Jerrabomberra Wetlands on Wednesday

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Interesting comments and way to view the aspect of things recorded of a period at a site. You have given a good example of general trends. The GBS Report (pages 35 to 38) goes into these ideas a lot for the long running GBS.  

 

I think 83 species on a day at JW is an huge result. This is the season of change over, so there is the potential for some summer and winter species.

 

As for can anyone let me know where best to see a Rufous Songlark, they are variable by year. Mainly I suggest wait another month or till this time next year. Whilst generally more common a bit west of the ACT than in Canberra, summer about 3 or 4 years ago they could be found at any stop along Lanyon Drive & Monaro Highway from Queanbeyan to Tuggeranong. They are very obvious by their squeaky singing when they arrive.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Read [
Sent: Saturday, 18 October 2014 2:40 PM
To:
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Jerrabomberra Wetlands on Wednesday

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.  

 

Milburn

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