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An overcast morning for the winter survey, but the birds didn't seem bothered. There was a very large gathering of 100s of Sulphur-crested cockatoos and Little corellas (with a few Long-billed corellas) on Narrabundah Lane, just outside the reserve, and they are obviously roosting in the reserve at night (lots of white feathers under some trees). A very slow start at the first survey site, with two Crimson rosellas only, but other sites were a little better, with Yellow-rumped thornbills and Striated pardalotes the most numerous birds in survey sites! The highlight for the morning was a mixed flock up along the quarry fence (not at a survey point), which had about eight Flame robins, two Scarlet robins, a dozen Diamond firetails, a Jacky winter and some Yellow-rumped thornbills. Noisy miners were in abundance around the reserve, with a group of 14 sitting in one dead tree. Eleven Scarlet robins in all, with other highlights being an Olive-backed oriole and an immature Grey butcherbird. The only raptor for the morning was a Brown goshawk. The large farm dam near the pylons has a group of five Hardhead at present, but no grebes visible. Noticed that the large dead tree near the pump station, a favourite perch for Mistletoebirds in the past, has been cut down - perhaps it was thought to be a threat to the nearby powerlines. 44 species in total
sandra henderson
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