Green Cape 2013

Canberra Ornithologists Group

Visit to Green Cape, NSW, 23–27 September 2013

Green Cape lightstation

Green Cape juts out into the Tasman Sea at the extreme SE corner of mainland Australia. It is just N

of the border between the states of NSW and Victoria. The narrow tip of Green Cape points almost SE. To the W and SW is Disaster Bay and the coastline northwards from the cape runs roughly NNW. To seawards our observations include the area to the limits of visibility, which from the tip of Green Cape (the Point) involves an arc of about 320°.

Figure 1: Google map of Green Cape

The Google image of Green Cape (see Figure 1) shows various tracks, the main dirt road to the lightstation and the clearly visible forest edge to the N of the heathlands.

This was the fifth field trip to Green Cape organised by the Canberra Ornithologists Group. (Previous visits were in June 2004, October 2005, October 2007 and September 2011. Reports covering these previous visits can be found here for 2004, here for 2005, here for 2007 and here for 2011. Additional reports from two other (non COG) visits can be seen here for June 2006 and here for August 2008. A summary of seabird observations from the Green Cape to Gabo Island region was complied in 2007 from several sources, mostly published or at that time available from the www. This document can be downloaded here.

Both cottages were occupied from Monday afternoon to Friday morning. The party consisted of Terry Bell, Jenny Bounds, Jean Casburn, Peter Fullagar, Sandra Henderson, Geoff Larmour, David Letham, and Michael and Jan Robbins. Kim Larmour joined us on Thursday. Unfortunately, Alison Russell-French and Helen Topor were unable to make it for this field trip, as originally intended.

Weather conditions and sea surface temperatures off Green Cape

Weather conditions for the week were mostly very good. There was no rainfall. On Monday 23rd September, when we arrived, it was overcast and dull, with a NNE wind. At dawn the following day it was still dull and overcast with the wind still NE. However, during Tuesday morning it brightened to a warm and sunny day with light winds from the N. At dawn on Wednesday it was sunny, calm and warm with a moderately flat sea and cloudless sky. The day continued to be warm and sunny (21°C) with only light breezes from the N until a mild southerly change occurred in the early afternoon. Movements of Australasian Gannet, gulls and terns, in particular, switched from going southwards to going northwards with this change. The sea was calm and visibility remained crisp and clear to the horizon all day. After the change, however, the sea became a little more choppy.

Overnight, on the 25th, the wind swung back to NE before a southerly change arrived at 10:00am on Thursday 26th, with the wind strengthening rapidly to gale force before slowly moderating. Another, more dramatic, change occurred at about 12:15pm with the arrival of a very strong NW wind (up to 50 knots) which lashed the buildings and caused the temperature to drop.

Disaster Bay before the storm arrived

Darkening clouds in the west

First signs of the westerly gale arriving

The storm hits Green Cape

Wind hitting the water and squalls racing across the waves

At dawn on the 27th the wind was still W but had moderated with a much less turbulent sea.

Sea surface temperatures off E and SE Australia at the time are shown in Figures 2 and 3, (two map versions from the National Meteorological & Oceanographic Centre website for 26 September 2013). A gyre of warm water (greater than 20°C) at the southern tip of the East Australian Current was circulating to the N off Narooma with a wedge of cold water (16°–18°C) inshore off Green Cape to as far as Eden. Colder waters (less than 14°C) occurred to the S at the eastern approaches to Bass Strait and across the Tasman Sea.

Figure 2: Sea surface temperatures (°C) at Green Cape, 26 September 2013

Figure 3: Sea surface temperatures (°C) in isotherms, 26 September 2013

Vegetation

Vivid yellow climbing Hibbertia, some Pattersonia and Epacrids, Correa, Tetratheca and yellow Dillwynia were all in flower. The tall Leptospermum scrub at the Cape was in full blossom and so was the patch of Westringia to the SW of the lighthouse. Mostly, however, the heath vegetation was not particularly spectacular.

Climbing Guinea Flower Hibbertia scandens

The survey area

Green Cape and the adjoining heathlands constitute the main observation area. The survey area extends as far north as the forest edge beyond the Pulpit Rock track. It includes the tracks down to City Rock and Pulpit Rock as well as the forest walk along the trail from Bittangabee.

Generally we watched from the cottage verandas and the lighthouse area, including occasionally from the Point itself. We looked for activity at sea from the Point each day, starting at 6:00am and continuing for about an hour. Sunrise was at about 5:45am and sunset at about 6:00pm.

We use the term ‘Cape’ to mean the general area surrounding the lighthouse buildings and ‘Point’ to mean the specific area at the tip of the Cape.

Coverage

On Monday 23rd September little more than the Cape area surrounding the cottages was explored as the group gathered during the afternoon.

On the 24th, after the dawn watch at the Point, we all drove to Pulpit Rock with stops along the way to search for typical heathland birds. The afternoon was mostly spent at the Cape. At dusk we gathered at a point on the dirt road just beyond the scrub to listen for Ground Parrots. None were heard.

View at the Pulpit Rock

Sunset, nibblies and waiting for Ground Parrots on 24th

On the 25th after breakfast four members of the party (TB, JC, GL and DL) walked N towards Bittangabee from the intersection of the walking trail with the Pulpit Rock track to as far as the main stream in the forest area before returning on the trail back to the lightstation. Two other members of the party (JB and PF) drove to Bittangabee and birded the campsite area for an hour or so. In the late afternoon the whole party returned to the end of the Pulpit Rock track and then listened for Ground Parrots at dusk at several stops on the way back to the main access road. This time with success!

Early morning watch at the Point
Sandra, Jenny, Michael, Jean and David

View west from the Point

Light tower and lightstation from the Point.

Bittrangabee inlet

On the 26th the early morning was remarkable with no albatross seen until the wind change at 10:00am. Shearwaters and other species were streaming S to start with but reversed their movement by 7:45am. Some of the party went to the Pulpit Rock track early this morning in search of Ground Parrots; others explored the general area of the Cape while some headed N along the dirt road towards the nearby forests.

On the 27th a watch at the Point at dawn was the only activity possible before our departure at 10:00am.

At the Point on 27th
Jenny, Michael, David, Jean and Sandra

Highlights

Close views of several Common Diving Petrels off the Point; hearing at least six Ground Parrots at dusk along the Pulpit Rock track; sighting Spotted Harrier, Crested Pigeon and Dingo, all new to the list and sighting several approachable Wombats grazing near the cottages after dark.

Birds, mammals and reptiles recorded this trip

Note: A bold font is used for the common names of species seen this trip. The list of birds includes all species known to have occurred at Green Cape or from the nearby sea area.

BIRDS

BLACK SWAN Cygnus atrata

LITTLE PENGUIN Eudyptula minor

WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans

(NB Five species are now sometimes recognised within this taxon. At least two of these would occur off Green Cape. WANDERING (SNOWY) ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans and AUCKLAND (ISLAND) ALBATROSS Diomedea gibsoni.)

NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS Diomedea epomophora sandfordi

(NB Two subspecies are identifiable in the field and recently they have been treated by some authorities as species – NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS Diomedea sandfordi and SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS Diomedea epomophora)

SOOTY ALBATROSS Phoebetria fusca

BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS Thalassarche malanophrys

CAMPBELL [ISLAND] ALBATROSS Thalassarche melanophrys impavida

(NB Sometimes treated as a separate species Thalassarche impavida)

SHY ALBATROSS Thalassarche cauta subsp.

Seen every day with 10+ early morning 24th and later that afternoon at least 60+ following a fishing boat N. Several showed signs of wing moult (outer primaries with white ‘patches’). Close inspection of some birds showed that they were in full breeding plumage with dusky shoulders and cheeks. Few seen on 25th and none seen at dawn on 26th, but later in the morning after the wind change to S a few seen heading north during the rest of the day.

(NB Shy Albatrosses have recently been treated by some authorities as four species. Two of these are very similar: the TASMANIAN SHY ALBATROSS Thalassarche cauta and the AUCKLAND [ISLAND] SHY ALBATROSS Thalassarche steadi. They are not reliably separable in the field but both undoubtedly occur in the waters off Green Cape.)

Shy Albatross followed this fishing boat north

SALVIN'S ALBATROSS Thalassarche salvini

One possible seen on 24th, early morning.
(NB identifiable in the field from all other Shy Albatrosses and now usually treated, as here, as a full species. Another, but very distinctive Shy Albatross, the CHATHAM [ISLAND] ALBATROSS Thalassarche eremita is also now regarded by most authorities as a full species. This Shy Albatross has not so far been reported from the waters off Green Cape.)

GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS Thalassarche chrysostoma

YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS Thalassarche chlororhynchos

(NB Two subspecies occur which are identifiable in the field. ATLANTIC (WESTERN) YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS Thalassarche c. chlororhynchos and INDIAN (EASTERN) YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS Thalassarche c. bassi. The bird seen was taken to be of the latter subspecies.)

EASTERN YELLOW-NOSED ALBATROSS Thalassarche bassi

BULLER’S ALBATROSS Thalassarche bulleri

(NB Sometimes treated as two species but they are not separable in the field. Northern Buller’s Albatross Thalassarche platei and Southern Buller’s Albatross Thalassarche bulleri.)

GIANT PETREL Macronectes sp.

NORTHERN GIANT-PETREL Macronectes halli

At least one juvenile plumaged individual seen more than once off the Point daily. Two present off the Point late morning 26th.

SOUTHERN GIANT-PETREL Macronectes giganteus

SOUTHERN FULMAR Fulmarus glacialoides

CAPE PETREL Daption capense

ANTARCTIC PRION Pachyptila desolata

SLENDER-BILLED PRION Pachyptila belcheri

FAIRY PRION Pachyptila turtur

A few seen on 24th at the Point in the morning and early afternoon. Numerous in singles on 26th.

GREAT-WINGED PETREL Pterodroma macroptera

WHITE-HEADED PETREL Pterodroma lessoni

PROVIDENCE PETREL Pterodroma solandri

GOULD’S PETREL Pterodroma leucoptera

WHITE-CHINNED PETREL Procellaria aequinoctialis

BLACK PETREL Procellaria parkinsoni

STREAKED SHEARWATER Calonectris lecomelas

WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER Ardenna pacifica

Small numbers seen with other shearwaters each day.

BULLER’S SHEARWATER Ardenna bulleri

SOOTY SHEARWATER Ardenna grisea

SHORT-TAILED SHEARWATER Ardenna tenuirostris

Good numbers streaming past, going S, on 24th and 25th but further out on the latter day. On 26th at dawn there was a strong movement S (at about 800–1000 per min.) but this movement ceased by 7:45am when a steady N movement in smaller numbers continued all morning. This movement included a brief period when shearwaters rapidly vacated Disaster Bay after the wind change at 10:00am and a northwards passage persisted during the further squally conditions until dusk. Movements at dawn on 27th were still in general N in small numbers.

Short-tailed Shearwaters heading north on the 26th

FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER Ardenna carneipes

FLUTTERING SHEARWATER Puffinus gavia

A few seen every day.

HUTTON’S SHEARWATER Puffinus huttoni

WILSON’S STORM-PETREL Oceanites oceanicus

GREY-BACKED STORM-PETREL Garrodia nereis

WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL Pelagodroma marina

COMMON DIVING-PETREL Pelecanoides urinatrix

A few, probably 5–10 birds, seen close to the Point early morning on 24th but none remained by that evening. Again on 26th and early on 27th a few seen off the Point.

WHITE-FACED HERON Egretta novaehollandiae

One seen on rockshelves at Point each day.

PACIFIC REEF HERON Egretta sacra

AUSTRALIAN PELICAN Pelecanus conspicillatus

One seen at the Point early and late on 24th.

AUSTRALASIAN GANNET Morus serrator

Good numbers passing S each day mostly adults but a northern movement predominated on the 25th later in the day. This was also the trend during the morning on 26th.

LITTLE PIED CORMORANT Microcarbo melanoleucos

BLACK-FACED CORMORANT Phalacrocorax fuscescens

One seen E of the Point early morning on 24th and again in same area on 26th soon after dawn.

LITTLE BLACK CORMORANT Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Two with two Great Cormorant on rocks E of Cape in the morning 26th.

AUSTRALIAN PIED CORMORANT Phalacrocorax varius

GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo

A few at the Point daily or flying past.

WHISTLING KITE Haliastur sphenurus

One seen going N on 25th early afternoon.

WHITE-BELLIED SEA EAGLE Haliaeetus leucogaster

At least two adults and two immature at the Point at various times daily. Two adults calling near what was presumed to be their nest site in forest to the N of Pulpit Rock track mid morning 24th. Several times adult and immature individuals were seen returning from well out to sea but carrying nothing in their talons.

SPOTTED HARRIER Circus assimilis

Single sub-adult bird flushed from perch in ti-tree along roadside SE of Pulpit Rock track in the morning 27th.

SWAMP HARRIER Circus approximans

GREY GOSHAWK Accipiter novaehollandiae

BROWN GOSHAWK Accipiter fasciatus

One (female?) seen over forest area N of Pulpit Rock track mid morning 24th and another (male?) seen flying N along cliff edge early afternoon on 25th.

NANKEEN KESTREL Falco cenchroides

BROWN FALCON Falco berigora

PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus

One seen at Point on 23th in the afternoon.

PIED OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus longirostris

SOOTY OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus fuliginosa

Maximum of eight together on rock shelf E of cottages early morning on 25th with courtship flight seen by two birds that day.

MASKED LAPWING Vanellus miles

Two present daily at the Cape.

BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica

Two flying S with a smaller unidentified grey wader on 24th in the mid afternoon.

RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres

GREY TERNLET (Noddy) Procelsterna albivitta

SILVER GULL Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae

Seen every day in varying numbers but probably at least 100 in Disaster Bay on 25th early morning,

PACIFIC GULL Larus pacificus

Two adults at Point daily.

KELP GULL Larus dominicanus

CASPIAN TERN Hydroprogne caspia

Singles seen off the Point daily.

(GREATER) CRESTED TERN Thalassius bergii

Seen every day in small numbers.

SOOTY TERN Onychoprion fuscus

WHITE-FRONTED TERN Sterna striata

A flock of 25 to 30 birds flying N on 26th in the late afternoon.

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo (longipennis)

ARTIC TERN Sterna paradisaea

SOUTH POLAR SKUA Stercorariuus mccormicki

BROWN SKUA Stercorarius lonnbergi

POMARINE SKUA Stercorarius pomarinus

PARASITIC JAEGER Stercorarius parasiticus

LONG-TAILED JAEGER Stercorarius longicaudus

BRUSH BRONZEWING Phaps elegans

CRESTED PIGEON Ocyphaps lophotes
One seen at the Point early morning 27th

Crested Pigeon at the Point 27th

Crested Pigeon,Panboola wetlands, Pambula 27th
Seen on the return home to Canberra

WONGA PIGEON Leucosarcia melanoleuca

One heard calling in forest area N of Pulpit Rock on 24th and a single bird seen at Bittangabee in the morning on 23rd and again mid morning on 25th.

GLOSSY BLACK-COCKATOO Calyptorhynchus lathami

YELLOW-TAILED BLACK-COCKATOO Calyptorhnchus funereus

Heard at Bittangabee mid morning 25th.

GANG-GANG COCKATOO Callocephalon fimbriatum

GALAH Eolophus roseicapilla

Four seen at the Point early morning 26th eventually heading out to sea SE and five doing exactly the same the following morning (27th).

RAINBOW LORIKEET Trichoglossus haematodus

CRIMSON ROSELLA Platycercus elegans

EASTERN GROUND PARROT Pezoporus wallicus

At least six individuals heard from Pulpit Rock track at dusk on 25th and two heard calling in windy conditions at dusk on 26th.

AUSTRALIAN KING PARROT Alisterus scapularis

HORSFIELD’S BRONZE-CUCKOO Chrysococcyx basalis

One seen Pulpit Rock track 26th in the morning, and a pair seen just below the Lighthouse on the morning of the 27th. Not calling.

SHINING BRONZE-CUCKOO Chrysococcyx lucidus

Singles seen daily at the Cape but two heard calling on 24th.

FAN-TAILED CUCKOO Cacomantis flabelliformis

Single bird seen and heard daily at the Cape.

Fantail Cuckoo
© Sandra Henderson

EASTERN BARN OWL Tyto delicatula

SOUTHERN BOOBOOK Ninox novaeseelandiae

One heard near cottages early hours before dawn on 25th.

LAUGHING KOOKABURRA Dacelo novaeguineae

SUPERB LYREBIRD Menura novaehollandiae

One at Bittangabee on 25th.

SATIN BOWERBIRD Ptilonorhynchus violaceus

WHITE-THROATED TREE-CREEPER Cormobates leucophaea

Heard from forest area N of Pulpit Rock on 24th and another calling at Bittangabee mid morning on 25th.

SUPERB FAIRY-WREN Malurus cyaneus

Several seen. None singing.

SOUTHERN EMU-WREN Stipiturus malachurus

Not conspicuous on heaths but one male seen well on 24th and 25th along Pulpit Rock track. On 27th a party of two males and one female was seen in this area.

Male Southern Emu-wren male 24th Pulpit Rock track

YELLOW-FACED HONEYEATER Lichenostomus chrysops

A small flock seen often at the Point each day, others seen or heard in the forest areas.

LEWIN'S HONEYEATER Meliphaga lewinii

Heard occasionally in forest areas and at Bittangabee on 25th.

BROWN-HEADED HONEYEATER Melithreptus brevirostris

Heard in forest areas each day.

WHITE-NAPED HONEYEATER Melithreptus lunatus

At least two with the flock of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters at the Point between 25 and 27th.

NOISY FRIARBIRD Philemon corniculatus

LITTLE WATTLEBIRD Anthochaera chrysoptera

A few seen in heath areas but not conspicuous.

RED WATTLEBIRD Anthochaera carunculata

A few seen and heard in forest areas each day.

CRESCENT HONEYEATER Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera

NEW HOLLAND HONEYEATER Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

Several seen and heard in heath/Ti-tree areas each day but not numerous.

TAWNY-CROWNED HONEYEATER Gliciphila melanops

A few seen on heaths but not conspicuous.

SCARLET HONEYEATER Myzomela sanguinolenta

One male seen at Telegraph Shed near cottages mid morning on 25th.

EASTERN SPINEBILL Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

One heard in heath area along track from lighthouse (before turnoff to Pulpit rock), late afternoon on 24th.

SPOTTED PARDALOTE Pardalotus punctatus

Heard in forest at Bittangabee mid morning 25th.

STRIATED PARDALOTE Pardalotus striatus

STRIATED FIELDWREN Calamanthus fuliginosus

One seen briefly in heath 25th.

WHITE-BROWED SCRUBWREN Sericornis frontalis

A few seen at Point and in the heaths each day.

BROWN GERYGONE Gerygone mouki

BROWN THORNBILL Acanthiza pusilla

Several seen and heard at the Cape and in heath and forest areas each day.

YELLOW THORNBILL Acanthiza nana

STRIATED THORNBILL Acanthiza striatus

Some found in forest area along main dirt road on 24th.

EASTERN WHIPBIRD Psephodes olivaceus

Not noisy but a few seen or heard each day.

GREY BUTCHERBIRD Cracticus torquatus

One heard at dawn on the 25th near cottages.

PIED CURRAWONG Strepera graculina

A few seen and heard in forest areas each day. One feeding young at nest mid morning at Bittangabee on 25th.

DUSKY WOODSWALLOW Artamus cyanopterus

One on dirt road to lighthouse in the morning 25th.

BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE Coracina novaehollandiae

A few seen or heard in forest areas.

WHITE-BELLIED CUCKOO-SHRIKE Coracina papuensis

VARIED SITTELLA Daphoenositta chrysoptera

CRESTED SHRIKE-TIT Falcunculus frontatus

(AUSTRALIAN) GOLDEN WHISTLER Pachycephala pectoralis

Heard in forest areas each day.

RUFOUS WHISTLER Pachycephala rufiventris

One heard at Point on 24th and another heard in forest areas on 25th and 26th.

GREY SHRIKETHRUSH Colluricincla harmonica

One heard on 24th mid-morning in heath area along Pulpit Rock track. One near cottages on morning of 26th.

SPOTTED QUAILTHRUSH Cinclosoma punctatum

A pair seen on Bittangabee road on morning of 23rd.

OLIVE-BACKED ORIOLE Oriolus sagittatus

Heard in forest areas on 24th. Two different birds.

GREY FANTAIL Rhipidura albiscapa

A few seen but not conspicuous nor noisy.

BLACK-FACED MONARCH Monarcha melanopsis

AUSTRALIAN RAVEN Corvus coronoides

One seen daily at Point.

EASTERN YELLOW ROBIN Eopsaltria australis

One heard in heath area N of the Cape near the dirt road to the lightstation late evening on 24th. Others in forest areas daily.

ROSE ROBIN Petroica rosea

FLAME ROBIN Petroica phoenicea

SCARLET ROBIN Petroica boodang

Female seen in Ti-tree scrub along road N of lighthouse buildings afternoon of 24th.

WELCOME SWALLOW Hirundo neoxena

Moderate numbers hawking over heaths and near the Point every day. Nesting locally in lighthouse buildings and seen visiting cliff site at Pulpit Rock, mid morning on 24th.

TREE MARTIN Petrochelidon nigricans

SILVEREYE Zosterops lateralis

Small groups seen daily.

BASSIAN THRUSH Zoothera lunulata

MISTLETOEBIRD Dicaeum hirundinaceum

One male seen at Point afternoon of 23rd.

BEAUTIFUL FIRETAIL Stagonopleura bella

One seen late morning on the dirt road to lighthouse just S of Pulpit Rock track on 25th.

RED-BROWED FINCH Neochmia temporalis

AUSTRALIAN PIPIT Anthus australis

A pair seen daily at the Point.

EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis

MAMMALS

DUSKY ANTECHINUS Antechinus swainsonii

BANDICOOT sp.

COMMON WOMBAT Vombatus ursinus

Up to four feeding on lawns near cottages from dusk each evening.

One of the the cottage Wombats

COMMON RING-TAIL POSSUM Pseudochirus peregrinus

EASTERN GREY KANGAROO Macropus giganteus

Three seen at Pulpit rock area on 26th.

RED-NECKED WALLABY Macropus rufogriseus

BLACK (SWAMP) WALLABY Wallabia bicolor

One near cottages daily.

Swamp Wallaby at the Point 27th

DINGO Canis lupus familiaris

Two seen on Pulpit Rock track early morning 26th. One sandy the other black (female).

FERAL CAT Felis cattus

One seen in public car park at the lightstation late afternoon on 24th and again on 26th.

AUSTRALIAN FUR SEAL Arctocephalus pusillus (doriferus)

About 8 near Point each day. Not numerous and not specifically identified to this species.

EUROPEAN RABBIT Orytolagus cuniculus

A few seen at the Cape.

HUMPBACK WHALE Megaptera novaeangliae

Steady stream of individuals, or females with calf, moving S each day and often close to the Point. One seen going S on 24th was dragging a white buoy.