THIRTEEN THREATENED BIRDS
Swift Parrot - Lathamus discolor (nationally listed threatened species EPBC Act, 1999) The Swift Parrot breeds in Tasmania but spends the winter months on mainland Australia, (from Victoria right through to Queensland) congregating in areas where winter-flowering Eucalypts are in full blossom. Tomalpin is home to several winter-flowering Eucalypts and in a good season, when the trees are flowering profusely, you can find the birds here in their hundreds.
Some of their foraging trees in Tomalpin are:- Spotted gum, Red bloodwood, Northern Grey Ironbark, Grey Ironbark, Broad-leafed Ironbark, Forest Redgum, and Grey box. Swift Parrot populations have declined to barely more than 1200 breeding pairs in the wild.
Sightings
1985 - 50 parrots recorded southwest of Pelaw Main
1987 - 30 recorded over a 4 month period, mid-way between Mt Tomalpin and Weston.
1988 - 20 recorded in a 4 month period northeast of Mt Tomalpin.
1990 - 50 recorded in a 4 month period west of Mt Tomalpin, near the former Hebburn 2 colliery.
1992 - 100 recorded in a 4 month period, north of Richmond Main.
1997 - 50 recorded wsw of Pelaw Main.
1998 - 150 recorded in a 4 month period near Richmond Main.
2000- 100 recorded in a 4 month period north of Mt Tomalpin.
2000 - 200 recorded sw of Pelaw Main
2002 - 30 birds recorded at South Weston.
Regent Honeyeater - Xanthomyza phrygia- nationally listed threatened species EPBC Act 1999. Once considered abundant, and recorded in flocks of 'thousands', this species underwent a drastic decline from the mid 1900's (AMBS 1995). The Regent Honeyeater is currently considered to be endangered in the national context (Garnett 1992), and has disappeared from some parts of its former range.
Regent Honey-eater foraging trees in Tomalpin include:- Mistletoe species, Spotted gum, Northern Grey Ironbark, Grey Ironbark, and Forest Redgum. Regents need large, flowering trees with a tall shrub layer, as they feed on insects as well as nectar.
Sightings:-
1993-1998 10-15 individuals have been recorded on occasions N of Mt Tomalpin in the NE portion of the HEZ.
2000 - 10-15 individuals have been recorded between 1993 and 2000.
1996-2001 - Observed many occasions by Andrew Zoneff, local observer.
2005 - September - A single bird observed off Hebburn Road near Swamp Creek crossing.
Turquoise Parrot - Nephema pulchella - (TSC ACT S2). The beautiful Turquoise Parrot is a regular visitor to the Tumblebee bush area. It feeds in timbered grassy areas within the Tomalpin Block. Breeding occurs between August and December in suitable breeding hollows in tree limbs, logs or fence posts. Four or five eggs are laid on a nest of decayed wood dust.
1/10/1998 -Groups of about 6 were recorded on several occasions from 1992 to 1998, North of Mt Tomalpin, in the Northwest portion of the Industrial Zone.
1/10/1998 - Another group of 6 recorded
Sept 2001 - A male bird observed near Abermain. The time of year would indicate that there was a mate sitting on eggs.
Black-chinned Honeyeater - Melithreptus gularis gularis - (TSC ACT S2). Sightings of the Black-chinned Honeyeater are becoming rarer in the Hunter as its habitat becomes more and more fragmented. It forages in the bark of Eucalypt trees and needs remnant areas of no less than 200 hectares to feel secure.
2001 - Four individual birds recorded North of Mt. Tomalpin.
2001 - Two individual birds observed South of Weston, near the Northern boundary of the Industrial Estate area.
2002 - At least 4 birds observed south of Weston near the Northern boundary of the proposed Industrial Estate.
2002 - 13-14 July. Several birds observed on a Guided Tour.
2002 - 12th Oct. 4 birds observed, and others heard near Abermain.
2002 - These birds are under close observation by FOT observers.
2003 - 20th July. Several birds observed by HBOC members near Abermain.
2005 - Sept 24 Two birds seen along Swamp Creek firetrail, Werakata.
2005 - Sept 25. Two birds seen off Hebburn Road near Swamp Creek.
Brown
Tree Creeper - Climacteris picumnus victoriae - (TSC
ACT S2) - This is one of the Brown Tree-creeper subspecies which has been
listed as vulnerable. It establishes permanent territories in Eucalypt
woodlands which have a low-density understory. A medium-sized insectivorious
bird which finds its prey from fallen timber, cracks, crevices and under
bark. Over the last few years, sightings of these birds have become rarer
and rarer in the Hunter - even in the Tomalpin forests, they are particular
to one area, which unfortunately is in the HEZ. They will be the first
birds to disappear from the region if the Industrial Estate goes ahead.
2002 -16th Jan. Two individuals observed south of Weston, near the Northern boundary of the Industrial site.
2002 - June. One bird observed near Abermain, Crown Land.
2002 - 12 Oct. Four birds observed near Abermain
2002 - 20 November. Four birds observed by FOT members.
2003 - 20 July. observed by HBOC members near Abermain.
2005 - A pair seen along Swamp Creek fire trail, Werakata
2005 - A pair seen off Hebburn Road, near Swamp Creek crossing.
Black-breasted Buzzard - Hamerostra melanosternon - (TSC ACT S2). The Black-breasted Buzzard is a solitary hawk of wooded and open forests. They eat small mammals and birds, carrion and sometimes large insects.
1998 - A single bird sighted soaring over Southeast of the Industrial Site.
1998 - A pair recorded soaring over the Northwest portion of the SITE.
Grey-crowned
Babbler - Pomatostomus temporalis -(TSC ACT S2) The
Eastern subspecies of the Grey-crowned Babbler once ranged throughout
Eastern Australia from South Australia to Queensland and into New Guinea.
In many of these areas, this species is now extinct.
1996-2002 - Recorded Southwest of Weston in the Northwest portion of the proposed Industrial Estate.
2001 - Six birds were recorded foraging in a roadside reserve east of Richmond Main, near the East boundary of the Industrial site.
2001 Five birds recorded within the Lower Hunter National Park.
1996 - 2002- also recorded by local observer Andrew Zoneff
Speckled Warbler - Chtonicola sagittata - (TSC ACT S2). The Speckled Warbler prefers woodland areas with ground cover of grass, leaves and fallen bark. It forages on the ground for insects, beetles and seeds. This resident bird has become extinct from areas that don't have fragments of woodland over 100 hectares.
31/12/00 - Recorded Southwest of Weston in the Northwest portion of the proposed Industrial Estate.
June 2001- One individual was observed Northeast of Richmond Main near the Eastern boundary
Glossy Black Cockatoo - Calyptorhynchus lathami - (TSC ACT S2). The Glossy Black Cockatoo is seen in Eucalypt forests where casaurina understories occur. In the Tomalpin bush they feed mainly on Casuarina Torulosa, the Forest Oak, as well as the fruit of Angophera. They usually nest in hollows in large trees, roost communally at night, and travel to their food source at dawn.
1/5/98 - A group of three recorded South of Tomalpin Hill.
28/2/00 - A group of three recorded Southwest of Weston
31/12/00 - A group of three recorded North of Tomalpin Hill in the Northwest portion of the Industrial zone.
Masked Owl - Tyto noveahollandiae- (TSC ACT S2). The Masked Owl seems to prefer open dry forests and woodland habitats of the Tomalpin area. He is often considered an "edge dweller" hunting between different habitat types. They mainly eat small rodents, rabbits, small possums etc. They nest about 17 m from the ground and roost through the day in large hollows, leafy tops of tall Eucalypts, or in caves.
1998 Recorded Southeast of Mt. Tomalpin Hill in the Southeastern portion of the Tomalpin Industrial Zone.
1996-2000 - Recorded Southwest of Weston in the Northwest region of the Tomalpin Industrial Zone.
Sooty Owl - Tyto tenebricosa- (TSC ACT S2) Often thought to be an Owl of wetter forest areas, the Sooty Owl is a rare inhabitant of the Tomalpin Woodlands, which demonstrates the range of habitats and biodiversity of this last block of natural bushland left in the Hunter Valley. The Sooty Owl has the large eyes of the Barn Owls. Their diet includes ring-tailed possums, gliders, rodents and large insects.
2000 - Two individuals recorded Southwest of Kurri Kurri near the Northeastern boundary of the Industrial Zone area.
Powerful
Owl - Ninox strenua
- (TSC ACT S2)- The Powerful Owl inhabits Eucalypt forests and woodlands
over lower areas from southern Queensland through coastal NSW to western
Victoria and Southeastern South Australia. The Powerful Owl appears to
require a large home range to obtain a sufficient abundance of prey items.
Medium-sized arboreal mammals, particularly Common Ringtail Possums, Yellow-bellied
Gliders, Sugar Gliders, and Common Brushtail Possums, as well as birds
are common prey items. Nest trees typically utilised, are most often the
largest within a stand and oldest within a forest patch. The pairs are
known to breed in the same nest for many years.
1998 - Two individuals were recorded south of Tomalpin Hill
31/12/00 Two individuals have been recorded from south-west of Weston in the north-west portion of the study area, from 1996 to 2000.
Square-tailed Kite - Lophoictinia isura - (TSC ACT S2) often seen circling overhead in the Tomalpin area. Not to be confused with "Little Eagle" which is also present, and both species probably breed here - observed often over period 1995 - 2002 by Andrew.