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Thank you very much to
everyone who participated in the 2nd honeyeater survey day last Sunday 23rd
April. I thought we had arranged the weather as perfectly as possible, but
perplexingly the number of honeyeaters migrating was disappointingly low. The
numbers moving on the Saturday, a day of almost identical weather, seemed
to have been much greater. In previous years I would have thought Sunday's
weather would've guaranteed large numbers. Maybe 2-3 seasons of poor breeding in
the mountains is now showing up. However, at least it was a beautiful
morning to be out.
As expected there were
larger numbers of White-naped honeyeaters than 2 weeks ago, some flocks were
composed mostly of this species. Almost no Red Wattlebirds were recorded.
Compared to 2 weeks ago, the honeyeaters I observed at Smiths Rd were much more
purposeful in their speed and direction, arriving with little calling and
setting off across the barren wastes of the former Ingledene pine plantation
with little hesitation. Results from each site were
Smiths Rd 1794
Tharwa Sandwash 84
Point Hut 2
Casuarina Sands 445
Shepherds Lookout 437
Only a few years ago COG used to have the annual
honeyeater outing to Point Hut. This year it was a total non-event
there, but fortunately the observers enjoyed some other good sightings including
a juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle.
Nicki Taws
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