Thank you Paul. I do hope the thigh recovers quickly. Low woodland bird
numbers seem to be the pattern at the moment.
Mention of the Grenade Range prompts me to ask: what is the difference between
a Blue Grenadier and a Purple Grenadier? No need to reach for the Google
button:
The Purple Grenadier is a finch sometimes kept as a cagebird, while the Blue
Grenadier is a deep-sea fish found in the supermarkets and often marketed under
the NZ name of 'hoki'. Grenadiers once used to throw grenades, and must have
been quite tall. When grenade throwing ceased to be a full time specialist job
the name was retained for a guards company consisting of the tallest men in the
regiment.
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Fennell
Sent: Friday, 23 June 2017 11:12 AM
To: Canberrabirds
Subject: Majura Firing Range Woodland Survey
On Thursday 22nd June, Barbara Allan and Elsa Fennell surveyed the 8 sites on
the Majura Firing Range. Following a minor surgical procedure on my thigh on
Tuesday I was not able to walk about, so my role was simply to drive the
vehicle. I was a day easy to forget. Although the area was free of fog for the
most part, it was quite heavily overcast, with no wind, and few birds, with
only 17 species being observed on the various sites, over the three and a half
hours we spent on the range. Fortunately it was a relatively warm morning for
this time of the year.
The first site surveyed, the Grenade Range (not far from the airport) was
shrouded in fog, and produced only 5 species, including 60 starlings and a Grey
Butcherbird (not common to that area) with 3 of the usual suspects, Magpie,
Magpie-lark and Noisy Miner.
The next site (Site 2, normally a fairly interesting area) produced a
White-eared Honeyeater as the only bird observed in-area, with 4 others heard
out of area: White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Red Wattlebird and
Buff-rumped Thornbill.
The next site (Site 10 - an area adjacent to a small dam on Whitehead’s Ridge
at the far south of the Firing Range, and normally producing very few species)
was slightly better, with surprise surprise, 2 Pacific Black Ducks on the dam,
plus a Scarlet Robin and Striated and Buff-rumped Thornbills on site.
Site 3 normally produces a reasonable range of birds, and in the past even
Hooded Robins, but on this day only 2 Magpies on site, and 2 Noisy Miners heard
off site. Site 4 produced 3 species on site: White-eared Honeyeater, Magpie
and Yellow-rumped Thornbills. Off site, half a dozen White-winged Choughs
added the only interest ing element.
At the northern end of the Range, now into mid-morning, the haul was a little
better, but not a lot. A mob of about 50 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos was seen at
site 7, and they probably moved to Mick’s Dam (Site 8) to be recorded there
also. There were 16 White-winged Choughs seen, a Laughing Kookaburra and a
White-eared Honeyeater heard, plus 8 other species ( the usual suspects).
In driving the considerable distances between sites the most interesting
observation was quite a large mob of Choughs (about 30) and quite a lot of
Crimson Rosellas.
All in all it was a forgettable day that may be well remembered, if only for
its bleakness and lack of sightings. Thanks to Elsa and Barbara for putting in
the hard yards in fairly unrewarding conditions.
Paul Fennell
Editor, COG Annual Bird Report
0407105460
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