WW to McQuoids Hill

[martin butterfield <>]

Gang-gang may wish to include this.

20 members met at the appointed time and place for a circuit of the base of McQuoids Hill.

Although the weather was quite mild, birds were not evident in great numbers nor diversity.  Of the 36 species recorded on our last foray (July 2010) 15 were not recorded this visit  - but we did add a further 7 species to the WW site list. 

Among the additions were Brown and Striated Thornbills.  On the previous visit we had recorded Yellow-rumped and Buff-rumped Thornbills (both seen today)  and Yellow Thornbill (not today) so the area could be seen as thornbill heaven.  We also added Red-browed Finch to the list, balanced by missing out on Diamond Firetail and Double-barred Finch.

Possibly due to being a month later we recorded breeding indicators for 4 species: Australian Wood Duck (inspection hollow); Striated Thornbill (Display): Australian Raven (Nest Building - we believe: certainly there was a nest and the two Ravens were vigorously driving off a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo); Common Starling (Inspecting Hollow).

A number of us then went to Narrabundah to try for the Spangled Drongo.  Even though reported to the chatline by Noel Luff 2 hours earlier it was not evident during the time we spent there.