Brown Songlark and Pied Cormorant

Sightings within the local survey area for the period 1 Dec 2008 - 28 Feb 2009. The local survey area is a rectangular area extending from Kingsthorpe NW of Toowoomba to the Mt Whitestone/Fordsdale area SE of Helidon.

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Rod Hobson
Posts: 509
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:03 am

Brown Songlark and Pied Cormorant

Post by Rod Hobson »

Folks,

Two additions for the 'Summer Within 2008-09' list from a birding morning with Mick Atzeni in the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley areas yesterday, 01.01.09:

a small flock of eight Pied Cormorants flying to the west over the bottom entrance to Redwood Park about 8.15am and,

one male Brown Songlark displaying atop an old telepgraph pole along Lawler's Road just east of Helidon about 8.45am.


Regards,
Rod Hobson
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Mick Atzeni
Posts: 1843
Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:08 pm

Australian Pelican

Post by Mick Atzeni »

The squadron of pelicans seen over Nunn's Rd was also a summer addition.

There appears to be a few waterbirds on the move at present. Saw 3 more Pelicans overhead yesterday near the Range Shopping Centre and a large V-shaped formation in the distance which were probably Great or Pied Cormorants.

Re Brown Songlark, ironic that it decides to perch prominently, and fly off delivering its tell-tale, creaking wheel call on the first day of the new Challenge, but couldn't oblige the whole of 2008! This included several drives along Lawler's Rd in the closing weeks looking/listening for them specifically, including the 31st December.

On the positive side, Brown Songlark's out of the way for 2009, along with Pied Cormorant, and Fork-tailed Swifts; three very unpredictable species in the TBO survey area.

On the subject of Fork-tailed Swifts, be alert over the next few days, particularly late afternoon, as this has been the time I've see them over Toowoomba in recent years.

Swifts (& swiftlets) are very poorly documented in general, so interested to hear about any sightings. Study up on the diagnostic features and relative sizes and be on the alert for mixed flocks.

Cheers

Mick
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