The tenth K2C bird surveys in the Williamsdale - Bredbo area were held on a warm and eventually windy morning. A total of 96 bird species were recorded across the 39 sites on 20 properties included in the survey.
Almost all the expected summer migrants had returned. Those in abundance included the four species of cuckoo (Pallid, Fantail, Shining Bronze-, and Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo), Rufous Whistler, Grey Fantail, both Gerygones (Western and White-throated), Dusky Woodswallow and Mistletoebird. Other migrants with sightings at only one or two locations included Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Noisy Friarbird, Olive-backed Oriole, White-winged Triller, Leaden Flycatcher and Rufous Songlark. Small groups of Yellow-faced and White-naped Honeyeaters were moving westward on return migration to the mountains.
Hooded Robins were recorded at 3 locations, including one group of 5 birds along the Jerangle Rd. Brown Treecreepers were found on 6 properties, and Scarlet Robins on 5 properties, with breeding records for both species. Other threatened species recorded included Little Eagle, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Speckeled Warbler, Varied Sittella, Flame Robin and Diamond Firetail.
Breeding was recorded for 20 species, the highlight of which was a sighting of Jacky Winter on a nest.
A most enjoyable morning for everyone, finishing up at the Scottsdale Reserve for a barbeque lunch and a sharing of the morning’s findings. The surveys would not be possible without the support of the COG volunteers, the K2C landholders and Bush Heritage Australia – thank you to all. The surveys in 2015 will be held on 12 April and 11 October.
Cheers
Nicki Taws
0408 210736
