Day 18 - Monday 29th October 2012 
Back to work . . . Quiet, still and grey morning.  Slow and gentle start to the day.  Last night was very chilly very quickly for the time of year, as there were no clouds and the breeze was from the south.  

Observations in my backyard in Charlestown 
Eastern rosellas x 5
Rainbow lorrikeets x 50+
Crested pigeon x 2
Spotted turtle dove x 2
Australian raven x 1

Observations on my way to work in Waratah
Sulphur crested cockatoos x 20+
Indian mynas x 3
Spotted turtle doves x 10
Crested pigeons x 6

Day 17 - Sunday 28th October 2012

Sunday, ahhhh Sunday.  Slow start to the day, but up and away mid-morning (such luxury) and into the day-to-day chores; mowing lawns etc, etc, etc.

Observations in my backyard in Charlestown 

Eastern rosellas x 8

Rainbow lorrikeets x 50+

Australian ravens x 2

Pied currawongs x 4

Pee wees x 2

Noisy friarbird x 1

Figbird x 1 (calling not seen) 

Grey butcherbird x 1 

Noisy miners x 8

Yellow tailed black cockatoos x 4

Crested pigeons x 6

Spotted turtle doves x 4

Reptiles
I moved a couple of potplants while mowing and disturbed the following skinks underneath them; 

Saiphos equalis - three toed skink x 1

Lampropholis delicata - Penny lizard/grass skink x 1

Day 16 - Saturday 27th October 

Busy weekend; we were hardly home all weekend.  Just observed the usual regulars.

Observations - my backyard in Charlestown 
Eastern rosellas x 10+ 
Rainbow lorrikeets x 50+ (probably getting around 100+ but very tricky to count)
Pied currawongs x 2
Australian ravens x 2 
Noisy miners x 10+
Pee wee x 1 
Grey butcherbird x 1 (plus another heard)
Yellow tailed black cockatoos x 4
Common koel x 2 (duetting pair)
Crested pigeon x 5
Spotted turtle dove x 4

Brush tailed possum

Brush tailed possum, a photo by Gavin Ayre on Flickr.

Friendly Brushie sharing our dinner last night.  Oh yes, I think it's a boy !

Yellow tailed black cockatoos

Yellow tailed black cockatoos

Day 14 - A family trio of Yellow tailed black cockatoos at the feeder this morning. The male has the conspicuous pinkish ring around his eye. The female is in the middle while the juvenile is on the left.

Day 15 - Friday 26th October 2012 

It was a grey and overcast day this morning, and the birds seemed to sleep in too.  We had the usual stately parade of Eastern rosellas followed by the rowdy Rainbow lorrikeets.  Steadily a range of birds visited the garden.  I rode my bike to work again today and consequently observed a lot more birds than I normally would.  Pleasingly, I am observing a lot more native birds during the rides compared to my usual drive.  This is simply because I traverse a lot of bushland between Charlestown and New Lambton.  The introduced species definitely take over from the International Sports Stadium onwards.

Observations - back yard in Charlestown 
Eastern rosellas x 8
Rainbow lorrikeets x 50+ (probably reaching 80 - 100 birds now)
Pied currawong x 1 
Noisy miners x lots (heard calls only this morning, none seen)

Observations - mountain bike ride to Waratah 
Crested pigeons x 15+
Spotted turtle doves x 20+
Noisy miners x 20+
Black backed magpies x 3
New Species alert - Noisy friar bird x 1
Sulphur crested cockatoo x 20+ (feeding in several flocks on various sporting fields)
Galahs x 10+
Black faced cuckoo shrike x 1
Grey butcherbird x 1
Indian myna x 1 (heard not seen) 
Eastern koel (heard calling - not seen)
   

Day 14 - Thursday 25th October 2012 

Yes, just another perfect morning of blue skies, calm winds, love and bird calls.  The Rosellas were first, followed by the Rainbow lorrikeets, and four Yellow tailed black cockatoos (YTBC's).  Such a beautiful sight, and the YTBC's are getting quite used to our presence.  We can happily photograph them to our hearts' content, move (slowly) and even talk to them without them becoming too wary.  I have moved the feeder table to within 6 metres of the third bedroom's window. We are four metres above them, and while they are still a little wary, we have been able to get some great photos !

One of the neighbours about 400 metres away has a truly lovely British shorthair cat, which wanders the general area from time to time.  I love all animals, (I was once a zoo keeper) and I have known some nice little pussy cats in my time, but I believe that all cats should definitely be kept indoors - especially at night.  In urban areas I don't worry too much about cats, but if I see one in the bush, all bets are off.  During my zookeeping career I have seen more than my share of pathetically mauled native animals brought in for rehabilitation or euthanasia . . .  Cats have NO PLACE in the Australian bush.  Either do foxes, feral pigs, feral goats, feral deer or feral dogs.  Anyway, I digress.  This is my soap box to talk about what ever I please.  I choose to talk about the wildlife I see during my day to day life in the Hunter Valley, not pontificate on the feral animal issues.  

Generally the cat keeps to the very bottom of our yard, but lately has decided to come a bit closer to the feeders.  The feeders and birdbath are strategically placed in the centre of lawn, well away from any possible ambush spots.  I have seen the cat approach the feeders once before but there were Rainbows feeding and with so many pairs of eyes, she had no chance.  The rainbows took off enmasse and must have uttered a few expletives or alarm calls, because within moments there were Noisy miners "everywhere".  The cat looked me straight in the eyes and as good as swore.  She knew the game was up, and slunk off back down the back yard getting constantly harassed and even hit by the mob of Noisy miners.

This morning I would have shot the cat with a slingshot if I'd had one handy.  There were two YTBC's on the feeder table, and two in the tree above.  The cat slunk around the corner, looked me straight in the eyes, and then bolted straight for the YTBC's feeding on the table.  They didn't see her coming, but the ones in the tree above sure did.  They swooped on her shrieking raucously from behind - well before she'd covered the 15 metres to the table, and I'm pretty sure either bit her or struck her with their wings.  Either way, the cat instantly stopped it's charge and the feeding YTBC's all took off together shrieking alarm calls.  The cat looked up at me and gave me a rattling chuckle, before turning away and slinking into some cover about 20 metres away. 



As I mentioned, I would have happily shot her with a sling shot at this point.  Luckily for her (and me), I walked down the backyard to her hiding place.  She walked out to me purring loudly, rubbing herself against my legs.  I gently picked her up, which all British shorthairs seem to HATE, and walked back down the yard and gently dropped her back over the fence.  Hopefully if she repeats the performance, simply picking her up will dissuade her.  Failing that, I might have to set up a hose and sprinkler in the patch of tree ferns she was using for cover or I might have to look at placing the feeders in the trees.  She is operating on instinct, not deliberate malice.  There is no need to be cruel or hurt the cat.  I just want to discourage her at this stage.  If she persists, I'll have to up the ante.                 

Observations - backyard in Charlestown 
Eastern rosellas x 8
Rainbow lorrikeets x 50+
Yellow tailed black cockatoos x 4
Crested pigeon x 2
Australian raven 
Noisy miners x 3
Pied currawong x 1 
Grey butcherbird x 1 
"Feral" British shorthair cat x 1 
New Species - Scaly breasted lorrikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) x 1 among the Rainbows ! 

Observations - riding my mountain bike to work in Waratah 
Noisy miners x 12
Indian myna x 3
Masked plover/lapwing x 1 
Sulphur crested cockatoos x 7
Crested pigeon x 6
Spotted turtle dove x 12+ 
Pee wee x 1
Black backed magpie x 2

Observations - Dinner by Lake Macquarie, WarnersbayWe had a wonderful feed of good old greasy fish & chips at Warnersbay tonight before we headed shopping.  Amanda had been hanging for some for a while, and I don't ever require an excuse to get stuck into gourmet Fish & Chips !

Silver gulls x 50+ (hey, it was after dark when we sat down to eat so even sea-rats sleep!)
New Species - Common Brush Tailed Possum x 1 
A young male, very bold indeed joined us for dinner, clambering down the introduced date palm for a free hand out of chips.  He was quite a character.  
Rainbow lorrikeets x 10 MILLION - we found the mother lode of Rainbow lorrikeet roosts !  Near the back of the Coles supermarket carpark, just on dark.  We literally had to shout to be heard over their racket. . . 

Day 13 - Wednesday 24th October 

We woke to another glorious day; zero breeze and superb blue skies.  We are getting to notice the routine of the local birds in our backyard.  First visitors are always the Eastern rosellas.  They are fairly quiet and reserved with their presence.  Yet they play quiet dominance games with each other.  No matter how many food sources are available, there is always one dominant bird that seems to need to flex his muscles and chase all of the other rosellas away from the food.  Dominance established, he allows the others to feed for a while before the dominance ritual resumes.

Around 6:50 - 7:00am the first Rainbow lorrikeets arrive in a small group.  It's almost like they have been partying late the night before and at last they are up and about.  They are boisterous and very loud indeed.  The Eastern rosellas instantly defer to them and within a few minutes, the back yard is alive with a full-on riot of noise and colour with seemingly "hundreds" of Rainbow lorrikeets.  They are so numerous it's hard to count them all.  There are at least 50, probably up to 100 individuals arriving in the morning now.  They are quite humourous to observe and "hop" around on the ground, while the Eastern rosellas have a stately and graceful walk.  The Rainbows seem as game as Ned Kelly and are a rowdy crowd to boot.  They too seem to try to play dominance games, but there are simply too many individuals and the "boss cocky" gets knocked off his perch pretty quickly by sheer weight of numbers.      

It seems that all the noise of the feeding Rainbow lorrikeets has been their undoing.  The Yellow tailed black cockatoos are appearing more frequently now that they have cottoned on to the presence of sunflower seeds.  Last night we had three at the feeders.  This morning there were five.  It is WONDERFUL to see these amazing cockatoos and in fact, the neighbours on two sides came out to watch them too.  I nearly made myself late for work watching them.  Sigh.  Retirement is definitely wasted on old bastards.  

Observations - Back yard in Charlestown    
Eastern rosellas x 8
Rainbow lorrikeets x 50+
Noisy miners x 6
Pied currawongs x 2
Yellow tailed black cockatoos x 5 ! 
Grey butcher bird x 1
Pee wee x 1

Observations - Work in Waratah
Indian mynas x 4+ (heard not seen)
European starlings x 2
Noisy miners x 4
Spotted turtle dove

Observations - Evening walk, Warnersbay cycleway Silver gulls x 50+
Noisy miners x 6
Masked plovers/lapwings x 3
Crested pigeons x 10
Spotted turtle doves x 8
Galahs x 10+
Pee wees x 2






  

  

Day 12 - Tuesday 23rd October 2012

It was a beautiful day that dawned today.  Blue skies, still air and wonderful company.  Because of the superb weather I decided to ride my mountain bike to work (in Waratah) today, so I made far more observations than usual.   

Observations - back yard in Charlestown 

Rainbow lorrikeets x 50+

Eastern rosellas x 8

Noisy miners x 4

Pied currawongs x 2

Black backed magpie x 1

Yellow tailed black cockatoos x 3 in the morning & a second visit probably from the same family of 3 in the late afternoon.  

Observations - between Charlestown to Waratah

Spotted turtle dove x 14

Indian myna x 6

Sulphur crested cockatoos x 12

Black faced cuckoo shrikes x 4

Rainbow lorrikeets x 20+

Pee wee (Magpie Lark) x 4

European starlings x 3

Noisy miners x 10+
New Species - Pheasant coucal x 1 heard calling in a watercourse in Kotara.

Day 11 - Monday 22nd October 2012 

Very windy and cool day today.  Probably got to 50 knots from the South West, and felt like it was snowing at Barrington Tops !  Absolutely poured rain for an hour roughly between 10 am - 11am.  Minimal observations of native fauna because of the weather.

Observations - My backyard in Charlestown 
Rainbow lorrikeets x 20+ 
Eastern rosellas x 5
Noisy miners x 3

Observations - At work in Waratah
Indian mynas x 2
Spotted turtle doves x 8

Day 10 - Sunday 21st October 2012 

Observations - Charlestown 
We were out and about most of today so it was just the usual suspects;

Rainbow lorrikeets x 50+
Eastern Rosellas x 8+
Pied currawongs x 2
Black backed magpies x 2
Grey butcherbird x 1 (heard not seen)
Noisy miners x 8

Day 9 - Saturday 20th October 2012 

Another slow starting day - but it was nearly P E R F E C T.  Not a cloud in the sky, warm (~25 degrees), golden sun and a light breeze from the north.  Later it became almost unpleasantly warm, estimate 35 degrees and sticky.  Late morning the breeze shifted to the west and built to about 12 knots.  Late afternoon to early evening was beautiful - it cooled back to a lovely 25 degrees, the wind died off and the sunset was gorgeous - there had been burning off somewhere to the west and the haze made for a dramatic sunset.  About 6:30 PM the raucous cries of Yellow-tailed black cockatoos echoed around the neighbourhood.  Suddenly a group of 6 cockatoos appeared, shrieking and swooping.  The group grew progressively larger and larger as more cockies joined the group.  Eventually over 20 black cockatoos were chasing each other around the trees in our neighbourhood.  It took my breath away.  
   

Observations - My backyard in Charlestown  
Rainbow lorrikeets x 20+ (not many this morning) 
Eastern rosella x 1
Pied Currawong x 4 
Kookaburra x 2 

Noisy miners x 6

Crested pigeons x 2

Channel-billed cuckoos x 2 (heard not seen)

Australian ravens x 2

Black-backed magpies x 2

Australian koel x 2 (dueting pair heard not seen)

Yellow-tailed black cockatoos x 20+ !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Observations - Breakfast on the waterfront at Belmont Bay 
Willy wagtail x 1
Australian figbirds x 20 + (Hard to estimate numbers as they are so secretive in the tree tops)
Galahs x 6
Silver gulls x 100+ (Impossible to be accurate with so many . . .) 
Little pied cormorants x 3
Rainbow lorrikeets x 10+ 
Noisy miners x 5
Indian miners x 6 (in the main street of Belmont) 

Day 8 - Friday 19th October 2012 

Another slow starting day - grey & overcast, not raining but feels like it could . . . The rainbow lorrikeets didn't arrive until 7am this morning - I guess their partying is taking it's toll and they need their beauty sleep!  The Eastern rosellas are being completely dominated by the Rainbow lorrikeets.  The Eastern rosellas seem to cope by arriving before the Rainbows and after the Rainbows have left.    

Observations - My backyard in Charlestown  
Rainbow lorrikeets x 20+ (not many this morning) 
Eastern rosella x 1
1 x Crinia signifera calling in the creek next door tonight
1 x grey-headed flying fox foraging in the mango tree tonight.  

Observations - Commute to Waratah 
Its interesting to note that the natives are dominating in Waratah this morning.  Good to see.

Spotted turtle doves x 3
Black faced cuckoo-shrike 
Crested pigeon x 1 
Noisy miners x 2
Grey butcherbird x 1 
Sulphur crested cockatoo x 1 
Indian mynas x 2

Day 7 - Thursday 18th October 2012

This morning dawned slowly and quietly.  Instead of the usual bright light filling our bedroom with a golden glow, morning decidedly crept into the room.  It was quiet and very grey outside at 6:30 AM; almost drizzling.  The feed table was damp, and there were only 5 Eastern rosellas eating quietly in the entire yard.  It seemed strange that the yard wasn't filled with the noise of rioting rainbow lorrikeets.  Careful what you wish for, because we had about fifty in the back yard by 7:00 AM; the silence was truly shattered. . . 

Observations - My backyard in Charlestown 

Eastern rosellas x 5

Australian raven x 1

Channel-billed cuckoo x 2 calling (heard not seen)

Rainbow lorrikeets x 30+ (Probably ~50+ but too hard to count accurately)

Noisy miners x 2

Pied currawongs x 2

Black backed magpies x 2

Observations - Waratah area 

European starlings x 3

Indian mynas x 2
Noisy miner x 1
Sulphur crested cockatoos x 20+ (seen feeding on sports fields in two large flocks, one flock near St Pius high school and the other flock near Kotara railway station.)  

Day 6 - Wednesday 17th October 2012 

The morning was sheer pandemonium   There was another riot of rainbow lorrikeets at the feeders and hardly anything else had a look-in.  Perfect blue skies, no wind, golden sun and twenty two degrees C.  Waking up next to the love of my life.  Ahhh, does life get better than this ? 

Observations - CHARLESTOWN 
Rainbow lorrikeets x 30+ (probably over 50 individuals but very hard to be accurate)
Eastern rosellas x 5
Kookaburra x 1
Noisy miners x 4
Black backed magpie x 1 
Pied currawong x 1
Australasian Figbird x 1, heard calling (not seen).  
Eastern Koel (heard calling at 8:40 pm - not seen) 
Australian raven 

Observations - WARATAH
Indian mynas x 11 - Introduced 
Spotted turtle-dove x 15 - Introduced
Starlings x 11 - Introduced 
No natives at all seen or heard in Waratah or on the commute to or from work !

Day 5 - Tuesday 16th October 2012

This morning we woke to the sounds of rainbow lorrikeets going mad - there were 30+ individuals feeding on the wild bird mix.  Nothing else had a look in !

Observations - my backyard in Charlestown 
Rainbow Lorrikeets x 30+ (probably over 50 individuals but who knows?)
Eastern rosellas x 4
Australian raven x 1
Noisy miners x 6
Sulphur crested cockatoos (heard 2 or three calling as they flew overhead)  
Black backed magpie x 2
Pied currawong x 1 (being vigorously pursued by noisy miners)
Kookaburra x 1

Day 4 - Monday 15th October 2012 

The new day started for me with the sounds of Rainbow lorrikeets going berserk.  Rainbow lorries and Eastern rosellas were at the feeders and clearly having a ball with the bounty of wild bird seed.  It was a beautiful morning; warm, still and calm.  There was not a single cloud to be seen.

Observations 

My Backyard in Charlestown

Rainbow lorrikeets x 10+ (probably well over 30 individuals but I haven't tried to count accurately).
Eastern rosellas x 10+ (as per Rainbow lorries).
Noisy miners x 6.
Australian raven x 1
Crested pigeons x 3 

On the way to work 

Sulphur crested cockatoos x 2 (Same place as Day 1 - Turton Rd & Russell Rd, New Lambton, 8:45am)   

At work - Waratah
Black backed magpie x 3 (2 x adults & 1 x advanced, fledged juvenile begging for food)
Pee wee x 1
European starling (introduced species) x 2 - harrassing a lone magpie that was sitting on a TV aerial - this behaviour suggests the starlings are breeding nearby.
Fan-tailed pigeons x 8 - "fancy" variety of the introduced pigeon.  
Indian mynas x 7     

Day 3 - Sunday 14th October 2012 

OBSERVATIONS

The day started grey and overcast.  It was wet and the grain in the bird feeder was sodden.  It was very quiet with virtually no bird activity until ~10:00am.  We headed to the farmers market and the weather was clearing as we left.  We returned to find cloudless blue skies, gentle breezes and a blazing sun.  It was a toasty warm afternoon.   

Wildlife observed in my backyard in Charlestown today;

Birds
Rainbow lorrikeets x 10+

Eastern rosellas x 10+

Pied currawongs x 2

Grey butcherbird x 2

Eastern koel x 1

Pee wee x 1

Spotted turtle dove x 2

Noisy miners x 10+

Welcome swallows x 10+ (foraging over the property - not landing)

Australian raven x 1
Kookaburra x 1
Crested pigeon x 1

Reptiles 
Eulamprus quoyii, Eastern water skink (gravid) x 1

Amphibians 
Crinia signifera - Common eastern froglets x 5+ (calling in the creek next door)

Day 2 - Saturday 13th October 2012 

I woke this morning to the raucous shrieks of three Yellow tailed black cockatoos - they were in our back yard in Charlestown, NSW feeding on parrot mix at bird feeder !  Wow ! ! !  What a brilliant way to start the day.

Other observations
Eastern koel x 2
Australian ravens x 2

Noisy miners x 10+

Pied currawongs x 2

Kookaburra x 1

Eastern rosellas x 6+ (probably ~10 to 15 individuals visit the feeder during the day)

Rainbow lorrikeets x 8

Welcome swallows x 20+ foraging and riding high in the sky overhead

Spotted turtle dove* x 1 (introduced)

Crested pigeon x 1  

Weather was just beautiful today; nearly perfect spring day with hardly a cloud in the sky and 10 - 12kt winds around midday, gentling late in the afternoon.  

Day One

Welcome to Wildlife of the Hunter Valley

The intention of the blog is quite simple.  I am intending to create an anecdotal log of the wildlife that I encounter during my day-to-day life in Newcastle, N.S.W.  It is simply something that I hope will grow to become a useful record.  

Day 1 - Friday 12th October 2012 

Species - Sulphur crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) x 2 
Observation - 2 x cockatoos were perched on powerlines over the intersection of Turton Rd & Russell Rd, New Lambton as I drove home at 5:50pm.  
Species - Power owl (Ninox strenua) x 1
Observation - My heart raced as an adult Powerful owl flew across the road in front of my car at approximately 8pm.  What a way to start this blog !  I was travelling towards Hillsborough Primary School down EK Avenue, Charlestown, and was at the intersection of EK Ave and Vicki Street.  What's the big deal? The Powerful owl is listed as "Vulnerable" under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act of 1995 - see
 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10562 for more details.