A group of 14 enjoyed the October Wednesday Walk on the 19th, at the property Illilanga, then at the Strike-a-Light TSR. The day yielded a total of 53 species, with 9 breeding records among them.
At Illilanga near Michelago a total of 38 species was seen in a leisurely wander around the property. Highlights were a pair of Diamond firetails sitting beautifully against the sky, a courtship display by two Dusky woodswallows, and a flyover by a Great cormorant. The cooler, drier conditions this year meant the hoped-for orchids were not flowering, although bulbine and rock lilies were putting on a nice show. In and near the Strike-a-Light TSR on the Jerangle Rd, a pair of Rainbow bee-eaters, very vocal Rufous songlarks and Hooded and Flame robins were special sightings among the 30 species seen there.
Other species seen on the day included a Black-shouldered kite, Wedge-tailed eagles, a Brown falcon, Brown goshawks, Red-browed finches, a Sacred kingfisher, Western gerygones, and Fuscous, White-eared, White-plumed and Yellow-faced honeyeaters.
Many thanks to COG members Jeremy Meares and Sandra Lauer, the owners of Illilanga, for the Anzac biscuits as well as the tour of the property.
Sandra Henderson