Thursday 1 January 2015

Bird banding at South Grafton Water Reserve 19-20.09.2014


Bander:  Greg Clancy.

Trainee Banders: Wendy & Alan Pilkington, Lindsey Nietmann.

 
Fourteen birds of 4 species were caught in mist nets over the two day period, 11 being first time captures and 3 being retraps.  An adult female Australian Magpie had an old injury to its right eye, which was virtually missing, so it was released unbanded.

 
Adult female Australian Magpie



 
The results of the birds banded and retrapped are shown in the table below.

 

SPECIES
19/09/14
20/09/14
TOTALS
 
Banded    Retrap
Banded   Retrap
Banded    Retrap
Sacred Kingfisher
     0            0
     1           0
     1            0
Red-backed Fairy-wren
     2            0
     0           0
     2            0
Fuscous Honeyeater
     5            2
     2           1
     7            3
TOTALS
     7            2
     3           1
   10            3

 
Adult Fuscous Honeyeater

 
The three retraps were all Fuscous Honeyeaters and their banding details are shown below:


026-09200 – banded by me on 10 July 2010 and retrapped on 20 Sep 2014, 4 years 2 months and 10 days after banding.

026-42547 and 026-94941 – both banded on 26 May 2013, the first by Bill Greenlees and the second by me, and retrapped on Sep 19, 1 year 3 months and 24 days after banding.

Adult male Red-backed Fairy-wren


Adult female Sacred Kingfisher


 
Interesting observations at the site were of a pair of Black-faced Monarchs, 2+ Black-chinned Honeyeaters heard calling with one observed, a Channel-billed Cuckoo and a Little Bronze-Cuckoo heard calling.  4+ Varied Sittellas, a Restless Flycatcher and a Leaden Flycatcher were also observed.  An adult Pacific Baza displayed high over the site with its undulating display being quite a sight.

Adult Pacific Baza performing undulating display




A roosting Tawny Frogmouth was flushed by Alan as he walked past.  The usual mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos was present and keeping them away fro the nest is an ongoing job.


Tawny Frogmouth pretending to be a branch


An indignant Frogmouth asking "What's the meaning of disturbing my sleep?'


Adult female Eastern Grey Kangaroo with pouch young



 

More 2014 photos



The following are photographs that I considered for inclusion in my last post "a year of wildlife photographs 2014" but didn't have space.  I hope that you like them.  Let me know in the comments section if you have a favourite?


Juvenile Southern Boobooks in care, Kangaroo Creek

Little Red Flying-foxes, Tucabia

Coastal Carpet Python, Coutts Crossing

Juvenile Pacific Baza in care at Kangaroo Creek

 
Huntsman spider Holconia immanis, Coutts Crossing
Dubious Gecko, Dthinna Dthinnawan National Park
Jacky Dragon, Mt Yarrowyck Nature Reserve
Adult male Rufous Whistler, Coutts Crossing
Adult Brolga, Brothersons Swamp, Coutts Crossing
Whiptail Wallaby, Mann River
Adult Grey Butcherbird, Noosa National Park
Adult White-necked Heron eating eel, Cowans Pond
Glossy Black-Cockatoo family allopreening, Coutts Crossing
Tiger Snake, Marengo
Nestling White-faced Heron, South Grafton
Southern Forest Bat, Chambigne Nature Reserve
Adult Brahminy Kite in care at Kangaroo Creek
Adult Buff-banded Rail, Brooms Head
Juvenile Buff-banded Rail, Brooms Head
Stick(leaf) insect, Levenstrath
Stick (leaf) insect, Levenstrath

Juvenile Spangled Drongo, Coutts Crossing

 
Juvenile Spangled Drongo, Coutts Crossing

 
Blue Triangle, Coutts Crossing