Spangled Drongo and other delights of downstream Jerra Creek

[COG Lists Manager <>]

This morning Rod Mackay kindly guided Noela and me on a delightful
canoe/kayak trip at the east end of Lake BG. We observed 49 species over
four hours, incl two classified as unusual birds in COG's area of
concern, namely Pied Cormorant (4 or 6) and Spangled Drongo (1).

This is just the sixth record of the Drongo in the ACT, the others being
Aranda 1980, Mt Majura 1989, Kambah 1990, ANBG 2000 and Downer 2002.
Location of the Drongo:

- Kingston side of Jerrabomberra Creek near its mouth

- a short distance (50-100m) upstream of the power lines that cross the creek which are, in turn, a short distance upstream of the rowing club.

- the co-ords, from the map, are 0695750 6090100 GDA

Others saw it later in the day. Yarden Oren describes the access as follows:

Land access through The Causeway, Kingston. enter the gate at the end of the road, through the locked gate to the right, it was in the willows bordering the creek.

I understand that it is quite weedy and snakey. Best access may be via a disused oval.

Other birding highlights of our trip were lots of Darters on nests,
and Darter nests with fluffy pale young, in the lower reaches of the
Molonglo River. Also 4 Black-fronted Dotterels and 7
Dollarbirds.

It seems, then, for birders who keep lists, a morning's visit to
Mulligan's Flat and second morning at Jerrabomberra Creek could well
produce 100 species. A pretty good weekend's birding. 

David