Hasties Swamp Bird Survey Report: November 2024

Lesley Deacon | Guest Contributor

It was another large contingent of birders at the November 2024 Hasties count on Friday November 1. Although no rare birds were recorded this month, we did have another new record in bird species numbers. This may be due to extra “counters” with two visitors from Townsville and four from Mackay. But it was more likely due to optimal birding conditions, with warm, still weather; a drop in the water level exposing excellent conditions for wading birds such as Sandpipers and Stilts; and, obviously, good food supplies in the water.

All the usual ducks were present but only Pacific Black Duck and Grey Teal were in any numbers. The normally skulking Buff-banded Rail pleased us by wandering around the mud in front of the fallen log, poking around for something tasty. Australasian Grebe numbers are increasing and what a delight to watch them swimming past the hide, diving and preening in good view.

A composed Australasian Grebe contemplating its surroundings before diving for food. Image courtesy of Louise Baume.

Most nests were in the area close to the hide. Perhaps the birds built there for the protection provided by people constantly walking past and discouraging predators. Eastern Yellow Robin and Spectacled Monarch were sitting on their tiny bark and moss-decorated nests; Macleay’s Honeyeater adding strands to an intricate basket; and Brown Gerygone and White-browed Scrubwren diving into their nests with tiny insects in their beaks.

An Eastern Yellow Robin with breakfast – a moth surely much too big for its tiny gape. Image courtesy of Louise Baume.

A White-browed Scrubwren hops through leaf litter seeking a tasty tiny morsel. Image courtesy of Louise Baume.

A good sighting was a Barred Cuckoo-shrike pair, a species more common in the rainforest. Busily-feeding Honeyeaters, many of them high in the Eucalypts, kept us busy identifying them with almost every local species present except the Blue-faced, Dusky and Yellow. The Scarlets were deafening, if you can call the pretty high-pitched tinkling call deafening, but it was certainly delightfully constant.

One active dull-coloured bird had us guessing if whether it might have been a Grey Whistler, which has in the past, been seen in the very same tree. But the consensus was that it was the much more common female Golden Whistler.

The female Golden Whistler presenting a very pale yellow vent. Image courtesy of Louise Baume.

The seasonal Dollarbird has returned and we saw a few staking their claims on the deadest, tallest tree branches. There were also good numbers of the smaller birds, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Red-browed Finch and Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, which were more animated and visible in the better weather.

All in all it was a great birding morning. All 75 species found are listed in eBird for Hasties Swamp National Park: entered by Barry Deacon.