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Stopped off at CSIRO Entomology yesterday afternoon to collect a copy of
Boom & Bust courtesy Beth Mantle (what a great read) then
went to Black Mt Peninsula to soak up winter sun and dip into book. Stood
looking east across the water, the embankment fell steeply away from the
carpark and was fairly overgrown so I couldn't see the water's edge.
Watched Noisy Miners hustling a Common Blackbird out of town.
From my casual observations miners seem to be increasing locally at places
like Black Mt Peninsula. Expanding out from ANU Campus perhaps? Then, while
contemplating miners & blackbirds, a W-b S-E rose not 30m in front of me
(must have been squatting right at the water's edge) and flew east towards the
NMA before pulling to port and setting a course in the direction of Central
Basin. A moment later it reappeared soaring, its wings held at high dihedral in
the "giant butterfly" configuration characteristic of the species.
"Wow, he got upstairs quick." I thought. Just then another W-b S-E
(probably the one I saw fly from the shore) appeared, climbed to join it and the
pair headed for angels then set off towards the Brindabellas.
John Layton.
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