Error in 18^th Grenfell survey report

Elisabeth Karplus

Ted Nixon has identified an error in my report of the 18^th Grenfell survey held on September 26, 2020 and published in the December 2020 – January 2021 issue of the Birding NSW’s Newsletter. I wrongly indicated that we had seen no Buff-rumped Thornbills. In fact Allan Richards and his group saw 6 Buff-rumped Thornbills in one of the sites in Bimbi State Forest. The published species list is correct.

REPORT OF 18^TH BIRD SURVEY AROUND GRENFELL IN THE SOUTH WEST SLOPES KEY BIODIVERSITY AREA

Elisabeth Karplus

The 18^th bird survey around Grenfell in the Central West of NSW took place on September 26, 2020. We were pleased to have 36 surveyors despite the COVID-19 restrictions. Surveyors were divided into seven groups. These were more difficult to organise than usual because we were not able to carpool so most people drove their own cars. However everything worked out with all the sites surveyed. I would like to thank the survey group leaders – Allan Richards, Kim Farley, Ted Nixon, Allan Pidgeon, Graham Fry and Russell Beardmore – as well as all the surveyors. We had a number of new surveyors from Sydney and I hope that some of them will come again when hopefully the weather will be better. We were able to have a barbecue at Mikla and Wayne’s home on Saturday night but we had to limit the numbers attending because of the COVID-19 restrictions so many surveyors did not come to the barbecue.

The survey day proved to be particularly cold and damp with temperatures not rising much above 10 degrees Celsius. In the poor conditions, we saw a total of 905 birds from 65 species, which does not differ much from the March 2020 survey when we saw 61 species (818 birds) or the September 2019 survey when we saw 62 species (967 birds). However the number of species and birds seen were considerably less than the 80 species (1234 birds) seen in September 2018. The numbers of species per site varied between four and fourteen (average nine species per site) while the number of birds seen per site varied between 10 and 47 per site (this excluded a single site where 47 Common Starlings took the site count to 125 birds). Superb Parrots were only seen on one site (six birds) during the survey though some of us saw Superb Parrots flying over “Rosemont”, the home of Mikla and Wayne where we had our barbecue on Saturday evening. During the March survey, 62 Superb Parrots were seen on five sites. Nevertheless there were a number of interesting bird sightings – Cockatiels were seen on six sites and Budgerigars were seen on one site. Brown Treecreepers and Hooded Robins, which are listed as vulnerable species in the area, were seen on one site each. Grey-crowned Babblers, which are also listed as vulnerable, were seen on eight sites. Migrants seen included Sacred Kingfishers, Rufous Songlarks and White-winged Trillers. The only raptors seen were a single Brown Falcon and a single Black Kite. Few honeyeaters were seen as there was almost no blossom though a Yellow-tufted Honeyeater was seen on one site in Bimbi State Forest. While Yellow-rumped and Yellow Thornbills were quite common, we did not see any Buff-rumped or Chestnut-rumped Thornbills on this survey. We hope that with good recent rains, we will see increased numbers of species and birds on the surveys in 2021.

REPORT OF 17^TH BIRD SURVEY AROUND GRENFELL IN THE SOUTH WEST SLOPES KEY BIODIVERSITY AREA

Elisabeth Karplus

On March 21, 2020, twenty three surveyors took part in the 17^th bird survey around Grenfell in the South West Slopes Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). Several people dropped out before the survey but others dropped in – including Ted Nixon, whose bush walk was cancelled so he drove to Grenfell for the survey instead. Four people joined the survey for the first time. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to change some of the weekend’s activities but all sites were surveyed. We had seven survey groups as previously and surveyed on 30 sites. We are no longer able to survey on a site on one private property since the property changed hands but we have an additional site in Warraderry State Forest. I would like to thank the survey group leaders – Allan Richards, David Winterbottom, Kim Fairley, Coleen Southall, Paul Johnstone and Dianne Deans.

On the survey sites we recorded 61 species with a total of 818 birds. There had been small amounts of rain since we were last in Grenfell. While this was sufficient to give a veneer of green, many of the trees were dead or dying. Compared with the March survey in 2019, we recorded three fewer species but a similar number of birds overall. Compared with the September 2019 survey, we saw more Superb Parrots with 62 birds recorded on five sites. Most were seen on Mikla Lewis’ property “Rosemont”. Eight additional Superb Parrots were seen during the weekend. We had no sightings of the other target species, the Diamond Firetail. The total bird numbers were relatively high largely due to large numbers of Apostlebirds (122), Crested Pigeons (30), Eastern Rosellas (51), Galahs (37), Grey-crowned Babblers (49), Noisy Miners (54), Superb Parrots (62), White-winged Choughs (64) and Yellow Thornbills (33). Small numbers of Blue-faced, Brown-headed, Spiny-cheeked, Striped, White-plumed and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and Noisy Friarbirds were seen on survey sites but there was little blossom. The numbers of species per site (species richness) varied between one and 14. The numbers of birds seen per site (bird abundance) varied between 3 and 90 birds.

Other interesting sightings not on survey sites were Turquoise Parrots seen on the way to Bimbi State Forest and at Ben Hall’s Cave and a Little Friarbird, seen feeding in a flowering tree on one of the private properties. A Boobook Owl and an Owlet Nightjar were heard calling by Paul Johnstone and Nigel Miller who were camping at Ben Hall’s Cave. Of particular interest was a Square-tailed Kite seen flying over the site at Vaughn’s Dam but not during the survey time.

Because of social distancing, we cancelled the Friday night dinner at the Railway Hotel. In fact the hotel went into lockdown after one of the children came home from school with chest symptoms. We had our Saturday evening barbecue at O’Brien’s Lookout in Grenfell and everyone enjoyed the evening. We celebrated several birthdays with a chocolate cake. On Sunday morning we went to the Sewage Treatment Works as David McCue, husband of Kathleen, one of the local surveyors, had permission to take us inside. We saw Pink-eared Ducks and a Yellow-billed Spoonbill among other species but alas the hoped-for Plumed Whistling Ducks had moved on. Several of us had a short walk at Company Dam and were rewarded with great views of a pair of Speckled Warblers.

The next Grenfell survey should take place on the weekend of 25-27 September 2020 but this will obviously depend on the progress made in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.  At least we have managed one survey in 2020 and we hope to survey twice in 2021. If you are not already on our contact list and would like details of the next survey, please contact Allan Richards (activities@birdingnsw.org.au) or me (emhodson@exemail.com.au).

Western Gerygone                                                                          Photograph by Paul Johnstone

Report of 16^th BIRD SURVEY around GRENFELL in the SOUTH WEST SLOPES KEY Biodiversity Area

Elisabeth Karplus

On Saturday September 28^th, 2019, 34 surveyors took part in the 16^th survey around Grenfell in the South West Slopes Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). There were eight new surveyors from Sydney and surrounds while Jenny Hetherington, a regular surveyor from Grenfell, bought two friends. We had seven survey groups with most groups surveying on five sites. Twenty nine sites were surveyed. Survey leaders apart from myself were Allan Richards, Ron Broomham, Graham Fry, Russell Beardmore, Paul Johnstone and Richard Webber.  I thank all the survey leaders. In particular I would like to thank Ron Broomham, who at short notice took over as leader of the group surveying in Warraderry State Forest when David Winterbottom twisted his knee. Jill Molan, a regular leader on the Grenfell surveys, got a better offer – she went to SW Queensland to see Letter-winged Kites!

Overall in this survey we recorded 62 species with 967 birds counted. On the March 2019 survey we recorded 64 species and counted 814 birds. Therefore despite the drought the number of birds seen had not fallen between March and September 2019. However we would expect more birds in the spring compared with the autumn so a better comparison is with the September 2018 survey when we recorded 80 species and counted 1234 birds. In particular we saw fewer Superb Parrots with only one being recorded on survey sites though a few others were seen elsewhere. There were no sightings of our other target bird – the Diamond Firetail – during the survey. Two Turquoise Parrots were seen on one site – we rarely see these birds on the Grenfell surveys. Two Australian Ringnecks were seen on one site but we failed to record Bluebonnets on this survey. Unexpected sightings were of White-winged Trillers, which were seen on six sites. On one site, 10 White-winged Trillers were counted. Data from BirdLife Australia indicate that this species is one of the inland species moving closer to the coast during the drought. Forty three Grey-crowned Babblers, which are listed as vulnerable in NSW, were seen on eight sites. A single Brown Songlark was an unexpected sighting. Since there were few flowering trees, honeyeater numbers were low. As usual the most common birds seen were Noisy Miners, Apostlebirds, White-winged Choughs and Eastern Rosellas. The numbers of species per site (species richness) varied between five and 20 with most species seen on two sites in Weddin State Forest. The numbers of birds seen per site (bird abundance) varied between 11 and 76 birds.

As usual most surveyors ate dinner at the Railway Hotel on Friday evening and then attended the barbecue at Mikla and Wayne’s property “Rosemont” on Saturday evening. On Sunday morning several of us visited Company Dam and saw a number of birds including a Speckled Warbler, which appeared to be nesting.

Crimson Chat (male).                                                       Photograph by Russell Beardmore

After the walk several of us drove south on the road to Young to look for a large group of Crimson Chats seen by Jodi and Richard on the previous day.  While we saw the chats in the distance, the best sighting there was of a Spotted Harrier flying low on an adjacent field.

Elisabeth Karplus reports on 13th Grenfell survey:  March 24 2018

Yellow-rumped Thornbill Photo by Zik Teo

Autumn 2017 – 25 March 2017

Click here for a full report and some great pictures.