Re the LF. Perhaps an interesting barometer species.
I recorded only 3 obs: one calling across the C Brae fence in Mugga Mugga
property, a pair calling west of Mugga Lane, probably breeding, and a pair at
Majura with the female on the nest. As to the Grey Fantails, perhaps they
have left the general (now dry) woodlands and concentrated in the moister areas
where there is still a lot of that small flying insect life. I am
sure that in the right places you can find lots of them. However they are
USUALLY much more widespread and conspicuous. I got no Dollarbirds
or (as in Steve and Martin’s little joke) S(ca)red Kingfishers.
From: martin butterfield
[
Sent: Monday, 27 October 2008 6:47 PM
To: Michael & Janette Lenz
Cc: chat line
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Could Blitz data be used as indicators of
drough impact?
Although out of the blitz area,
here at Carwoola, Rufous Whistlers and Grey Fantails are very conspicuous at
the moment. However I have not yet seen nor heard a Leaden Flycatcher
this year (but lots of Noisy Friarbirds). Also no Dollarbirds or Scared
Kingfishers.
Martin
On Mon, Oct 27, 2008 at 6:30 PM, Michael & Janette Lenz
<>
wrote:
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
