Rufous Songlark

After last week's report of a rufous songlark at the Chapman end of Cooleman Ridge, I went for a look myself on Saturday morning and found it almost immediately.  It was very loud and active.  Despite the wind, it was a wonderful day and so green.  I also saw a sacred kingfisher, at least a dozen or more dusky woodswallows and hordes of yellow-faced honeyeaters.

I also took a walk along a tree-lined path just north of Narrabundah Hill which abuts private property.  Again, a lot of activity for such a cold windy day.  A pair of gang-gangs flew over, a kestrel hovered and snatched up what looked like a skink, and I enjoyed the company of kookaburras.  Also 2 goldfinches and again lots of yellow-faced honeyeaters.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon walking down from near the top of Mt Ainslie and I eventually found myself all the way down in Campbell Park.  Not much activity at first but I did get swooped for the first time this season.  31 bird species in total, including a white-browed scrubwren beating a slug to death on a log, sittellas, bronzewings and rufous whistlers.  Also a lone swamp wallaby, an echidna and the vanishing rear-end of what looked like a rat or antechinus maybe.  I saw a female mistletoebird eating or drinking from a clump of mullein on the ground, which was bizarre.  The walk back was rewarded with good views of about 5 yellow-tailed black cockatoos congregating on and near the ground.  One kept up a constant drilling sound for ages, which also attracted a few chattering crimson rosellas.  Then almost back at the car there was an immature bird of prey perched in a dead tree, with the remnants of its down fluffed out.  It was more likely a hobby than a peregrine falcon.

Maurits Zwankhuizen

 

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