Hi all
Since getting into birding with any kind of seriousness about a year ago after decades as what I would describe as an incidental bird-watcher, I’ve spent many a happy and fulfilling hour at Jerrabomberra Wetlands. It’s a special place, constantly surprising, and undoubtedly important for our birdlife.
However, I was initially disconcerted at a single-visit count of 83 species at the wetlands, as my largest single-visit total is a mere 50 species. I thus compared my lists over the past year with the list from Milburn’s single visit on Wednesday (which is on eBird at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20237307), with some mollifying results.
First, since 02 Nov 2013, as a very average bird-watcher, and with no more than normal effort, I’ve seen an astounding 108 species at Jerrabomberra Wetlands. Again, that speaks to the value of the place. Second, there were only 9 species on the single-visit list of 83 that I haven’t come across at Jerrabomberra at some point in this past year - some of these 9 are common species such as Tree Martin, White-throated Gerygone and White-eared Honeyeater, for which it is just a matter of chance and time before they are seen, while others are a little more difficult or occasional species, such as the Bronze-cuckoos, or Sea-eagle. Lastly, the single-visit list of 83 could have been larger if species relatively common at Jerrabomberra had also been encountered that day, such has Galah or Yellow-rumped Thornbill.
So, although a species count of 83 over 4 hours is a sterling effort by an experienced bird-watcher, there appear to be no species on the list of 83 that the average birdo should not be able to see at Jerrabomberra at some point – it wasn’t full of Painted Snipe or unusual terns. The place is simply that bird-rich.
But can anyone let me know where best to see a Rufous Songlark?!
Steve
From: Peter Milburn [
Sent: Friday, 17 October 2014 10:21 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Jerrabomberra Wetlands on Wednesday
After the wild weather on Tuesday I walked the trails (dodging cyclists and runners) at Jerrabomerra Wetlands and recorded 83 species over a four hour period. By the middle of the day as the weather improved many birds had moved on. This really does emphasis the importance of this site on a regional as well as a local scale. As the benefits of the re vegetation program develop I'm sure it will become an even greater asset for migrating birds.
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