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I had about 9 weeks in Canberra with family in July and August and spent a fair few hours birding (at least some time every day). I thoroughly enjoyed the birds, despite the contrasting weather from my home in northern Queensland and especially seeing so many
cool-weather species. I came to love Campbell Park with its wonderful bird variety and renewed my joys at Jerrabomberra. And I very much appreciate many other sites in and around Canberra and ACT and nearby NSW. Much of this was possible due to the kindness
of COG members and to the excellent information in the website and through the chatline. I was able to plan the occasional wider trip also including a SOSSA pelagic and some excellent birding at Barren Grounds. In the Canberra area I enjoyed seeing 4 lifers
beginning with the Powerful Owl (thank you especially John Bundock) and including Diamond Firetails and Chestnut-rumped Heathwrens (thank you Shorty and others for posting). In addition excellent views of many species that we do not see in northern Australia
quite made my visit. I recorded 105 species in Canberra and another 15-20 species in NSW on sorties out of Canberra.
I have now returned to northern Queensland (Malanda) but want to say a very big thank you to the COG members. Should any of you be visiting northern Queensland please feel free to contact me by email and I would do my best to help with information about
birds and birding.
I am sorry to be missing the spring in Canberra but it is nice to be home to my Riflebirds and Bowerbirds and the other rainforest species.
Best wishes and great birding success to all,
Peter Valentine
PS Among my favourite birds were the robins (Rose Robin a real treat), the Gang-gangs (of course), the many thornbills, the Speckled Warbler, and the Red-browed Treecreeper. Several encounters with Lyrebirds were also exceptional.
Some gaps include Pilotbird and I dipped on the Swift Parrots also.
Adjunct Associate Professor Peter Valentine
College of Marine and Environmental Sciences
James Cook University
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