autumn ramblings

[Sue Lashko <>]

I have been out and about for the last 3 days in this beautiful weather.  On Friday morning, I surveyed O'Connor Ridge off Dryandra St.  A few interesting sightings - a flock of 13 Mynas; a MMF of Speckled Warblers, SFW, WBSW, Grey Fantail, Spotted Pardalotes; 4 DB Finch; 2 big parties of WW Choughs - one group of 17 was relentlessly harassing 4 Gang-gangs.

 

Saturday - Brindabellas - unlike Canberra, free of early morning fog although we did have showers later.  We travelled along Mt Franklin Rd and then back along Warks Rd and Blundells Creek Rd.  3 Superb Lyrebirds, 2 pairs Spotted Quail-thrush, lots of Flame Robins but only one pair of Scarlet, a flock of 16 King Parrots, literally hundreds of WBSW with many juveniles, Fan-tailed Cuckoos, a female Leaden Flycatcher, dozens of YFHE, one NFB.  The area looks fantastic at the moment and is certainly well worth the drive even if many of the migrants have left.

 

This morning - survey in Campbell and in the nature reserve behind - a gathering of 33 Magpie-larks on Campbell Oval, one Grey Butcherbird, small flocks (5-7) of Red Wattlebird and NFB fying purposefully, a pair of Gang-gangs at a hollow with the male making alterations from the outside and then disappearing completely inside the hollow before repeating the process over and over.  Any clues about why this would be so? - late nesting?

 

So folks, get out there with your binoculars - there is plenty to see and the temperature is perfect.