Prue and I did our winter survey this morning, in cool but sunny conditions. Birding was very slow at most sites - we did eventually total 36 species although just 24 of these were recorded during our 10 minutes
counts – probably an all time low.
Only a single small mixed flock was found, at site 2, which included Brown, Striated and Buff-rumped Thornbills, our only Golden Whistler for the morning, Weebills and Superb Fairy-Wrens. A Yellow Thornbill
(uncommon in the reserve) was also heard here after survey time. Elsewhere there was a White-throated Treecreeper calling at site 5 – a species that is only rarely recorded in our surveys, Scarlet Robins in a few places, and a couple of sightings of Wedge-tailed
Eagles. A few species were in larger numbers than usual, Starlings (150+), Red-rumped Parrots (30+) and Welcome Swallows (50+). The highlight was a Hobby attacking Starlings perched in a large Blakely’s Red Gum, it managed to grab one but the Starling escaped
a few seconds later.
Other fauna included 2 Wallaroos and 2 Swamp Wallabies at site 2, Common Froglet and Verreaux’s Tree Frog calling, and an unseasonal butterfly – a fresh-looking Spotted Jezebel.
Steve
