My Blitztour took me as 2times before
around the lower and upper western slopes of Mt Ainslie and the upper slopes on the
East side (thus getting no where near the Campbell
Park area). This
path takes me through some of the key areas for the Leaden Flycatcher (LF). But
I failed to find any although Noisy Friarbirds (the species the LF likes to
associate while nesting) were still common. The Rufous Whistler was also absent,
and Grey Fantails were encountered just twice. Thus Mt Ainslie observations echo
some of the impressions that Geoffrey and Barbara shared with us. Mark's account
from the Grassland Reserves is also disappointing. I would have expected at
least Pipits.
Hopefully, data from grids in Canberra Nature
Parks that are monitored in the same way each year, can be used to give a
measure of the drought impact (and hopefully, in due course, of recovery).
On the positive side at Mt Ainslie, 3 singing
males of the Yellow Robin (more than ever before) , 1 pair of Speckled Warblers
with 2 fledglings and a Little Eagle.
Michael
Lenz
