B u n d y B o c N e w s l e t t e r N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 . E d i t o r T r e v o r Q u e s t e d

Pheasant Coucal by Carl Moller in June

Pheasant Coucal by Trevor Quested in December

BUNDY BOCN e w s l e t t e r

Mt Walsh report

Lots of birds before we arrived

Page 2

Hurdle Gully

Is this our best list yet for a

campout?

Page 3

Black Falcon notes

by Chris Barnes

Page 4

Cordalba State Forest

On our doorstep and full of

good birds.

Page 5

LAST BUNDY BOC NEWSLETTER?

Yes via BOCA but soon we will be in BirdLife Australia and we await directions as to how we will be producing our regular newsletters in the new year.

Our secretary Don Lynch and treasurer Elaine Lynch recently attended a meeting in Brisbane to hear first hand the progress being made by the hard working merger team. Don continues:

We were pleased with the progress made and the briefing, as were others who attended the session.The meeting was chaired by Ms Jess McVicar, the Merger Manager. She and Golo Maurer, the Shorebirds 2020 Project Manager, gave presentations which were well received. Four other members of their team attended. A group of 14 from clubs involved in the merger attended. We met people from Toowoomba, Crows Nest, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Mackay, Capricornia and Northern NSW, all eager to see how things were progressing. A brochure entitled One Birdlife was issued at the meeting's close and pretty well sums up the briefing. THE MEETING. Jess opened proceedings by giving an overview of the methods employed in bringing together the organisation to this point. a. Research. A survey has been conducted using 1,107 members of thepubic as a random sample with a varying degree of interest in birds Of this group 31% qualified for further survey. Jess spoke in some detail of the survey which seems to have been done with care and efficiency. The majority of those with more than a passing interest in birds, seems to be older, mostly women, "outdoorsy" types or "empty nesters". That's not surprising. b. The BIRDLIFE AUSTRALIA logo was shown. The consensus was that it was simple, representative, appealing, similar but different to like badges/brand names throughout the world and representing what we are about. Elaine and I thought it was good. The logo will be made public on the launch day, 1st January 2012. c. Jess went on to show designs for brand brochures, newsletters, posters, regional stationery, regional newsletters and so on. All seemed to be well put together, reflecting the purpose of the new organisation. One would need to be careful, in my view, that regional literature, whilst using a common template, did not have too much of a similarity. Samples ofregional badges were shown. d. Work is progressing with the Website which should come online in the new year. e. The new group is busy lobbying Federal Government for financial support with research, regional support and support with national public relations. An important issue.f. Some discussion took place on membership fees. In the short term members of both

major"clubs" should pay the fee of their club when it is due. If in more than one club, one fee only.

CONCLUSION. The meeting was timely and worthwhile. As I see it, from a BUNDYBOÇ point of view, we should be co-operative and enthusiastic about what is happening. The figures in favour of the merger were strongly positive and now we should follow through and support the new brand. We should look at local issues, club procedures and be ready to put our stamp onto BIRDLIFE AUSTRALIA now and in the new year. Don Lynch. Secretary.

B u n d y B o c N e w s l e t t e r N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 . E d i t o r T r e v o r Q u e s t e d

Maned  Duck 20Grey  Teal 2Pacific  Black  Duck 20White-‐eyed  Duck 3Brown  Quail 6Australasian  Grebe 2LiCle  Black  Cormorant 2LiCle  Pied  Cormorant 4Darter 1Intermediate  Egret 3White-‐faced  Heron 6CaCle  Egret 20Australian  Ibis 30Straw-‐necked  Ibis 50Australian  Kite 1Black  Kite 1White-‐bellied  Sea-‐Eagle 1Brown  Goshawk 2Wedge-‐tailed  Eagle 1Australian  Kestrel 1Australian  Hobby 1Purple  Swamphen 6Dusky  Moorhen 3Eurasian  Coot 2Comb-‐crested  Jacana 12Masked  Lapwing 6Black-‐fronted  DoCerel 2SpoCed  Dove 2Brown  Cuckoo-‐Dove 7Emerald  Dove 1Crested  Pigeon 4Peaceful  Dove 8Bar-‐shouldered  Dove 5Wonga  Pigeon 2Topknot  Pigeon 1Galah 6Rainbow  Lorikeet 10Scaly-‐breasted  Lorikeet 12Pale-‐headed  Rosella 4Australian  King-‐Parrot 6Pallid  Cuckoo 1Fan-‐tailed  Cuckoo 1Pheasant  Coucal 3Azure  Kingfisher 2Laughing  Kookaburra 12Forest  Kingfisher 6Sacred  Kingfisher 1Rainbow  Bee-‐eater 6Noisy  PiCa 1

Bill Moorhead led us to some top bird spots.

Our first stop was at a large dam near Isis Sugar Mill then on

to Woowoonga National Park to meet those who had camped

overnight. We birded extensively here as there is a very fine

track leading from wet sclerophyll forest into tall rainforest.

After morning tea we drove to Mt

Walsh National Park where we

birdwatched around the area.

Bill finished the day by cooking

the group a BBQ lunch.

MT WALSH NATIONAL PARK AUGUST 28TH

Welcome  Swallow 4Fairy  MarYn 8Australasian  Pipit 1Black-‐faced  Cuckoo-‐shrike 7White-‐bellied  Cuckoo-‐shrike 2Varied  Triller 4Golden-‐headed  CisYcola 4Tawny  Grassbird 1Willie-‐wagtail 10Grey  Fantail 8Rufous  Fantail 2White-‐eared  Monarch 2Yellow  Robin 2Golden  Whistler 8Rufous  Whistler 5LiCle  Shrike-‐Thrush 4Grey  Shrike-‐Thrush 2Grey-‐crowned  Babbler 6Eastern  Whipbird 6Red-‐backed  Fairywren 12Variegated  Fairywren 3White-‐browed  Scrubwren 12Large-‐billed  Scrubwren 10Brown  Thornbill 5Yellow-‐rumped  Thornbill 2Fairy  Gerygone 6White-‐throated  Gerygone 1Mistletoebird 1Striated  Pardalote 4Silver-‐eye 10Brown  Honeyeater 8Dusky  Honeyeater 2Scarlet  Honeyeater 2Lewin's  Honeyeater 20White-‐throated  Honeyeater 8LiCle  Friarbird 1Noisy  Friarbird 3Blue-‐faced  Honeyeater 6Noisy  Miner 20Olive-‐backed  Oriole 1Australian  Figbird 4Spangled  Drongo 2Magpie-‐lark 20White-‐winged  Chough 25Apostlebird 15White-‐breasted  Woodswallow 17Grey  Butcherbird 4Pied  Butcherbird 20

Australasian  Magpie 20Pied  Currawong 6Torresian  Crow 20Common  Myna 2House  Sparrow 4Red-‐browed  Firetail 5Double-‐barred  Finch 24Chestnut-‐breasted  Mannikin 4

105 species

Emerald Dove by Chris Barnes

Fairy Martin by Potta

Forest Kingfisher by Carl Moller

B u n d y B o c N e w s l e t t e r N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 . E d i t o r T r e v o r Q u e s t e d

HURDLE GULLY CAMPOUT 23-25TH SEPTEMBER

Emu 11Plumed  Whistling-‐Duck 30Maned  Duck 80Grey  Teal 4Chestnut  Teal 4Pacific  Black  Duck 30White-‐eyed  Duck 10Australasian  Grebe 6LiCle  Black  Cormorant 8LiCle  Pied  Cormorant 2Darter 1Great  Egret 1Intermediate  Egret 3White-‐faced  Heron 6LiCle  Egret 1CaCle  Egret 12Australian  Ibis 1Straw-‐necked  Ibis 6Pacific  Baza 2Whistling  Kite 1Brown  Goshawk 1Wedge-‐tailed  Eagle 4Australian  Kestrel 3Brown  Falcon 2Black  Falcon 3Purple  Swamphen 12Dusky  Moorhen 1Comb-‐crested  Jacana 2Pied  SYlt 1Bush  Thick-‐knee 2Masked  Lapwing 2Black-‐fronted  DoCerel 3Brown  Cuckoo-‐Dove 2Emerald  Dove 1Crested  Pigeon 7Peaceful  Dove 10Bar-‐shouldered  Dove 20Wonga  Pigeon 1Galah 250LiCle  Corella 50Sulphur-‐crested  Cockatoo 52CockaYel 12Rainbow  Lorikeet 4Scaly-‐breasted  Lorikeet 4LiCle  Lorikeet 10Pale-‐headed  Rosella 12Australian  King-‐Parrot 3Fan-‐tailed  Cuckoo 4Shining  Bronze-‐Cuckoo 2

LiCle  Bronze-‐Cuckoo 3Channel-‐billed  Cuckoo HPheasant  Coucal 3Southern  Boobook 3Australian  Owlet-‐Nightjar 4Tawny  Frogmouth 1Large-‐tailed  Nightjar 1Laughing  Kookaburra 6Forest  Kingfisher 1Sacred  Kingfisher 1Rainbow  Bee-‐eater 8Welcome  Swallow 2Tree  MarYn 10Black-‐faced  Cuckoo-‐shrike 5White-‐bellied  Cuckoo-‐shrike 3Varied  Triller 3Golden-‐headed  CisYcola 2Willie-‐wagtail 12Grey  Fantail 1White-‐eared  Monarch 1Leaden  Flycatcher 20Restless  Flycatcher 3Jacky-‐winter 20Yellow  Robin 10Golden  Whistler 2Rufous  Whistler 8Grey  Shrike-‐Thrush 4Grey-‐crowned  Babbler 17Eastern  Whipbird 6Red-‐backed  Fairywren 8Superb  Fairywren 2Variegated  Fairywren 12Large-‐billed  Scrubwren 4Speckled  Warbler 30Buff-‐rumped  Thornbill 12Brown  Thornbill 3Striated  Thornbill 6Weebill 6Fairy  Gerygone HWhite-‐throated  Gerygone 12Varied  SiCella 6White-‐throated  Treecreeper 2SpoCed  Pardalote 4Striated  Pardalote NestSilver-‐eye 10Brown  Honeyeater 7Scarlet  Honeyeater 7Lewin's  Honeyeater 6

Yellow-‐faced  Honeyeater 6Yellow-‐tu`ed  Honeyeater 10Fuscous  Honeyeater 20White-‐naped  Honeyeater 3White-‐throated  Honeyeater 3Black-‐chinned  Honeyeater 4LiCle  Friarbird 12Noisy  Friarbird 10Striped  Honeyeater 6Blue-‐faced  Honeyeater 4Noisy  Miner 20Olive-‐backed  Oriole 8Australian  Figbird 10Spangled  Drongo 2Regent Bowerbird 3Magpie-‐lark 12White-‐winged  Chough 20Apostlebird 18White-‐breasted  Woodswallow 1Dusky  Woodswallow 1Grey  Butcherbird 3Pied  Butcherbird 6Australasian  Magpie 10Pied  Currawong 12Torresian  Crow 20Red-‐browed  Firetail 100Double-‐barred  Finch 6

We had a wonderful 3 days in tall Gum-topped Box forest

and exploring the rainforest of the scientific area. Speckled

Warblers were common around our camp. We went on a

back road to Monto and the wetlands produced several

extras. Spotlighting at night we heard more than we saw.

Speckled Warbler by Murray Frick

White-eared Monarch by Deane Lewis

Sacred Kingfisher by Bill Moorhead

B u n d y B o c N e w s l e t t e r N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 . E d i t o r T r e v o r Q u e s t e d

BLACK FALCON BY CHRIS BARNES

After a very enjoyable few days at Hurdle Gully I thought we had exhausted most of the possibilities within the forest so decided to head back for Bundaberg rather than drive the tracks again. The early morning Speckled Warbler invasion of the campsite was over by about 08.30. I had just about enough of following the numerous small family parties about trying to get a photograph during their momentary pauses between feeding at ground level & free of a seemingly infinite number of grass stalks.

The drive to Mulgildie from the campsite should take about 5 minutes but I wasn’t in a hurry & checked the body of water on the road out. Added Tawny Grassbird and Sacred Kingfisher to the site list for the weekend and watched an Emu walk warily over the bank. None of the kookaburras turned into Blue-winged although I tried.

The main excitement started along the main road as it followed 3 Moon Creek as a less familiar raptor was seen flying. No traffic to mention so a quick stop was possible safely. The solid dark bird was clearly a Black Falcon and to my delight it didn’t disappear into the distance but made a wide circle in the clear sky. The powerful outline as it soared and the fanned tail showing each individual feather at the tip gave it a ragged appearance. It wasn’t in hunting mode nor was it just traversing the terrain. Why was it hanging around? That question was answered when I became aware there were 2 more Black Falcons joining this bird. What followed was pure entertainment.

They cruised together in level flight first; each behind the other making the distant photograph look like a Photoshopped merging of 3 separate birds. One bird, possibly the trailing bird of the three, called audibly a repeated high pitched `eek, eek, eek, eek’ as it closed in on the bird in front. They seemed to break off from the leading bird and glided close together in tandem. They made shallow descents together and dangled their feet down revealing yellowish legs & feet.

It wasn’t easy to follow any single individual as I was distracted by their interaction. Birds made deep dives, stalls, presented talons both in level flight when one bird was above and also when 2 birds flew upwards together and stalled in midair. Often the 3 birds were flying very close together and I hoped the camera could show a bit more of the interaction. At one stage a falcon rolled over completely on is back with feet extended vertically towards the bird above which dangled its legs. Only once during this 20-30 minute display did 2 birds actually appear to briefly lock talons.

The interaction did not seem to be aggressive and my guess is that I was watching a family with their fledged young or immature. None of the birds were in a hurry to leave the area and it ended with 2 birds landing next to each other in a tree along the creek. I’m not certain if the third bird also landed nearby. A nest was seen which made me interested until the occupants revealed themselves to be corvids. I couldn’t complain; it was a spectacular display of aerial mastery and I had 150 distant photos to sort through.

B u n d y B o c N e w s l e t t e r N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 1 . E d i t o r T r e v o r Q u e s t e d

CORDALBA STATE FOREST OUTING LED BY ERIC ZILLMANN AND CARL

MOLLER 30TH OCTOBER 2011Plumed  Whistling-‐Duck 8Maned  Duck 12Pacific  Black  Duck 1White-‐eyed  Duck 1Australian  Brush-‐Turkey 1LiCle  Black  Cormorant 1LiCle  Pied  Cormorant 1Darter 1Pacific  Heron 1White-‐faced  Heron 1CaCle  Egret 50Australian  Ibis 3Straw-‐necked  Ibis 6Pacific  Baza 2Brown  Goshawk 2Wedge-‐tailed  Eagle 1Australian  Kestrel 1Painted  BuConquail 1Dusky  Moorhen 1Peaceful  Dove 6Bar-‐shouldered  Dove 2Wonga  Pigeon 1Galah 1Rainbow  Lorikeet 2Scaly-‐breasted  Lorikeet 6Pale-‐headed  Rosella 6Australian  King-‐Parrot 2Pallid  Cuckoo 1Brush  Cuckoo 1Fan-‐tailed  Cuckoo 2LiCle  Bronze-‐Cuckoo 1Australian  Koel 3Channel-‐billed  Cuckoo 4Pheasant  Coucal 1White-‐throated  Needletail 34Laughing  Kookaburra 1Sacred  Kingfisher 2Rainbow  Bee-‐eater 6Dollarbird 4Welcome  Swallow 1Fairy  MarYn 3Australasian  Pipit 1Black-‐faced  Cuckoo-‐shrike 4White-‐bellied  Cuckoo-‐shrike 6Cicadabird 2Varied  Triller 3Golden-‐headed  CisYcola 1Rufous  Songlark 1Willie-‐wagtail 6

Black-‐faced  Monarch 3Leaden  Flycatcher 2Jacky-‐winter 2Yellow  Robin 3Crested  Shrike-‐Yt 3Golden  Whistler 1Rufous  Whistler 3LiCle  Shrike-‐Thrush 1Grey  Shrike-‐Thrush 3Grey-‐crowned  Babbler 6Eastern  Whipbird 1SpoCed  Quail-‐thrush 2Red-‐backed  Fairywren 8White-‐browed  Scrubwren 1Weebill 1Fairy  Gerygone 4White-‐throated  Treecreeper 2Brown  Treecreeper 2Striated  Pardalote 1Silver-‐eye 1Brown  Honeyeater 10Lewin's  Honeyeater 6Fuscous  Honeyeater 20White-‐throated  Honeyeater 10LiCle  Friarbird 2Noisy  Friarbird 2Noisy  Miner 3Australian  Figbird 6Spangled  Drongo 1Magpie-‐lark 1Dusky  Woodswallow 6Grey  Butcherbird 1Pied  Butcherbird 2Australasian  Magpie 6Pied  Currawong 2Torresian  Crow 6Common  Myna 1Red-‐browed  Firetail 1Double-‐barred  Finch 2Common  Bronzewing 2Crested  Pigeon 1

It was very dry in the forest but a trip to Ringwood Road saw us viewing Crested

Shrike-Tit and Brown Treecreepers, two birds we seldom see in our district. We

lunched in the tiny pocket of rainforest in the Eric Zillmann Scientific Area and

found a few rainforest species. Highlights also came at the end of the day when the

lead car stopped by having Painted Buttonquail and Spotted Quailthrush walking

across the road. Some of us had good views of this bird and some took photos.

Spotted Quailthrush by Potta