Torrens obs

["Jack and Andrea Holland" <>]

Rod very interesting, and confirms reports that despite the predictions (and my strong view) that nesting would be curtailed with the way the whole area has been opened up, there doesn't appear to be a major impact as yet.  In fact in my experience it seems to be significant early breeding.  While the nesting season, particularly for the Darter, is very long (September to May) the peak always seems to be late summer/autumn which is why COG visits then. 

 

So it looks like we'll have some breeding to observe when we go up the river again in mid March.  I looked for signs of nesting on the E side of Black Mountain peninsula while on a bike ride around the lake yesterday but couldn't even find a bird.  However, it is always notoriously difficult to see the extent of what's going on from the bike path.  The stretch on the other side to Acacia Inlet also looked like prime nesting territory but I've yet to record any activity there (perhaps because it's too close to the bike path or maybe not aligned properly with the sun).

 

Also very interesting to hear about all the White-winged Trillers on Molonglo Reach.  They and the Rufous Songlark seem to have gone elsewhere this year after being so common at the NW end of Cooleman Ridge for the past four spring/summers.

 

Jack Holland