New map site/ Robin viewing

["martin butterfield" <>]

A very timely comment by Julian.  I did revisit the area today and realised (after comparing at Roger's map with the terrain) that I had completely missed going to this area last week, rather than just not paying attention to it.

 

When I arrived today the wind was howling at the car parking area and continued to do so as I walked along to nearer to the robin area. As I walked through that area nothing was stirring so I continued to the grotty pines etc on the river bank (ie Finch Central) .  There were no diamond firetails in there this week but at least 30 red-browed finches, 8 double barred finches and 2 European goldfinches.  Further adding spice to life a peregrine falcon flew over and a pair of flame robins were flitting in the burnt out trees (but not one scarlet robin).

 

Heading back to the car park there seemed to be a bit of movement in the robin area so I paused for a few minutes.  The result was at least: one male and one female red-capped robin; one male and two female flame robins (and I am certain these were not the birds from the trees) and 5 Richard's pipits.  Back up at the dirt track I saw another 3 pipits and another female flame robin.  

 

After this I went for a run in town and we passed through ANBG to see if the Powerful owl was around.  We couldn't find it, but did see a satin bower bird.  The rest of the afternoon was at Kellys Swamp where the highlights - apart from the lovely water - were half a dozen each of chestnut teal and shovelers and a whistling kite overhead getting seriously harassed by a pair of magpies.

 

 

On 5/30/07, Julian Robinson <> wrote:

The area I was describing as Finch Central was starting from X and perhaps 100m south and west of there.  My observations at the time were limited to the surprisingly bird-productive area of grass, burnt pine, blackberries and fence-line.  Interesting that Martin was further NW at Y and missed the red-caps, so they seem to be v localised.  Different veg so I guess not that surprising.

Leo may have given me 'naming rights' :) but I point out that he discovered the area, and this is how history makes mistakes.  In 2500 when a PhD is doing a historical study (everyone will do PhD's in 2500) on "North-west Canberra Finches in the early 2000's - the COG view" we need to make sure that they successfully locate the correct explorer.  (Explorer because not only will everyone do PhD's, but life in 2500 will be so restricted that our travels from Coppins Crossing road 1km down-river on a dirt road in a 'wild' area will be seen as exciting exploration.   The explicit presence of free birds will be what drives the romantics to want to write about our rustic travels).

I haven't seen anyone else mention thornbills, is that because they haven't seen any in this area, or bec thornbills are too mundane to record?  I  thought they added a lot of contrasting colour to the proceedings.

Julian
At 10:15 PM 29/05/2007, Leo Berzins wrote:

X is pretty close to where we saw the White-fronted Chats on 20th May. Following Julian's report, we returned there on Saturday and found all the finches described amongst the blackberry clumps extending south of X (as well as the robins and pipits we had seen previously). Y was where we saw numerous goldfinches.
 
Julian has the naming rights on 'Finch Central' so we should leave the final word to him, but I reckon X marks the spot.
 
Incidentally, our strike rate so far is:
White-fronted Chat: 50%
Red-capped Robin: 100%
Flame Robin: 100%
Scarlet Robin: 0%
(The Flame Robins have been the most numerous.)
 
Leo.

Cheers

Julian
Canberra
Australia

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