My team, slightly modified from last year,
"blitzed" beyond the locked gates at the Upper Cotter/Cotter Flats area of
Namadgi. Despite the fine and cool weather bird activity was rather quiet
due to the dry conditions, and numbers seemed down on the rather wet day last
year. Broad-leaved peppermint was profusely flowering on the way,
but little flowering was observed on our survey sites.
All my group really enjoyed getting out to a part
of the ACT that usually has restricted access. Yellow-faced, White-eared and White-naped HE, Red Wattlebirds and
the 2 pardalotes were by far the most common species. My highlights were 3
Rufous Songlarks less than a km north of the Cotter Hut, plus at least 1
along the Aust Alpine trail, all in pretty dense areas with dead emergent trees
- more wooded habitat than usual. I was surprised to find
them there and ensured I saw as well as heard them, but their presence in
the area was confirmed by the ACT Atlas. This spot was the most
productive with Fuscous Honeyeater, loads of Dusky Woodswallows (including
one on a nest), quite a few Fan-tailed cuckoos, several Sacred Kingfishers and a
single Satin Bowerbird. I also recorded 3 Tree Martins close to the
Cotter Hut (surprised that the ACT Atlas doesn't list them
there).
My thanks to all who participated in this year's
blitz, and also to those who have shared their experiences by posting them on
this chat line, often with good humour. But most of all I'd like to
publicly thank Barbara Allan once again for almost single-handedly organising
this very successful event, which should give a very good snapshot of bird
life in the ACT in a much drier year.
While Barbara has indicated that she wishes to
retire from this role, I'll be doing my best to ensure that it remains a very
important part of the COG calendar. Once again Barbara my sincerest thanks
for having devised and organised this very important event for the first 2
years, and while you may be withdrawing from a public role in future blitzes,
I'm sure your name will remain associated with it in members' minds for many
years to come.
Jack Holland
