Bird Sightings

A complete listing of all of the species sighted, including breeding status, is provided in the following Hunter  Bird List, which is the basis of  the Annual Bird Reports for the Hunter Region.

    2010 Hunter Region checklist.pdf

 RECORD SHEETS

If you would like to record your sightings and pass them on to the Club's Records Officer, please download and print off a copy of the Bird Record Sheet and post to Hunter Bird Observers Club, PO Box 24, New Lambton NSW 2305:

    Bird Record Sheet - RS1_10.pdf

    Short Form for Observations.pdf

    Unusual Record Report Form_09.pdf

    Wader & Water Bird Count Sheet_08.pdf

You may find the following copies more convenient. They are in Word format, and after downloading they can be edited. However apart from entering your location details, observations, etc in the blank spaces, and if necessary adding extra species in the blank sections, please do not change any other parts of the sheets before submitting them.

Bird Record Sheet - RS1_10A.doc

Unusual Record Report Form_09.doc

Wader & Water Bird Count Sheet_08.doc

Wader Surveys

Monthly wader surveys are being conducted by the HBOC on Kooragang Dykes, Stockton Sandspit, Fern Bay, Stockton Channel, Fullerton Cove beach and Ash Island in the Hunter River at Newcastle; at Swan Bay in Port Stephens; and at the entrance to Lake Macquarie. Survey dates are given in the calendar.  They occur on a Saturday with a high tide early in the morning before the wind has a chance to get up. Note that the times vary according to tidal conditions. In the event of bad weather the survey may be held on the following Sunday instead.  It is therefore important for prospective participants to contact the survey coordinator before the event, just in case the date has been changed for some reason.

 
The coordinators of Hunter wader surveys are Chris Herbert (02 4959 3663) and Alan Stuart (02 4952 8569).  Of the 48 Australian Scolopacidae, the Hunter Region hosts 19 species, and of the 19 Australian Charadriidae, the Hunter hosts 8 species. Common wader species in the Hunter Region include: Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, Terek Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Great Knot, Red Knot, Red-necked Stint, Ruddy Turnstone, Red-capped Plover, Double-banded Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Latham’s Snipe, Black-winged Stilt and Red-necked Avocet.
 
The Hunter Estuary is the most important area in NSW for migratory waders, reflected in its designation as a Ramsar site. Birds move through components of the estuary in accordance with the tide cycle. As the tide falls, sandflats in the North Arm of the Hunter River are the first feeding areas exposed. At low tide the main feeding area is Fullerton Cove. As the tide comes in, birds move to the mudflats behind the Kooragang dykes. At high tide they move to their roost areas where they will stay for about 6 hours.  About 85% of birds roost on the Kooragang dykes with up to 2,000 migratory waders there at any one time during summer.  Terek Sandpipers roost on the oyster leases in Fern Bay, while Grey-tailed Tattlers roost along the Fern Bay shore not far from the main road from Stockton Bridge.  As the tide goes out, waders leave their roosts and feed on the mudflats and sandflats off Stockton Sandspit before moving along the North Arm and into Fullerton Cove. Birds are best observed from Stockton Sandspit as the tide recedes.
 
Double-banded Plovers may be found on the beach along Stockton Bight, but a 4WD and a beach driving permit are required.
 
Latham’s Snipe favour Pambalong Nature Reserve north of Minmi. An annual survey is conducted at Pambalong Nature Reserve each December.  
 
Research by members of the Hunter Bird Observers Club has documented a decline in feeding and roosting habitat in the region over the past 25 years. A decline in migratory shorebirds has occurred over this time also.

 GENERAL

The list below has the more common of the bird species that can be present in the Hunter.
For ease of use, birds are listed under four habitat classifications:

Please select a category  

  • Beaches, Lakes, Rivers, Dams, Swamps
  • Sea birds
  • Rainforest and Wet Sclerophyll Forest
  • Heath, Grasslands, Woodlands, Forests, Gardens

Alternatively you can contact us via email ( birds@hboc.org.au)