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Notwithstanding the overcast, cloudy, rainy
conditions on the northside a very respectfull 19 participants
joined co-leaders Terry Munro and Terry Bell on these first visits to
suburban areas of Dickson ( 21 species ), Lyneham (15 ) and
Flemington ( 16 ) It was good to have onboard COG President Alison-Russell
- French and Jenny Bounds and other COG members to discover new
locations.
The first urban wetland at Dickson was in very good
condition and contained many waterbirds including more than 150 blackducks,
several hardheads and wooducks, with a little grassbird heard and glimpsed over
the reeds on the little island.
By comparison the conditions at Lyneham were
somewhat off-putting with general untidyness and the accumulation of
rubbish commented on by several members. Perhaps COG could
consider approaching the relevent authority in this direction.A much
smaller number of waterbirds was present including 1 grey teal and a pair
of masked plovers. Signs of early nesting were evident with a pair of Australian
ravens busily engaged in building/renovating their nest high in
a
roadside gumtree.
After a comfort stop we then travelled to the
smallpond/lake near the Racecourse on the left side of Flemington Rd.
Mitchell which only only held a few waterbirds and one nesting
purple swamphen. We then ventured into an adjacent paddock and track
which yeilded a pair of Richards pippets, our only raptor a kestrel, many
currawongs, choughs and magpies and several overwintering welcome
swallows'
At this point it was decided to leave the proposed
visit to the remnant woodland behind Mitchell recycling depot to a
separate later inspection.
A composite bird count for the three sites was 35,
details as follows:- sulphur crested cockatoo, crimson and eastern rosellas,
king parrot and galahs, Aust grebe, hardhead,black, wood ducks, grey teal,
masked plover, purple swamphen, dusky moorhen,little pied cormorant, kestrel,
Richards pippet,choughs,magpie,currawong,pee wees, Aust. Raven, crested pigeon,
rock dove, starling, welcome swallow, weebill, yellow rumped thornbill, little
grassbird, spotted pardelotte,red wattlebird,fairy wren,, willy
wagtail,blackfaced cuckoo shrike and boo, noisy miner.
Diddams Close Park on Lake Ginninderra was
accepted as venue for August midweek subject to
confirmation.
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