Thanks to John Cummings excellent guidance, Pat O’Malley
and I were fortunate to see flocks of about 50 Swifties on Tuesday afternoon at
the back of the Mt Druitt shops.
My previous definite sighting a couple of years back was
when a large flock almost strafed us en route from A to B and while we were
clear what we saw, we hardly got leisurely views. It was quite different this
time, with the birds feeding on lerps in the trees for as long as we wanted to
enjoy them. Awesome.
John asked us what we thought the trees were—Messmate
Stringybark, Pat thinks. These trees are more common in Vic and Tas (also Swift
Parrot strongholds) but they were clearly planted and not naturally occurring
and, as maybe they are in Vic and Tas, the birds were very at home feeding in
them.
Stephen
BTW: John: thinking about the calls in the night which
seem to drop away at dawn which you were discussing when we called your phone, Pat
suggests, and I agree, probably Pallid Cuckoo. J
---------------------------------------------------------
Dr Stephen Mugford
Managing Director
QQSR
PO Box 12
Gungahlin, ACT 2912,
AUSTRALIA
Ph:
+61 2 6242-1008
Mob:
+61 411 466640
