274 AlcGTLr. Bh-ds of Lake Frame District. [T'tApd" 



Birds of Lake Frome District, South Australia 



Hy j. XEI]. McGILI', R.A.O.U., King's Park, Adelaide. 



Part II. 



I'halacrocorax carbo, Cormorant; I»halacrocorax fusce.scens, White- 

 breasted Cormorant; Phalacrocorax ater. Little Black Coniiorant; 

 Microcarbo melanoleucus. Little Pied Cormorant. The two small 

 Shags are found throughout the year on stock tanks, bore streams 

 and springs, yet no recoi'd of its breeding has been made. The two 

 large Shags come in company with more of the smaller species in 

 good seasons, when lakes are full, but certainly do not breed here 

 nor remain long. 



Anhinga nov<e-holIandi£e. Australian Darter. — Only one solitary 

 bird noted in Wattakilla Lake in June, 1918. No other record. 



Pelecanus conspicillatu.s. Australian Pelican. — In good seasons 

 companies of Pelicans pay us a visit, but do not remain long, as the 

 waters do not contain fish. 



Circus assimili.s. Spotted Harrier. — Fairly plentiful. A useful 

 bird, desti-oying many rabbits. Often seen hovering above rabbit 

 warrens in search of young. Breeds in district, nesting in large stick 

 structure lined with green gum leaves in fork of high gum. Clutch, 

 2 to 3 white eggs. The young have a very different plumage from 

 adult birds. Young from nest has head, back and rump covered with 

 greyish down, with rich brown feathers on back of neck and back 

 wing coverts are rufous, tail feathers almost black tipped, with a 

 wide band of light brown; breast and abdomen a light rufous down, 

 with a few feathers of a darker colour, and with long reddish-brown 

 down on thighs. This specimen was almost ready to leave the nest. 

 Breeds August to October. 



Circus approximans. Swamp-Harrier. — A very rare bird, an odd 

 visitor appearing in good seasons only; does not breed in locality. 



A.stur novae-hoUandiap. Grey Goshawk. — A single specimen, identi- 

 fied from close observation, noted in June, 1917, on bore stream, near 

 N.S.W. border. 



Astur fasciatus. Australian Goshawk. — A common bii'd, recog- 

 nised as of great value in the destruction of rabbits. Often seen 

 stooping to secure a young rabbit. Breeds freely in small flat-topped 

 stick nest lined with gum leaves, usually placed very high up in 

 eucalyptus. Clutch, usually 3, but sometimes only 2 eggs. Young 

 birds have cream-coloured (lown. The eggs vary considerably in size 

 and markings, some being- ciuite white though often nest-stained, 

 while other eggs are marked with brown spots and streaks. The 

 Goshawk usually seeks its food near water, and waits in a tall tree 

 till it sees its victim come to drink. Usual breeding season August to 

 October. 



Accipiter cirrhocephalus. Collared Sparrow-Hawk. — Not plentiful, 

 only odd birds seen. The male of Common Goshawk often confused 

 with female of Sparrow-Hawk. Hard to identify on the wing. Very 

 expert on wing, it is wonderful to note it twisting about amongst low 

 shrubs in chasing small birds. No nest recorded in district, but does 

 probably breed as birds are permanent residents. 



l^roaofus audax. Wedge-tailed Eagle. — Very common, as many as 

 40 to be seen in air from a given point. The writer has written up 

 his obsei-vations in the "S.A. Ornithologist" as to its habits, etc. 

 Breeds freely, but only rears one brood a season. Nest is a huge 

 structure of sticks, lined with green gum leaves and placed in fork of 

 a tree at any height from ground. One, the bottom of which was only 

 18 inches clear of ground, was built in the central forks of a needle- 



