WW to Stony Creek

[Martin Butterfield <>]

The editors of Gang-gang may wish to use the following as the outing report.

14 members and guests assembled at the Southern end of the Urriara East recreation area at 8:30 and about 28 degrees.  While signing on happened we were entertained by the calls and flights of up to 5 Dollarbirds. A flight of White-winged Choughs passed by, possibly heading to a nest site further down the car park.

 

Large numbers of small bush birds were moving along in the vegetation, making accurate counting very difficult.  It was easier to count the birds in or above the Murrumbidgee.  These included a Collared Sparrowhawk carrying prey (and being encouraged to leave the premises by a Willie wagtail); 2 White-faced Herons; 6 Australian Wood Ducks and 5 Black-fronted Dotterels.

 

Once in the vicinity of the Casuarinas Mistletoebirds were common.  2 Rainbow Bee-eaters posed nicely, with one seemingly stuck in position while it sorted out how to handle a large insect.  Counting problems again reared their head when a very large flock of Little Ravens went overhead: estimates ranged from 75 to 'a bit over 100'. 

After about 90 minutes ambling the temperature was rising and the birds appeared to have gone siesta, so we returned arriving back at the cars by 10:45.  The external thermometer in my car was reading 34 degrees (1 over the total number of species seen) so definitely time to head for air conditioning.

I have put a few of my less bad photos on my blog.  A bird list is attached and will also be put on the COG website trips page in due course.

While there is a venue in mind for next months walk there needs to be a negotiation of access and this might take a while.  An announcement will appear in the trips page and though the chatline when it is sorted.

--
Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

140115 COG Stony Creek.xlsx
Description: MS-Excel 2007 spreadsheet

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