An “outbreak” of Banded Lapwings on (and near) the Hoskinstown Plain
The species account for Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor in “Birds of the ACT: Two Centuries of change”
(Wilson 1999) concludes “There have been no recent sightings. The species is presumed to be extinct in the
ACT.” This is, as would be expected,
consistent with the views expressed in the ACT Bird Atlas (Taylor and COG 1992)
reporting a few records in the ACT scattered through the 1980s. More recently Boekl has reported (Boekl 2010)
on the reappearance of the species in Throsby, and in 2012 a pair were observed
on the Canberra airport.
The locations referred to in this note are shown in this
snip from Google Earth. From Lake
Bathurst to Plains Rd is approximately 43km in a straight line while Lake
Bathurst- Throsby is 50km.
In the wider COG Area Of Interest (AOI), sightings have been
made in the Lake Bathurst/Morass area of NSW most years since 1981, mainly
through the Waterbird Surveys. Recent
sightings have included 158 birds in January 2012 (the highest number ever
recorded in the Water Bird Surveys) and 84 birds in September 2012. As
Lake George has rehydrated since 2010 there have been a few reports from that
area including 37 birds in October 2010 (M Lenz pers comm).
Against that background I was surprised to find that the
Atlas of Living Australia contained a record for Banded Lapwing from the Hoskinstown
Plain. Other than noting that the
coordinates for the record gave a position close to the Molonglo River I have
not been able to gain further information about the circumstances of the
observation. This led me to wonder if
this was a case of mistaken identity of Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles, commonly seen in the area.
Following the appearance of the birds at Canberra airport
mentioned above I advised several residents of the Carwoola area that there was
a prospect of the Banded Lapwing being observed in suitable habitat in the
area. In response to that, on 7 October
2012 a local landowner (not a member of COG) advised that he had seen 5 Banded
Lapwings in a recently sown paddock on the Hoskinstown Plain. When I visited the area the next day 25
Banded Lapwings were observed in a paddock on which forage brassica was
germinating.
The landowner monitored the birds closely and on occasions
when I visited the area COG data sheets were lodged. These summarise the presence of the species
in the location, with the highest number of birds recorded (on 7 November 2012)
standing at the time of writing at 46.
It is possible that this is an undercount since by that time the crop
had grown somewhat and the Lapwings disappeared from view when they sat or walked
through a particularly tall section of crop.
I was advised by email (D Wilson pers comm) that on 19
October 2012 at least 6 Banded Lapwings had been seen beside the Kings Highway in
a ploughed paddock. This is
approximately 15km from the site on Hoskinstown Plain. Wilson also advised that Banded Lapwings were
common in that area 50 years ago when passing through with his father while
returning from banding expeditions on Lake Rd Bungendore.
On 24 October I saw 7 Banded Lapwings in that location. In response to this sighting David McDonald
visited the site a little later in that day and recorded 12 Banded Lapwings (D McDonald pers
comm). On my way home from blitzing on
27 October I also recorded at least 12 Banded Lapwings in the same paddock. On 28 October passing by at 6am – in rather cool weather - I
could only identify 6 birds of this species, clustered around the edge of the
paddock as though they had sheltered in the rank grass overnight. On 5 November I passed the site at 1330 and
observed 4 Banded Lapwings in two pairs, one at each end of the paddock. Some of the crop was growing well, making it difficult to spot the birds.
In summary it would appear that the Banded Lapwing is
regaining its former territory. Whether
this reflects changes in the weather; changes in land management in the area;
or simply chance is a topic for speculation.
However the species is known to be nomadic and the recent resurgence in
the AOI may be a reflection of seasons which suit the requirements of the species.
References
Boekl C, 2010. “Status
of the Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor
in the
Australian Capital Territory”,
Canberra Bird Notes v35 (3) pp192-196
Taylor M and COG, 1992, “Birds of the Australian Capital
Territory: An Atlas”
Wilson S, 1999, “Birds of the ACT Two Centuries of Change”
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren (Calamanthus
pyrrhopygia) breeding in Yanuununbeyan State Conservation area.
On 3 November 20012 a COG Field Trip visited Yanununbeyan
State Conservation Area. The first walk
undertaken was towards Corner Hill. We
entered some eucalypt woodland (mainly Eucalyptus rossii and E. macrorhyncha with an understorey
dominated by Joycea pallida.)
At one point I stepped off the track to inspect an orchid
(Diuris sulphurea) and flushed a small darkish brown bird with a bright
chestnut rump. It flew quite swiftly
about 20m and dived to the ground. The 9
members of the group spent some time getting occasional glimpses of the bird
but none clear enough to identify it.
In view of the colour of the rump my first thought was
Chestnut‑rumped Heathwren (Calamanthus
pyrrhophagia) which was supported by the bird’s tendency to cock its tail
vertically. However the image of the
species shown in a field guide[1]
and a smartphone application showed a white breast with dark streaking. The bird seen had a brown breast. As
alternatives we considered (1) White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis) and (2) Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus). However, based on plumage features, size or
habitat those species did not match the bird under observation.
Attempts were made to photograph the bird, but the best
result was of the log on which it had been perching! We moved on, returning to the area after
about 10 minutes.
On this occasion a member of the group saw the bird in
question fly into a jumble of vegetation under a fallen log and noticed ‘baby
bird noises’ coming from the site. We
spread out a little so as not to stress a breeding bird and the bird soon re-appeared. On this occasion I got a reasonable look for
about 2 seconds noting: the bright chestnut colouring extending under the rump;
a faint ‘off-white’ eyebrow; some white
on the tail; and faint, but clear, darker streaking on the brown breast.
On returning home and consulting HANZAB v6 it was clear that
the bird was very similar to the illustration of a female Chestnut-rumped
Heathwren. The breast colour was
possibly a little browner – more like the illustrated juvenile – perhaps
indicating a young bird. The location of
the nest (inferred from the calls when the bird entered, and the repeated
visits to, the location) was typical of the sites described in HANZAB.
While the adult bird was not heard to sing, which was unlike
previous experience with this species at Pierces Creek, the description of
Voice in HANZAB suggests that singing is more common earlier in the year. The calls by the young as the adult
approached the nest was as described in HANZAB.
I have concluded this was a record of a Chestnut-rumped
Heathwren and that a nest with young (NY) was present. This is the third breeding record for the
species in the COG AOI and the first non-DY breeding record.
Reference
Higgins P. J. and J. M. Peter (Eds) 2002 “Handbook of
Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, volume 6”
[1]
Subsequently found to apply to a number of field guides so this one is not singled
out and named.
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