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A surprise this morning in the SW corner of the
former pine forest on Narrabundah Hill was to observe a Rufous Songlark carrying
food. The bird had alighted on the top of a small pine tree and seemed
quite agitated, so I didn't make any attempt to follow it to its nest
site. While only one bird was seen carrying food there were at least
two, possibly 3 birds in the area calling quite softly, but at times
clearly the call I most often associate with this species
pre-breeding. In my experience this is very late for the
species (most have usually left by now), but does seem likely to have been the
result of the Xmas rain as I noted in my column in the February
Gang-Gang.
Also in the same area were at least 15 Diamond
Firetails, the first such numbers I have seen for about 6 months, though similar
or greater numbers were present here from February 2009. Also present were
a number of European Goldfinches, the only spot in my local area where this
species, quite common 30 years ago, now seems to occur.
Jack Holland
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