Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot Surveys

What a difference a day makes

Just back from a couple of days in the Valley, with time spent doing a couple of Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot Surveys. Two completely different days weather and birding wise.

There had been rain in the Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday morning was blanketed in a fog that didn't lift till after midday.
Wednesday morning. I had just started my survey when 9 Swifties streaked past me.There was more Noisy Miners than I can remember seeing in the area and they were being very vocal and feeding on lerp and also picking around under the White Box Bark.There was a distinct lack of White-plumed Honeyeaters, usually the most common HE in that area.(I later found them in what we call 'The Fuscous Zone') there was also a large number of Musk Lorikeets lerping too.Timothy met up with me and said he had heard Regents, we were heading that way so things were looking good... About 10 mins later we were surrounded by Regents, Timothy spotted the first group of 4 flitting to and fro from a couple of White Box, I could see another 2 over the fence in an Ironbark, then another 4 feeding in a large White  Box, a bit further down the hill there was another 4 feeding on lerp on White Box.That was 9 Swifties and 14 Regents Wow.  Later, after a cuppa I found another 3 Regents in a different location on the property.

Thursday Morning was clear and calm, as I left our property I noticed that most of the Noisy Miners were gone and the White-plumed Honeyeaters were back. I did my second survey at the Port Macquarie and Glen Alice Rds intersection a 2 k stretch of roadside vegetation. There were Little Lorikeets, White-plumed, Yellow-Faced and White-naped Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Noisy Miner, Noisy Friabird and even a pair of Spiny Cheeked Honeyeaters but no target birds. 

Back at home the Regents had moved on and a flock of 40 Plum-headed Finch had arrived. 

Plum-headed Finch

Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot Surveys are on this weekend and the following week, a great opportunity to see the Valley and add to the data on these birds.

For more info contact

Belinda Cooke, Swift Parrot Recovery Coordinator 1800 665766 or swiftparrots@yahoo.com.au

Comments

[John Tongue]

Hi guys,
great survey thrills! are any of your survey areas publicly accessable? Or do you have any suggestions for parts of the Valley for us to check for Regents (and Painted HE's, Square-tailed Kites, Owlet Nightjars, etc.)?

[The Bird Coop]

Very Nice website!