

I’m sure I’m not the only member who has searched for this invisible bird at Gunlom (formerly UDP)

Falls in Kakadu. On our first visit in 1987 we fully expected to see this bird after a strenuous climb to

the plateau above the falls. We were quite astonished that we missed the birds.

We have been back on at least two other occasions and had no luck at all. Now I understand this

bird is very scarce and is very hard to find without local knowledge.

SHOE-BILLED STORK

Here is a happier story. Back in 2004 we had a family holiday in Zambia with our teenage girls. The

itinerary was largely for game watching but did include a visit to Bangweulu Swamps.

May 2018 5

Whilst the game here was very interesting the main attraction was the mythical Shoe-billed Stork, a

bird that one bird fanatic I know spent up to 40 hours looking for, mainly up to his knees in mud.

I had allowed 3 nights here to give myself the best chance of finding the stork. To be honest it was

not much of a place, virtually no shade, so that the girls spent most of their time lying in their tents

doing crosswords and a dinner area where we were cheek by jowl with big game hunters.

On the first afternoon we went for a game drive, and as we passed the swamp amazingly spotted a

Shoe-billed Stork from the car, no more than 40 metres away. There were cheers all round, and we

cut short our visit to spend time at a more children friendly location.

PHILIPPINES

This birding trip from early 2016 was the ultimate missed bird safari.

In the end it became a joke with “missed bird”, “just gone bird”, “heard bird”, “branch bird” and

“stone bird” all featuring.

We were particularly looking for Azure-breasted Pitta on Bohol, Cebu Hawk-Owl on Cebu, Philippines

Eagle on Mindanao, and Palawan Peacock-Pheasant on Palawan.

After 3 visits to its favourite habitat we drew a blank with the Pitta, not calling due to drought. We

then took a ferry to Cebu and the next morning drove through 3 hours of horrendous traffic to the

owls habitat. The tour leader walked into the bush to check for the owl, saw it, disturbed it, and no

one else saw the bird.

We flew to Mindanao for 3 nights and 2 full days at Mt. Kitanglad to search for the Eagle, the no.one

target for the trip. It was a long walk and we spent many hours each day scanning the mountain

tops for the Eagle. The local guide called it about four times but there was enough expertise in the

group to identify the bird as Oriental Honey Buzzard each time.

We never saw the Eagle, and were told we were the first bird group to miss the Eagle in more than a

year. The previous group who missed it never got up the mountain. They were shot at by the army

who saw their telescopes and thought they were terrorists.

The group who followed us saw the Philippine Eagle within 15 minutes of arriving at the mountain.

When we got to Palawan we were told that an elderly Palawan Peacock-Pheasant, which normally

would be almost impossible to see, had become quite tame after discovering left over rice thrown

out by staff at the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Park. One of our party drily noted that know-

ing our luck the bird would die of old age the evening before our visit.

Luckily it survived the night and we had stellar views of this beautiful bird.

Shoe-billed Stork

May 2018 6

AUSTRALIAN PAINTED SNIPE

I’ll finish with a happy ending. I had looked for the Painted Snipe on two separate occasions, once at

Ash Island near Newcastle, once at Kelly’s Swamp near Canberra. Both involved many hours of driv-

ing and many hours of searching.

On the third occasion, I was at Shellharbour swamp for another long search. I was there for hours

and although I saw some lovely birds including Pectoral Sandpiper and Baillon’s Crake, the Snipe

proved elusive. I went to Shellharbour for a coffee and returned for one last attempt, when out of

the reeds, nonchalant as you like, emerged a beautiful Australian Painted Snipe. It wandered around

in the open for about 10 minutes and then melted back into the reeds as silently as it had first ap-

peared.

Actually, it was not really a happy ending. A couple of months later construction commenced on the

Shell Cove Marina, Council opining that delaying the construction until after the birds had migrated

was a good result for everybody…presumably apart from the returning birds.

Palawan Peacock-Pheasant

Australian painted Snipe

May 2018 7

Fitzroy Falls Walk-18 February 2018 Report by Christine Kelly

Five members joined the scheduled walk to Fitzroy Falls in mid-February for an afternoon of birding

and then to enjoy a late summer evening barbeque.

The walk around the falls area generally provides some interesting sightings and this walk was no

exception. On our arrival in the carpark we were treated to a display by one male and several fe-

male Superb Lyrebirds. This was complemented by a wonderful flyover of at least 22 Yellow-tailed

Black-Cockatoos.

Along the walk was also sighted: Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, White-browed Scrubwren, Lewin’s

Honeyeater, Satin Bowerbird (female), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Brown Thornbill, Australian Mag-

pie, Eastern Rosella, New Holland Honeyeater and on our return to the picnic area the Bassian

Thrush appeared almost on cue.

After the NPWS office closed the group continued towards the bridge and were treated to a wonder-

ful display of Eastern Spinebills, pausing for a brief bath in the river before retreating for the night.

(See attached photos thank you Dain). A Raptor soared overhead enjoying the evening thermals

but staying far enough above the group to prevent an accurate identification

As the balmy evening continued the group enjoyed a “sausage sizzle” with Val and Tony Cooper

joining us.

Eastern Spinebill bathing Photo by Dain Pollard

Thank You…. To all the contributors to the newsletter, those who write the reports, submit interesting articles and

those who share their photos. Without you we couldn’t publish a newsletter. Thank you for your in-

terest and commitment.

We invite all members to contribute to the newsletter, about any aspect of the birding world in the

local area, your own backyard or farther afield, something interesting that you have seen, or infor-

mation about your favourite birding spot.

May 2018 8

Floating bird island invention keeps feathered

friends safe and water troughs clean ABC Rural Posted 29 May 2017

By Renee Cluff

This article was suggested by Peter Madvig as being of interest.

A far north Queensland ornithologist and former

cattleman is hoping to save birds' lives and keep

water troughs clean with one fell swoop.

Del Richards has created a floating bird island

that can be placed in troughs to give birds and

other animals a safe place to drink from and al-

low them to get out.

He said water trough bird drownings are a major

issue on farms right across Australia, particularly

in the hotter months of the year when water lev-

els get low.

"The birds come up to a trough when it's too low

to get a drink, so birds often try to fly into

troughs and they drown," he said.

"Kookaburras are some of the worst because

they're front heavy with a big skull and big bill

and they can't swim for very long at all." Once birds drown, the water becomes spoiled.

"On bigger stations they employ people to look after the water points and it's a problem for them

because they've got to go and spend a couple of hundred dollars every time there's a trough that's

gone rotten."

Mr Richards said birds often do not have any other options but to drink and drown, or dehydrate. "If

birds can't get a drink they try and fly another 15 kilometres to the next trough. By the time they

get there they're dead," he said.

His innovation, known as the trough sentinel system, has been tested by the Northern Gulf Resource

Management Group. It is an octagonal, polymer disc that can abut the sides of water troughs.

The bird island was showcased for the first time at the 2017 Mareeba Field Days. "Everybody has

said 'what a great idea'. They can't believe it hasn't been thought of before," said Mr Richards. "The

uptake and the interest has been really, really good."

New Members We welcome the following people who have joined recently

John McKindley

Alle Lloyd

Joan Cochrane

The bird island invention called a trough sentinel sys-

tem aims to stop birds drowning in water troughs.

(ABC Rural: Renee Cluff)

May 2018 9

Mt Penang-18 March 2018 Walk organiser Christine Kelly reports

This is one of our more popular annual walks as the reward for the walk is a wonderful view of the

hidden valleys below. 16 members met at the Canyonleigh Store early on Sunday morning to enjoy a

walk to the top of Mt Penang. Often raptors can be seen enjoying the thermal lift from the top of the

mountain. However, we were not so lucky on this occasion.

The weather had been predicted to be very hot so no time was wasted in commencing our walk. Be-

cause of the large numbers we divided into three groups, all converging for the last climb to the top.

The trails are all clearly marked and take walkers through a variety of habitats which reveal an inter-

esting array of woodland species.

16 species were recorded on the walk but the record of note was the Brown-headed Honeyeater

which had not previously been recorded by BLSH on its walks into that area.

Sightings include: Pied Currawong, Spotted Pardalote, Crimson Rosella, White-throated Treecreeper,

Superb Fairy-wren, White-eared Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Scarlet

Robin, Grey Shrike-thrush, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Grey Fantail, Superb Lyrebird, Rufous Whis-

tler, White-browed Scrubwren, Welcome Swallow.

Scarlet Robin Photo by Steven Fischer

Participants enjoying lunch and the view. Photos by Jennie Wiles

May 2018 10

Birds in Art, Literature and Everyday Life —

food for thought By Col Kohlhagen

During the introductory workshop which was presented by BLSH to 80+ Cubs at their Berrima Envi-

ronment Camp earlier this year, several slides dealt with how birds have been featured in Aboriginal

legends, have appeared on sporting regalia, have been created as cartoons characters, have embel-

lished Australian coins and have been adopted as State Emblems.

A few days later and while reading “A Short History of Christianity” which was written by Geoffrey

Blayney, I came across another example of where birding knowledge would have been of great im-

portance. In the passage below Blayney was documenting the pro-

liferation of religious art which swept across Europe in the six-

teenth century. In offering up this quote, I must advise those who

know me well that I have not had an epiphany but rather thought

these paragraphs were worth sharing:

“The churches were the main art galleries of that era but no artis-

tic guidebooks or earphones were available for visitors and wor-

shippers. The religious painting had to speak without the aid of

interpreters. How could it be otherwise? It was pointless to place

captions on religious paintings because most people could not

read.

Just as today’s footballers can be identified by the team colours

they wear, so the heroes of Christianity could be identified by the

clothes they wore, or by the symbols placed in their hands or at

their feet. The painting of baby Jesus by Giovanni Tiepolo might

well puzzle visitors to the National Gallery of Art in Washington,

for in the infant’s left hand is a plump goldfinch. To the true be-

lievers, however, the goldfinch was the herald of the fate of Jesus,

who was to be decked with a crown of thorns before he was killed.

As almost everyone knew in that era, when most people were

peasants and farm labourers, the goldfinch ate thorns and this-

tles.”

Madonna of the Goldfinch

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian,

1696 - 1770)

Birds feature in new ‘self guide tour app’ at

Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden

This information may be of interest for members travelling down the South Coast of NSW

The Friends of ERBG have developed a new self guide

system which features plants, birds and insects found

in the Garden. Content will be expanded over time,

and currently includes information on over 120 plant

species and groups, and the 50 most common birds.

ERBG features plants from the south coast region is 5

km south of Batemans Bay on the Princes Highway.

The system, called ‘Botanic Explorer’, uses QR

code scanning, text, photos, audio and map guidance

to help visitors find and learn about a wide range of-

natural history topics. The system runs on iPads

which can be hired for $5 for a half day use.

May 2018 11

Threatened Species Planting Event This recent event was organised by Greening Australia to carry out some habitat restoration planting at Moss Vale. This is an extension of the Greening Australia workshops conducted by Nikki Taws at Canyonleigh when several of our members participated and gained an understanding of the im-portance of casuarina and grassy box woodlands habit.

This latest event is linked to an on-going plan to re-establish Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot ‘stepping stone’ migratory habitat across degraded land within the Wollondilly catchment and nearby areas. This will enhance biodiversity connectivity and support foraging flight paths from the coast to the mountains. Foraging species such as eucalypts and she-oaks will be revegetated with other local species in appropriate landscape zones.

Volunteer Erna Llenore reports

Thank you to the BLSH members who attended the Greening Australia planting event in Moss Vale

on April 26th. I spied at least six of us scattered amongst the thirty-five volunteers. We planted a

gazillion trees in an area which has previously been parched paddock. Although I’ll probably have

some aches and pains tomorrow I’ve got a happy heart today. No doubt the Regent Honeyeaters and

Swift Parrots will be moving in shortly!

What’s coming up in May? Wednesday 2 May Belanglo State Forest

Leader- Stan Jones,

This site is accessed from off the Hume Highway via the Gordon VC Rest Area which is about 6 km

north of the Hoddles Crossing exit to Moss Vale. A variety of good birding sites on fire trails can be

accessed by car within the forest along well made forest roads. A good variety of local species can

be seen.

Saturday 19 May Erith Mine, Morton N.P.

Leader -Fred Young,

This is one of many excellent walks in Morton National Park and can be completed along a designated

walking trail with a return loop along a fire trail. Rockwarblers nearly always make an appearance and

it is a good place to see White-naped Honeyeaters.

Tuesday 22 May Members Night

Bowral Community Centre 7.30pm

David Sampson plus TBA

More details to follow for all events. Watch your emails for starting times etc.

May 2018 12

Berrima River Track - 4 April 2018 Walk organiser Col Kohlhagen reports

Twelve members enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the Wingecarribee River in warm but overcast condi-

tions. The day started with a family of water dragons, seen catching the early morning sun on the

river bank, opposite the Scout Camp. It finished with a swamp wallaby calmly watching us from a

protected vantage point on the grassy river edge as we

neared our starting point. The birds were interesting too!!

The much anticipated annual north-south movement of Yellow-

faced Honeyeaters was intermittent as the walk started. How-

ever, two hours later as we returned to the cars, there were

groups of 15-25 seen constantly overhead and on the move.

Everyone was able to enjoy great views of a Rose Robin which

was probably the highlight of the day. Little birds were notably absent with only a few thornbills and

fairy-wrens on show and not a single Red-browed Finch to be seen.

A total of 28 species was logged including these:

Pacific Black Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Crested Pigeon, Fain-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Moorhen, Pied

Cormorant, Australasian Darter, Laughing Kookaburra, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Galah, Sulphur-

crested Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, White-throated

Treecreeper, Super Fairy-wren, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Striated Thornbill, Brown

Thornbill, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong, Australian Magpie, Grey Butcher-

bird, Grey Fantail, Magpie-lark and Rose Robin

Members enjoying the Berrima outing Photo by Col

Kohlhagen

Swamp wallaby Photo by Steven Fischer

Australasian Darter Photo by Steven Fischer Female Golden Whistler Photo by Steven Fischer

May 2018 13

Across the River | Keeping an eye on the birds Geoff Goodfellow

This article on BLSH member Peter Dewey appeared in the Southern Highland News on 20 March

2018.

MAN ON A MISSION: Former distinguished orthopaedic surgeon and now a respected Southern Highlands orni-

thologist, Peter Dewey. Photo: Geoff Goodfellow

Last week I met a pretty remarkable gentleman: Peter Dewey. He would prefer me to talk about

birds and other critters, not him. But I need to tell you a bit about the man before getting on to

those other critters he knows so much about.

Born in England, Peter completed his medical studies there before coming to Australia, where in

1967 he decided to move to Wagga Wagga, becoming the first doctor to set up a practice as an or-

thopaedic surgeon in rural Australia. After a distinguished medical career, which included a three

month stint helping out in Rwanda following the brutal massacres and insidious landmine injuries

there in 1994, Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

But at the end of his stellar career as an orthopaedic surgeon he didn’t just hang up his operating

tools and gracefully retire to Bowral with a good book and a glass of wine.

No way. He went back to university and studied ornithology so he could pursue his other passion in

life, exploring biodiversity and its essential relationship with humankind.

Whilst Peter has a graduate diploma of ornithology and an encyclopaedic knowledge of Australian

birds, his ecological interests go much further, extending into understanding the complex interrelat-

ed natural ecosystems that sustain life on Earth.

I learned so much spending a couple of hours with Peter last Thursday while walking beside the

Wingecarribee River in the Bong Bong Common. That’s the public reserve separating Bowral from

Moss Vale, where the first township around these parts was established by Governor Macquarie back

in 1821.

Peter has completed 97 birdlife surveys in the Bong Bong Common since 2008, listing 96 species

observed during his visits.

May 2018 14

Some of these birds are seasonal visitors dining on our frogs and insects, others are permanent resi-

dents. Many are common varieties, but there are a few birds on the Bong Bong Common considered

uncommon, like the lovely little Golden-headed Cisticola, which can be found on the long grass, gen-

tly swaying in the breeze while eating seeds or small insects. There are Swamp Harriers, Grey Gos-

hawks, Whistling Kites and more.

One interesting bird on Peter’s radar is the quaintly named Latham’s Snipe, which sounds horribly

like a good title to give a newspaper column written by a well-known former Labor leader, doesn’t it?

Latham’s Snipe migrates almost 8000 kilometres from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido

each spring, to spend summer in eastern Australia, including around the Southern Highlands. Peter

is confident there is a seasonal colony of these brilliantly camouflaged migratory birds on the Suttor

Road section of Bong Bong Common, among that swampy grassland beside the Wingecarribee River.

Birds and frogs are considered two very useful indicators of ecological health and Peter says the

Bong Bong Common is showing tangible signs of improvement since our local council introduced its

successful, Wingecarribee - Our Future Environment program in 2000. The revegetation and bush-

care work undertaken by various groups has made a huge difference.

New plantings of trees, grasses and other vegetation are now helping to create a really biodiverse

habitat along the Wingecarribee River for a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and in-

vertebrates.

Not forgetting, of course, that the Wingecarribee River is home to a significant population of platy-

pus, one of the rarest and most unique animals on the planet.

“But we can’t become complacent, there are predators out there,” warns Peter, who wasn’t talking

about black snakes and Wedge-tailed Eagles, but people and governments keen to take over public

green spaces for housing developments.

Peter is right, we can’t become complacent.

Our reserves and national parks are valuable community assets worth protecting, so that future

generations can walk among the natural world and experience the benefits such pleasant, peaceful

places offer.

http://www.southernhighlandnews.com.au/story/5294723/across-the-river-keeping-an-eye-on-the-birds/?cs=265

Worth Viewing 1. Attenborough: the amazing Lyre Bird sings like a chain-

saw! BBC Earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSB71jNq-yQ

2 minutes 57secs.

2. The Varied World of Australian Birds : Nature Documentary on Australia's Wild

Birds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSMJimGCbtY

1:48:44 A long video but it highlights some interesting features of

101 Australian birds.

3. Planet Earth : Bin Chicken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4dYWhkSbTU

2:58 A humorous? look at the Australian White Ibis.

May 2018 15

Wingecarribee Reservoir - 22 April 2108 Leader Val Cooper reports

All five of us set off around part of the Wingecarribee Dam just after 8.30 am. It was a lovely clear

morning. Soon after we were joined by Jane Lemann and her daughter Kate.

The birds were not very vocal but we were pleased with the number

spotted - 26! We were back at the picnic tables overlooking the dam

for morning tea at ten-thirty. We stayed there for a little time ob-

serving the different birds on the dam. It was a most enjoyable

morning!

Species List

Black Swans, Australian Magpies, Pied Currawongs, Crimson Rosellas, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos,

White-faced Heron, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Grey Shrike-thrush, Silvereyes, Grey

Fantails, Eastern Yellow Robins, Striated Thornbills, Yellow Thornbill, Brown Thornbills, Great Crested

Grebes, Australasian Grebe, Superb Fairy-wren, Australian King Parrots, Varied Sittellas, Laughing

Kookaburra, Golden Whistler, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Pardalote, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Silver

Gull.

Striated Thornbill Photo by Linda

Hoelle

Wingecarribee Reservoir Photo by Jennie Wiles

From left– John Hoelle, Linda Hoelle, Val Cooper and

Tony Cooper. Photo by Jennie Wiles

Little Black and Great Cormorant by Jennie Wiles

Great Crested Grebe Photo by Jennie Wiles

May 2018 16

Members’ Photography The theme is +/or

Next edition theme is “Mixed Group”

Other contributions are very welcome.

Black White White

Australian White Ibis and Pied Currawong by Helen

Aquart African Grey Hornbill by Alan Edwards

White-necked Heron by Jennie Wiles White Tern by Erna Llenore

Black-shouldered Kite by Alan Edwards Grey Goshawk –white morph by Linda Brookes

May 2018 17

Common Noddy by Alan Edwards White-breasted Woodswallows by Jennie Wiles

Australian White Ibis & Royal Spoonbill by Erna Llenore

Double-barred Finches by Linda Brookes

Crested Tern by Alan Edwards Baby Willie Wagtails by Linda Brookes

Magpie Geese by Linda Hoelle

Newsletter contributions

If you would like to contribute an article to the newsletter, please contact Jennie Wiles at millieup@hotmail.com

Articles can be on any aspect of birding, or issue related to birding, that may interest other members.

Photos, in jpeg format, are also very wel-come.

BLSH Committee

President Christine Kelly

Liaison Col Kohlhagen

Conservation Simon Robinson

Program Peter Madvig

Treasurer John Desmond

Admin Jenny Murray

Newsletter Jennie Wiles

Committee support Val Cooper

Committee support Helen Aquart

Support Roles-

Membership Erna Llenore

Image Library Helen Erskine

Birdata Sandy Berry

Yellow-billed Spoonbill by Ingrida Spole Pied Currawong by Linda Brookes

7 species of birds—Sunday Lunch at Hay by Paddy Donkin

The deadline for the next newsletter is

20 July 2018