Eleven from Upper Locker ...

Sightings within the local survey area for the period 1 Jun 2012 - 31 Aug 2012. 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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Mick Atzeni
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Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:08 pm

Eleven from Upper Locker ...

Post by Mick Atzeni »

The following are from "Tiddalac", Thomas Rd, over the past couple of days:

Nankeen Kestrel 9/6/12
Common Bronzewing 9/6/12
Australian King-Parrot 9/6/12
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo 9/6/12
Weebill 9/6/12
White-throated Honeyeater 9/6/12
Grey Fantail 9/6/12
Silvereye 9/6/12
Collared Sparrowhawk 8/6/12
Mistletoebird 8/6/12
Tawny Frogmouth 7/6/12

Also had a couple of Musk Lorikeets today which are unusual in the valley.

Cheers
Mick
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Mick Atzeni
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Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:08 pm

Seven more from Upper Lockyer

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Brown Quail 11/6/12 Lockyer Siding Rd, Lockyer Mick Atzeni
Brown Falcon 11/6/12 Lockyer Siding Rd, Lockyer Mick Atzeni
Black-winged Stilt 11/6/12 Hood's dam, Helidon Mick Atzeni
Richard's Pipit 11/6/12 Lockyer Siding Rd, Lockyer Mick Atzeni
Tawny Grassbird 11/6/12 "Tiddalac", Thomas Rd, Upper Lockyer Mick Atzeni
Australian Hobby 10/6/12 "Tiddalac", Thomas Rd, Upper Lockyer Mick Atzeni
Pheasant Coucal 10/6/12 "Tiddalac", Thomas Rd, Upper Lockyer Mick Atzeni

There were hardly any water birds at Hood's this morning - Darter (1), Grey Teal (4), Black Duck (2), Aus. Grebe (1), Black-winged Stilt (1), Little Pied Cormorant (2), Little Black Cormorant (4) - but there would have been at least two hundred Welcome Swallows and smaller numbers of Tree Martins hawking over the surface. I looked long and hard for a White-backed Swallow amongst them but had no luck in breaking the drought with this local deserter which I used to see at Hood's occasionally in mixed flocks like today's. According to my diaries, my last record there was 7/4/1983!

Incidentally, I'd have to say I've seen more Tree Martins locally this year, and more often, than any other year. My run follows on from Rod Hobson's initial sighting of a very large flock (~300) at Stockyard in January, which we subsequently saw together:

.://toowoombabirdobservers.org/forum ... php?t=2675

Around Upper Lockyer, Helidon and Carpendale, I have seen Tree Martins in good numbers over various habitats including pasture, crops, forest, creeks and dams. At "Tiddalac", I've seen up to 40-50 over the creek several times this year. Usually, they're uncommon and unpredictable locally; not a species you can count on, especially during the October species census. So enjoy them while we've got them, and keep your eye out for those White-backed Swallows; all the signs are good.

Cheers
Mick
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Mick Atzeni
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Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:08 pm

Five more from Upper Lockyer ...

Post by Mick Atzeni »

At "Tiddalac":

Buff-banded Rail (one along creek) 17/6/12
Cockatiel (2 over creek) 17/6/12
Brown-headed Honeyeater (5 at the entrance) 16/6/12
Buff-rumped Thornbill 16/6/12

On a property dam along Costello Rd, Upper Lockyer, I photographed an Intermediate Egret on 11/6/12.

Cheers
Mick
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