RE: Wallaroos - was Pale-tailed Kangaroo on Black Mountain Nature Reserve, a Rose Robin and some migrating honeyeaters

[Lindell <>]

While you are all on the subject of pale tailed Kangaroos and Wallaroos seen locally, I was wondering if any one had and answer to the id of this pale one photographed at Tidbinbilla in October 2009. I know it's awhile ago but I have always wondered what it may have been.

I believe there is a similar one that calls the Federal Golf Course home.

Thanks

Lindell

On 11 May 2015 at 07:21, Steve Holliday <> wrote:

The animal in Matthew’s photo is a very pale Eastern Grey. Based on head and ear shape, fur length, and lack of a black patch on top of the nose. And the dark last half of the tail. I have attached Con’s Wallaroo photo for comparison.

 

Cheers

Steve

 

 

 

From: Philip Veerman [mailto:m("pcug.org.au","pveerman");" target="_blank">]
Sent: Sunday, 10 May 2015 10:02 PM
To: 'Matthew Willis'; 'Steve Holliday'
Cc: 'canberrabirds chatline'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Pale-tailed Kangaroo on Black Mountain Nature Reserve, a Rose Robin and some migrating honeyeaters

 

Yes my comment about Red Kangaroos having a pale tail was a general comment to suggest that calling a macropod a Wallaroo because of a pale tail is not always valid but in no way suggesting that there are any of them here or that Con’s photo could fit a RK. It was sort of in suggestion that a pale tail goes against being an EGK.  The male Wallaroo I saw yesterday had a very definite black tail and feet, the blackest bits of him that was otherwise very dark brown to black...... So there is a sex difference in colour in the Wallaroos here as well as size and shape. Red Kangaroos also have a sex difference in colour but Eastern Grey Kangaroos apparently don’t, or not noticeable......  I think from its build and shaggy fur Matthew’s photo is a Wallaroo. Its tail is pale with a dark tip. The books say Wallaroos have a bare (unfurred) nose which appears to be the case.

 

Philip

 

From: Matthew Willis [m("gmail.com","matt.j.willis");" target="_blank">]
Sent: Sunday, 10 May 2015 6:42 PM
To: Steve Holliday
Cc: canberrabirds chatline
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Pale-tailed Kangaroo on Black Mountain Nature Reserve, a Rose Robin and some migrating honeyeaters

 

Based on all of this, I'm thinking this must be a Wallaroo I saw hanging out with the Eastern Greys at Tidbinbilla a few months back.

 

Wallaroo?

 

Matthew

 

 

 

On Sun, May 10, 2015 at 5:58 PM, Steve Holliday <m("iinet.net.au","pruesteve");" target="_blank">> wrote:

Been away for a week but have a couple of comments to add.

I think tail colour is an easy and reliable way to separate a grey female Wallaroo from an Eastern Grey, at least in our local area -  the tail is consistently cream or even pale yellowish, as shown in Con's photo, Eastern Grey invariably has a black end of the tail. Very useful when the animal is fleeing from you. I note Philip's comment about Red Kangaroos having a pale tail but would be surprised if there are any wild ones within 200km of the ACT.

As regards distribution, there are quite a few Wallaroos in the quieter, hillier parts of Goorooyarroo NR, I have seen up to a dozen at a time there. Last year I saw 2 near the Mt Ainslie summit, the only Wallaroos I have recorded there. They may be part of a small resident population, or perhaps more likely, wandered across the Federal Highway from Gooroo. A few years ago while doing bird surveys along the undeveloped parts of the Molonglo, west of Coppin's Crossing, I saw many Wallaroos (and a lot of feral goats!).

Regards

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Con Boekel [mailto:m("boekel.com.au","con");" target="_blank">]
Sent: Saturday, 2 May 2015 4:49 PM
To: canberrabirds chatline
Subject: [canberrabirds] Pale-tailed Kangaroo on Black Mountain Nature Reserve, a Rose Robin and some migrating honeyeaters

Not a bird, but someone conversant with macropodic marsupials might know why this one has a pale tail.

There was a female Rose Robin lurking between the electricity substation, the CSIRO workshop and the ANGB plastic house, Frith Road this afternoon. I heard Rose Robin calls on three other occasions but was not sure whether it was the same bird. It was hanging around with a large MFF. There were large parties of honeyeaters (up to 50). Going on the calls alone, White-naped Honeyeaters were in the majority.

Con

*******************************************************************************************************
This is the email announcement and discussion list of the Canberra Ornithologists Group.
Emails posted to the list that exceed 200 kB in size, including attachments, will be rejected.
When subscribing or unsubscribing, please insert the word 'Subscribe' or 'Unsubscribe', as applicable, in the email's subject line.
List-Post: <mailto:m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">>
List-Help: <mailto:m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds-help");" target="_blank">>
List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds-unsubscribe");" target="_blank">>
List-Subscribe: <mailto:m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds-subscribe");" target="_blank">>
List archive: <http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/canberrabirds>
List manager: David McDonald, email <mailto:m("canberrabirds.org.au","coglists-owner");" target="_blank">>

 

*******************************************************************************************************
This is the email announcement and discussion list of the Canberra Ornithologists Group.
Emails posted to the list that exceed 200 kB in size, including attachments, will be rejected.
When subscribing or unsubscribing, please insert the word 'Subscribe' or 'Unsubscribe', as applicable, in the email's subject line.
List-Post: <>
List-Help: <>
List-Unsubscribe: <>
List-Subscribe: <>
List archive: <http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/canberrabirds>
List manager: David McDonald, email <>

--

Lindell

Griffith ACT