We did the survey on Wednesday 26 September, between 7.30 and 10.00.
The sky was a bit overcast when we started at the Grenade Gate near the airport, but on the whole it was a pretty good day for birding, with good visibility and very little wind. Barbara Allan and myself went as usual in two vehicles, each escorted by an environmental officer (Sue and Anneke). We had to clear the southern sites (Sites 1, 2, 3, 4 and 10) by 10 am, since there were commandos training (we never saw any because they were in stealth mode), and they would be shooting after 10 am.
Most of the sites supplied a good range of birds, but mainly the usual suspects. Some of the summer migrants were there, with Yellow-faced Honeyeaters at 2 sites and Rufous Whistlers at others.
There were no Hooded Robins seen, nor Brown Treecreepers.
At site 2, the Grenade Range, a site that was chosen because it was NOT pristine, there was a good cover of exotic grasses, where in previous years there was only the bare ground of a car park. However, despite the good seasons, the mainly Blakeley’s Red Gums are suffering from serious die-back, with many looking as if they are on the way out. Nevertheless, Wood Ducks, Red-rumped Parrots, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Tree Martins and Starlings were inspecting the many hollows. There were only 2 Noisy Miners seen, which is low for that site.
Other species seen included: White-throated Gerygone, Grey Butcherbird, White-eared Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Laughing Kookaburras, White-winged Chough, Grey Fantails, Striated, Buff-rumped and Yellow-rumped Thornbills, White-throated Treecreeper, and Crimson and Eastern Rosellas.
Saw very few kangaroos, and one Swamp Wallaby. No raptors at all on the day.
Cheers
Paul
Paul Fennell
Editor Annual Bird Report
COG Databases Manager
026254 1804
0407105460
