Gunning & District Historical Society

 November Bird of the Month Latham's Snipe:  Image courtesy Mark Lethlean    Image courtesy Wayne Weatherstone This is number eleven in a 12 part series in which we take a bird recorded in Gladstone Weatherstone's notebook between 1962 and 1981, see if anything is different today and, if so, try to explain why.   Gladstone was an expert amateur naturalist who lived on Lyndfield Park near Gunning from 1941 until 1996.             The Visitor from Japan On 11 November 1971 Gladstone wrote, “Japanese Snipe flushed today from reeds in creek.  First recording here” .  His words show no emotion, but he must have been excited.  This small wetland bird, weighing only around 200 grams, had just fetched up on his farm after flying some 8000 or more kilometres from Japan and south-east Siberia!     Snipe have been making their annual journey to Australia for perhaps thousands of years.  Their...

  Image courtesy Duade Paton https://www.photos.duadepaton.com From Gladstone's Notebook:  Sometimes Poisonous, yet a Culinary Delight and the Explorer’s Saviour – the Common Bronzewing   This is number 9 of a 12 part series in which we take a bird recorded in Gladstone Weatherstone’s notebook between 1962 and 1981, see if anything is different today and, if so, try to explain why.   Gladstone was a dedicated and knowledgeable amateur naturalist who lived on Lyndfield Park near Gunning from 1941 until 1996 Image of Gladstone Weatherstone courtesy Wayne Weatherstone. The Common Bronzewing   On 3 September 1967, Gladstone wrote “ Several Bronzewing Pigeons seen near Jerrawa and possibly nesting near Catherine’s Creek ”.  This bird makes only a few appearances over the 19 years covered by his notebook.  In June 1973 he wrote “ Bronze-winged Pigeon observed feeding around the house today, also two days later.  First time seen in close ....

From Gladstone’s Notebook:   Bird of the Month for June A much smaller assembly of magpies than the one discussed in this article.  Image:  Ben Ashton.  Wikimedia Commons. Image courtesy Wayne Weatherstone  This is number 6 in a twelve part series inspired by Gladstone Weatherstone (pictured left), a dedicated and knowledgeable amateur naturalist who lived on Lyndfield Park near Gunning from 1941 until his death in 1996. Between 1962 and 1981 he recorded bird sightings on and near his farm in a notebook.  We still have this notebook today.   Each month we look at one of the birds that Gladstone recorded, try to place it in context and see if we can glean any lessons about the recent history of our district. On 9 June 1975 Gladstone noted “Unusual number of Black-back Magpies coming around, over eighty being counted in front of house.”  That the number was “unusual” suggests it was not unprecedented.  But it is the o...

March Bird of the Month – the Red-capped Robin  Red-capped Robin (C) Chris Dubar 2017 birdlifephotography.org.au      This is the third in a monthly series inspired by Gladstone Weatherstone, a dedicated and knowledgeable amateur naturalist who lived on his property Lyndfield Park near Gunning from 1941 until his death in 1996.  He had a particular interest in birds. Between 1962 and 1981 Gladstone kept a notebook in which he recorded bird sightings on his farm and its near surrounds.   Each month we will look at one of the birds that Gladstone recorded, try to place it in context and see if we can glean any lessons about the recent history of our district. The Red-capped Robin Red-capped Robin female. (C) Anne Burgess birdlife photography.org.au Gladstone's single entry for 29 March 1980 says "First sighting have had here of Red-capped Robin and one with a very large red cap but did not stay long.” To see a Red-capped Robi...