ON MY ROUNDS

                                             ON MY ROUNDS (On the bike)

                                             Things not seen every day

                                              Brian Venables 28/2/2010

Out to Cattana Wetlands on the highway and back to Edge Hill through Smithfield, Freshwater and Aeroglen.

PHESANT COUCAL- (2) Between Hollaways and Yorkey's turn-offs two birds in duet but not seen. 05:45

WHITE-BROWED CRAKE (2) Dillon Road two birds calling to each other and eventually seen. 05:50

WHITE-BROWED CRAKE (4) At the intersection of Cattana Rd and Yorkey's access. Two pair calling in the medium length grass but not seen. 06:05.

At Cattana Wetlands itself.

COMB-CREASTED JACANA- (6)

WANDERING WHISTLING DUCK-(2)

DARTER- (1)

BLACK BITTERN- (1) Calling not seen.

All the way through the cane fields SINGING BUSHLARKS were in full song as were TAWNY GRASSBIRDS and GOLDEN HEADED CISTICOLAS. CRIMSON FINCHES and CHESTNUT-BREASTED MANNIKINS were seen but were outnumbered by the SPICE FINCHES.

Regrettably there were 4 road kills along Dunne Road BUSH STONE-CURLEW-WHITE-BREASTED WOODSWALLOW – WATER-RAT (Hydromys chrysogaster)-and an unidentified FRESHWATER TURTLE. An otherwise delightful morning.

                    ON MY ROUNDS 

                    Things not seen every day.

                                      Brian Venables 18/02/2010

LITTLE KINGFISHER – One bird fishing from mangroves in the Fearnley St. drain where Upward St. terminates.Have not seen species since October 2009. Still have not seen them in the Centenary Lakes so far this year and I have been looking. 07:00 S16.55'23" E145.45'35".

                                     Brian Venables 15/02/2010.

BLACK BITTERN – (1 F) Freshwater Lake (Centenary Lakes) 06:30 hrs. 

                             S16_ 54'_ 11” - E145_ 44'_ 56”.

COMMON SANDPIPER – (2) Saltwater Creek downstream of Greenslopes St. bridge 06:40

                                   S16_54'_12” - E145_45'_02”.

BLACK BITTERN – (2 M&F) Anderson St bushland adjacent Cemetery. 06:45 hrs.

                           S16_54'_32” - E145_45'_08”.

SHINING FLYCATCHER – (1 M) In the mangrove lined gutter between sports oval and                                                

                                    vacant land at northern end of Lake St.

                                    S16_54'_01” - E145_45'_33”.  

ORANGE FOOTED SCRUBFOWL – (1 juv)  In the back yard at my McCormack St home      

                                                opposite Botanical Gardens. This bird was as tiny as a                                                          

                                                King Quail. 08:30 hrs.

                                                S16_53'_56” - E145_44'_47”