Gooroo - Red-capped & Hooded Robins

["Marnix Zwankhuizen" <>]

I rode around Goorooyarroo Reserve this morning between 10.30 and 12.30 am recording 42 species. The grassy understorey was looking very healthy and mistletoe was flowering all over the place, but only attracting many NOISY FRIARBIRDS.

The highlight was undoubtedly a male RED-CAPPED ROBIN feeding juicy grubs to a juvenile HORSFIELD'S BRONZE-CUCKOO while perched nearby were a pair of HOODED ROBINS. This is the same patch of Yellow Box woodland where they have been seen many times in the past.

While some migrants seem to have already left I did see a SACRED KINGFISHER, a small group of DUSKY WOODSWALLOWS with some dependent young, and plenty of both GERYGONES and RUFOUS WHISTLERS. Also around were a pair of SPECKLED WARBLERS and several flocks of BROWN-HEADED HONEYEATERS.

On the southern side of Sammy's Hill there was a lone WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE and a pair of KESTRELS. I also noticed a fairly new(?) eyrie on the northern side of Sammy's Hill.

Cheers

Marnix