BIRDWATCH REPORT APRIL 2008

April Showers characterised much of the month, bringing the Big Gun blossom trees (Swamp Mahogany, Blackbutt and Five-veined Paperbark in particular) into season and heavy with nectar, to the delight of huge flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) with a good sprinkling of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) dotted through. With pleasure comes peril however, and we watched a lightning-fast Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) taking pot shots at the unwary Lorries as they swayed and sang, drunk with fermenting honey.

Families of Spangled Drongos (Dicrurus bracteatus) are on the prowl up in the Satinay villas, themselves predating on Welcome Swallows (Hirundo neoxena) and Red-backed Fairy-wrens (Malurus melanocephalus) along with all manner of skinks, snakes and rare acid frogs in the Wallum. Also at risk are the new influx of Grey-(Rhipidura fuliginosa) and Rufous Fantails (Rhipidura rufifrons), and a little family of Striated Pardalotes (Pardalotus striatus) that have taken to nesting in a newly exposed sandbank.

This month we welcomed back the Hervey Bay Birdwatching Club for a fine morning of leisurely birdwatching, with highlights including large groups of White-faced Herons (Ardea novaehollandiae) descending on Dundonga Creek, and the pretty pretty video calls of Leaden- (Myiagra rubecula) and Restless Flycatchers (Myiagra inquieta). A great forerunner to Bird Week 2008, 10th - 17th May!

BIRDWATCH REPORT MARCH 2008

Autumn is upon us, the Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) leading the charge and arriving in copious chaotic flights around the Jetty from dawn to dusk. In their wake we find raptors on the lookout for young or weak birds, which only adds to the cacauphony.

Pied Cormorants (Phalacrocorax varius) too have showed up to fish in the huge swarms of Hardiheads, Gars and other bait fish, which don't know which way to turn under the dual assault from air and sea. The beach of the Great Sandy Strait is also alive with Soldier Crabs, to the delight of Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus), Eastern Curlews (Numenius madagascariensis), Beach Stone-curlews (Esacus neglectus) and a little family of gorgeously green Sacred Kingfishers (Todiramphus sanctus) which make sorties from their dead log outposts as soon as the daily tide recedes.

Down in the Wallum the grasses and sedges are growing back lushly after mosaic burning last August, and providing food and shelter for all manner of tiny avians. Resident Red-browed Finches (Neochmia temporalis), normally shy and secretive, have been so excited by fresh grass seed that they are perching for photos almost daily. Maybe it has something to do also with competition from a renegade band of Double-barred Finches (Taeniopygia bichenovii) seen muscling in on their territory for a couple of weeks.

And our beautiful Rainbow Bee-eaters (Merops ornatus) have returned in number, chirruping around the resort of an afternoon to complete our many hued light and sound show this month. What a festival!