The autumn surveys at Gooroo north were carried out on a beautiful morning, cold but fine and still. The Yellow-faced Honeyeater migration is not usually a feature of these woodlands but the movement seems particularly marked in Canberra at the moment, and even before sunrise small groups of these birds were flitting through the treetops, sometimes stopping to feed or bathe in the dewy leaves. Many of the summer migrants were still present and forming large active feeding flocks. Grey Fantail and Striated Pardalote were in abundance, Rufous Whistler, White-throated and Western Gerygone were still calling, Mistletoebird, Dusky Woodswallow, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike were recorded and several sites and Shining Bronze-cuckoos were present at two sites in amongst the feeding flocks. Scarlet Robins were prevalent and very vocal. Superb Parrots were present in the northern woodland, and one Grey Currawong near the southern site. The Blakely’s Redgum across the whole district are purple with a heavy lerp load, which seems to happen periodically for this species with a dry autumn – a bounty for the Pardalotes, Gerygones, Weebills and Honeyeaters. No raptors or waterbirds recorded – a total of 40 species.
Cheers
Nicki Taws
0408 210736
