|
Earlier this morning, while I was running on the equestrian
trail that passes through the grass paddocks that make up the western side of Mt
Stranger in Bonython, 2 Richards Pipit and 2 Yellow-rumped Thornbill flushed
together from the long grass at the side of the trail.
I like Pipits so it was nice to see them because I
haven't come across them regularly since I moved into town from out
past Gundaroo about 6 years ago.The white tail margins were very prominent, not
only in flight but also after they perched on the top fence wire.
The Thornbills surprised me a bit because they were at least
50 metres from the nearest small copse of eucalypts. I know they feed on the
ground but I have always sort of associated them as being near to trees -
generally eucalypts. These were right out in the open - although the grass is
pretty tall. After they flushed they headed off downhill in the direction of the
Murumbidgee before doing an abrupt U-turn after about 20 metres and flying back
almost directly over my head and heading for that small copse about 50 metres
away. I lost sight of them so don't know if they made it to there or dropped
down into the grass again.
Bruce
| 